Teaching God’s Work

Pastor Matt Coombe

On Guard

1 Timothy 6:20-21

1 Timothy 6:20-21: O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Big Idea: God has called us to guard what He has entrusted to us. 

G.U.A.R.D.

G — ______________ what God has given you

“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust…”

The gospel, sound doctrine, the apostolic deposit—the truth entrusted to Timothy is something he is a ______________ of, not an ______________ of.

1. A review of Timothy’s Guardianship (Themes of first Timothy):

Theme one: Sound Doctrine and False Teachers

            False teachers seek to own instead of steward

            False teachers are ______________ and ______________

            False teachers hate or diminish ______________

            False teachers promote ______________ that is unbiblical

            Theme two: Qualifications for Elders (Church leaders)

            Church leaders are not necessarily the most spiritual or godly, 

rather they are specifically called and gifted

            Theme three: Godly Living and Discipline

            Theme four: Caring for Various Groups within the church

            Theme five: Contentment and Warnings about Wealth

            Theme six: The Centrality of Christ and Salvation

2. A General sense of Guard: Guard the Gospel, the fundamentals of Christianity. 

3. A Specific sense of Guard: What is your spiritual act of worship?

U — ______________ ______________ words must be avoided

“…avoiding the profane and idle babblings…”

Not every conversation deserves engagement. Some speech is not merely wrong; it is empty, distracting us from what has actually been entrusted to us. 

A — ______________ counterfeit knowledge

“…and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge…”

There is knowledge, and then there is knowledge falsely so called. Christianity is not opposed to knowledge; Paul is warning against something masquerading as enlightenment while contradicting revealed truth.

R — ______________ that people really can wander

“…by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”

Ideas have destinations. False teaching is not merely an intellectual mistake—it can move a person away from the faith.

People wander from the faith, when their worldview is not grounded on the Bible

D--- ______________ upon grace

“Grace be with you. Amen.”

Our lives begin with grace and are sustained by Grace

Action Point (Reflection): Ask yourself, What am I guarding and why am I guarding it?

8-16-2026 Crosby Chapel

Sermon Notes

Prayer Spotlight

Robert & Stephanie Melotti, Tonto Basin, AZ

(Southwest District: Richard & Ellen Hayes)

Tonto Basin is a growing high desert community with a cowboy-western feel. Located about an hour and a half northeast of Phoenix, we have many retirees. The nearby lake attracts many seasonal visitors, but there are over 1,500 year-round residents. The local elementary and junior high school have about 80 students.

PRAYER REQUESTS: 1) Pray we can reach parents and children in the community. 2) Pray for our young families, that their marriages would stay strong in Christ. 3) Pray that new attenders get connected as church family. 4) Pray that God would sustain worship attendance in the very hot summer months.

Tonto Basin Bible Church

PO Box 84

Tonto Basin, AZ 85553

(928) 479-2299