We're Talkin' about Practice

“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1Tim 4:15).

“But we’re talkin’ about practice. What are we talkin’ about? Practice? We’re talkin’ about practice, man. We’re talkin’ about practice. We’re talkin’ about practice.” These are the infamous words of Allen Iverson back in 2001. So A.I. missed a few practices. Not a problem for him. It’s the game that matters. I mean, we’re talkin’ about practice.

Two thousand years before the Answer started breaking ankles with his killer crossover, the Apostle Paul was talkin’ about practice. He writes to Timothy, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, os that all may see your progress” (v15). Don’t just talk about the Gospel. Don’t just think about His Good News. Lace up your sneakers and live it out. Stop flapping your gums and do it. I mean, we’re talkin’ about practice.

This is a big deal for the young pastor and his fellow Ephesian followers of Jesus. A team of false teachers who’ve talked a big game but lived very little of it have distracted folks from the true message of the Gospel. They’ve been selling a spiritual snake oil that’s really nothing more than demon doctrine (1Tim 4:1-2). With Paul on divine assignment in Macedonia, he’s turned to his protege Timothy to get the church of Ephesus back on track (1Tim 1:3-7). His assignment is clear. Fill the leadership void with godly men and women of integrity (1Tim 3:1-12). Return to the message of God’s goodness and hit the gym to get CrossFit (1Tim 3:14-16; 4:3-10).

But Paul makes it clear that Tim is to get in top spiritual shape for a reason. He’s not just lifting to get ripped. He’s training himself to “practice these things, immerse yourself in them” (v15). Spiritual disciplines such as Bible study and praying are great…but ONLY when they have an impact on how you live. Otherwise it’s a total waste of time. Nobody’s impressed with your six-pack biblical abs if you’re living just like the rest of the world. You get yourself in Gospel shape to be the living Gospel to your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your coworkers. 

When the apostle tells Pastor Tim to “practice these things” (v15), he uses the Greek word meletao. It actually means a couple of different ideas. On one hand, it describes focusing with intensity or giving your full and total attention to something. But it also means to train, exercise, and rehearse carefully and precisely. In ancient Greek literature, writers use this term to paint a picture of public speakers diligently practicing their speeches in private first. I mean, we’re talkin’ about practice.

While most translators of the New Testament can’t really seem to agree on the exact words, they all agree with what meleato means. 

“Be diligent in these matters” (NIV).

“Take pains with these things” (NASB).

“Put these things into practice” (NRS).

“Give your complete attention to these matters” (NLT).

“Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties” (AMP).

“Practice these things” (GNT).

“Cultivate these things” (The Message).

Do these things with focus on detail. Go out of your way to implement them properly. Don’t just think about them but do them. Don’t just do them mindlessly, understand their meaning. Know why you do what you do. Let your actions be the outward response to the work God’s doing inwardly. 

Paul’s command to Timothy is in the present tense. What’s the big deal about that? The pastor isn’t just to do them once and move on. You can just as easily translate this as “keep on practicing these things.” Willing and worshipful obedience to God’s commands is not a one-and-done kinda thing. It’s not a checklist you accomplish and then toss in the trash. Remember, following Jesus isn’t a phase or something you knock out during at church camp when you’re thirteen. We keep on keepin’ on. We “keep on practicing these things.”

This explains we get our idea of practicing law or medicine. I’ve always been uncomfortable with putting my health in the hands of someone who’s still working things out by practicing. It’s one thing to get your hair cut at the barber college. The original meaning of our English word “practice” back in the 1400s was “to pursue or be continually engaged in a profession, skill or craft.” Do I treat my obedience to Christ like a craft? Am I honing my skills and doing everything I can to get better at doing what He tells me? I mean, we’re talkin’ about practice.

So just what exactly is Tim to practice? What are “these things” (v15)? Chances are they’re closely related his other mentions of “these things” we see here in this section of the letter. Paul is “writing these things” so folks will know how to live as members of God’s family (1Tim 3:14). If Tim will “put these things before the brothers,” he’s serving Jesus well (1Tim 4:6) The apostle encourages the young pastor to “command and teach these things” concerning the Gospel (1Tim 4:11).

Specifically, “these things” include focusing on the Mega Messiah Mystery which God revealed as our rescue in Jesus (1Tim 3:16). He saves us because we can’t save ourselves! Receive gratefully and enjoy fully God’s creation as a wonderfully good gift (1Tim 4:3-5). Pursue a godliness never goes out of style, either in this life or the one to come (1Tim 4:8). Leave it all on the field for others because Jesus gave everything He had for us (1Tim 4:10). Proclaim and explain the Gospel and apply it to my everyday life (1Tim 4:13). 

