BIBLE READING: 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3.1 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”

As Paul instructs the young Timothy, he doesn’t paint a make-believe, everyone lives happily ever after picture. That wouldn’t be helpful for Timothy. Had Paul said that Timothy might become frustrated wondering when the “happily ever after” part starts. Instead, Paul tells Timothy the truth. It won’t be easy.

What follows is a careful, descriptive image of what makes those final days troublesome. It’s not aliens invading the planet. It’s not a pandemic wiping out the population. It’s people. It’s godlessness that becomes widespread. Paul goes on to list a series of sinful attitudes and behaviors to expect from people: Ungrateful, unholy and unloving. lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure. People will be arrogant and abusive; heartless, reckless, and swollen with conceit. Even people who claim to be godly will be wicked.

The picture isn’t pretty. And what’s scary is these are the times we live in. It’s the cycle of humanity that always comes around. Empty lives trying to find happiness in fad after fad. The selfishness of our times even creeps into our fellowship and our worship. If I can’t have it my way, then I’m out of here.

However, in these verses we find a way to address this problem. Timothy was different. He was not consumed by this selfish spirit. Paul says, “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions and sufferings.” (2 Timothy 3.10)

Timothy was not caught up in the godless, selfish moment. The “but you,” shows that Timothy had a heart that remained true to the Lord. For us, that’s encouragement and hope. Not everyone is going down the drain. Not everyone has lost their senses. There are righteous people in Sodom. There are righteous people in the final days. There are righteous people who are making godly choices and are leaving footprints of compassion, fairness, and hope for others to see. That’s where you and I come in. We are lights of the world. We illustrate Jesus for others to see. We show others that there is a better way. Loving God is a great choice. It is the best choice.

It will be challenging to connect with selfish hearts, but that’s the task before us today. Selfish people want a church that serves them and makes them feel happy. Starting conversations will be hard. Getting people to the Bible will be hard. But an empty and vain world offers nothing to fill the hole that is in the hearts of every person. The crashing reality of death is one area that a selfish society cannot deal with. They need to know there are better things than this world. They need to know the power of Jesus to offer life and hope. They need to know God loves them. 

Difficult times will require great faith and patience. But you and I can do this because we have the Lord to help us.

“…I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me…” (2 Timothy 1.12)

Note: These thoughts were adapted from a blog written in “Jump Starts” by Roger Shouse.

BIBLE READING: 1 Timothy 1-3

The pervading message of 1 Timothy is the need to act with sincerity and transparency. As was the case in Titus’ situation, some in Ephesus had impure motives that were disturbing the church’s unity (1 Timothy 1.6-7, 19-20). The church needed men not just to lead but to behave with integrity.

To do this, Paul encouraged Timothy’s to step up and teach sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1.3-4). This meant standing against those who taught the law according to their own interpretation. The bible often warns of our tendency to read God’s word through a subjective lens. We are more prone to ask, “what does this mean to me?” rather than listen to the objective truth of scripture. There is a right way to handle God’s word (2 Timothy 2.15), and it requires humility and stewardship. The preacher’s role should be to center God’s people on what is sure and true from God’s word. We can know what God wants and we should not invest ourselves in the business of speculating.

In this context, Paul also introduced the role of the overseers. The term “overseer” is often used in scripture to describe someone who inspects or goes looking for someone in need (as in Matthew 25.36). Paul depicts this service as caring for the church (1 Timothy 3.5) and his immediate concern is with the integrity of these men. Each of the qualities listed emphasized the need to be men of proven character, both in the home and the community. Nothing could be worse for a local church than to have leadership with questionable character. His actions must be consistent in all venues so that others, both in the body and in the world, know what sort of person he is.

The office of overseer (aka elder, shepherd) is not a role for just anyone. They must have an attitude that both aspires to this role and desires it (1 Timothy 3.1). This implies pursuit and forethought with an eye on something not yet attained (as in Hebrews 11.16). But there also must be gumption and want to seek out the well-being of other people. This means it is not simply a title but an active role in the body that serves to maintain the spiritual health of every person.

Both of these roles are desperately needed within every church body, and we must be diligent in our selection process. Preachers and elders have significant influence over our spiritual well-being. Their teaching and their lives will impact the course of our faith, and even that of future generations. We need men who not only lead us to do what is right, but who lead us to live honestly before God and before others.

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1.5)

BIBLE READING: Titus 1

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained in order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” (Titus 1.5)

One of the clearest needs in the church is to have elders. It is a role that ought to be discussed as a matter of importance because, according to Paul, there is something complete about having elders in a church. Why?

1. It is God’s pattern (Titus 1.5). Paul directed the churches in every town appoint elders (see Acts 14.23). It is the primary service role we see in every NT church. Churches aren’t led by a board of directors or a men’s committee. They are led by spiritual men, living spiritual lives, practicing and teaching spiritual truths.
2. The church needs spiritual leadership (Titus 1.6-9). Notice these “qualifications” are spiritual in nature. They don’t speak to a man’s ability to rally people to a cause or inspire them to be great. Instead, they emphasize his personal character that exhibits a profound respect for God’s word and the good of others. The church is different from every other organization on earth. Our mission is to follow Christ and fulfil his purposes. The church doesn’t need men with charisma or clout to lead them (although that can be helpful). It needs men concerned for the souls of people.
3. Elders demonstrate the way to live our faith (Titus 1.7-8). These men are appointed because their character traits display a clear way of life. In his wisdom, God understood it is beneficial to have people to look at and model. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says: “Remember your leaders… consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13.7). The church needs leaders committed to living and loving like Jesus (1 Peter 5.2-4).
4. The church needs defenders (Titus 1.10-11). This is the emphasis of Paul’s encouragement to Titus. Not everyone in the church has pure motives. There may be wolves in sheep’s clothing that have crept in unnoticed (Matthew 7.15-16; 2 Peter 2.1). There may be those who speak confidently but who are not correct (1 Timothy 1.6-7). This cannot be allowed to persist in the church (Titus 1.11). When evil begins to arise, the church needs to know who will stand up for what is right and good.

