I'm the Worst Sinner I Know: Authentic Community (1 Timothy 1.12-17)
This sermon was preached on September 14th, 2025.
There’s a powerful thing that happens every single day in church basements, in community centers, in all kinds of places. A woman or man will dare to admit something that for so many can be a source of shame to a room full of other people. “Hi, my name is Tim and I’m an alcoholic.”
It’s a confession of honesty, not humiliation. It’s an authentic revealing of struggle and history, it’s admitting a weakness—but it’s an owning of weakness and even an owning of failure that in truth is a confession of deep, deep power.
When AA works, it’s because there’s no pretending in the room. The costumes and false masks come off and people dare to confess because they know that the only way to find healing and victory is in community. When we turn to each other in authenticity and open eyes and struggle together.
I bring that up because this morning we’re looking through the lens of 1 Timothy 1 to talk about our church’s core value of Authentic Community: the idea that we are a community defined by the grace of God, joined together for love, flourishing, and encouragement.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
We Have to Give Up the Resumes
The passage we just read was written by the Apostle Paul, near the end of his life. He’s sent a man he had mentored closely named Timothy to the city of Ephesus to help the churches there, because chaotic division has hit the community there.
And it’s not chaos from outside. It’s actually coming from some of the leaders of the church there. They were teaching a way of life committed to building impressive resumes. That they were the A-team, and they should be listened to because they really had it all together.
They had pride in their supposed superior knowledge, thinking they were smarter than everyone else because of their knowledge of Scripture. That God had obviously found them capable and trustworthy to be leaders because they were so smart.
They had pride in their backgrounds, thinking that being able to show they had the right history—either by their last name or ties to “important” people.
They were very devoted people. In chapter 4 Paul says that they were teaching that really following Jesus means avoiding certain foods and forbidding marriage.
All of this is why the apostle Paul writes what he does in our passage today. They claim to be qualified because of their superior knowledge, backgrounds, and devotion? Paul says in v12 and 13: that he was considered truth worthy and appointed only because Jesus has given him strength. That, in fact, Paul had been a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man who was ignorant and unbelieving.
Paul is saying “I haven’t been judged faithful because I was especially committed to God! My standing before God and my calling to this ministry cannot be because of my resume. If I have any standing before God it has to be because of the work of Jesus on my behalf. It has to be the grace of God, because there can be no other explanation or foundation.”
Which is why he can say in v15: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” I am the foremost sinner. The chief of sinners.
Not was. I am. Present tense. Paul can say this scandalous thing because he knows that if the gospel of Jesus is true than the world of resumes and seeking praise from others has to be tossed aside.
Paul is mentioning all of this to Timothy because Timothy is addressing all of this resume thinking, contending for keeping the gospel central; and the way of keeping the gospel central is for Timothy, as a leader, to follow Paul in this.
It’s why he writes that this is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Repeat this over and over in the church and teach other people to do it too. Because it is only when we can maintain this humility in our relationships with one another that we will be able to defend against the insidious, tempting, and destructive power of thinking that we are valuable or worthy because of what we do or what we accomplish.
It is only keeping this truth in mind that will keep us from become harsh, prideful, harmful people. For it is only this recognition that will give us the freedom to not pretend—to own our struggles, to own our reality, to walk forward on truth and not in a costume. The freedom to be known and be loved. The freedom of authentic community.
Jesus did not die for our sins and rise from the grave in victory to join us together so that we will live false lives where we measure each other on stuff that doesn’t truly matter. He did not live, die, and rise again so that the church would look just like every other organization and institution in this world, who value people based on their achievements and measure our worth with numbers that will never truly add up.
But he did live, die, and rise from the dead to join us together as an authentic community where people are honored and valued because they are the image and likeness of God, people for whom the eternal Son of God would move heaven and earth to find and free.
The reality of Jesus—who he is and what he has done—means we can stop showing each other resumes and live authentically together.
We Have to Give Up Our Rap-sheets
Maybe you aren’t in danger of trying to build a resume. Maybe you’re someone who has the opposite issue: you’ve made such a mess of your life that you can’t imagine it as anything other than a failure.
But to confess that “I am a sinner” is to also confess, by faith, everything else that Paul says here. V12: he has received strength from Jesus. Jesus has counted him trustworthy (even though he wasn’t before the grace of Jesus found him). That Paul is appointed to his service.
V13, 16: I have been shown mercy.
V14: The grace of our Lord is poured out on me abundantly, along with faith and love.
V17: And now my life is to the praise of God: the King eternal.
Yes, I’m the worst sinner, but again—I’ve been shown mercy! Yes, Paul has a rap sheet. He’s listed those things that he’s done: blasphemer, violence, ignorance, lack of faith. But Jesus addressed all of that. And that rap sheet, as terrible as it is when Paul begins to list it, cannot override the reality of what God has done in Christ.