Paul tells us that the best way to devote yourself to practicing these things is to totally “immerse yourself in them” (v15). This phrase in the original Greek literally means “in these things be.” If you truly want to experience the love and grace of Jesus, get out of the kiddie pool dive into the deep end of the Gospel. It’s scary when you’re feet don’t touch the bottom. I have to put my total and complete trust in Christ when I’m up to my eyeballs. Stop splashing around where it’s shallow. Go out past the ropes. 

Remember when Jesus invited a fisherman named Simon head for deeper water (Lk 5:4)? Another time, our Savior asked this same disciple to take a stroll on the stormy Sea of Galilee (Mt 14:28-29). I love the lyrics to Hillsong United’s song “Oceans.” “Your grace abounds in deepest waters.” Do you hear Him? He’s urging you and me to get in over heads in our trust of Him. Go deep. Get in over your head. Immerse yourself. In these things be

My continual obedience and immersion in God’s ways aren’t just for me. According to the apostle, you do this “so that all may see your progress” (v15). He uses a Greek word (Gr. prokope) which describes advancement, forward movement, making headway, or improvement. It literally means a “cutting ahead” or “beating forward.” Picture an explorer busting his tail to blaze a trail. Cutting through the jungle with a machete going somewhere they’ve never been before. It’s very hard work.

In the same way, progress in our walk with Jesus can be hard. I admit that there are times when my flesh wants to turn back instead of following my Savior in obedience. I don’t want to give up my incredibly comfortable, me-centered life. But God has SO much more for me as He calls me to a life of godliness. It’s in that journey of submission to His ways that I actually find His best for me, what Jesus calls the abundant and overflowing life (Jn 10:10). He gives us His strength to accomplish what we could never do on our own (Jn 15:5). As a matter of fact, His power surges best when we admit our weakness (2Cor 12:9-10).

Seeing what God can do in your life gives those around you a front row seat to who He is and what He can do. It’s important “that all may see your progress” (v15). This reinforces Paul’s words just a couple of verses back to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1Tim 4:12). The best leaders are the best followers. Godly leaders show what obedience to the Lord looks like. The apostle told his friends in Corinth that if they had any doubt following Jesus to follow him (1Cor 11:1). Do you have folks you can follow when you don’t know what to do? And don’t doubt your impact on the people around you. Whether you realize or not, others are watching your progress.

Paul’s talkin’ about practice. He's talking about the continual and willing devotion to Jesus and His commands. Diving into the deep end of the Gospel pool. Others are watching what God is doing in my life as I follow Christ. I mean, we’re talkin’ about practice.

When a Deacon Deacs Well

“For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1Tim 3:13).

Success in America is all about up and to the right. Profits need to grow. Careers need to advance. Stockholders demand more each quarter. The arrows on every chart and spreadsheet must be heading higher. It’s about more. It’s about climbing the ladder. 

Funny thing in God’s kingdom. In many ways, less is more. The way down is the way up. Throughout the Bible, God doesn’t discourage greatness. But over and over, He lets us know it’s in the opposite direction from what most business consultants charge big bucks for companies to hear.

In his letter to Pastor Timothy, Paul says leaders earn a great reputation in the local church by stepping down into sacrificial service. “For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (v13). In other words, a servant earns his rep by descending into greatness. That’s when you know a deacon deacs well. 

(Let me make sure you know I didn't coin the phrase "descending into greatness." Bill Hybels of Willow Creek gets ALL the credit for that!)

Jesus is using Paul and Timothy as a tag team to get the Ephesian church back on track. The apostle planted the church a few years back on one of his Mediterranean tours (Acts 19), but a team of false teachers derailed believers by distracting them from the Gospel. Paul personally gave the boot to Hymenaeus and Alexander, two of the leading spiritual con artists in Ephesus (1Tim 1:20). Now on divine assignment up the road in Macedonia, the man from Tarsus appoints his spiritual son Tim as pastor with specific instructions to continue cleaning up the mess they’ve made (1Tim 1:3-7). 

A big part of Pastor Tim’s assignment is assembling a godly leadership team of overseers (1Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (1Tim 3:8-12). Clearly the previous administration was all about serving themselves by climbing over the followers of Jesus at the church. They were all about up and to the right. All about what they could gain. All about how they could be served. 

Paul wraps up his description of what a sacrificial service looks like. A deacon builds his rep by stepping down. They’re not cocky about what they bring to the table. You see, servants grow in their trust in Christ by watching what He does in and through them. That’s what happens when a deacon deacs well.

