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?

Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 1:1-2

Helpful thoughts:

• This letter was written by the Apostle Paul from prison in Rome between A.D. 64-67.  He would be martyred for his faith shortly after the letter was sent.  This is the final epistle written by Paul.
  • Paul did not become an Apostle because he really wanted the title.  This was God’s doing and the purpose of his apostleship was to preach the gospel (Acts 9:1-4, Ephesians 3:8).
• As Paul prepares for his death, he clings to “the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.”
• Timothy met Paul during his second missionary journey in Lystra (Acts 16:1-5).  Timothy had served with Paul and had been sent by Paul for approximately 15 years by the time of the writing of this letter.

Questions to consider:

1. Though Paul knows he is about to physically die, what does he know soon awaits him (2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Philippians 1:21-23)?  What hope and perspective can this bring to us all?
2. What is the grace, mercy and peace that has been afforded to all Christians who have placed their faith in Christ?  What has God given to us by His grace?  What was God withheld from us by His mercy?  How has He brought peace between us, though we were formally at enmity with Him?
3. In answer to the previous questions, how is the promise of life given to us (And all who repent and call Jesus, “Lord”)?  How is it “in Christ Jesus?” (Isaiah 53:4-6)