1 TIMOTHY 6:11-12 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these

things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, steadfastness, gentleness.

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-12 ESV

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of
the eternal life to which you were called and
about which you made the good confession in
the presence of many witnesses.

THE PASTOR
AS DISCIPLE
OUR ONGOING NEED OF THE GRACE
OF GOD IN SANCTIFICATION

3 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
#1: Our primary identity is not being pastors
or ministry leaders or disciple-makers; our
primary identity is being disciples of Jesus.

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-12 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these
things. Pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

3 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
#2: Sanctification is a life-long process for all
disciples of Jesus, including us pastors.

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-12 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these
things. Pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12
Fight the good fight of the faith.

PAUL TRIPP (DANGEROUS CALLING)

Pastors, we're still a bit of a mess. We're all at
times very poor examples of the truths we
teachWe often forget how much we need
everything we teach. We give evidence everyday
that we are people in the middle of our own
sanctification, that we still need the moment-bymoment rescue of grace.

3 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
#3: Perseverance is a crucial necessity in our
salvation.

1 TIMOTHY 6:11-12 ESV

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold
of the eternal life to which you were called
and about which you made the good
confession in the presence of many
witnesses.

1 TIMOTHY 4:16 ESV

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the
teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you
will save both yourself and your hearers.

JOHN PIPER
Pastors who are saved by grace through faith
must give evidence of that divine work in
their lives by tireless attention to personal
holiness and doctrinal fidelity. It teaches that
the pastoral ministry is the proving ground
for eternity.

FIGHT
Greek agonizo to contend, struggle with
difficulties and dangers antagonistic to the
gospel.

FIGHT THE GOOD

FIGHT OF FAITH
SERIOUS FIGHT
MESSY FIGHT
GOOD FIGHT

HARD FIGHT

JONATHAN DODSON
We have to fight to believe this gospel.
Otherwise, we will slide back into individualistic,
indifferent, or professionalized discipleship. This
fight is a fight of faith. It is a struggle to believe
what the gospel truly promises over what sin
deceitfully promises.

JONATHAN DODSON
We fight to behold the image of the glory of
God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. This
faith fights not for perfection, but for belief.
We fight to believe that Jesus is more
precious, satisfying, and thrilling than
anything else this world has to offer.

HOW TO FIGHT
KNOW YOUR SIN.
CONFESS YOUR SIN.

ESV GOSPEL TRANSFORMATION

Rather than trust in idols, Gods people are
called to return to him, not by cleaning
themselves up but by confessing their sin. What
an amazing and counterintuitive pathway of
healing. God offers healing, restoration, and
comfort to those who mourn over their
fallenness rather than those who seek in a selfgenerated way to overcome it.

PAUL TRIPP
To the degree that you forget you are a
sinner, you will underestimate your daily
need for Christ and the relationships in his
body that are his tools of change.

HOW TO FIGHT
KNOW YOUR SIN.
CONFESS YOUR SIN.

TRUST YOUR SAVIOR.

FIGHT WITH OTHERS.

HOW TO FIGHT
LUST?
PRIDE?
ENVY?

SMALL GROUP SHARING

1. How is your identity as pastor/leader hindering
AND helping you grow as a disciple?
2. What sin/s are you presently struggling with?
How will you replace lies with truth?

3. What aspect of the character of Christ you need

to grow most today?