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Gateway Church gathers
for worship Sundays
at 10:30 a.m.

Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd.
(Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia.

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A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO


First things first

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

February 22, 2004
  • Main Scripture text: 1 Timothy 2:1-8.
  • The Apostle Paul had left his young disciple, Timothy, in Ephesus to care for the church there.

  • In this letter, Paul is giving Timothy instructions about how to "do church."

  • Our text begins with Paul saying, "First of all..." In other words: "Of all the things a church might do, this is of primary importance..."

  • What's first? The church must pray.

  • Paul says we're to pray for others earnestly, humbly, and with thanksgiving to God.

  • He also says we are to pray such prayers for everyone -- including government leaders.

  • The Apostle is reminding us that our prayers can influence "secular" leaders to do what is right, so you and I can live peaceful and quiet lives.

  • Then Paul comes what is really God's foremost desire: The Lord wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

  • What truth does God want everyone to know?
  • 1) There is only one God, who is Lord over all things and all people;

  • 2) There is only one mediator between God and humanity: the man Christ Jesus.

  • The implication: God uses our prayers for others as part of the process by which He calls people to Christ.

  • Our prayers help overcome spiritual, demonic resistance to hearing and receiving the gospel.

  • This Wednesday we will begin our prayer focus for the Lenten season, Seek God For the City. Its purpose is to provide a structure for doing exactly what Paul instructed the church to do.

  • Get a prayer guide and use it everyday during Lent, as we join millions of others around the world in praying for God's kingdom would come and His will to be done on this earth, just as it is in heaven.

  • Listen to the text again -- this time from Eugene Peterson's rendering called The Message:

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.

This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.


A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here.
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)

An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).
Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 040222a: First Things First.

© 2004 Gerald R. Varnado

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