Preach the word, and bring me my coat back - 2 Timothy 4

Read 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV)

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul is coming to the end of his life and ministry, and is writing to a man he taught and mentored. He’s passing the baton to the next generation of evangelist and pastor. His words here can be read as final encouragements, the last and most important words of a great preacher to the preachers to come.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 (ESV)

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

PREACH THE WORD.

Paul makes no bones about it. This is probably the most commonly repeated refrain in the pastoral letters. This is our primary job as pastors. We are to know, study, live, and teach the word. The power to live as God intends is found in faith in Jesus and the empowering Holy Spirit. There are many things we can teach, none of them have any value outside of the grace and truth of Jesus. Without it, all else in the end is bondage.

That the gospel is so radical and potentially offensive is yet more reason to preach it clearly and frequently. Many people will prefer to hear that we can work for our own salvation. Never before in history have people had as many voices, so many choices as to what and to whom they will listen. Six days a week people can Youtube preachers, teachers, and documentaries that say what they want to hear. Many of us have only one day a week, maybe only an hour of that day, when we can boldly point to Jesus, the king and hope of our salvation. Don't worry about competing with all the superpreachers on TV. Preach the truth.

For those of us in the pulpit, we must not be as verses three and four describe, turning our ears to whatever teaching suits us. In a world of Television church and podcast preaching, we have so much choice in our teaching that we can pick our favourites like from a smorgasbord. We must be cautious. We need the whole counsel of scripture. We must be submitted to teaching, not pick our own teachings according to our whims. We are bombarded with a continuous stream of information, and it is easy to become passive listeners. Do not be lulled to sleep by slick and pretty packaging. We should instead use the opportunities have in this generation to get a full and thorough knowledge of truth. We should be media literate, able to discern and reason between truth and deception.

2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV)

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

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The book of 2 Timothy ends as many New Testament letters do, with greetings and messages for individuals dear to the writer. This sign off includes one of my favourite "post-script" style messages.

2 Timothy 4:13 (ESV)

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

Hey, I left my cloak there. Could you grab that?

I think this is funny in the context of a letter that includes 2 Timothy 3:16. I'd love to hear a pastor preach a sermon about Paul forgetting his coat in Ephesus.

Read 2 Timothy 4

Scripture equips us to live differently - 2 Timothy 3

Read 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:12-13 (ESV)

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Those who desire not only to live the goodness and justice of the Kingdom but also teach others to do the same are to take warning that it will not be easy to do so. The patterns of injustice, corruption, violence, hedonism, and self-centredness are habits ingrained by the world's system. Not all who are bound by such things want to be set free. There privileged enjoy temporary benefits by remaining married to the world's doctrines of power and pleasure. It is a deception.

Pastors and righteous resistors are encouraged at the beginning of the chapter to avoid such people. The context of Paul's ministry and writings demonstrate that this does not mean we self-righteously refuse to share our lives with people who are still bound by the spirit of empire. However, we should not pair our lives with the patterns and habits of those that support the machine. The sad truth is that resistance to the world's corruption makes it difficult to have true, close, mutually yoked relationships with people who continue in support of the empire's corrupt patterns. At best, we allow ourselves to become as desensitized and anesthetized as they, rendering us ineffective. At worst, we can become agents of the machine, fully deceived and bound again in sin.

Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

It is right and good for us to live and fight in love for justice for and even with those who are still personally bound. It is not right that we should become so comfortable with their bondage that we become bound ourselves.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

The answer is the same as both letters to Timothy have repeated from the beginning. Our influence is the Word, not the world. We are to be wise in the way of salvation from corruption. Scripture equips us to live for the eternal Kingdom and contrary to the empire's patterns. It is alive, not just rhetoric or philosophy but power itself to live as it teaches.

No fear.

Read 2 Timothy 3

The Enduring, Faithful, Qualified Pastor - 2 Timothy 2

Read 2 Timothy 2

Paul, an older church planter, encourages Timothy, a young pastor in the church's first generation, to remain grounded in the grace of God, having faith that God will accomplish his purposes through him.

The chapter shows us the nature of a faithful and qualified pastor who will endure.

2 Timothy 2:1 (ESV)

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

It’s all about Jesus.

It’s all in Jesus and through Jesus. The heavy lifting has been done. Walk in him.

Eph. 6:10 (ESV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

(see Exodus 18:18-23)

Preach the word.

Teach others to preach the word (see Titus 1:5).

Reach,

teach,

and mobilize.

Some may be uncomfortable with the use of military language like “mobilize”. I am convinced that the gospel does teach Jesus followers non-violent resistance. However, it does not teach non-resistance. We do resist, and we do it together. We wrestle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), but we still wrestle. We do contend both in the spirit against forces of darkness, and in the natural against conformity to the violent and corrupt patterns of the world. We resist powers and governments and cultural patterns that are contrary to the justice and love and freedom that Jesus’ preaches and gives. And together, we are an army. Jesus is our commanding officer. Citizens of the Kingdom are ambassadors that go out into the world carrying the message of the Kingdom. Kingdom ambassadors go into the world prepared to resist the powers that believe they are in control. We are mobilized. We teach teachers who teach teachers.

Teach faithful and qualified people. We promote character and giftedness both, not either/or. People can become qualified through development and training. For those of us in ministry, we are reminded to remain faithful and qualified. We should use and challenge our gifts.

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)

  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Paul goes on about developing others by telling Timothy later in the chapter to remind these people often of the gospel and the cost of Following Jesus (vv8-10). He also encourages them not to be idle arguers over words, but to remain firm in the basic truths of the gospel (vv11-14).

