The Purpose Of All Preaching

I just started reading through 1 Timothy again and I was reminded of a stunning truth from Paul's letter: The purpose of his instruction, the purpose of his preaching and training was ... quite surprising.

• Paul doesn't say its to help people grow in knowledge of God
• Paul doesn't say its to help people grow closer to God

And I've used both of those statements to say to teens what I'm hoping they'll get out of "the talk" I'm about to preach! Paul says that as ministers and preachers of the Word,

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith" 
--1 Timothy 1:5

Love.

Not the kind of love that movies (like Transformers: Dark of The Moon) preach or tv shows (like The Bachelorette) preach. 

But love that comes as result of having a pure heart before God

love that comes as a result of having a clean conscience in your actions

love that comes as a result of having a sincere faith in Jesus.

That's the kind of love that Paul is after. Paul doesn't want people to know/understand the "talk" as much as he wants them to live out the gospel message. Paul wants his Christian listeners to love God and others because of their relationship with God. 

It's a verse I wanted to remember. So I wrote a song about it. Here are the lyrics.

Our Love

By: Justin Ahlgrim

I see pages in the magazines

pictures on the silver screen

tv shows with wayward teens

all are telling

myths of what is real and true

that life and love are all virtues

of our design

is there more to this love than just a feeling?

is there more to this love than just us?

OUR LOVE COMES FROM A PURE HEART

OUR LOVE HAS NO REGRET

OUR LOVE IS NOT ABOUT US

BUT IT COMES FROM FAITH IN HIM

I see 12 year olds who serve the poor

men of old give more and more

and parents pray upon the floor

all are telling

me there's something more than this

more than temporary bliss

of our design

yes there's more to this love than just a feeling

God's planned more for this love than just us

OUR LOVES COMES FROM A PURE HEART

OUR LOVE HAS NO REGRET

OUR LOVE IS NOT ABOUT US

BUT IT COMES FROM FAITH IN HIM

do not settle for anything less

not knowledge not self not arguing about hell

not fortune not fear not how we were put here

but let your charge and aim be always the same

love that comes from a pure heart

love that has no regret

love that is not about us

love that comes from faith in Him

OUR LOVE COMES FROM A PURE HEART

OUR LOVE HAS NO REGRET

OUR LOVE IS NOT ABOUT US

BUT IT COMES FROM FAITH IN HIM