Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin

Episode: Training in Godliness (S18E7)

Date: February 17, 2025
Host: Pastor Joby Martin
Guests: Pastor Britt, Pastor Vinky

Episode Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into 1 Timothy, focusing on how training in godliness impacts both personal faith and the wider church community. Pastor Joby Martin and his guests explore what it means to live out the gospel “in the household of God,” the tension between mystery and clarity in faith, the pitfalls of legalism, and practical steps for spiritual growth. Through stories, laughter, and transparent struggles, they invite listeners to pursue godliness as a community shaped by grace, humility, and mutual encouragement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behaving in the Household of God

[00:17 - 06:01]

• The starting point is Paul’s instructions about conduct in "the household of God." Respect and consideration for others are just as important in the church as in the family home.
• Pastor Joby draws a humorous and relatable analogy between house rules and church culture:

  "If you’re ever making it about yourself, you’re not doing the right thing. If you’re being a mess, you’re not thinking about who else is going to clean up after you." (Joby, [04:28])

• The church exists as a people to belong to, not merely a place to consume goods and services.
• The discussion touches on personal humility, authenticity, and the way ordinary family life – like taking out the trash – keeps leaders grounded.
• Memorable Quote:

  "The church isn’t a place to go. It’s a people to belong to. And when you belong to a people, you have other people under the glory of God in mind." (Joby, [04:37])

2. The Church as Pillar and Buttress of Truth

[07:24 - 10:59]

• The church’s role is to uphold and showcase God’s truth amid a world full of lies and confusion.
• Joby explains the architectural metaphor:

  "It’s architectural terminology... the church’s job is to lift up, hold, secure the truth... There’s not your truth and my truth, those are called opinions. There is the truth, which is the word of God." (Joby, [08:08])

• The discussion addresses contemporary issues (e.g., government overreach, moral confusion) and emphasizes the need for uncompromising truth rooted in Scripture.

3. The Mystery and Clarity of Godliness

[11:09 - 18:27]

• Exploring 1 Timothy’s “mystery of godliness,” the hosts wrestle with how salvation is both clear and wondrously mysterious.
• Joby summarizes the gospel’s facets:

  "It’s personal, supernatural, eternal, global, practical and final." (Joby, [12:29])

• The group describes godliness as both a positional reality ("in Christ") and an ongoing transformation.
• Memorable Reflection:

  "This is why I find myself leaning into the big glory of God preachers... you get a whole bunch of preaching about the mystery of godliness because of the gospel of Jesus Christ." (Joby, [17:21])

4. Warnings Against Legalism and Over-Asceticism

[18:27 - 23:32]

• Paul’s warning about “later times” (chapter 4) is both historically relevant and perennial—a caution to remain vigilant about false teachings, legalism, and works-based righteousness.
• Joby explains local context (Essenes, extreme ascetic practices) and the constant temptation to add requirements to the gospel.
• Sharp Observation:

  "The devil does not want you to believe in grace. Any works-based righteousness is void of grace." (Joby, [21:07])

• The prosperity gospel is critiqued, but so is its opposite—a legalistic poverty mindset that denies God’s good gifts.

5. Navigating God’s Blessings — Prosperity vs. Poverty Mindset

[23:32 - 27:12]

• The team discusses discerning the right place for material blessings, emphasizing joyful generosity, stewardship, and seeking counsel.
• "Anything I have that I would have a temptation to... do for selfish gain, honestly, I just put it in His hands or put it in the hands of people I trust." (Britt, [24:08])
• "If you’re bringing your first and best, then your first instinct does not need to be like, 'Oh, can I not enjoy this golf membership?'... There is so much freedom in obedience." (Joby, [25:57])

6. Training for Godliness — The Analogy of Physical Training

[27:12 - 36:19]

• Spiritual growth is like physical training: gradual, intentional, requiring both discipline ("mortify") and positive pursuit ("vivify").
• "You’re never going to just be in this relentless pursuit of comfort and convenience and be godly. It doesn’t work that way. You have to train." (Joby, [28:12])
• The risk of instant gratification culture undermines spiritual growth:

