A Parting Conversation (Part Three: To Jono)

Keith Crosby | 09.13.2026

Re-read today’s passage (all of it). Consider going online and surveying the landscape of churches in the area, particularly the very large ones. Notice how many have softened in their preaching—and softened or become fuzzy on matters of gender, eldership, and female pastors. Consider why preaching the word is key to a spiritually healthy church.
A popular idea is that a young man cannot pastor a larger, maturing church because he lacks life experience. While there is perhaps a grain of truth in this, ask yourself these questions:
● Does a pastor have to share common life experiences with his entire congregation to minister effectively?
● Does he have to be divorced to encourage and minister to a divorced person?
● Does he need to have been an alcoholic to minister to an alcoholic?
● A homosexual to minister to a homosexual and explain the gospel to them?
Ask yourself, where is wisdom found? From whence do pastors and elders derive their wisdom and authority? Answer: G_d and the B_ _ l _
Reread our passage and ask yourself if the times that young Timothy (who was somewhere between his mid-twenties to mid-thirties) was ministering in when Paul wrote to him were really different than our own. Discuss.