Weekly Wednesdays: CALLED Men’s Group | Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Meeting# 3 of 12 | This Week’s Leader: David Goodno
INTRODUCTION: Welcome everyone, this is the third meeting of the Fall 2025 semester of the Men’s Growth Group - Called. Reminder: we meet weekly, every Wednesday, through Nov. 12, 2025; 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
There is no formal “membership” or specific requirements to attend; it doesn’t matter where you are in your faith journey – 10 seconds, 10-years or a lifetime; everyone is welcome; everyone has value; everyone has a voice. Please keep in mind that we are at different places in our individual faith journey; we all come from various backgrounds, have different points of view and the purpose tonight is to come together, read and study God’s word, so we can have a friendly discussion.
If there are differing points of view, we should not feel attacked or be hostile to one another; it’s our differences that add to the meeting and discussion. We came together tonight as friends and brothers in Christ. And we should leave the same (as friends and brothers in Christ). Often there is no right or wrong answer; just interpretation of scripture from various Biblical scholars, and sometimes even they do agree; ultimately, JESUS IS THE ANSWER.
This semester we are continuing with our SOAP study* of First and Second Timothy as well as the Book of Titus.
(*SOAP study: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer and Questions).
ANNOUNCEMENT: Rich Randall and Samuel Jaquez are putting together a Men’s retreat, to take place at a remote hunter’s cabin near Emporium, Pennsylvania. The purpose is to return to nature and study God’s word. As of now, the planned dates for the retreat are Thursday, October 2 nd through Sunday, October 5 th . (Note that Rich and Sam are debating if they will have the last day of the retreat on Saturday or Sunday. As of now, they are planning the retreat to go through Sunday.)
To attend please speak to Samuel Jaquez or Rich Randall, there will be some minor costs involved to cover costs of food and minor expenses, etc. The amount is $60 for three days, $45 for two days. Attendees will need to bring a Bible, notebook, sleeping bag (or bedding/blankets), pillows, clothes, shoes and slippers, snacks, bottled water etc.
There is no running water at the cabin, and the bathroom is an outhouse, so attendees should bring dude-wipes or baby wipes. More details to follow. For those interested, Rich and Samuel will have a meeting after church service on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
BACKGROUND: History of the letters: (1 & 2 Timothy)
Paul is author of these letters to Timothy, with Biblical scholars dating the two letters around 64 AD.
Paul wrote the letters to give encouragement and instruction to Timothy, who was a young leader sent by Paul to the Church of Ephesus. As a young minister Timothy faced all sorts of pressure, conflicts, false teaching and challenges from the surrounding culture. Paul instructed Timothy to preserve the Christian faith, remain disciplined; oppose false teaching, and to minister faithfully; by example.
Today we can use the letters to Timothy to strengthen our own faith and spiritual discipline.
PRAYER: This Week’s Prayer: Father God, we thank you for allowing us to come together and study your word tonight. Father, you have given us Your Word, documented in the Bible. Help us to study Your Word, lean into you for understanding, grow in faith and love to you and be a blessing to those around us. In Jesus name – Amen
Scripture, Read: 1 Timothy Chapter 4
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
Key verses for discussion:
Think about someone who has had a powerful influence on your life? If you are willing, please share with the group.
Have you ever had a strong influence on someone else? Share with the group if you are willing.
How do we define godliness? https://www.gotquestions.org/mystery-of-godliness.html
The phrase the mystery of godliness, found in 1 Timothy 3:16, is part of an introduction to an ancient hymn. In the English Standard Version, the verse reads this way: “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
Other translations speak of “the mystery from which true godliness springs” (NIV) and “the great mystery of our faith” (NLT). The words that follow in 1 Timothy 3:16 explain the mystery of godliness: God became flesh and lived among us (cf. John 1:1, 14).
The Greek word musterion (“mystery”), when used in the New Testament, refers to the things of God that were once hidden but were later revealed through Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). A mystery is that which can only be known through the revelation of God (Romans 16:25–26; Colossians 1:26–27). It is something that in times past had been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people.
Jesus spoke of “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11, NAS) that He was at that time revealing to His disciples.
The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his epistles:
the mystery of God (Colossians 2:2),
the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9),
the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7), etc.
In each case, the “mystery” involved a declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine inspiration.
The New English Translation of 1 Timothy 3:16 speaks of the mystery of godliness as an “amazing revelation” concerning our faith.
