Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Helpful thoughts:

• The “last days” Paul speaks of in this passage are the days after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ.
  • The list of characteristics and sins in theses verses were occurring when Paul wrote this letter, and they continue to happen now.
• We can certainly see these sins in our culture, but Paul is warning about the ways they creep into the life of the church.
  • When people portray an appearance of godliness but deny its power and exhibit the carnality and self-centeredness as described in these verses, we are not to fellowship with them.  We are to avoid them.
• Jannes and Jambres are the names that were believed to be the Egyptian “magicians” who contested Moses in Exodus 7:8-13.  They could “do miraculous things” too.
  • When people have big stories and unbelievable experiences (“God stories” to share), when these stories are used to “prove” how in tune they are with God (Most often, particularly with the Spirit), and when these stories come with the expectation that you join them, affirm them, marvel at them, give to them…watch out!

Questions to consider:

1. How does the person we are being warned of in this passage compare to the person of chapter 2:15?  What place does the Word of God have in relation to our experiences (Which one holds authority)?
2. How does being a “lover of self” correlate with not being that interested in truly learning and applying the Word of God?  How does being a “lover of self” set the stage for every other sin in this passage?
3. Why was Timothy (Serving as a pastor) told to avoid such people?  Was Timothy to be concerned for his own well-being or was he being tasked with protecting others (Verse 6)?  How does our pursuit of knowledge and obedience (Fearing God over man) benefit others in the church?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 2:22-26

Helpful thoughts:

• It will be helpful to go back and read verses 20-21 to get the context of the passage.  The first word of verse 22, “So” means what comes next is building upon what was previously written (“Therefore”).
• In order to flee passions that are typically associated with youth (Such as, being hot-headed and argumentative), the believer must pursue what is right.
  • Put off the old man, put on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24).
• When talking to unbelievers who treat us poorly, we are called to patiently endure evil with the hope that those unbelievers might escape the snare of the devil.

Questions to consider:

1. Are we to work alone in putting on righteousness?  What does the end of verse 22 tell us to do?  With whom should we strive for godliness?  Why do we need to grow together in community, in relationships with other believers?
2. Can you be kind to someone and also believe they are doing something wrong (Verses 24-25)?  How does the Word of God say this is done, and how to do it?
3. What has God saved us from?  When we share the gospel message, what are we hoping God will save those people from?  How does remembering who we are and why we are now Christians help us to show kindness to others who aren’t being kind to us?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Helpful thoughts:

• In verse 19, Christians are reminded, we are to depart from iniquity (To pursue victory over sin).
• In this context and illustration, both doctrinal error and immoral actions are being referred to as “what is dishonorable.”
• The Christian who is pursuing truth and renewing his/her mind with the Word of God and who is actively pursuing righteousness and fighting against sin is a Christians who is ready to be used by God.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way do the concepts of these verses seem elementary to many Christians?  As obvious as it may seem, how hard is it to consistently, purposefully, grow in God’s Word and in fight against sin?  Or, how easy is it to settle and get complacent?
2. What is hard about being “set apart?”  In a crowd of people (Or in a culture) what are we prone to want to be?  Do we want to be considered “normal?”
3. How does going to church (Gathering together with the people of God – Hebrews 10:23-25) and building relationships with other Christians help us remember and be comfortable with the fact that it is “normal” for the people of God to be “abnormal” in the world?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Helpful thoughts:

• The faithful saying of verses 11-13 was not just for Paul and Timothy, but for all of us (Verse 14, “Remind them of these things.”)
• Doctrine matters.  Bad doctrine upsets the faith of God’s people.  Good doctrine (Which results from rightly handling the truth) produces workers who have no need to be ashamed.
• When false teaching is going on, God and His elect will remain faithful (Verse 19).

Questions to consider:

1. Based on what we have been reading, what kinds of issues are worth the argument and what kind of issues aren’t in the church?  What is the difference between quarreling about words and defending the faith?
2. What does Paul compare the spread of irreverent and incorrect teaching and debating (Verse 17)?  Is the spread of gangrene pleasant or repulsive?  How can our church be a “sweet smelling savor” to the Lord and our other believers? (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
3. The existence of false teaching should add to our motivation to study and know God’s Word, but it should cause us to fear, why not?  Why can we have assurance and confidence in the success of the ministry of the truth of God’s Word?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Chains may bind a person, but they will never bind the spread of the gospel.
  • No one knew this better than Paul/Saul (Acts 8:1, Acts 11:19-26).
• The doctrine of election (Verse 10) does not put a damper on evangelism, it guarantees its success!
  • There are people out in the world who will be saved!  Christians must obey the Great Commission and take the gospel to them (Matthew 28:18-20).
• The saying of verses 11-13 confirm Paul’s charge to Timothy:
  • Christ’s mission will not fail.
  • Not even the failure of any Christian or apostate cannot thwart it.

