Session 1 in "Life on Life Discipleship" Series

Session 1 in "Life on Life Discipleship" Series

The world seems to be on a one-way course to oblivion. Today’s passage only confirms the reality that lawlessness and rebellion will only grow and become rampant as time goes on. And yet, God’s Word instructs us to not retreat and hide in a hole, but share and obey.

Proverbs likens a quarrel to that of a water leak - the smallest break in the dam sets loose an uncontrollable flood (17:14). How true this is! If you’re like me, it’s easy to meddle into controversy and quarrels over little things that really don’t matter. The Apostle Paul has some wisdom here for us as he speaks to young Timothy.

When a person comes to understand the love that has been shown us in the good news of Jesus Christ it changes everything about the way we view ourselves and our world. It also implants within in us a desire to serve our Lord. This week we will look at an important truth regarding our being effective in ministry.

We spend a lot of time here at Bethel talking about the importance of developing a discipline to reading God’s Word on a regular basis, but what does it mean to delight in it?

Paul is entrusting this “Sacred Trust” to Timothy knowing that he will take great care in handling and dividing it rightly. Likewise, the Gospel has been passed now to us approximately 2,000 years later in Houston, TX. Like Paul and Timothy, we must employ great wisdom, study and care to divide God’s Word rightly.

No matter our physical boundaries, the glory of the Gospel is that we are set free; that we are free indeed! Even more, that freedom rests not on our own doing, but solely on Jesus Christ.

We have all had someone who spent time with us and taught us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In the text today, we see how beneficial that is for us and also for others as we learn what it means to pass on the sacred trust.

Hard times will reveal true friends. Now isn't that the truth? I know you're all shaking your heads in unison.  

When times got hard for the Apostle Paul, some fled and some rose to the occasion of his aid. Maybe you can empathize with him? Maybe, you even empathize with those who fled in his time of need; perhaps you are one of those who even fled?

God’s Word has some encouraging words for us today. Read it and apply it to your life... especially your friendships within the Body of Christ.