God's Most Wanted List
Sermon Notes
Welcome, CityBridge Family! This morning, David Marvin is guiding us through 1 Timothy 2:1-7, where Paul urges the church to prioritize prayer—lifting up all people, including those in authority—because God desires everyone to come to know Him. He reminds us that Jesus is the one mediator between God and humanity, the ransom given for all. Through this passage, we see that prayer isn’t just a religious practice; it’s a powerful, God-given responsibility. To help you reflect and apply this truth, we've provided a weekly reading plan with discussion questions. You can find it on the CityBridge App to follow along!
Main Takeaway
Prayer is our direct access to God, given through Jesus, our mediator; don’t neglect the power and responsibility of lifting all people before Him.
Discussion Questions
Paul urges believers to prioritize prayer. In what ways do you personally make prayer a priority in your daily life? What challenges keep you from doing so?
Paul instructs us to pray for "all people," including those in authority. How does praying for leaders (even those we may disagree with) change our perspective and attitude toward them?
Paul emphasizes that God "desires all people to be saved." How does this truth shape the way we interact with others, especially those who don’t share our faith?
Paul reminds Timothy that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity. How does this truth affect the way we approach God in prayer?
Reflecting on the passage, what is one specific way you can grow in your prayer life this week? How can our group support one another in this area?
Transcript
You can prioritize prayer without ignoring reality. Paul is writing to Timothy, a young leader in a challenging situation. The church in Ephesus is dealing with internal struggles, external opposition, and a culture that doesn’t align with God’s truth. Paul acknowledges the difficulties but shifts their focus: "Here’s what you do first—pray."
Where are we at in this passage? We’re in a moment where the church needs direction. Paul lays out the order of things. In 1 Timothy 2, he moves from the message of the church (chapter 1) to the conduct of the church. And what’s first on the list? Prayer.
Paul doesn’t just suggest it; he urges it. He lists four different types of prayer—supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving. What’s the point? Just pray. Talk to God. Bring your needs, bring the needs of others, and don’t forget gratitude.
Who should we pray for? Paul says, "For all people." But then he gets specific—"for kings and all who are in high positions." That’s significant. Paul was living under Roman rule. The emperor at the time was Nero, a man known for persecuting Christians, a man who burned believers as human torches. And Paul says, "Pray for him." Not just pray about him—pray for him. Pray that he would come to know the truth of the gospel.
This isn’t easy. It’s one thing to pray for your friends or family. It’s another thing to pray for leaders you don’t agree with, for people who seem set against God’s ways. But Paul reminds us why—because God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Paul roots this command in the gospel itself. There is one God. There is one mediator between God and humanity—Jesus Christ. He gave himself as a ransom for all. That’s the message. That’s the foundation. If Jesus died for all, we should be praying for all.
So what do we do? Abide in this truth. Stay with the God who listens. Keep bringing people before Him in prayer—leaders, neighbors, friends, and even enemies. Because when the people of God pray, the unimaginable happens.
