As we are on final approach to landing this letter, we encounter a watershed passage about the power and authority and importance of God's word. Joined to it is the perfect three-word summary of what Paul wanted Timothy to do: Preach The Word. 1 - Continue In The Sacred Writings (3:14-15) 2 - Be Equipped And Equipping (3:16-17) 3 - Preach The Word (4:1-5)

Books for Week 8: Zephaniah Haggi Zechariah Malachi

This text doesn't require searching out golden nuggets of doctrine. It's better suited to an overview and letting it have the intended effect of helping us keep our guard up. Our passage begins with a conjunction, so you can't grasp its command without recalling what it connects to: 2 Timothy 2:24-26: The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. There are people who believe they are Christians, but they don't really understand the gospel. They have not humbled themselves before the Lord. They contend for their own way, their own comfort, and for their own version of what it means to be a Christian. As Paul clearly wrote, they are in opposition, they need repentance and they need the knowledge of the truth. They profess to know Christ and to be part of His church, but they are unwittingly in the snare of the devil. Wow! That's strong! 1 - The Warning (1) 2 - 19 Ways To Harm A Church (2-5) 3 - Bad Examples (6-9) 4 - What You Need To Know (10-13)

Books for Week 7: Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk

YHWH – The self-existent creator 1 - YHWH – tsabaoth – the LORD of hosts - sovereign control over everything 2 - YHWH – yireh – the LORD who provides 3 - YHWH – rophe – the LORD our healer 4 - YHWH – nissi – the LORD our standard 5 - YHWH – meqaddishkem – the LORD who sanctifies us 6 - YHWH – shalom – The LORD who gives us inner peace 7 - YHWH – roiy – the LORD is our shepherd, provider, caregiver 8 - YHWH – tsikenu – the LORD our righteousness 9 - YHWH – shammah – the LORD our companion 10 - YHWH – qanna – the Lord is Jealous