Who is helping you find and follow Jesus? Who are you investing in regularly?

Bite 2 Go

September 16-17, 2017

Introduction and offering:

Last weekend, I gave a Think 3 talk about Paul and Timothy. Think 3 means that we think 3 generations into the future, and one on either side of us. I want our church to be great for the generations coming up behind me: my kids, and grandkids and great grandkids—and yours too. Isn’t that what you want? That’s Think 3—think 3 generations into the future. And think one on either side of you. The question I posed last week was:

Who is your Paul? Who is investing in you spiritually?

Who is your Timothy? In whom are you investing?

So here’s the story. Paul first met Timothy when Paul was on his second missionary journey. He was traveling through what is modern Turkey, revisiting churches he had planted on his first missionary journey. While in Lystra, he met Timothy, who was probably 18 or 19, and was highly regarded by the believers in that region. Let me say that again: he was a teenager and was highly regarded by the believers in that region. That is not a typo! Teenagers can set an example that their elders admire and follow.

Paul was so impressed that he invited Timothy to join him in his missionary travels. Timothy quickly became one of Paul’s right hand men. Even though he was young, Paul entrusted Timothy with major responsibility: he represented Paul at churches when Paul couldn’t be there; he was asked to pastor some large and influential churches even in his 20’s.

Paul was a spiritual father and mentor to Timothy; he called Timothy “his dear son in the faith.” This relationship lasted to the end of Paul’s life; in fact, the last letter we have from Paul was written to Timothy near the end of Paul’s life (2 Timothy), and is very personal and affectionate.

Last weekend, we looked at four lessons from Paul and Timothy:

This weekend, I’ve got three more for you.