Cambria Pulpit

The Apostle Paul understood what living in a wicked world was like. As he writes 2 Timothy, he is in prison, condemned to death, solely for being a Christian. Paganism reigned around him. The government was absolutely corrupt and ruled by a man who was insane. While he was about to die, Timothy was not. So in chapter 3, Paul gives Timothy instruction about living in a wicked world. We discovered in the first half of chapter three that Paul instructed Timothy to understand that thw wickedness of the world is inevitable. But the solution is always the gospel. He warned him about the danger of worldliness seeping into the church. Now in the second half of chapter 2, Paul gives Timothy 3 more instructions.

Missionary Ryan Pennington (a translation consultant with Bibles International) presents the needs of Bible translation around the world and the way the Word works in lives. 

Last week we began the second half of 2 Timothy. Chapter 3 details for us the things we need to be aware of and to do in order to live in a wicked world. We noted that, as believers, experiencing this wicked world can be frustrating, discouraging, and even scary. We see society around us degrade, and we worry about the kind of world our children will inherit. We watch the news, and we wonder how much worse it can get. Is this God’s plan? Has God forgotten? How can we continue to live in this mess?

However, in second Timothy, we receive from God both a reminder and practical insight in to how to live in a wicked world. What we face is not new. While the degradation of society around us is different and scary for us, it was not unseen by God. So, we can have confidence and hope in the middle of a wicked world. Today we will continue to discuss how to live in a wicked world. 

All one needs to do is watch the news, look at the magazine rack in the store, or spend any time on social media to be reminded that we live in a wicked world. As believers, experiencing this can be frustrating, discouraging, and even scary. We see society around us degrade, and we worry about the kind of world our children will inherit. We watch the news, and we wonder how much worse it can get. Is this God’s plan? Has God forgotten? How can we continue to live in this mess?

As we turn now to the second half of second Timothy, we receive both a reminder and practical insight in to how to live in a wicked world. What we face is not new. While the degradation of society around us is different and scary for us, it was not unseen by God. So we can have confidence and hope in the middle of a wicked world. Today we will discuss how to live in a wicked world. 

A couple of years ago, I purchased a couple of washcloths to use in my office so that I could clean off dishes after eating lunch. Being cheap, I purchased them from the Dollar Tree. The first time I had the opportunity to use them, I discovered a problem: Thy didn’t retain water. The water simply ran over them and they didn’t really get wet. I thought, What use is a washcloth that doesn’t get wet? On the other hand, back in the late 90’s I had a number of pairs of cargo pants. I am not sure why they are not so popular today (something about looking dumb), but I found them tremendously useful with all the extra pockets and storage places. Even more useful, I have several pairs that could zip off at the knees and become shorts. Useful!! In life, we find somethings useful and some things terribly unuseful. 

In our last text, Paul challenged Timothy and all pastors on our role and duty in our position. But now as we end chapter two, Paul broadens out again and addresses the church as a whole. In this section, he instructs us how we can be useful Christians. 

What should you expect from your pastor? What is a pastor’s role? What is to be a pastor’s focus? What should you expect and demand from me? There are a variety of opinions on this matter in the church today. Some view the pastorate like a chief administrator. His priority is to ensure that the various ministries of the church are organized. Some view the pastorate like a visitation guru. His priority is to visit the hospitals, the members, and the community. Some view the pastorate like a jack of all trades. His priority is to maintain the church buildings and vehicles, clean the buildings, maintain the various church contracts, and entertain the members. Some view the pastorate like an events planner. He priority is to plan various events and programs. Some view the pastorate like an extended vacation. His priority is to do as little as possible. Yet, as we examine Scripture, we discover that none of these are accurate. 

When considering the priority of the pastor, texts like 1 Peter 5 should come to mind. Peter instructs that the pastor is to shepherd the church by exercising oversight. In 2 Timothy, there are two important texts which present the priority of the pastor. One is found in chapter 4 and the other is the text we will look at today. Each of these texts reveal that the priority of the pastor is the discipleship of the church through the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word of God. As we work through the text today, the message should serve to be informative to you and convicting to me. It should help you know what you ought to demand from me and should convict me of what I ought to be doing. 

Today, as we celebrate the founding of this country, we do so, understanding that it is a country in trouble. Secularism has pervaded the culture and modern American Christianity has proved ineffective. With the advent of modern media, we have access to more preachers than ever before, but there are few powerful preachers. Churches abound across the country, but few are truly changing the culture around them for Christ. While “Christians” are all over the news and social media, the country continues to degrade. In short, American Christianity is ineffective. Last week we looked at the reasons for this and we discussed the marks of an effective Christian. 

Yet, even as we worked through the text, many of the marks seemed to be pie in the sky targets for us. While we were convicted of what we need to do, we often feel that we lack the strength to actually do it. Real life happens and is hard. Simply willing ourselves to be better is impossible. We want to be effective Christians. We want to see this nation impacted for God. But doing the everyday hard work of evangelism and discipleship, study of the Word and spiritual disciplines seems out of reach in real day to day living. In the next section we will cover today, God does not just call us to effectiveness, he also assists us in finding the strength to be an effective Christian. He does not just call us to do His work, he also gives us the power to accomplish His work. 

We live in an unusual time. I think that we can all agree on that. As secularism continues to gain hold in this country, the influence of Christianity continues to wane. But what is so unusual about this that the prevalence and availability of Christianity. Through modern media, there are more popular preachers today than at any time in church history, but few powerful ones. There also are more popular churches, but few powerful ones. There is much activity, but little spiritual fruit; much talk about Christianity, but little conviction; high moral proclamations, but little accountability; doctrinal creeds, but much compromise. (MacArthur, 36) 

A form of Christianity is still prevalent, but it is not effective. We are left to ask the question why? Today I am going to propose the reason for the ineffectiveness of Christianity is the failure of the church to stand on the Word. For decades, the church has moved away from the centrality of the Word. They have instead promoted a feel-good religion designed to attract the seeker. They have moved away from the Word and the tough teaching it provides and moved to modern psychology, entertainment methods, and self esteem models. Theology/Biblical teaching is viewed as boring and unhelpful. And so churches have moved away from the Word. But this misses the very purpose of the church. 

Ephesians 4:12-14 – to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Hebrews 6:1 – Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

The Church and the Christian are called to live deep effective lives which impact the World around them. We are called to be strong in the Lord. This is the message to which Paul now turns. He calls for Timothy and us to be effective Christians. And in order to be effective Christians, we must be strong in the Lord.