Godliness Is
Profitable

On May 4th, 2026, Pastor Phil Scott delivered a message that cut straight to the heart of what it means to live as a Christian in today's world. Drawing from 1 Timothy 4:8, he issued a challenge to the church: stop using God like a slot machine and start walking in godliness — because godliness is profitable in all things, not just some.

The Text That Started It All

Pastor Phil pointed out two words that deserve our full attention: profitable and all things. Physical exercise has some benefit — the Bible doesn't deny that. But godliness? Godliness touches every dimension of your life. Your finances. Your family. Your mind. Your future. Whatever your life consists of, if you follow holiness, it opens a new dimension you wouldn't have otherwise.

From "What God Does for Me" to "What God Wants from Me"

Pastor Phil made a candid observation about a generational shift in the church. Previous generations — old-time Pentecostals, old Baptists — taught on lifestyle. They taught people how to live. Somewhere along the way, the church pivoted to teaching almost exclusively about what God would do for you.

This isn't a rejection of God's blessings. It's a correction of priority. The question Pastor Phil is asking himself — and inviting the church to ask — is this: "God, what do You want from me?"

Seek First — Not Things

Jesus drew a clear line: the world runs after food, clothing, and comfort. That's the Gentile pursuit. The Christian pursuit is different. We seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And when we do that, He promises to add everything else.

Pastor Phil told the story of the evangelist John G. Lake — a man who had no food in his house and nothing to feed his family. Instead of panicking, he set the table, sat his family down, and blessed the food. Before he finished praying, someone knocked on the door and said, "The Lord told me to bring this to you." Several meals provided.

Then in the very next chapter, Jesus says ask, seek, knock — and it will be given. He's not contradicting Himself. In Matthew 6 He tells us not to seek after things. In Matthew 7 He tells us to seek God. The difference is the object. Seek God, and He provides your need. Seek your need, and you circumvent God.

Godliness Is an Internal Work

Pastor Phil addressed something the church has often gotten backwards: external religion is not godliness. Telling people to wear certain clothes, cut their hair a certain way, or follow external rituals does not produce godliness. It only dresses up the outside.

He referenced a church in Middle Tennessee where leaders were teaching that a certain physical appearance was a sign of godliness — that the temple had to look a certain way to be holy. That's not what the Word says. True godliness is an inward transformation, not an outward performance.

Put Off to Put On

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is a blueprint for the new life in Christ.

Pastor Phil used a simple illustration: his son, still half asleep, was trying to put his school clothes on over his pajamas. He'd forgotten to take anything off before putting something on. That's exactly how some Christians approach transformation — they add new behavior on top of old habits, instead of genuinely dealing with the old man.

Paul then gets specific. He's writing to the church — not unbelievers — when he lists things that need to go:

A Warning About Departing from the Faith

You can't depart from something you were never in. This passage is a warning specifically for people who have been in the faith. Seducing spirits and false doctrine don't come in with horns and a pitchfork — they come in gradually, through things that sound reasonable, that feel progressive, that are increasingly popular.

Pastor Phil made the point plainly: what is politically correct changes with the wind. God's Word does not. Before you decide what you believe based on what's popular, you better have your convictions established in Scripture. Because if you don't, the culture will do it for you.

What Makes a Good Minister

Paul's standard for Timothy — and by extension, every minister — is clear:

Not once did Paul tell Timothy that preaching prosperity or God's material blessings was the mark of a great minister. He told him to teach lifestyle. Sound doctrine. Godly principles. How to seek God. How to live under His lordship. That is the standard.