Questions to consider:

1. Why wasn’t Paul feeling defeated though he was in chains, bound up like a criminal?  In whose power and sovereignty does our victory lie?
2. When we are worried about how people will respond to our efforts to share the gospel, what truth can change our perspective?  Why can we be eager to see how they will respond?  How will God be glorified through our obedience, even when people reject him?
3. Why is the saying in verses 11-13 so compelling?  What challenge does it present?  What promise does it present?  How does a passage like Romans 8:29-30 encourage us to receive this saying with confidence?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul charges Timothy to take what he has learned and to teach it to others, who will faithfully teach it to others.
  • This is discipleship and multiplication of ministry.
• Jesus was not to be simply a part of Timothy’s life.  Jesus is the Lord and commander of Timothy.
  • This is not just true of Timothy.
• Some have taken the phrase, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits” to say that great Christians won’t waste their time with “secular” work.  This can’t be true.  Paul made tents for a living.
  • When we remember we work for King Jesus no matter where we work, our motivation and goals shift (And probably make us even better employees/employers).

Questions to consider:

1. What do you think are good examples of what Paul meant by “Civilian pursuits?”  What are common goals of people in the world that can easily sway our hearts away from what King Jesus has enlisted us to do?
2. Who has God used to entrust the truth of Christ and the Gospel (The Word of God) to you?  Or, are you allowing others to speak into your life?
3. To whom are you entrusting the truth of God’s Word?  In what ways is the multiplication of discipleship being carried on through your life?  Who else could you encourage in the faith?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 1:15-18

Helpful thoughts:

• The Roman province of “Asia” included the city of Ephesus.  When Paul was imprisoned this last time, it appeared as though only Timothy remained supportive of him from the church and region.
• Paul prays a blessing on Onesiphorus and his family for the ministry he gave to Paul in his time of suffering.
• The Christian faith is not to be lived alone (Even by the Apostle Paul).  We need each other.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the basis and foundation of our fellowship together as Christians?  How is the genuineness of our fellowship tested when hardships come?
2. What is the relationship we absolutely need to endure hardship, or even to endure times of ease and prosperity (Philippians 4:11-13)?  If our relationship with Christ is the greatest necessity, then how can our relationships with other believers be truly beneficial and formative?  What is the center and bond of every good Christian friendship?
3. Can you praise the Lord for some friends who have comforted you in and pointed you to Christ?  Who can you be a friend to today?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 1:8-14

Helpful thoughts:

• Go ahead and read verse 7 as well to step back into the context.  It will help you understand these verses better.
• Paul is simultaneously suffering and claiming victory.  Suffering for Jesus is not defeat.
• The reason Paul is not ashamed in prison, in chains, awaiting execution…is because his confidence was not rooted in his own self.  Paul’s self-esteem did not help him persevere.  Paul’s esteem of Jesus Christ made him confident both to proclaim the gospel to the lost and to die for it.

Questions to consider:

1. As our culture continues to move away from the Lord, what does it need to hear and believe?
2. Who has God commanded to live as light in a dark world and to tell them about Jesus?
3. Where are we to find the strength and confidence we need to obey King Jesus in the face of opposition?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 1:3-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Both Paul and Timothy came from a sort of spiritual heritage.  It is a great blessing to know and learn from the faith of those who went before us!
• The gifts that God gives to us are gifts of service.
  • They are to be used for the benefit of others.
  • They are fanned into flame by their use.
• God dwells in us.  He is the victor.  As we look at the spiritual battle being waged in the world around us, we are able to:
  • Engage without fear.
  • Speak and obey the truth with power.
  • Love proactively and selflessly.
  • Conduct ourselves with self-control.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways can you be fanning into flame the gifts that God gave to you?  What has God gifted you to do which blesses and strengthens the church?  How are you utilizing that gifting?  What fruit have you seen that you can praise the Lord for?
2. When other people and our assumption of their views and potential responses causes us to falter or freeze, what do we need to remember to get ourselves back on track?  How should the truth of God’s sovereignty and His eternal promises to His people liberate us from the fear of man?
3. How does this powerful love under self-control propel us in the task of the Great Commission?