And now he can truly confess that he’s a sinner not for humiliation, but so that God will display his patience (meaning that his grace will not run out!) so that other people can see it and flee to Jesus, too.
In this authentic community we give up the idea of despair at the wrong we’ve done. I am a sinner, but because of Jesus, that’s not the whole story. My sin has to bow to King Jesus and give way to his forgiveness. My fears have to bow to King Jesus and give way to his hope. My wounds have to give way to his healing.
So our confession of sin never becomes us wallowing in guilt or a practice of always just remembering how bad we are. I don’t think Paul wrote these words here in 1 Timothy with a heart wracked with shame and guilt. No, because the repentance that God gives us does not leave us in shame and guilt.
Paul talks about this very thing in another letter he wrote. 2 Corinthians 7, he writes about the difference between what he calls worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow is when someone confesses that they are a sinner and it leads to “death”—meaning it leads to more shame, more guilt, more despair.
But godly sorrow? It’s when we can see the reality of who we are and flee to Jesus. As he says: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” And what does it produce? “Earnestness. Eagerness to clear yourself. Indignation and alarm and readiness to see justice be done.”
To confess our sins in authentic community is not to stay in shame. It’s to trod upon shame and us it as a stepping stone to life. To leave shame behind and lead God leads us to himself and form within us an eagerness for that which is good, beautiful, and true.
Do you feel deep shame and guilt about the things that you’ve done that are wrong? About the way you still struggle with sin? Then, don’t stay in that shame! Don’t remain in that guilt! Rise up in the power and name of Jesus and stomp on that shame and guilt as stepping stones toward a new way of life.
And never forget—you are a sinner, and you will be until all things are made new in the new heavens and new earth. But by faith you are a justified sinner. A transformed sinner. A sinner being changed by the always-sufficient, and always-enough love of God for you.
Authentic Community in Christ Church Dunn
I’ve mentioned this before, but I have conversations with people all the time where they’re essentially interviewing me about why they should come check out our church.
In truth, they’re usually looking for a kind of resume. And I’ll admit that I’ve given the resume, trying to impress them. By talking about how seriously we take Scripture and doctrine. I’ve tried to impress them talking about our church’s generosity. And neither of those are bad things. I’ve tried to impress them with how many books I read and the school I went to.
There’s a usefulness for a religious costume. Pastors do it all the time, whether we realize it always or not, and we inadvertently train others to do the same thing. Talk to kids raised in churches. For far too many, church was the place where they learned to pretend. Where they weren’t taught of the abundant grace of God, but were just taught to be orderly kids who perform well in public and doesn’t shame their family by acting out.
But what if we start taking what Paul is talking about in 1 Timothy really seriously? What if I started telling people: you know what? You should check out our church because I may be the worst sinner you’ve ever met. And if you come and join us you are going to be amazed at how generous God is with his grace. Because in Christ Church Dunn, we are a group of big sinners who have made big mistakes and don’t have it all together, and God has poured his grace out on us abundantly. You should join with us because we are the group of people who need God’ grace the most.”
What if our kids could come away from a childhood being raised in church as authentic, real adults who have no place for the costumes. Who know in their bones the depth of God’s love and grace for them because they have been nurtured in an authentic community and nourished by the gospel like trees planted beside a river?
Here’s the truth. I don’t know anyone who has acted with more selfishness in their life than me. I don’t know anyone who is a bigger sinner than me. The reason that I think God has called me to this work, and has called us together as a church, is because people will see that if God’s grace can find Tim Inman, then it can find anybody.
I’ve got nothing for you as a pastor if you’re looking for a great visionary leader, or if you’re looking for a moral authority that walks on some higher level. I’ve got nothing for you if you’re looking for someone who has it all together. But here’s what I do have—a love has found me that is stronger than my sin. A love has found me that is washing me clean. A love has found me that bends me out from myself to other people, and that is an absolute miracle.
Conclusion
God is not impressed with your resume, so stop trying to impress him. He is not dissuaded by your resume, so stop despairing. Don’t pretend. It’ll kill your soul and make you a harsh person with others.
But lets live together authentically, and watch the transformation that only God’s Holy Spirit can give come to life in our homes and in our wider community.
Jesus came into this world to save sinners, and honestly I’m the worst one that I know—and you’re pretty bad too. We’re probably the worst collection of sinners in Dunn, and I’m not joking or giving a false humility. And here’s the best thing in the world: God is always far more willing to give us his grace than we are to ask for it.
Let’s revel in the grace. And may our hearts join with Paul in v17…with our eyes off our resume and rap sheet, firmly set on Jesus, and say: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.