The apostle tells Tim, “For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves” (v13). It’s interesting to note that this can be literally translated from Greek as simply “For those who serve well” (v13). The translators of the ESV (as well as the NASB, NRS, NKJV, and others) double up on the idea of servants who are serving. 

Follow me. This might be a bit confusing. Throughout this passage, the Greek word diakonos is translated “deacon” (1Tim 3:8, 10, 12). It literally means “servant.”  But “deacon” actually isn’t found anywhere in verse 13. Instead we see just the verb diakoneo, which means “to serve.” The ESV translators drop in “as deacons” to help us understand what Paul’s talking about. It makes sense. A servant serves. It’s what they do when Jesus gets ahold of them. So if a deacon is a servant and a deacon serves then deacon deacs. Make sense?  

So deacons deac well when they “gain a good standing for themselves” (v13). Just about every Bible version you read cooks up a different wording for this phrase. Here’s why. “Gain” is the verb peripoieomai, which means to obtain, acquire, procure, or purchase. It paints the picture of getting your hands on something through a whole lotta effort. It comes with a heavy cost. It didn’t come easy. 

The only other place you find this word in the New Testament is over in the Book of Acts. Coincidentally, Paul is talking to the elders from the Ephesian church during a layover on his way back to Jerusalem. He tells them, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for the church of God, which He obtained (Gr. peripoieomai) with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Jesus paid an unthinkable cost for His church. With His own blood. It certainly didn’t come easy. 

In many ways, the word “standing” is the real key to unlocking Paul’s words here. It’s the Greek noun bathmos. You can translate it as status, position, rank, or degree. But it literally describes a step or stairs leading up or down. It comes from a similar word (Gr. bathos) which can mean depth. Think sinking to the ocean floor. So it’s not a stretch to see that a deacon’s standing or status is purchased by descending into service. It comes with a heavy price tag. It doesn’t come easy. 

You might read this verse and think the apostle is encouraging a deacon to look for a promotion to elder or pastor. Why not? A supervisor is looking to move up to department head. A department head wants to be a VP. That may be the way it works in the business world but not so much in God’s kingdom. Nope. You see, a church’s view of a servant goes up as he steps down. It comes with a cost. Promotion by demotion. It’s not about what he gets but what he gives. 

A deacon also gains “great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (v13). But this isn’t just a quiet conviction in the Lord.  The word translated as “confidence” is parrhesia, which describes an openness, frankness, boldness, and courage to say what needs to be said. Jewish leaders were freaked out “when they saw the boldness (Gr. parrhesia)” Pete and John had when they told the folks about the resurrected Jesus (Acts 4:13). The writer of Hebrews uses it when encouraging us to go to God’s throne of grace “with confidence (Gr. parrhesia)” when we boldly ask for His help (Heb 4:16). This is speaking openly, publicly, plainly, and freely despite intimidating circumstances. 

Don’t think that bold faith in Jesus is just for super Christians like deacons. God encourages each one of us to speak openly and publicly about who our Savior is and what He’s done. Just to be clear, this is NOT about what we do to be saved. We can’t save ourselves. We can’t do enough good works, can’t follow enough rules, can’t earn enough supernatural brownie points to get God to let us into His kingdom. 

That’s where Jesus comes in. We can’t live a perfect life. But He did. We didn’t die a death on a cross for our sin. But He did. We didn’t rise to a new life. But He did. We trust in what He did on our behalf. Without trust in Jesus, my life is an epic fail. With trust in Him, eternal victory. It’s not about me. It’s all about Him. 

So everyone who serves does so as an act of worship to the One who has served us. Jesus is the ultimate Servant. He said Himself that He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). About 800 years before Joe and Mary turned a barn into birthing room for Baby Jesus, the prophet Isaiah wrote about the suffering Servant who bore the brunt of God’s wrath for our sin (Is 52:13-53:12). 

If anyone ever deserved a life of up and to the right it was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. But His career path to the throne of heaven came by descending in service. After Christ headed back home to heaven, one of the early hit praise songs was all about how He took “the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6). If you want to know what a servant looks like, take a long look at the Lord. If a deacon is a servant, there’s no greater deacon than Jesus.

It’s easy for us to get caught up in the tsunami of achievement and advancement. For Pete’s sake, it’s everywhere you turn. But deacons have the heart of a servant. They’re not looking to climb the ladder. They’re headed in the other direction. A deacon descends into greatness. That’s how you know when a deacon deacs well.