The Mystery of Godliness (2025-08-03, Cody Brobst, 1 Timothy 3:16)

Sermon on the early Christian confession in 1 Tim 3:16 by Pastor Cody Brobst

Application questions:

• As a group, share any recent moments you wish you could take back or re-write! 
  • How do you think about the difference between worldy embarrassment and Gospel exposure? Consider Jesus’s own trial (their goal vs. God’s goal) 
• Read 1 Timothy 3. What do you notice from this full list of godly behaviors? 
  • Especially given how 1 Timothy 4 begins, how does 1 Tim. 3:16 inform the way we interpret the point of the whole—specifically 1 Tim. 3:15?  
  • Hint: think about the role of the church through the lens of sola scriptura (by Scripture alone) to uphold the truth rather than to be the source of truth. 
• When you’ve heard things like “the mystery of godliness” in the past, what has naturally come to mind? Read Eph. 3:3-9 and Col. 1:26-27 for clear definitions. 
  • How is the idea here distinct from theological/spiritual paradoxes that we won't fully understand in our Earthly life? 
• Briefly, visit each of the hymn’s six phrases. What aspect of the good news of Jesus Christ does that particular line highlight?  
  • Why might it have been so important to the early Christians to sing about that repeatedly? 
• Where are you tempted to pretend you have it all together when you go to church?  Additionally, where might you be tempted to forget the weight of being at church? 
• As the Gospel is proclaimed and believed, are you more prone to get louder and market the Gospel? Just the opposite?

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