Controversy and contentment

Discipleship in the church
Controversy and contentment-outline
1 Timothy 6:3-10
Teaching that doesn’t promote godliness produces covetousness not contentment

1) If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing, 6:3-4a.
How does Paul describe the “different doctrine” that some were teaching? What is the relationship between sound (healthy) words about Jesus Christ and godliness? In what ways is a person who doesn’t agree with healthy words about Christ and the teaching that produces godliness conceited and ignorant?

2) He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain, 6:4b-5.
What is the result in a church of teachers who have an unhealthy craving for controversy and word wars? Why are they described as being depraved in mind and deprived of the truth? Those who preach a “prosperity gospel” say that if you have enough faith, God will give you health and wealth. How is this an example of believing that godliness is a means of financial gain?

3) But godliness with contentment is great gain, 6:6.
What is contentment? What does it not mean to be content? What does Paul say about contentment in Philippians 4:11-13? In what ways is godliness with contentment gain?

4) for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world, 6:7.
How does what Paul says in this verse connect with what he said in verse 6?

5) But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content, 6:8.
How is this verse a reality check for what it means to be content?

6) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction, 6:9.
What are examples of falling into snares (traps), and senseless and harmful desires due to desiring to be rich? Why might these things plunge people into (eternal) ruin and destruction?

7) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs, 6:10.
In what ways is the love of money the root of all kinds of evil? How can craving money lead a person to wander away from the faith? The word for pang (pain) has the sense of great distress; intense anxiety. People think more money brings happiness. What does Paul say? What does Hebrews 13:5 say should be the source of our contentment and satisfaction?