1 Timothy

Ready for Action

June 8, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

Christianity is not to be a passive faith but one where we are called to be ready for action. So many Christians profess their faith in Jesus and never do anything else for the Kingdom. Can such faith save them? (James 2:17; James 2:26) The Christian life is not some sort of spectator sport. We must be serious; this is not a game.

Every day, demonic forces are wreaking havoc throughout the world. They understand what’s at stake, and they know their time is running out. A desperate Satan is even more dangerous and formidable than ever. He is gunning for you, and if you aren’t preparing for battle, you will not finish well. (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

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When Will You Live for Jesus?

May 21, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

When will you live for Jesus? It’s a question every person must answer in their lives. In fact, it’s a question we all answer with our lives. How we spend our days in some ways determines where we will spend eternity. I say this because if we love Jesus, we will reflect that love in the way we live. (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6) Someone who will spend eternity in Heaven will first have a transformed heart on earth. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26)

Even so, our sin nature is vicious and strong. (Romans 7:18-23; Galatians 5:17) The Devil will do everything in his power to keep us from living a life that looks like Jesus. (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11-12) We must decide every day whether we will listen to the father of lies or the Author of Life. (John 8:44; Acts 3:15)

Vertical Prayers

March 30, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

While we should be praying vertical prayers, too often we are stuck praying in a horizontal manner. I’m not speaking of the posture we assume when we pray, but the direction of the content of our prayers. There’s a stark difference between the prayers of Jesus and the way we pray. So many of our prayers focus on the people and the world around us but give little attention to the One we are speaking to.

Part of the problem is that we lack the proper realization of what prayer is. It’s not a vehicle to get all the things we desire or even need. After all, God already knows what we need before we ask. (Matthew 6:7-8) We’re not bringing Him new information, but it often seems as if we think we are.

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Don’t Love This World

March 12, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is 1 John 2:15–17. It’s not an easy or feel-good passage. I love it because of how convicting it is and how clear it is. People love to inject their own opinions and rationalizations into the Bible and, in doing so, neuter its message and strip it of its power. This passage leaves no room for any such nonsense.

It says if we love the things of this world, we don’t love God. There are no qualifiers, no exceptions, and no loopholes. The converse shows us how to navigate this life: if we love God, we will not love the things of this world. If you want to show your love for God, don’t love this world.

Bad Fruit

October 13, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

The Bible uses the analogy of good and bad fruit to distinguish between what believers and nonbelievers will produce in their lives (Matthew 7:17-20). Genuine followers of Christ will produce good fruit (John 15:8). Jesus says if we abide in Him, we will produce fruit that is growing and desirable (John 15:4-5), as we cannot produce any other kind.

a crowd with raised hands at an event espousing a false gospel and generating bad fruit showing a lack of discipline and discernment for those in attendance which belies their discipleship

But for those not in Him, Jesus likens them to bad trees that can only produce bad fruit (Matthew 7:18). A bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit every now and again; it produces bad fruit every time. Sure, it might look appealing on the outside, but inside it is rotten and sour. If we consume enough of it, what do you imagine will become of our spiritual health?

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