Mandarin Baptist Church

Scripture: 2 Timothy
Scripture to Remember: 2 Timothy 3.1-9; Psalm 15

But know this: Hard days will come….  - 2 Timothy 3.1      In these hard days, every one of us needs a Paul!

1- Who is one of your ‘heroes’? Talk about what makes this person a ‘hero’?  Why are ‘heroes’ important?  If it’s true that everyone needs a Paul (and it is true), how would you describe a spiritual hero.. one who shows you the way of Christ?   

2- Paul tells us that we can anticipate hard times in these last days. He, then, describes a sea of sin in which those who are supposed to be heroes are swimming. How does the moral failure described in 2 Timothy 3.1-5 do harm to Jesus’ church?  When have you been hurt by the church?  When have you left a wound because of your sin?  Did you experience or provide restoration?  Are there steps of restoration that you need to take?

3- Paul tells us to ‘avoid those swimming in this sea of sin’. Perhaps, Paul was suggesting that they are not to be the anchors for our soul; that their influence is not what we allow to prevail. Instead, we anchor in the gospel of God’s grace and mercy?  If we realize that ‘hard times are upon us’ and that we will have those who are a part of our faith who are struggling in sin, how could responding with the gospel of grace, mercy and repentance be the answer? Have you experienced the gospel’s healing power in the midst of abounding sin?  What did this journey look like? 

4- Tell about a time when a spiritual hero in your eyes lived it out in real time… when you saw Jesus clearly through their lives?  What did that mean to you?  What did it mean for your soul? (Do you know that you are a potential ‘hero’ to those who are watching your life and practice?

5- Spend some time in Psalm 15.. Based on this passage, what describes a person who is steeped in truth (rather than swimming in sin)?  What steps do you need to take to learn more fully in the truth of His Word and the life given by intimacy with Christ?  In pursuing Jesus, you will not be shaken. Psalm 15 says that a life steeped in truth will NEVER be shaken.  Will your teaching explain your life and your life explain your teaching?

The one who does these things will never be shaken. - Psalm 15.5

1) Read and Think… Read one chapter of 2 Timothy each day. Open a journal and Think… Ponder… Meditate. Turn the words over in your heart and mind. Consider the abundance of truth in each chapter. Write insights, truth about God, truth about yourself, needed change, and hopes as you allow the Scripture to form Christ within.

2) When you read 2 Timothy 2:14-26, what are some hard truths you hear? What grabs your attention from the text?

3) Paul challenges Timothy to stay focused on the truth of scripture. Why is hyper focus on the truth of scripture important in our lives? How does staying focused on Truth help us stay focused on our mission? How does it help us avoid some of the traps we encounter in this world?

4) Why is our purity important? How does if impact those closest with us? How does it effect our ability to witness?

5) This passage talks about avoiding arguments but at the same time Paul is confronting false teachings. What kind of “disputes” are worthwhile for believers to get involved in? What are not worthwhile? Give examples.

6) These verses are not simply a things to do or not to do, but demonstrate a life living in the hope of leading others to repentance. Is your life focused on this mission? What things are distracting you from the mission we have been given? What is one thing that will change in your life because of this scripture?

Scripture: 2 Timothy
Scripture to Remember: 2 Timothy 1.13 - 18

Everyone needs a Paul. One who speaks life and leads you toward maturity.  Everyone needs a Timothy. One in which you invest life and lead toward maturity. 

1- Read & Think…. For the next three weeks, Read one chapter of 2 Timothy each day. Open a journal and Think… Ponder… Meditate. Turn the words over in your mind and heart; consider them from different angles and perspectives. Write down insights, truths, hopes, shifts, changes as you allow the Scripture to form Christ within. 

2- When have you been stumped.. baffled… let down?  What holds you together in these times? Paul teaches Timothy to ‘hold fast’ to healing words…healing truths….healing hope. How might you hold on to the pattern of life-giving truth?  What is your plan to deepen in His Word?

3- How would you express the pattern or outline of the gospel in three sentences? Perhaps, this Scripture (1 Corinthians 15.3-5) and this link (http://lifeonmissionbook.com/conversation-guide) may be of great help. Will you take steps to learn; to grow in; and to teach this pattern?

4- Who has blessed you by speaking life, seeking you out; speaking eternal hope to your soul and being a friend at all times?  This week, take the time reach out and to thank them. Who would describe you in that way? How can you be more intentional as an on-going gift of grace and blessing to those that God has placed in your path?

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  - 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (CSB)

Scripture: 2 Timothy
Scripture to Remember: 2 Timothy 2.1-13

Everyone needs a Paul, who guides you in the mysteries of God’s grace and goodness.  Everyone needs a Timothy, to whom you pass on the mysteries of His grace.

1- Read & Think…. Read one chapter of 2 Timothy each day. Open a journal and Think… Ponder… Meditate. Turn the words over in your heart and mind. Consider the abundance of truth in each chapter.  Write insights, truth about God, truth about yourself, needed change and hopes as you allow the Scripture to form Christ within.