When elders are not present, the church is more susceptible to deception and heresy. It is more prone to wander away from truth and lose its direction. Elders provide stability and protection that every church needs. Having said that, we must acknowledge that these things are still possible without elders; but God’s design is that men aspire to these roles and are selected to serve the church in these ways.

This process should never be rushed but should be on our minds as the people of God. As we align with God’s patterns, we become more secure in our fellowship and our faith.

BIBLE READING: Acts 26

Paul’s about-face to follow Christ had a profound and lasting effect on the church. But it also created enemies to his work. Those who had one been supporters of his zeal for the Jewish traditions weren’t just upset—they wanted him dead. They would chase him from town to town, ultimately resolving that he must not only be silenced but killed (Acts 9.23; 23.12; 25.3).

Their efforts culminated in Paul’s arrest and trial (Acts 22.31-36). Throughout these proceedings Paul had opportunity to present his case not just to the authorities, but to his fellow Jews. He knew them, they knew him (Acts 26.4), and his desire was to help them see the truth about Jesus (Romans 9.3-5; 10.1-4). To do this, he gave his personal testimony as compelling evidence to the truth of Jesus as the Christ.

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth…” (Acts 26.9). “But I received mercy… that in me… Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe…” (1 Timothy 1.16). In every account of Paul’s conversion his message was, “You know who I used to be… but look at me now! I’m not who I used to be.”

Personal testimony can be a powerful tool. Luke records the conversion of Saul 3 times in Acts (Acts 9, 22 & 26). Throughout his letters, Paul would recount the changes Christ brought in his own life (see Galatians 1.13-24; Philippians 3.4-11; 1 Timothy 1.12-16). Jesus’ intrusion into Paul’s life was significant, and the effect on his way of life proved a powerful witness to Christ. Paul was not the same person after he came to know Jesus. I wonder if the same could be said for us.

A couple of thoughts to consider:

1. The gospel prompts change. Change in priority. Change in allegiance. Change in the way we talk and think and live. Our habits, desires, and goals must evolve to align with a manner worthy of our calling. A life without change does not understanding the calling of the gospel. We are to put off what we want and put on new things that model Jesus. The longer we know Jesus, the more evident the change should be in our lives.
2. Your past makes the gospel valuable. There may be things in your past of which you are ashamed. It’s ok to reflect on, and even share those things from time to time. It reminds us how much God has done. We are not who we used to be by the grace of God.
3. The effect of the gospel in your life is powerful. When we practice what we preach, it draws others to Christ. Paul would often encourage believers to imitate him as he conformed his life to Christ (1 Corinthians 11.1; 2 Timothy 3.10-11). How you live becomes a model for others to witness and follow Christ.

Take some time to reflect on the changes Jesus has brought into your life. Is your way of life a witness to the work of Jesus Christ? But don’t stop there. Think about how you still need to change. We are all on a journey to become more like Christ. By his grace let’s grow to become more like him today.

“I am what I am by the grace of God.” (1 Corinthians 15.10)

BIBLE READING: Acts 17

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” (Acts 17.32)

Resurrection— Can we take it seriously? In our Hollywood society, the subject is tied to fantasy stories and sci-fi epics. To bring someone back from the dead defies logic and immediately forces us to consider things we cannot fully understand. The Athenians fancied these sorts of subjects (Acts 17.21), but resurrection was a step too far even for them. Many of them scoffed when Paul brought it up. Many today have that same attitude. Resurrection is a figment of the Christian imagination to deal with the unknowns of afterlife.

As difficult as it is to fathom, it is the foremost truth professed throughout the scriptures. The prophets of old pointed to it as an indicator from God (see Psalm 16.10; Isaiah 53.10). Jesus foretold of his resurrection, three times (see Mark 8.31, 9.30-32, 10.32-34). Resurrection was the primary truth professed by early believers. Every gospel discourse in Acts includes the resurrection. If proven false, Jesus would be a liar for the claims he made, and his disciples would have disappeared from history (consider Acts 5.33-39). And yet, this claim has been sustained and affirmed to this day.

The resurrection must not be an afterthought in our minds because it is the focal point of faith. “If Christ is not raised our faith is futile and we are still in our sins” (1 Corinthians 15.17). There are many proofs of Jesus’ resurrection, but the response of 1^st century believers is a powerful testimony to its reality. Even in the face of persecution and rejection, the resurrection emboldened “ordinary” believers to not just exist but to thrive and share the gospel of Jesus. If Jesus was not raised, they would have no such motivation.

Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Of course, we do in theory, but we must consider the implications. Our profession of faith in Jesus is not simply about following a good man. We are not choosing to follow Jesus simply based on his teaching. We don’t accept him simply because of the miracles he performed. These all build the case for his divinity but without the resurrection, our faith is incomplete. There would be no hope in addressing our greatest need. He would be just like every other religious thought-leader in history who died.

That’s why we must take this subject seriously, and consider what we believe. If Jesus was not raised, death is a scary thing. The uncertainty of life beyond the grave will destroy your peace. But because we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, we also believe that God will raise us to eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4.14).

“If a man can predict his own death and resurrection, and pull it off, I just go with whatever that man says.” (A. Stanley)