Pray for God's guidance

Find some common ground (don't set up barriers)

Meet them where they are

Explain who God is and what He is like

He is CREATOR

He CARES for each of us

He wants to be KNOWN by us

He gives us our PURPOSE

He will JUDGE US

At each step, look for ways to connect even deeper with them

Present them with a decision to make (repent or reject)

Expect one of three different responses

Some will make fun of you

Some will want to hear more

Some will believe

CHRIST: II Timothy 2:10 (Philippians 2:1-11) Last? Paul learned to be others-centered! CONTEXT: Paul writes first to Timothy. These three verses are personal; they are powerful; they are problematic.

I. The Impact of the Gospel is Past, Present, & Future: Condition & Promise

  1. IF WE DIED (past tense) - conversion language; Jesus died for us; We died with Him; In Adam or In Christ; Luke 9:23; Romans 6:1-8, 11; Galatians 2:20 (“Were you there”); Colossians 3:1-3

  2. WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM (future tense) - see 4:8

  3. If we can look back with confidence, then we can look forward with assurance -

  4. IF WE ENDURE (Bear up under much pressure; under a load); Jesus endured to the end; Paul endured to the end (lion’s mouth); All of God’s people will endure; Matthew 24:14; Possess the endurance of a soldier; Possess the endurance of an athlete; Possess the endurance of a farmer!

  • WE WILL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM (future tense) - right now counts forever! Great motivation to persevere under the pressure of persecution; I Cor 6:2-3; Rev 3:21; 20:4, 6 (The Millennium)

  5. IF WE DENY/DISOWN HIM (negative promise but a promise nonetheless); Have you ever had momentary failures; Failing to speak; Failing to be silent; Timidity sets in; Shame enters in; Don’t take the Lord’s Name in vain (much more than coarse words); means to live in a way that misrepresents the One we claim to believe in - the One we claim to love; We can’t call ourselves Christ-followers and live any way we want; Is this falling from grace? AWOL - Loss of the pride of fighting? Loss of the prize? Loss of the crops? Denied joy, power, prayer (Ps 68:18); forfeiting much blessing

  •HE WILL DENY US - “I never knew you”? Matthew 7:21-23;

  6. IF WE ARE FAITHLESS (not false faith, but a faulty faith) - I Timothy 1 - “I am sure if your sincere faith”; 2:4 - don’t get “entangled”;

  • HE REMAINS FAITHFUL - Hebrews He is not ashamed of us; Jesus predicted Peter’s denials AND He predicted Peter’s restoration!

  • FOR HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF -

3 Key Words: Calling, Character, & Convictions!

1. For all Deacons - I Timothy 3:8-16 (see 3:1 “likewise”)

2. For Jason Benson - I Timothy 4:12

I. 9 Ways to Guard the Gospel:

1. By strength in God’s grace - v. 1

2. By training God’s pastors - v. 2

3. By sufferings w/ God’s blessings - vv. 3-6

4. By understanding God’s calling - v. 7

5. By remembering God’s King - v. 8

6. By courage in God’s will - v. 9a

7. By confidence in God’s Word - v. 9b

a. Paul - II Timothy 3:16-17

b. Peter - II Peter 1:16-21

1. By Understanding the conditions of salvation - vv. 11-13

(1) THIS IS A TRUSTWORTHY STATEMENT

• IF WE DIED WITH HIM, then WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM

• IF WE ENDURE, then WE WILL REIGN WITH HIM

• IF WE DISOWN/DENY HIM, then HE WILL DISOWN US (Matthew 10:33)

• IF WE ARE FAITHLESS, then HE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL - FOR HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF (God is not impacted by our lack of faith)

I. 8 Ways to Guard the Gospel:

1. By strength in God’s grace - v. 1

2. By training God’s pastors - v. 2

3. By sufferings w/ God’s blessings - vv. 3-6

4. By understanding God’s calling - v. 7

5. By remembering God’s King - v. 8

6. By courage in God’s will - v. 9a

7. By confidence in God’s Word - v. 9b

• Deut 4:2; Pro 30:5-6; Rev 22:18-19

• Genesis 3; Exodus 20; Ezra 7:10;

• Psalm 1:1-3; 19:7-14; 119:11, 105

• Isaiah 40:8; 55:11-12

• Matthew 4:4; 5:17-18; 7:24-27

• Acts 6:7; 12:24; 15:35-36

• II Timothy 3:16-17

• Ephesians 6:17 - only offensive weapon; Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 2:1-3; II Peter 1:16-21

 II. By enduring for God’s chosen - v. 10 (cheap grace*changing grace) 

• The chosen are kept - John 10:27-30

• The chosen bear fruit - John 15:8,16

• The chosen conform - Romans 8:28-29

• The chosen work out - Philippians 2:12-13 (vv. 5-11)

• Looking ahead - vv. 19-20 (our languages, actions, & attitudes)

 III. By understanding the conditions of salvation - vv. 11-13

The Difference Between Night and Day

BUT - The light of Christ breaks through the darkness and futility and darkness of our minds. 

PAUL POINTS OUR WHAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS - Ephesians 4:20

 “But that is not the way you learned Christ!—” 

The Display of True Repentance

The Life of the Believer is a life of transformation - 

Examples of Repentance:

1. Telling the truth.

2. Not allowing anger to consume you. 

3. No longer a thief. 

4. No corrupting talk. 

DOES YOUR SPEECH GIVE GRACE?

The Contrast of Christian Living We are to put off the old way, the old man, the flesh.

Those things are not Christ-like.

Compare and contrast: Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice

Kindness, Tenderhearted, Forgiving, 

SO let’s ask the question -

What does my life look like as a believer?

Where do I need to repent?

What do I need to change in my life?

Where do I need to grow?