“This Is Who We Are”
SERMON Title: This Is Who We Are
SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 3:14-16 ESV
Introduction
Paul writes this letter so the church will know how to conduct itself—not because God is obsessed with control, but because the church has a distinct identity and calling. We are not merely another organization—we are the household of God and the pillar and buttress of the truth. We are called to display the gospel clearly in a confused world.
That’s why Paul outlines qualifications for leaders—not as a checklist, but to reflect the character of a gospel-shaped community. Chapter 3 culminates with this truth: because of who the church is, how we live together matters. If we want to raise the next generation with a vibrant, gospel-centered faith, we need more than intentions—we need to embody our God-given identity.
What Is the Church?
In Scripture, the church is not a building or a streamable service. It is:
The Body of Christ (1 Cor 12)—a living, united whole under Christ.
The Bride of Christ (Eph 5)—cherished, pursued, and sanctified.
A Holy Temple (Eph 2)—where God’s presence dwells by His Spirit.
A Chosen People (1 Pet 2:9)—set apart to proclaim His glory.
The church reflects the reign of Jesus—it is meant to be a visible signpost of His kingdom on earth.
Paul reminds us in today’s passage that the church is:
The Household of God
The Pillar and Buttress of the Truth
A People Centered on the Mystery of Christ
1. The Church Is the Household of God
(“…how one ought to behave in the household of God…” – 1 Tim 3:15)
When Paul calls the church God’s “household,” he uses a term rich with relational meaning. In Greek, oikos refers not to a structure but to a family. In Christ, we are no longer strangers, but members of God's household (Eph 2:19). God is our Father, Christ our Brother, and we are siblings by the Spirit.
That means church life is meant to mirror the dynamics of a spiritual family:
Leadership is not about status but about spiritual fatherhood and servant-hearted maturity.
Discipleship is relational, not transactional—spiritual parenting that cultivates maturity.
Correction, care, and encouragement happen in a grace-shaped family context.
So Paul’s qualifications for elders and deacons are not hierarchical but formative—leaders set the tone for the household’s health.
Application:
If we’re God’s family, we must ask:
Are we treating each other as family or as consumers?
Are we reconciling with grace, bearing burdens, and raising spiritual sons and daughters?
Do our ministries create homes or just host events?
This is why we emphasize LifeGroups—because true discipleship requires proximity and shared life. And it’s why we aim for a multigenerational church—where spiritual mothers, fathers, and younger believers walk together in growth and mission.
2. The Church Is the Pillar and Buttress of the Truth
(“…the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” – 1 Tim 3:15)
Paul uses architectural imagery to describe the church’s role in upholding truth. A pillar lifts and displays truth publicly. A buttress supports and stabilizes it under pressure. In a culture where truth is relative and compromise common—even within the church—we are called to proclaim and protect the truth of the gospel.
This wasn’t abstract for Timothy. In Ephesus, false teachings were infiltrating the church (1:3–7). Paul is calling the church to guard and live out the truth, not just preach it.
As Timothy Keller says, “The church is the place where the truth of God is made visible, not only in doctrine but in life.”
Application:
To be a pillar and buttress of truth means:
Preaching the full counsel of God’s Word, even the hard parts.
Gently pointing struggling people to the gospel, not vague clichés.
Practicing what we proclaim—grace, reconciliation, holiness.
Speaking the truth to each other in LifeGroups and friendships—not with cold correction, but loving clarity.
We must hold truth and live it in love. If we only teach but don’t embody it, we become hypocrites. If we love without truth, we lose the gospel. But when we do both, we become a strong, visible witness in a crumbling world.
3. The Church Is Centered on the Mystery of Christ
(“Great indeed… is the mystery of godliness.” – 1 Tim 3:16)
“Mystery” in the New Testament refers not to something hidden forever, but something once veiled and now revealed. The mystery of godliness is not a method—it’s a person: Jesus Christ.
Paul presents an early Christian hymn, summarizing the gospel:
Manifested in the flesh – Jesus became truly human.
Vindicated by the Spirit – Raised from the dead by God’s power.
Seen by angels – His victory recognized in heaven.
Proclaimed among the nations – The gospel goes global.
Believed on in the world – Lives are transformed by faith.
Taken up in glory – Jesus reigns at the right hand of the Father.
This is the truth we lift up. Jesus is the center—not personalities, programs, or performance. He is our message, our model, our power.
Application:
To be centered on Christ means:
Preaching Christ, not just life advice or morality.
Pointing one another to Jesus in LifeGroups, not just giving support.
Forming kids and youth not in good behavior but gospel transformation.
Returning to the cross in moments of church conflict or hurt.
Planning worship and outreach to exalt Christ, not just attract crowds.
We measure our success not by numbers or polish, but by this question:
Did we lift up Jesus?
Conclusion
Paul didn’t write to give the church a manual. He wrote to remind us who we are:
The household of God—a family shaped by grace and truth.
The pillar and buttress of the truth—holding fast to the gospel in teaching and life.
A people centered on the mystery of Christ—rooted in His life, death, resurrection, and reign.
This is the kind of church we must be for the next generation. Because when we forget who we are, we drift. But when we remember, we grow in unity, faithfulness, and power.
Let us be a church that lives out our identity, reflects God’s beauty, and displays the gospel in word and deed—for the sake of the world and those yet to come.
Reflection Questions:
Are you living as part of God’s household—or just attending?
Are you helping to uphold and live the truth—or staying silent?
Is Christ truly at the center of your life and ministry?
Let’s come to God in prayer—confessing where we’ve drifted, thanking Him for grace, and asking Him to help us live as His church: gospel-shaped, Christ-centered, and rooted in love.