We’ve come to our final day looking at 2 Timothy. Yesterday, we saw that our endurance in ministry shouldn’t be left up to other Christians. Because they’ll often let us down. They let Paul down, so why should we expect it to be any different with us? But today, we look at the flip-side to this:… Continue reading Enduring in Ministry – Part Two (2 Tim 4:9-22)

The last part of Paul’s second letter to Timothy is what’s often called the personalia section of a letter. I like to call it “epistolary shrapnel.” It’s the bit you don’t want to have to preach on because most of it seems very specific to the first-century situation, there’s often little in the way of a… Continue reading Enduring in Ministry – Part One (2 Tim 4:9-22)

Over the last two days we’ve seen Paul warn Timothy that if he fulfils his commission to be a faithful teacher, he’ll face opposition. He’ll need to endure. And so, at the end of this charge to Timothy, he reflects on his own life. His endurance. And the sacrifice that is Christian ministry. Ministry is… Continue reading Ministry is Sacrifice (2 Tim 4:6-8)

We ended last week with Paul’s charge to Timothy, encouraging him to follow Paul’s example in being a faithful teacher. As well as teaching by example, teaching confidence in the truth, and teaching behaviour (not just knowledge), we saw that faithful teachers continue teaching even when the teaching isn’t received well. We proclaim the message “in… Continue reading Faithful teaching – Part Four (2 Tim 4:3-5)

This is the last section of Paul’s charge to Timothy, encouraging him to follow Paul’s example in being a faithful teacher. So far, we’ve found that faithful teachers: teach by example teach confidence in the truth teach behaviour, not just knowledge Today, the focus is on faithful teaching even when the times are hard and… Continue reading Faithful Teaching – Part Three (2 Tim 4:1-2)

Yesterday, we looked at how to be a faithful teacher, from the example Paul passed down to Timothy. We saw that faithful teachers teach by example; and that faithful teachers teach confidence in the truth. Teach to impact behaviour Today, we see that faithful teachers teach to impact behaviour. To change the way people live. Just… Continue reading Faithful Teaching – Part Two (2 Tim 3:15-17)

The next major section of 2 Timothy deals with faithful teaching. (After all, we’ve just spent the first half of the chapter talking about unfaithful teachers.) Here, Paul reMinds Timothy of his Model in teaching, so that Timothy can iMitate it. (See the introductory post if you’re wondering why the weird capital Ms.) Teach by example… Continue reading Faithful Teaching – Part One (2 Tim 3:10-15)

Today we reach a new chapter in 2 Timothy, chapter three. And the first half is a difficult text to find direct relevance for us. Because Paul is continuing his use of the false teachers as a negative example to avoid, launching into a scathing attack. Have a read of it: Evil in the last days!… Continue reading False teachers in 2 Timothy (2 Tim 3:1-9)

Last week, we looked at what Paul had to say about being loyal to God: Work hard, like Paul did. Be prepared to suffer for God – in big or small ways. Avoid the rival loyalties that tempt us away from the truth. And be obedient, so that God might use you in honourable service.… Continue reading A trustworthy saying (2 Tim 2:11-13)

This week, we’ve seen that the second chapter of 2 Timothy is all about loyalty. And we asked the question, what does it mean for us to be loyal to God?  Yesterday, Paul told us to work hard (but in a focused way) and be prepared to sufffer. Today, he gives us two more ways to be loyal.… Continue reading Avoid rival loyalties (2 Tim 2:14-21)