The Greek word translated “godliness” in most English translations means “a proper response to the things of God, which produces obedience and righteous living.” As He walked this earth, Jesus was the embodiment of pure godliness, which led Him to lay down His life for unworthy sinners (John 10:18). His life was dedicated to the glory of the Father, and He always did what pleased Him (John 8:29).
Christians pursue godliness when we follow the example of Jesus in dedicating every decision to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Godliness is not a suggestion; it is a command (1 Peter 1:15–16; Hebrews 12:14).
The mystery of godliness is the heart of the Christian faith. The hymn that Paul records in 1 Timothy 3:16 contains a summation of Jesus’ ministry. The godliness of God’s Son is now to be reflected in us. Christianity is not a system of rules and actions that must be performed to appease a deity.
At the heart of Christianity is the mystery of godliness—the fact that God took on human flesh to live among the people He created (Philippians 2:5–11). As a Son, Jesus remained completely obedient to His Father in heaven and then offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice in our place (John 10:18; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God then raised Him from the dead, thereby conquering death for all who trust in Him (Matthew 28:6; 1 Corinthians 15:3–7, 13–14, 55). Because Jesus took our place, sinful humans may be declared righteous before God and be “born again” (John 3:3). The new birth is spiritual and results in a change of heart that produces true godliness (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:8–10). How a life is transformed is the mystery of godliness and is comprehended only through the revelation of God in Christ. “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great” (1 Timothy 3:16).
Paul told Timothy to train himself to be godly (4:7), to be an example for the believers (4:12), and to watch his life and teaching closely (4:16). He was to be a living example of what he was teaching. Living God’s way still provides a powerful example today, and our influence is multiplied when what we do is reinforced by what we say. In church, our words will not be neutralized by our actions. Outside the church
What are some ways that we can set good examples to others, including other believers? – Discuss
How we talk.
How we live.
How we react to situations (do we get angry or frustrated quickly?)
How we love others, including our family, wife/girlfriend, children.
How we show our faith.
(Chapter 4, verses 1-5) -
False teachers were and still are a threat to the church. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned against them. Paul said that false teachers were hypocrites and liars who encourage people to follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
The danger that Timothy faced in Ephesus seems to have come from certain people in the church who were following some Greek philosophers who taught that the body was evil and that only the soul mattered. The false teachers refused to believe that God was good, because contact with the mortal/physical world would have tainted Him, therefore they could not accept Jesus as God. Satan twists and deceives people by offering clever imitations of Truth.
The false teachers appeared to be disciplined and righteous; we must not be impressed by a teacher’s style or credentials; we must examine their teaching about Jesus Christ. Their conclusions about Jesus and Biblical sound doctrine indicate the source of their message, and if they are a legitimate or false teacher.
Read: Mark 13:21-27
1 Thessalonians 2:1-17
(Chapter 4, verses 6-16)
What do we think Paul meant by “…hope is in the Living God”? - Discuss.
Timothy was a young pastor; it would have been easy for older Christians to look down on him because of his youth. Of all the resistance he had to overcome, he also had to deal with earning the respect of his elders by setting the example by his: speech, life, love, faith and purity. Regardless of your age; young or old, God can use you. We should live so others can see Christ in us.
Highly skilled athletes must train, otherwise they can lose their abilities. We too must train ourselves spiritually. We can only grow spiritually by studying God’s word and applying it to our lives and how we live out our faith. We must be on constant guard against falling into sin that can easily destroy us.
Read: Romans 12:1-21
Other questions to explore:
What was the context? What was going on at the time this was written?
What and where is this happening?
What makes what was happening meaningful?
Is there anything special about the location (or locations)?
Who is involved?
How do they respond to God?
What character traits do you notice about them?
What is the significance of their involvement?
What do you think is the key message?
Did anything that surprised or stood out to you? What was it? Share with the group and discuss.
Are there any key verses that stand out to you? Discuss among the group.
Were there any repetitive words or themes that stood out to you? What were they?
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Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss, and research.
Biggest takeaway?
Prepare for next week’s meeting. Read: 1 Timothy 4:1-16
Is there anything that stands out when reading these verses? Be ready to discuss it at the next meeting. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%204%3A1-16&version=NLT
Think of things that you can do to encourage new believers over the next seven days.
Think about areas of your life to improve and think about actionable steps.]
