Sermons

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Series: General
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Additional file: 2014-05-25 Passing the Torch - Alan Yeater.docx


S.R. 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Introduction

  1. Need to see the overall context
    1. Guard the truth (1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 1:14)
    2. Suffering along with me (1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 3:12)
  2. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 and 6-8
    1. Timothy, My son, I am going to be gone, don’t be ashamed of me or the gospel we preach. I am passing the torch on to you (1-5). Complete the course (service – ministry) you began.
    2. Imagine the emotion as Timothy reads these words
      1. Sorrow – very close relationship
      2. First journey (Acts 14) Timothy probably learned the gospel
      3. Second journey (Acts 16) Paul wants Timothy to go with Him.
      4. Almost constant traveling companion
      5. Phil. 2:19-22 Paul’s estimation of Timothy’s character
    3. Paul wants to see Timothy one more time (2 Timothy 1:4; 4:9, 21)
      1. Timothy, I want to see you
      2. Come quickly
      3. Come before winter
    4. Loneliness – I am an orphan – who will I turn to for advice? Dad is gone.
    5. Heavy responsibility – this voice will soon be silenced. This pen will soon be laid aside. Timothy, preach the word.
    6. Asking about a passage – talk to my dad, or brother (now gone)?
    7. All of a sudden that responsibility falls upon my contemporaries and me.
    8. Timothy should be well prepared for this moment.
  3. Five things that equipped Timothy for the great work ahead:

Outline

  1. Upbringing
    1. 2 Tim. 3:14-15 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
    2. Mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5)
      1. “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
      2. Reflecting on Timothy’s early training from infancy.
    3. Genuine faith that is in you
      1. Many did not have this kind of upbringing yet they are serving the Lord as teachers.
      2. Sad to me that those who did not receive this upbringing have better knowledge of the word of God than those whose parents claim Christ as Lord.
      3. We must not let the failure of our parents keep us from serving the Lord.
    4. Eunice did that without the support of her husband (Acts 16:3) “Greek”
      1. Don’t give up on your children even though your husband is not a godly leader.
      2. You can lead your children to have sincere faith and volunteers for service to the king if they see it in you.
  2. Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
    1. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
    2. All Scripture – Old (verse 15 holy Scriptures were Moses and Prophets) and New
      1. Were the first century Christians able to distinguish between what was Scripture and what was not? Yes
      2. 2 Peter 3:15-18 “the rest of the Scriptures” Paul’s writings = Scripture
      3. 1 Timothy 5:17; Scripture – recognized both the writings of Moses and Luke as Scripture
        1. Deut. 25:4 Muzzle the ox
        2. Luke 10:7 Laborer worthy of his wages
    3. Whatever you need will be found in the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
      1. Teaching, Reproof, Correction and Training in righteousness
      2. God’s man will be complete – mature – equipped for every good work
      3. Timothy, you have the Scriptures. That is all you need.
  3. Charge (2 Tim. 4:1-5) “but You”
    1. How many times do you think Timothy re -read these letters?
    2. Preach the Word, not your opinions or merely when they like it.
      1. Easy to preach the Word when you have a receptive audience.
      2. Paul in Athens – on to Corinth – “I have many people in this city.”
      3. Teach the word to meet every need, Convince, reprove, exhort – long suffering
      4. You be watchful – endure afflictions – complete your service
      5. How did Timothy respond to this charge?
  4. Paul’s Example (2 Timothy 4:6-7)
    1. Paul had fought many a battle – false teachers, beasts at Ephesus (1 Cor. 15:32)
      1. Battle worn soldier
      2. Galatians 6:17 Paul bore the brand “marks of the Lord Jesus”
      3. Scars, beatings, imprisonment (2 Cor. 11:23-26)
    2. Finished the Race (Phil. 3:12-15) Christ laid hold of me
    3. Kept the Faith
      1. Personal faith not in view (2 T. 1:12) “know whom I have believed”
      2. The Faith (Jude 3; Galatians 1:23) “now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."
      3. Pulpit commentary “Through his long eventful course, in spite of all difficulties, conflicts, dangers, and temptations, he had kept the faith of Jesus Christ, committed to Him …whole and complete. He had not shrunk from confessing it when death stared him in the face; he had not corrupted it to meet the views of Jews or Gentiles; with courage and resolution and perseverance he had kept it to the end. Oh! Let Timothy do the same.”
  5. Promise of an eternal reward (2 Tim. 4:8)
    1. It is for me, but not just me
      1. It is for all who have loved his appearing
    2. Timothy it is for you as well as for me
    3. I am ready to be offered – time of my departure is at hand.
    4. What will happen once we are gone?
      1. Will these young graduates carry the torch of truth in college, workforce, family and beyond?
      2. Who will serve as teachers, elders and preachers when we are gone?
  6. Conclusion: Will you receive the torch as we pass it on to you?
    1. Our work is (Eph. 4:11-13)
      1. To equip the younger generation as teachers, fathers, mothers, team players in the family of God.
      2. You are invited to get off the sidelines and get in the game.
      3. God’s family does not need carping critics, who spectate from the rear, but team players who stand shoulder to shoulder carrying the work of God.
    2. Appeal: In the future, whether you serve as a teacher, preacher or elder and their godly wife.
      1. Teach the Word, Contend earnestly for the faith
      2. Teach it in love, but never compromise
      3. Don’t pick fights but don’t run from a fight
      4. Teach it even if it means imprisonment.
      5. Defeat the enemies of God with the sword of His Spirit.
      6. Look to the praise of God, not the praise of men
      7. Show yourself a man, be strong.
      8. Don’t let us down, no, don’t let God down, teach the word, teach the word.
    3. Begin the journey:
      1. God knew that people would respond to the truth and step up and obey in Corinth
      2. (Acts 18:8) Crispus believed in the Lord, with his whole family, and “many of the Corinthians when they heard, believed and were baptized.”
      3. Have you accepted this charge from God to be wholly consecrated to do the will of King Jesus?