We finish off this week with Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Paul makes this letter more personal by speaking to Timothy about how to maintain his own walk in Christ.
2 Timothy 1: Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,
12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,
17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me---
18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!---and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
2 Timothy 2: A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful---for he cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honourable use, some for dishonourable.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Things to think about…
1. Paul for what some would say can be hard line rhetoric, displays a tenderness and compassion towards Timothy, his young son in the faith, 2Tim1:1-4. He remembers Timothy with love and tears. Let us all have a holy affection towards each other. Can you honestly say you love the people who attend church with you? If not, something needs to be adjusted from your end. While we are a mixture of people and personalities a holy love and affection should be part of the heart culture of any church wanting to display the love and affection of Christ.
2. Having said that, Paul does not back away from the truth that Timothy needs to hear. Timothy was timid. Paul says Timothy needs his gift to be fanned into flame, 1 Tim 1:6. Timothy needed to be more bold, 2Tim1:7. While we all have different personalities we still have the one Spirit and we are told this Spirit is One of “power and love and self-control”, vs 7. Timothy needed some encouragement to embrace this truth. Paul goes on to say he has personally gone through a fire with other Christians; he names Phygelus and Hermogenes, vs 15. These men were saying the resurrection had already happened, vs 18. If that were the case that doesn’t leave much hope for those of us still in the current body of decay. These men needed to be rebuked because they were shipwrecking the faith of weaker Christians, vs 19. Sometimes life is tough for the Christian. Paul is saying faithfulness is the important thing and not to be ashamed of the gospel, vs 12. In this regard, it is also important to share our faith where we study, in the home or the workplace?
3. The soldier, the athlete and the farmer, are given as examples by Paul in relation to how we are to understand our faith-walk in Christ, 2Tim 2:1-6. Paul says we need to be like these examples in one way or another. Praise God that even if we are faithless, He still remains faithful, vs 13.
4. Paul reminds Timothy again not to be involved with silly arguments or discussions that do not lead to edification. Irreverent babble spreads like gangrene, 2Tim 2:17. That’s true. What is at the top of your mind when speaking with other Christians? May it be to stir up one another in love and good works.
5. Remember when we speak to someone about a difficult issue or difference of opinion that it’s the way we challenge others, not that we don’t challenge, 2Tim 2:23-26 that is important. Correct with gentleness. Do you know of anyone in the past that has fallen into the trap Paul speaks of in 2Tim 2:25,26? Sadly, I seen this many times over the years and not many come out the other side unscathed.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
The reading this week was from Lamentations 4
Jeremiah is sitting looking at the destroyed city of Jerusalem. He had prophesied for 40 years for the people of Jerusalem and Judah to repent of their idolatry and the rejection of what God had shown in his word. They paid the price and the Babylonians knocked down the city wall and destroyed and burned the temple. They killed many of the leaders in 586BC. They then took everyone else captive to Babylon. They stayed in Babylon for 70 years as the Lord had said.
1. Discuss your immediate thoughts when you read/hear this passage – Lam 4.
2. Jay shared what it was like to lose earthly possession in the flood of 2011 and then having to rebuild their home. Have you been through a traumatic experience where you have lost something of value. Eg Property, health, a relationship. Discuss how that affected you.
3. Trial comes to all of us. Some do it without Christ. Sometimes there are seasons in Babylon. It is not home, but it is still a place of rest and blessing. Jay and his family spent 3 months rent free in North Ipswich while he was rebuilding their home. There was an opportunity to give encouragement and cheques to other flood victims. The time in Babylon for the Jews was a time to “build and to plant”, just as Jeremiah was told in Jer 1:10. What building and blessing has happened in the wilderness periods of your life?
4. Pray for the prayer points and as a cell group.
Prayer Points
1. Pray the information given in the Covid talk by Jay on Sunday would dispel misinformation and be a source of blessing for the church.
2. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
3. Pray for ministries as they start up this week – especially Sunday School, PlayPatch and Recharge. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they lead these ministries.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
6. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
Praise Points.
1. New cell groups.
2. Praise and worship – thanks Rod, Molley, Riley, Rin and Dan.
3. The freedom to gather, albeit with masks on Sunday. This Sunday no masks.
Announcements
1. No masks needed this Sunday. Hallelujah.
2. PlayPatch starting up next term for toddlers at church. See Maddison for details.
3. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
