As we come to chapter 4 of 2 Timothy, we see Paul's passionate plea  for Timothy to preach the Word in verses 2 Timothy 4:1-5. Here we learn much about the importance of communicating God's Word to man.  We see the charge of God's message (2 Timothy 4:1), the consummation of God's message (2 Timothy 4:1), the content of God's message (2 Timothy 4:2), the context of God's message (2 Timothy 4:2), the character of God's message (2 Timothy 4:2), the crisis of God's message (2 Timothy 4:3), the compromise of God's message (2 Timothy 4:3-4), the care of God's message (2 Timothy 4:5), the conflict of God's message(2 Timothy 4:5), the commission of God's message (2 Timothy 4:5) and lastly the completeness of God's message.  As we consider these aspects, it will remind us again what a treasure we have in God's Word, and how crucial it is that we preserve it and proclaim it at all times.

As we keep reminding ourselves throughout this study of 2 Timothy, the main theme of this letter has to do with perseverance.  In this week’s study, the area in which Paul encourages Timothy to persevere in, is trusting the sufficiency of Scripture. Paul begins by prophetically telling Timothy about the apostasy (the falling away from the faith) that will accompany events leading up to the return of Christ (2 Timothy 3:1-9). In light of this coming apostasy, Paul instructs Timothy about how he should continue living (2 Timothy 3:10), along with the perspective he must have concerning suffering (2 Timothy 3:11-12). Yet despite the reality of this coming apostasy, Paul’s primary instruction to Timothy for how he should respond, is for him to continue trusting in the sufficiency of Scripture - to continue learning, being assured by, and gaining wisdom from Scripture alone (2 Timothy 3:14-15). That Scripture alone is all that he needed to be complete, thoroughly equipped for the work that God had for him. In the week ahead, read through the passage and discuss with your family why it’s important to trust in the sufficiency of Scripture to guide & instruct every area of our lives, as the world around us gets darker & darker.

Throughout chapter 2, Paul has been encouraging Timothy to persevere in a number of different, yet related areas. He has encouraged him to persevere in disciple-making (2 Timothy 2:1-2), to persevere in difficulty (2 Timothy 2:3-13), and to persevere in right doctrine (2 Timothy 2:14-19), whereas in this week’s passage, Paul encourages Timothy to persevere in personal holiness.  He does this by firstly making a connection between personal holiness and one’s usability by God (2 Timothy 2:20-21); by giving an exhortation to pursue personal holiness (2 Timothy 2:22); along with a practical example of how the outworking of personal holiness looks (2 Timothy 2:23-26). Unfortunately, the pursuit of holiness (being set apart through Spirit-filled, righteous living) is often not a priority in the thinking of believers, which causes them to be more influenced by the world, rather that the Word.  Read through the passage and discuss with your family why it’s important for believers to pursue holiness.

In this week’s passage, Paul is continuing with his practical appeal to Timothy to persevere in light of his present difficulties.  Paul’s instruction to Timothy in this passage has to do with overcoming false teaching (2 Timothy 2:14) by “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), while focusing on what is right, rather than what is wrong (2 Timothy 2:16). Paul warns Timothy of the very real consequences of those who do not rightly divide the word of truth, along with what impact this has on others (2 Timothy 2:17-18). But regardless of the attacks against it, Paul reminds Timothy that the solid foundation of God’s truth still remains (2 Timothy 2:19).  In this study, we will also be looking at a number of principles that will help us to better interpret the Bible. Read through the passage with your family and discuss why it is important that the Bible is interpreted correctly, along with how we should respond to those who are not rightly dividing the word of truth.

In last week’s passage (2 Timothy 2:1-2), Paul encouraged Timothy to prioritise the ministry of disciple-making, but to do so with an outlook of making disciples who would then go and make other disciple-makers.  Now the task of discipleship (a responsibility not only given to Timothy, but to every believer) can be a very difficult & discouraging task. Paul knew this to be true, and so immediately following on from his instruction to make disciples, Paul takes time to encourage Timothy to persevere in this week’s passage. Paul encourages Timothy to persevere as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3-4), an athlete (2 Timothy 2:5), and as a farmer (2 Timothy 2:6). Paul encourages Timothy to seriously think through what it means to persevere (2 Timothy 2:7), being able to point to his own life as an example (2 Timothy 2:8-10), while reminding Timothy that perseverance comes with a promise (2 Timothy 2:11-13). By definition, perseverance is “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success”.  As believers, we need to be reminded that our motivation to serve God must be based on faithfulness over fruitfulness. Read through the passage and discuss with your family why perseverance is something that every believers needs.

