1 Timothy Archives | Core Church LA

Walking with Wisdom in Evil Days

Walking With Wisdom When The World Feels Dark

The Bible calls us to live “awake.” That sounds simple. It is not.
Ephesians 5:14–17 says:

“Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

God tells us the days are evil. He does not hide it. You see it in the news, and in your city. And you may even feel it in your own home.
In times like this, walking with wisdom matters even more.

What “Walking With Wisdom” Really Means

“Walking” in the Bible often means “how you live each day.”
“Walking with wisdom” means you live with your eyes open. You do not drift. Instead, you think, pray and choose.

You do not just follow feelings or copy culture. You follow Christ.

That word “careful” in verse 15 points to watching your step. A wise person looks where they walk. They think about where each step leads. Every choice shapes a path.

You ask:

Will this draw me close to Jesus?
Will this dull my heart to Him?
Will this help someone see Christ?

The wise walk aims at eternity, not just comfort today.

Walking With Wisdom In Evil Days

The text says, “because the days are evil.” That feels true right now.
Paul told Timothy what the last days look like (2 Timothy 3:1–4). People love self and money. They brag, and they hate what is good, chasing pleasure over God. That reads like a news feed.

God told Daniel that in the end “knowledge will increase” (Daniel 12:4). We see that too. Tech grows fast. Devices change each year. Knowledge grows, but wisdom shrinks. People become clever sinners, not holy saints.

You live in that world. Your kids grow up in that world. This is why walking with wisdom matters so much.

You cannot stop the last days. You can live wise in them.

Redeeming The Time: How To Use Your Days Well

Ephesians 5:16 says, “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
The Greek idea behind “making the most” is like buying back. You “redeem” time from waste, pull it out of the grip of sin and flesh, and use it for God.

You only get so many days. Only God knows how many.
So ask:

What steals my time with God?
What robs my mind of peace?
What dulls my heart to His voice?

Maybe it is endless scrolling, or a hobby that grew too big. Maybe it is friends who pull you from Christ.

When you start walking with wisdom, you say “yes” to what feeds your soul. You say “no” to what drains your spirit.

Knowing God’s Will In A Confused World

Verse 17 says, “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
God’s will is not a guessing game. He makes key parts very clear.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 says:

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God wants people saved. He wants them to know truth. He sent Jesus as the one Mediator and ransom (1 Timothy 2:5–6). When you live in line with that, you live wise.

You share hope, and you warn in love. You invite people to Christ. And you stand for truth, but with a broken heart, not a hard one.

How To Start Walking With Wisdom Today

You do not need a PhD to start walking with wisdom. But you do need a soft heart.

Open your Bible each day, even if only a few verses.
Ask the Spirit to show sin, and then turn from it.
Watch your steps. Think about where choices lead.
Keep eternity in view, not just this week.

You will not do this perfect. None of us do.
But when you fall, do not stay down. Get back up. Keep walking with wisdom with your eyes on Christ.

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Seeds of the Church

Every apple has a few seeds. You can count them pretty easily. But no one can count how many apples those seeds will produce over time. That’s how it is with the seeds of the church. You might only see what’s right in front of you. But God sees generations down the road. He sees the legacy.

This is what Paul was teaching young Timothy in 1 Timothy 4—that his life, teaching, and faith were not just for the people around him, but for those who would come after.

Don’t Underestimate the Seeds of the Church

Paul starts in 1 Timothy 4:1 by warning about the future. He says some people will walk away from the faith. They’ll listen to lies and follow wrong paths. That’s a hard truth. But Paul didn’t stop there. He said to train yourself for godliness (verse 7), and to stay focused on what really matters—preaching the truth and living it out every day.

Timothy was young. Some might’ve thought he didn’t have much to offer. But Paul told him not to let anyone look down on him because of his age. Instead, he said to be an example—in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.

This is where the seeds of the church take root. When believers live out their faith, others take notice. You may not preach from a pulpit, but your life preaches every day. And those small actions? They grow into something big.

Every Believer Can Plant Seeds

Paul reminded Timothy in verse 14 not to neglect the gift God gave him. God gives each of us spiritual gifts to build up the church. Whether you’re a teacher, a greeter, a musician, a helper, or a prayer warrior, your gift matters. But it only works if you use it.

Timothy’s job was to teach and preach. But he couldn’t just do it once and quit. Paul told him to be diligent, to keep growing, and to keep giving it his all. When you stay faithful to what God gave you, others will grow too. That’s how the church gets stronger—one seed at a time.

Think about this: someone planted a seed of faith in you. Maybe it was a parent, a pastor, or a friend. And now you get to plant seeds in others. You don’t always see the fruit right away. But just like an apple seed grows into a tree over time, your faith can grow in someone else and bear fruit for years—even long after you’re gone.

Your Legacy Starts Now

You don’t have to be famous to make a difference. You don’t need a big stage or a big following. All you need is a heart willing to obey God and help others grow in Him. That’s how Paul poured into Timothy. And that’s how Timothy poured into others. And now that faith has come all the way down to you and me.

The seeds of the church are still being planted today. So plant them well. Water them with prayer. Shine God’s love on them daily. Because only God knows how many lives will grow from one seed of faith.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

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From High Schooler to Pastor

God loves to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things through them. The story of going from high schooler to pastor shows how God can transform a life when someone is willing to follow Him.

This Bible study is built on two powerful passages: 1 Timothy 3, which gives the character traits of a pastor, and Mark 1:17, where Jesus calls His first disciples with just a few words: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

The Call of Jesus is Always Personal

In Mark 1:17, Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow Him. He didn’t ask them to fill out a form or go to Bible school first. He simply said, “Follow Me.” That’s exactly what He does today. He calls regular people, often in simple moments, and says, “Come with Me. I will change you.”

That’s what happened to one young man. He was just a high school student sitting in church when God touched his heart. He stood up, walked to the front, and gave his life to Christ. That moment changed everything.

The path from high schooler to pastor started with just one step of obedience.

God Looks for Open Vessels

That young man didn’t just stop at salvation. He got involved in the high school ministry. He showed up, listened, served, and started going on missions. SWAT trips—short for Students With A Testimony—took him all over the world. On those trips, he led others to Jesus.

God often chooses people who are open. That’s what Paul meant in 1 Timothy 3. The chapter lays out the qualities of someone who desires to be a pastor. He must be above reproach, faithful, humble, wise, gentle, and grounded in God’s Word. These are not things you get from a classroom—they grow in your life as you walk with Jesus daily.

From high schooler to pastor, the shaping happens in the small, faithful steps.

Mentorship Makes a Big Difference

That young man didn’t grow alone. Someone poured into him. He had a spiritual mentor who prayed with him, taught him, and took him under his wing. At the time, no one knew that young man would marry the mentor’s daughter and become family. But God knew.

That young man became a pastor at Harvest. Later, he and his wife moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where he planted a church called Jesus City Church just two blocks from Martin Luther King Jr.’s church on Dexter Avenue. From a storefront, they’ve reached so many people with the gospel.

God Still Calls and Equips

If God could take a young man from a church seat and send him into full-time ministry, He can do it again and again. Maybe He’s calling you. Or maybe you’re the one called to pour into someone else.

The journey from high schooler to pastor is never about ability—it’s about availability. Say yes to Jesus and see where He leads.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.