FIVE Minutes with Phil

I love baseball.   A year and a half ago, the Toronto Blue Jays season came to a close far too quickly. It came down to the final day of the season, and they beat the Baltimore Orioles resoundingly, but they had to count on the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox both losing. Boston came from behind in the last few innings to win, and the Yankees won in the bottom of the ninth, and just like t...

On numerous occasions through the years, I've been a part of a Pastor Search committee. It's really quite amazing to see the longlist of qualifications in a desired pastor. I especially like this list: A good pastor must have: the strength of an ox, the tenacity of a bulldog, the daring of a lion, the wisdom of an owl, the harmlessness of a dove, the industry of a beaver, the gentleness of a sheep...

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. Sometimes, Scripture is just plain confusing. For everything God created is good. Got that - God made it, it has a purpose, it fits God's purpose, and therefore it is good. Nothing is to be rejected. Huh. Okay, It's good, we should not call it bad, so I can go along with that. If it is received w...

For everything God created is good. It seems to be that there are exceptions to this. Like mosquitoes. And flies. Hornets and wasps. Poison ivy. Skunks. Need I say more? Everything? And yet, we know that these things all serve a purpose in God's eco-system. They are probably things we never would have thought of, or if we had, would have rejected the idea. Skunks are beneficial critters. They are...

aul then gives us a second examples of the kind of teaching these hypocritical liars are guilty of, so we're looking at them one at a time. Last week, it was forbidding people from marrying. Here, they're ordering people to abstain from certain foods. Food! Glorious Food! In our world, food choices go round and round. Not too many years ago, eggs were to be avoided at all cost, or you will get hig...

4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know th...

4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron . 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know...

So, 1 Timothy 4:1, what is it that the Spirit clearly says? "That in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." We know that is true, because the Scripture says it, but is there other evidence elsewhere in Scripture that some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits? Well, we know that in Luke 22, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Satan...

Welcome to a new era in FIVE Minutes with Phil. I'm Phil Routly, president and head coach of Soul Impact. Since 2021, I've been writing, recording and producing weekly posts and podcasts which appeared on my website, philroutly.com, and on Spotify. Beginning this week, they are on my Youtube channel, @soulimpact. I'd really appreciate it if you would subscribe! So as of today, you can watch it, li...

Ready of not, here it comes! As we are getting ready to enter 2023, I've been reminded how important it is for us to have a kind of map in our heads of where we have been, where we are, where we are heading, and what we expect that journey to look like. I'm writing "The Seven C's of a Disciple," and the first C is Clarity, so it only makes sense that we do all we can to be really clear of three th...

Peace doesn't come naturally to us. It did in the garden, but when Adam and Eve decided to ignore the words of God, they set the pattern - and the destination - for all of us. Since then, the moments of peace have been rare. Jesus came to bring a peace which is impossible without him. It's impossible because it's a standard we are incapable of attaining on our own, based upon having a peaceful rel...

Joy is a word that is splashed all over the story of the first Christmas. And beyond. It begins with the angel Gabriel telling Zechariah that his son, who will be John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah, "will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth" ( Luke 1 :14). When the pregnant Mary visits Zechariah's wife, the baby in Elizabeth's womb "leaped for...

I remember falling in love. We were young - still in high school - and we lived about a hundred miles apart. We saw each other as often as possible (once or twice a month) and made weekly long-distance phone calls on Sunday nights, late in the evening when the rates went down. I was willing to make any sacrifice necessary to spend time with her, but the options weren't there in those days. Eventua...

It was a very dark world. Extremely dark. The descendants of Abraham had rebelled against God, and they had gone into captivity as a result. And then He had restored them to Jerusalem, but once again, they had neglected Him and pursued the pleasures of the world and the religions of their neighbours. So, God stopped talking to them. For four hundred long years, he remained silent. Then, along came...

Deacons are to be worthy of respect Sincere not      indulging in much wine not      pursuing dishonest gain. keep hold      of the deep truths of the faith with a      clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as     &...

Able to Teach So that leaves only one - number 7 - and the one that distinguishes the qualifications of Elders or Overseers from Deacons, in what follows. I don't think it matters what precise structure a church uses, whether it's a Deacon's Board, an Elder's Board, a Ministry Board, or something else. In fact, I don't see anything here that says "People with these qualifications are to meet month...

From 1 Timothy 3, here's the list of qualifications for Overseers - for those who should be leading the church Above reproach Faithful to his wife Temperate Self-controlled Respectable Hospitable Able to teach (which we'll      come back to next time) Not given to drunkenness Not violent but gentle Not quarrelsome Not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well an...

One thing I have noticed, especially in smaller churches, is that the need for leaders is so great that often anyone who can fog a mirror is qualified. That can be a very serious mistake. I have seen the results on church boards and councils where the only qualification was willingness to serve. Even though the intent might be good, the long-term result won't be. And I think that is why Paul is la...

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? I'm reminded of the parable of the Talents, as told by Jesus in Matthew 25. The Kingdom of God is like a man going on a journey, but before he goes, he entrusts his property to three of his employees, each according to his ability. To one, he gives $1,000,000 (a talent is about 20 years salary @ $50K = $1M...

Now, how about "His children will obey him." I remember a conversation with single twenty-something woman about the meaning of children. We disagreed on when a child is no longer a child. By that I mean, at what point in life is a child free to make their own life decisions. Parents and their adult children will disagree on many things throughout their lives. Are the adult children still required...

He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?). There's a lot here, so let's break it down a little. He must manage his own family well. His children obey him. He is worthy of full respect.

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to … be able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

If you didn't read or listen to the introduction to 1 Timothy Chapter 3, I'd suggest you go there first. Here's the LINK . Paul give us a list of qualifications for those who aspire for a leadership role in their local church. Here's the list for those who serve as pastors, overseers, or elders. Then we'll break it down: The leaders with the most responsibility are to be: Above reproach Faithful t...

One of the most challenging aspects of having a healthy, growing church is having healthy, growing leaders. If you believe as I do, that everything rises and falls on leadership, it's not hard to see why Paul approached this subject with his mentee, Timothy. These first 7 verses of the third chapter set the bar pretty high. But then again, it is for those who lead in the body of Christ.

11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. Okay - her...