Like most Christ-empowered works over the last two thousand years, The Kalós Center (coming soon) has been birthed out of a simple scripture study. In Spring 2017, I was pondering on Paul’s two amazing letters to his spiritual son, Timothy, and as I was doing a Lectio Divina (a slow meditative reading) in the first chapter of 2nd Timothy, one phrase was shimmering for me. In case you’re not familiar with this term (shimmering) it simply means that as one slowly meditates on the text, asking the Holy Spirit for illumination, one phrase or word will tend to stand out (shimmer) brighter than the rest. This was the case for me with this phrase our Scriptures call 2^ndTimothy 1: 14…

Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us. (MsgB)

Paul’s language here intrigued me. So much so, that I decided to do an extensive word study on this one phrase. And it’s that extensive word study which then prompted me to share my findings in this blog series, which has now led my wife and I to undertake the beginnings of The Kalós Center: A Center for 3-C Contemplative Activism located in the Heartland of America (coming soon).

Whew! See what happens when you slow down long enough to actually meditate on God’s Word?

In this 26-session blog series, Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure, we explore these questions in depth….re-examining, and hopefully re-storing, this precious treasure of ministry that has been deposited into us by the work of the Holy Spirit. Are you ready for a kalós* reformation in your life, a quiet fire of God-renewal? We invite you to come along with us as well.

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*So, what is kalós?

Kalós comes from a New Testament Greek word which simply means “good.” The apostle Paul, when writing to his young apprentice, Timothy, decided to combine this common adjective, kalós (Strong’s 2570), with a second Greek word, parathéké (Strong’s 3866), a noun which means a deposit or trust committed to one’s charge. As a result, the apostle ends up with one, very powerful phrase! A command that both Timothy, and you and I, truly need to take note of as we continue this ancient work of serving Christ and His Church! “Guard this kalós (this good work, this beautiful deposit, this precious treasure) placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.” 2nd Timothy 1: 14

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Below, you will find a complete list of all the posts (26 blogs) of this series. We suggest that you bookmark this home page for ease of use. Enjoy!

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: Our Introduction.

Kalós Parathéké: The Precious Treasure. (2^nd Timothy 1: 13-14)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: My Kalós Story.

1.1           So, What’s Your Kalós Story? (2^nd Timothy 1: 6)

1.2           Taking in the Sacred Scriptures. (2^nd Timothy 3: 14-17)

1.3           Calming the Storm Within. (1^st Timothy 6: 20-21)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: Paul, the Older Pastor.

2.1           On Special Assignment for Christ. (1^st Timothy 1: 1; 2^nd Timothy 1: 1; 1^st Timothy 1: 10b-11)

2.2           Tossing Out Our Credentials. (1^st Timothy 1: 12-14)

2.3           A Living Proof to God’s Endless Patience. (1^st Timothy 1: 15b-17)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: Timothy, the Younger Pastor.

3.1           The Son I Love So Much. (1^st Timothy 1: 2a; 2^nd Timothy 1: 2-3; 2^nd Timothy 3: 10-11)

3.2           The Special Gift of Ministry – Keeping It Ablaze! (2^nd Timothy 1: 4-7)

3.3           Keeping a Firm Grip on Our Faith and Ourselves. (1^st Timothy 1: 18-19)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: Our Core Message.

4.1           Finding Our Core Message Midst All The Words. (1^st Timothy 1: 15a; 1^st Timothy 2: 4-7)

4.2           Jesus Crucified, Raised from the Dead. (2^nd Timothy 2: 8-13)

4.3           Some Things Are Clear Enough. (1^st Timothy 3: 14-16, 1^st Timothy 6: 13-16)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: Our Core Work.

5.1           Job One – Soul Care: Pursuing A Righteous Life. (1^st Timothy 6: 10-12)

5.2           Do-Do-Doing vs. Pray-Pray-Praying. (1^st Timothy 2: 1-3, 8-10)

5.3           Becoming A Gentle Listener. (2^nd Timothy 2: 22-26; 1^st Timothy 1: 8)

5.4           Life-Giving Words & Works. (1^st Timothy 4: 11-16)

5.5           Faithful Generosity. (2^nd Timothy 2: 1-7)

5.6           Simple Love. (1^st Timothy 1: 5-7; 1^st Timothy 2: 15b)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: In Troubled Times.

6.1           House-Cleaning Begins At Home. (2^nd Timothy 3: 1-5)

6.2           Illusions, Lies & Silly Stories. (1^st Timothy 4: 1-2, 6-10)

6.3           Sin Management vs. Going After God. (1^st Timothy 6: 2b-10; 17-19)

6.4           Guard the Kalós: Keep Going. (2^nd Timothy 1: 8-12)

6.5           The Kalós Essentials. Over and Over Again. (2^nd Timothy 2: 14-15)

6.6           The Kalós: A Bridge Over Troubled Water. (2^nd Timothy 4: 1-5)

Kalós: Guarding the Precious Treasure: Our Conclusion.

The Kalós Baton Is Now In Your Hand. (2^nd Timothy 4: 6-8, 22)

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Click here to see a complete list of Scriptures used in this series. As you go through this blog series, we suggest that you use the ancient tool of Lectio Divina as you approach each scriptural text we give you in this blog. Lectio Divina is a slow, intentional reading of the Holy Scriptures. Take your time as you ponder the text slowly, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate God’s Word for you as you read. Ask the Master as you read, “Jesus, what in this passage do I need to hear today?”