Sunday Messages - Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages

As the Apostle Paul unfolds a transition strategy for the next generation of leaders, the word entrusted becomes a key term in his vocabulary. In 1 Timothy 6:20, Paul wrote “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you.” At the end of 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul reminds us that the Lord “is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” Shortly after that, Paul challenges Timothy to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” As we will eventually observe, this idea is reemphasized in 2:2.

The word picture associated with entrust involves guarding a significant deposit. In this case, what Paul is entrusting to future leaders is the gospel of Jesus Christ, as emphasized in the word of God. Let’s examine verses 12b-14 carefully, and ponder how they relate to our lives.

Having Been Entrusted With The Gospel, Note…

• The Certainty We Should Possess. (12b)

• The Pattern We Should Follow. (13)

• The Responsibility We Should Fulfill. (14)

In 2 Timothy, we have Paul’s last words and final thoughts as he mentors Timothy, who pastors the church in Ephesus. As persecution was ramping up, it seems that Timothy struggled with fear and timidity in his proclamation of Jesus. Paul speaks a word of encouragement to Timothy to “not be ashamed,” and to be ready to “share in the suffering” that comes with the gospel. All of us are called to stand courageously as we minister the message of the good news about Jesus, and all of us wrestle with some fear and timidity. As Paul encourages Timothy, he does so by emphasizing the greatness of God and the glory of God’s grace which can be clearly seen now that Christ has appeared.

• Do not be ashamed of the gospel. (8a)

• Share in suffering for the gospel. (8b-12a)

    • How will we do this? (8b)

    • Why must we do this? (9-12a)

As we examine 2 Timothy 1:3-7, note the Apostle Paul’s reflective state of mind. In verse 3, he writes, I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. In verse 4, Paul tells Timothy, I remember your tears. Reflecting upon Timothy’s spiritual heritage, Paul writes in verse 5, I am reminded of your sincere faith, and in verse 6, Paul challenges Timothy with the words, For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God.

2 Timothy reveals the heart of this preeminent apostle whose death is near (2 Timothy 4:6-8). These last words written by Paul would have a tremendous impact upon Timothy as he serves as a pastor in the city of Ephesus. With verses 6-7 serving as Paul’s purpose in writing to Timothy, let’s examine these verses carefully and make practical application to our lives.

As We Remember How God Has Worked Through Others, Note…

• The Thankfulness That Needs To Be Expressed. (3-4) 

• The Heritage That Needs To Be Recognized. (5)

• The Gifting That Needs To Be Developed. (6-7) 

The time had come for the passing of the torch. Throughout his far-reaching ministry, the Apostle Paul had kept younger men by his side, with the result being that new leaders would continue to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ through subsequent generations. Just as Moses passed the torch to Joshua and Elijah passed the torch to Elisha, so too did the Apostle Paul pass the torch onward to Timothy.

2 Timothy, the last of Paul’s writings, was penned during a time when persecution against Christians throughout the Roman empire was accelerating. As a young pastor in Ephesus (part of modern-day Turkey), Timothy would deeply value the wisdom offered by Paul, his esteemed mentor. It is traditionally held that Paul was martyred during the reign of Emperor Nero. It is most likely that the three Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) were written during the 62-67 time period. Today, we’ll begin exploring 2 Timothy together and see how these chapters relate to our lives.

As We Consider The Promise Of Life In Christ, Note…

- The Transformation That God Produces. (1)

- The Discipleship That God Prioritizes. (2a)

- The Blessings That God Provides. (2b)