  "Instant gratification has to be a demonic lie... There’s no way for you to truly enjoy life when your conscience is a slave to sin." (C, [33:46])

7. The Power of Confession, Community, and Testimony

[36:19 - 39:59]

• Powerful testimony: A woman’s freedom from decades of shame over a past abortion, found through confession, community, and the gospel.
• She "dragged [her sin] into the light of the gospel... and the shame of that is not over her head anymore." (Joby, [36:19])
• The importance of not keeping sin invisible:

  "If you let sin stay in an insignificant category, pretty soon you’re going to be impotent spiritually—meaning you just have no power and no authority." (C, [39:59])

8. Progress, Encouragement, and Prophecy in Community

[43:28 - 53:51]

• The best leaders model visible, honest progress, not unattainable perfection.
• "You don’t have to be perfect, and everybody else should see you grow." (B, [43:33])
• Words of encouragement and truth-telling are a form of prophecy that activate spiritual gifts and purpose in others:

  "Prophecy doesn’t just mean predicting the future. It just means saying things that are true in alignment with the character nature of God. We need more of that in the church." (Joby, [49:06])

• The impact of "encouragement" as literally “putting courage in” someone fighting spiritual battles.

9. Legacy, Faithfulness, and God’s Surprising Work

[45:15 - 52:29]

• Seemingly small acts of faithfulness can have generational and global impact—even when we rarely see the full effect.
• "You have no idea what hangs in the balance... your grandchildren are raised in the church, and they start off with a moral compass that is about the glory of God and human flourishing." (Joby, [45:15])
• The lasting power of affirmation and encouragement in shaping destinies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Purpose of Truth:

  "The reason you hold up the truth is because outside of it, you’re not going to even break God’s word. You’re going to break yourself against it." (Joby, [09:13])

• On Gospel Mystery:

  "The mystery is that a holy God would even want wretched people... The why is for God’s glory, because he wants to." (Joby, [11:58])

• On Community and Confession:

  "She just wanted to come up to me tonight... she is just walking in the freedom of the forgiveness of Christ and the shame of that is not over her head anymore." (Joby, [36:19])

• On Training for Godliness:

  "You’re never going to just be in this relentless pursuit of comfort and convenience and be godly. You have to train." (Joby, [28:12])

• On Encouragement as Prophecy:

  "Encourage means to put courage in because the enemy doesn’t want you to have courage. Enemy wants you to have fear." (Joby, [51:00])

• On Spiritual Legacy:

  "All of us, we have no idea... the lives of your great grandchildren that you may never meet could be radically different because now you train yourself for godliness instead of chasing after the temporary things of this world." (Joby, [45:15])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Behaving in God’s Household: [00:17 – 06:01]
• Church as Pillar and Buttress of Truth: [07:24 – 10:59]
• Mystery of Godliness (gospel clarity and wonder): [11:09 – 18:27]
• Warnings Against Legalism and Asceticism: [18:27 – 23:32]
• Prosperity, Poverty Mindset, and Stewardship: [23:32 – 27:12]
• Training for Godliness – Spiritual Disciplines: [27:12 – 36:19]
• Testimonies & Power of Confession: [36:19 – 39:59]
• Encouragement, Leadership, and Progress: [43:28 – 53:51]

Conclusion

The episode delivers a practical, heartfelt, and sometimes humorous framework for "training in godliness":

• Embrace your place in the household of God as a member of a people, not a consumer.
• Celebrate the mysterious grace of the gospel while pursuing visible progress in Christlikeness.
• Reject both legalism and the pursuit of comfort; train for godliness with humility, transparency, and encouragement.
• Remember the legacy of your faithfulness may shape generations and nations, even if you don’t see all the results this side of eternity.

“Let’s just be another faithful link in the chain of what [God] is doing... for His glory, to the ends of the earth.” (Joby’s closing prayer, [54:26])

For those seeking to deepen their faith, this episode offers encouragement, gentle challenge, and hope that small steps of faithfulness in God’s family can echo far beyond what we see.