2- Who is the hero of your story? If you are a follower of Christ, is He the hero of your day to day life? What is happening in your life that can only be explained by His presence? Paul suggests a few ways to assure that Jesus is your source of strength. He tells Timothy to abide in Jesus, day by day dependent upon the enabling grace that flows from a walk with Him.  Timothy, be inwardly strengthened by the grace that is in Christ. What are ways that you are inwardly strengthened by Jesus? Would you like to seek more of Him? Consider someone you see living a vibrant faith in Christ and ask them to teach you on why and how they live this way. 

3- Paul encourages Timothy to spend no time entangled in concerns of this world. Do you sense that followers of Jesus live more of a ‘peace time’ or luxury faith or ‘war-time’ purposed faith?  Will you pray for an urgency for the sake of the gospel?  Will you begin that prayer in your own heart and expand that pray throughout our Mandarin family?  What are the first 3 things that you need to adjust to disentangle from the concerns of this world? Start NOW!

4- If you are His child, Christ has given you a message of grace. This was given for your salvation and entrusted to you to pass on.  What are others hearing from you of this sacred trust of the gospel? Paul tells Timothy, take this message that you have heard and teach it to others?  Third, entrust or teach this, so that they may also pass this on to others?  You have been given a trust. You have been given a stewardship to pass that trust. God, in His grace, may give you the wonder of watching that trust multiply.  What will you do with this grace?  Who needs to hear what you have been taught? Will you tell them?

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2.2

Scripture: 2 Timothy
Scripture to Remember: 2 Timothy 1.8-12

Every one needs a Paul and, everyone needs a Timothy

1- Read 2 Timothy this week. Read it through at least three times. Reading invites into His story and to feel at home in God’s economy. 

2- How might you ‘remember’ the gospel on a daily basis?  What do you learn, from verses 8-12 about faithful endurance in the gospel? Open your journal and list thoughts and truths, then share them with friends and family.

3- Pastor Mark talked about the posture of the church.  Followers of Jesus run into the broken parts of this world, as others tend to run away. In Acts 19, Paul is in the midst of a riot and holds the gospel as his hope and his posture is to ‘let me in’.  When is a time that you have seen hurt in this world and moved toward ‘let me in’? What is a burden that God has made you aware of today? Are you asking Got to give you a path to  ‘let me in’ posture? Why is it of first importance that the gospel of Christ lead the way?

4- Paul is ‘persuaded’ that God is able and that persuasion compels him to make much of Jesus. From 2 Timothy 1, what would you say persuades Paul? What are you persuaded about in your faith and how do those truths shape your daily life?

I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted me until that day. - 2 Timothy 1.12

Everyone needs a Paul; Everyone needs a Timothy.

Scripture: 2 Timothy
Scripture to Remember: 2 Timothy 1.1-2

Every person needs a Paul; Every person needs a Timothy

1- Share or post online one truth that sparked life in your soul as we worshipped and then studied 2 Timothy 1.1-2.  There is so much that is good in this passage. So much that is remarkable. What is ONE thing that struck you?

2- Paul. Every word matters in Scripture. ‘Paul’ is the one word gospel testimony of God’s rescue, new life, transformation and Paul's life-altering pursuit of the desire to know more of Christ.  It’s beautiful to know and to express your one-word life-altering testimony of who Jesus is and what He has done. This is the wonder of the gospel.  Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7mURm-8cOI  After watching, take some time and write your own story of rescue and redemption. Try to make this no more than a 90 second story of Christ alive in you. Write of:
               * God’s Design (Colossians 1.16; Genesis 1.31a)
               * Brokenness (Romans 3.23; Romans 6.23; Isaiah 53.6)
               * Jesus Restoration (John 3.16; John 10.10; Revelation 21.5; 2 Corinthians 5.17-       
                                                  19; Ephesians 2.8-10)
               * Your Confession (Romans 10.9-10; I John 1.9)
               * New Life in Him (Ephesians 1.3-14; Galatians 2.20; Galatians 6.14)

These are beautiful scriptures and life changing joy to think about and write out. It’s worthy. Jesus changes lives and fills us with purpose. Writing your story of life-change is life-giving for you and could be soul-transforming for someone in your path in days ahead. Prepare. Worship. Share. 

3- Your Salutation…… a greeting of ‘hello’.  Paul’s salutation was a bit more than we offer today.  Pastor Mark had fun with this idea of bringing the salutation to life in a culture that barely says ‘hello’ in our texts, emails, DM’s and letters. Paul said ‘hello’ in this way:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus: To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  - 2 Timothy 1.1-2
Just for a little joy, write your own ’salutation’, based on who you are in Christ. For additional fun, shoot this to a few friends and to Pastor Mark at 904-616-0412. He would love to read of your salutations!