One reason we do this

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

This verse pretty much captures why we're having this Bible study. It's not so that we learn about the Bible - even though that's good. It's not so that we learn about God - even though that's very good. It is about training you up to become Godly young men so that as you grow older you grow into Godly men.

For one thing it's something father's are commanded to do...

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

So, as a father, I need to teach you the ways of the Lord.

• How can we learn about the Lord?
• What are some things we've learned about the Lord?

The book of 2 Timothy in the Bible is written like a letter from a father to a son. Although Paul was not Timothy's real father, they served together closely in ministry and Paul considered Timothy like a son. Here are some of the words Paul wrote to Timothy about what he had learned and about the Word of God.

¹⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Discussion Questions

• Did Paul trust those that had taught Timothy?
• How long had Timothy known the holy Scriptures?
• Who are the Scriptures? And what Scriptures did Timothy know?
• What are the Scriptures useful for?
• What is the ultimate goal of knowing the Scriptures?
• How does that relate to what we learned in Proverbs 22:6?
• Do you want to keep learning the Scriptures and learning from the Scriptures?

Psalm 15

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart

and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 15

Discussion Questions

• Why would someone want to live with God?
• Do you remember who lived and walked and talked directly with God?
• What separated Adam and Eve from God?
• What are things we should do if we want to live with God?
• walk blameless
• speak the truth
• despise (hate) vile (bad) men
• honor those who love God
• keeps his word
• What are some things we shouldn't do?
• say bad things about people (slander)
• do bad things to our neighbors

Bad fruit

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21

This passage talks about the acts of sinful nature. These are things we don't want to see in our lives if we want to live Godly lives. Let's look at some of them:

• idolatry - this is one of the Ten Commandments
• hatred - hating, opposing someone or becoming someone's adversary
• discord - causing a group of people to become divided
• jealousy - being mad that someone has something you don't
• fits of rage - being really angry
• selfish ambition - desire to achieve something good at the expense of others
• dissensions - causing people to stand apart from each other rather than being together

With alot of these things, they cause people who may have been friends to not be friends anymore. While the fruit of the Spirit we studied before help bring people together, these things drive people apart.

Discussion questions

• Have you ever seen any of these things in the way you act?
• If you want to live a good life that honors God, should you want to see these things in your life?
• Can you think of any of these that you might have done today or yesterday?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

We can confess our sins to God when we pray. It doesn't have to be fancy and it doesn't even have to be out loud. But, it does have to sincere and we have to want to change and not do that sin again (repentence).

Even more about contentment

As you may remember, we defined contentment as satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation. Let's look at some of what Jesus had to say about contentment in the famous "Sermon on the Mount."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10

Jesus talks about different types of people and how they are blessed.

• "The poor in spirit" may not have a lot of possessions, but they are blessed.
• "Those who mourn" may have lost something or had someone they loved die, but they are blessed.
• "The meek" may be people of low status, but they are blessed.
• "Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness" want to improve their situation by being better people, they are blessed.
• "The merciful" do good things for those of lower status or in bad situations, they will be blessed.
• "The pure in heart" are content, they are blessed.
• "The peacemakers" try to help improve relationships and situations, they are blessed.
• The "persecuted because of righteousness" are good people in bad situations, they are blessed.

Jesus recognized good people might not have lots of possessions or might be of low status or might be in bad situations and he called them blessed. If Jesus blessed people regardless of their possessions, status, or situations, why should we not be satisfied with ours?

More about contentment

The Apostle Paul had some things to say about contentment...

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:10-13

In this passage, Paul is thanking the Philippians for gifts they had given him. He was not trying to get them to give him more gifts.

Discussion questions

• Twice in this passage, Paul says "I have learned..." Do you think that contentment comes naturally?
• Have you ever felt that you were "in need" or that you had "plenty?" What does that mean?
• Have you ever felt "well fed" or hungry? What does that mean?
• Paul knew how to be content in all of these circumstances. Do you think you could be content too?
• What was the secret of Paul's contentment?

Let's look at a little more of what Paul said about contentment...

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

1 Timothy 6:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you "

Hebrews 13:5

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

1 Timothy 1:12

Contentment

Contentment. What is contentment? The dictionary defines it as being "the quality or state of being contented." Well, what does contented mean? The dictionary defines it as "feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation."

Have we read anything in the Bible yet about contentment? Actually we have...

We've read some about being satisfied with our possessions.

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20:17

That's one of the Ten Commandments. If God tells us not to want what our neighbors have, doesn't that imply that we should be satisified with what we have?

What about being satisfied with our status (position or rank in relation to others)? Well, we've seen that a couple of places already...

And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Matthew 22:39

If we love our neighbor as ourself, we think of them as being as important as we are - not more or less important than we are. Also when we read about the Fruit of the Spirit, several of the fruit (peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness) deal with how we relate to others or our status in the eyes of others.

Have we read anything about being contented or satisfied in our situation?

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one
of them came to be.

Psalm 139:16b

If God has ordained all the days of our lives and we know He loves us and has a plan for us, why shouldn't we be satisfied with our situation?

So, we've already learned a little bit about why we should be contented. As we continue, we'll learn more about it.

Godly character (the fruit of the Spirit)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22-23 talks about "the fruit of the Spirit" which are character traits that are evidence of Godly character. If we are following God, we will see these character traits grow in us.

• Love - unconditional love, the love that God has towards us
• Joy - delight, gladness
• Peace - good relationships between people, friendliness, no fighting, sense of rest and contentment
• Patience - to be able to endure hard or bad things over time
• Kindness - treating others fairly
• Goodness - being good and doing good to others
• Faithfulness - being dependable and trustworthy
• Gentleness - accepting how God deals with us and not being argumentative
• Self-control - using what God gave you responsibly

All of these things are good things for us to have in our lives.

Discussion questions

• Do you understand what each of these means?
• Which of these describe you?
• Which would you like to have describe you?

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

Discussion questions

• Verse 1 talks about being "blessed." What does it mean to be blessed?
• What does the blessed man in Psalm 1 delight in? What is that?
• Do you read God's Word every day?
• The blessed man knows that God's Word helps him grow. Does God's Word help you grow? How?
• Who are the "wicked"? Does God's Word help them grow?
• Do you like it that God watches over you