In order to become a godly person, you need a good conscience. A conscience that is functioning properly will serve as a filter against sin and idolatry trying to enter and lodge itself in our hearts.

Discussion Questions

Read 1 Thess 5:22-24. The promise is that God can sanctify us completely and keep us blameless (without any blemish or sin) in terms of our spirit, soul (mind/will/emotion) and body.

– Describe these 3 parts of our whole being.
– Do you think this is possible? How have you seen the Lord changing you?

Read Heb 12:10-14 and 1 Cor 6:9-11.

– How important is holiness in the Christian life?
– Is holiness (or lack of it) a salvation issue?
– How much is holiness stressed in the typical church?
– What false teaching can emerge when holiness is ignored?
– How might the teaching regarding Christ’s righteousness being credited to us (i.e. like putting on a robe) lead to a false sense of assurance of our salvation?

Read Heb 9:13-14.

– What assumption does this passage make regarding our conscience?

Read 1 Tim 1:5.

– What is Paul’s charge to Timothy?
– Where does love in a person come from?
– How does Satan attack so that we never achieve the goal of becoming a loving person?

Read 1 Tim 1:6-7.

– Why do many great “preachers” fall into moral sin?

Read 1 Tim 1:8-14.

– What is the gospel?
– The gospel leads believers into complete transformation including our spirit, soul, body, mind, will, emotions — do you agree or disagree?

Read 1 Tim 1:18-20.

– What are 2 things we must hold onto?
– Regarding those who shipwrecked their faith, how did they end up like this? What things were they rejecting?
– How do these verses give us some pause when it comes to the doctrine that once you’re saved, you’re always saved?

Read 1 Tim 4:1-3.

– Is it possible to be in the faith and then to deliberately depart from the faith?
– What is a seared conscience?
– How does a seared conscience contribute to a teacher becoming a false teacher and being led by deceitful spirits?
– Why is knowing our Bible critical for every believer?
– At salvation, what did the Holy Spirit do to our conscience while saving us?

Read 1 Tim 4:7-10.

– Does your training in godliness exceed the amount of time and energy you invest in bodily health and fitness?
– What ways can you train yourself to be godly?

Read 1 Tim 4:15-16.

– For the preacher, what two things must he keep a close watch over?
– What does it mean to progress in the faith?
– What two groups of people are saved by a preacher who is progressing in his faith?
– Do you see and can others see in you your progress in the faith?
– How does a conscience become seared?
– How might a seared conscience contribute to a stalling of your progress in the faith?

Read 1 Tim 6:2-3. Christianity is not a costume. We are changed from one degree of glory to the next, becoming more and more like Christ.

– Explain why our sound words must be in accordance with godliness.

Read 1 Tim 6:4-5.

– In a spiritual sense, why does a person with many theological degrees and who is a great preacher and yet he falls morally – why does this person know “nothing” about the Christian life?
– What would you say about someone who can teach a great Bible study about envy and slander and divisiveness, yet he has envy in his heart and he slanders others freely and he causes division in the body of Christ?
– If people are not seeing joy and humility and love through your life, why would non-Christians want what you have?
– Is your life attractive to others?

Read 1 Tim 6:6-8. This verse is a good gauge of your spiritual health.

– Can you say, Amen!, to verse 6?

Read 1 Tim 6:9-19. For Christians in America, we need to heed the warning of these verses.

– What is tied to money?
– The love of money is a much bigger problem than we think – do you agree or disagree?
– What does it mean to flee from the love of money for you?
– How can money become our hope?

Read 1 Tim 6:20-21.

– What are some examples of false “knowledge” that pretends to be sound gospel teaching?

Read 1 Thess 5:22-24.

– Who will sanctify us completely and make us whole in our spirit, whole in our soul and whole in our body?
– Practically, what must we do in order to be sanctified like this and have a good conscience continually?