As we know, the main theme and purpose of Paul’s letter of 2 Timothy is perseverance - continuing to do what we ought, even when it’s difficult.  In this week’s passage, Paul is encouraging Timothy to actively make disciples - believers who follow Jesus and who are actively encouraging others to do the same. This topic ties in directly to the Great Commission given by Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). But what’s interesting to note about the Great Commission, is that Jesus does not command his disciples to make converts, but He commanded them to make disciples, which would involve teaching & instruction. In this study, we’ll be looking at the whole subject of discipleship - what it is, what it’s not, why it’s important, and who should be actively participating in it. One thing that the Bible makes abundantly clear is that the Gospel, including the truth of God’s Word, was never intended to stop with us. It is not God’s will for a believer to focus only on building themselves up spiritually. Instead, God intends for there to be a continuous in-flow and outflow of truth in and from our lives.  In the week ahead, read through the passage with your family and discuss the nature and the importance of discipleship.

As Paul continues to encourage, equip, and exhort Timothy in the challenges of pastoral ministry, we also get an insight into Paul’s personal spiritual life. His instruction doesn’t just come from his head, but from his heart. He has fully experienced what it means to live wholeheartedly for Christ, and to suffer for doing so.  In these verses Paul speaks about suffering for the gospel, as a “when”, not an “if”. He knew that anyone who faithfully steps out to do the Lord’s work, will have conflict with the enemies of God. We will be looking together at how sharing the gospel is such a “normal” expectation for the genuine believer, and that we shouldn’t be surprised when we suffer for doing this. There is only one way that a believer can stay strong, and maintain perspective when he or she suffers for the gospel. See if you can discover this in verse 12, and discuss with your family this primary way in which we as believers can live as unashamed followers of Christ, being fruitful and effective in our witness to others.

Last Sunday, we came to the end of our series through the book of 1 Timothy, whereas today, we are beginning a series of studies through 2 Timothy.  In this first study, the first thing that we’ll be doing is seeking to better understand the context, background, and outline of the letter (2 Timothy 1:1-2). From there, we move onto Paul’s words of thanksgiving (2 Timothy 1:3-5), followed by a strong exhortation for Timothy to be bold in his faithful service to God (2 Timothy 1:6-7). God had gifted Timothy, and in a similar way, God has gifted each and every believer for the purpose of exercising that gifting so that the body of Christ is built up in love (Ephesians 4:11-16).  There are always going to be things that will cause us to pull back from exercising that which God has given to us. Like Timothy, fear can certainly be a cause for this. Read through the passage & discuss with your family how God has gifted you, along with identifying the blessings & the hindrances of exercising that gifting.

Today, we come to the final study in our series through the book of 1 Timothy where Paul gives instruction about handling treasure.  In 1 Timothy 17-19, he talks about how to handle earthly treasure, then in 1 Timothy 20-21, he talks about how to handle spiritual treasure. In terms of earthly treasure, Paul has already discussed this in relation to false teachers (1 Timothy 6:5; 1 Timothy 9-10), along with the devastating consequences that comes as a result of loving & pursuing money. But just so Paul’s readers don’t come away with an unbalanced view that to have earthly riches is wrong, in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Paul gives specific instruction about proper stewardship of God-given resources. He unfolds this by firstly communicating a danger to avoid (1 Timothy 6:17), followed by a duty to fulfil, then finally, a future to consider (1 Timothy 6:18). Then, shifting gears from thinking about handling earthly treasure, to handing spiritual treasure, Paul follows a similar format - firstly, he instructs Timothy about his duty to fulfil, followed by a danger to avoid (1 Timothy 6:20), and lastly, a future to consider (1 Timothy 6:21).  Read the passage through with your family and discuss why it’s important to handle both earthly & spiritual treasures with care.

Continuing in the fourth and final major division in our study through 1 Timothy 5-6, we now get to Paul’s concluding instructions concerning pastoral responsibilities in the church.  In this week’s study we will be studying through verses 1 Timothy 6:3-16, which looks at self-focused gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5), godly contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-10) and the blessings of Christ focused obedience (1 Timothy 6:11-16). Despite all that God offers, through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ, there are those who persistently get caught up in self-focused pursuits, and as a result fall short of the abundant life that is to be found in Christ. When we give into the temptation to find our joy and fulfilment in the things of this world, rather than in the things of God, we will always end up going astray in our faith.  The answer to experiencing the true abundant life that God offers us through Christ, is found in 2 ways: First, we must flee that which is not characteristic of Christ, and secondly we must pursue that which is characteristic of Christ. When we gain fresh vision of the glory of Christ, the majesty of Christ, and the power of Christ—this motivates us to bring our will in line with God’s will, so that Christ might be seen more in our lives.