Remaining faithful and qualified in the word and in the spirit, and teaching others to do the same is very hard work.

2 Timothy 2:3 (ESV)

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Endure Hardship

2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV)

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

Hardship and trials are a normal Christian experience.

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 8:35, 37 (ESV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Hardship is certain. Our victory in Jesus, and his love for us are even more certain.

Faith in his love and his victory won for us will give us the perseverance to endure.

2 Timothy 2:4-7 (ESV)

4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

3 Habits of Faithful, Qualified Church Leaders with Endurance

 

1 - A Soldier - Civilian Affairs

 A faithful and qualified pastor’s first priority is to please Jesus. (v4).

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

God intends his disciples to live changed lives that change lives.

This world is our home. We are not just passing through.

Matthew 6:1 (ESV)

Beware of practising your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

We are salt and light in this world, but it is not us that is seen, but our good works for God’s glory.

We only live for the approval of God, not the approval of people.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The things of this world choke out God’s word in our lives (Matthew 13:22 – the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word).

When our eyes and heart are singly focused on Jesus, we know the will of our commanding officer, and are able to please him.

Philippians 3:4-11 (ESV)

…though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[a] blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Jesus is our priority. We have little time or energy for anything else.

My priorities (match my roles)

-Disciple

-Husband

-Father

-Pastor

-Evangelist

Once I place these in my weekly schedule, I don't have much time left for frivolous things. I know how to rest, but I am no longer concerned with Youtube memes, gossip, or many of the other things that used to rent space in my time before prioritizing my life according to the Kingdom.

Paul warns Timothy numerous times in this chapter of how easily he could become distracted by irreverent it useless babbling (vv17-18, 23-26). Arguments among Christians over silly details derail us from our purpose - to live by faith according to God's just Kingdom, proclaiming his freedom, love, and grace to a lost and hurting world. Don't get distracted.

 

2. An Athlete – Competes by the Rules

 A faithful and qualified pastor is disciplined (v5).

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[a] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Our private life should be viciously disciplined to be free from besetting sins and entanglements.

We should not be distracted by the world (v4), and we should not be bound by besetting sin (v5).

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)

(continues from last point)

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Our daily prayer is that God will forgive our sins (Matthew 6:12). We aren’t perfect yet. But we must not use this as an excuse for laziness. On the contrary, we need to be an example of purity and righteousness to our congregations. And when we fail, we must be an example of repentance and humility, as Paul is here. There should be no hidden and habitual sin in a pastor’s life.

Have regular accountability in your life, a person who you regularly check in with about your time with Jesus, and your private world.

3. A Farmer – Feeds Himself First

 A faithful and qualified pastor is filled with the word before teaching others (v6).

Denying yourself to follow Jesus does not mean ministering at the expense of your time with Jesus or your family’s time with you. You should be filled first, and then give. Pour out your life for your congregation, but from a full vessel.

Have a Sabbath. Take a whole day off. Don’t prepare your message for next week. Don’t meet with your congregation. Don’t check your email.

Give to your family before giving to your church. Don’t give your kids your leftovers. To make sure I do this, I take time daily for my family, and a whole day on Saturday, before I preach so I’m fresh for them.

1 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)

(speaking of payment of those who preach)

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

1 Corinthians 9:23 (ESV)

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

The chapter ends with a strong encouragement to proclaim the word with gentleness, sensitivity, and integrity (v25). Paul had a lot of experience with opponents, even those who tried to kill him. Still, he remained a gentlemen. Through all his trials before Rome, he did not attack his opponents, nor pander to his captors. Freedom in the Kingdom gives us the freedom to take the high road. We don't need to fight people who disagree with us. In gentleness and grace, we give the Holy Spirit room to speak through us, and maybe turn our enemies into family.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (ESV)

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honourable use, some for dishonourable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Conclusion

To minister the gospel is a blessing! (1 Cor 9:23)

We live for a heavenly kingdom! (Matt 6:33)

We have the approval of our commanding officer! (2 Tim 2:4)

We have treasure in heaven! (Matt 6:1)

We’re going to win this race, and get a victor’s crown! (2 Tim 2:5)

We receive the blessings of the gospel first! (2 Tim 2:6)

Enjoy your ministry. Thank God for the blessing of your calling and gifts. Love your congregation.

Read 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 1 - Suffering and lonely, but not alone.

Read 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:1-2 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

This letter is an encouragement for Timothy to remain strong in God’s grace.

Paul is coming to the end of his life and ministry, and is writing to a man he taught and mentored (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He’s passing the baton to the next generation of evangelist and pastor.

He also misses Timothy, his dear friend. Paul has been isolated from his friends by being a prisoner of Rome. Christians have community with Jesus in relationship with each other. We long for Christian fellowship.

2 Timothy 1:5-7 (ESV)

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Paul is reminding Timothy that he has a heritage and a future. Paul also sees hope for his own continued ministry in ministers like Timothy who will outlive him. Our faith and practice is for the blessing and redemption of generations beyond our own. The Holy Spirit in us enables us to serve the world and our communities. We can bring our gifts to greater life through use. We should not be afraid to use our gifts boldly.

Not just our salvation, but our call to live a holy life is through grace (vv8-9). We come to the Kingdom with nothing, and then are filled to give. It is all through the Spirit, not our own strength. We give nothing of our own but our brokenness. We are rewarded with resurrection life (vv10-12). It's all grace, from beginning to end.

2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV)

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Paul's loneliness is acutely felt in the last verses of the chapter. Just as he began by confessing how deeply he misses Timothy, he tells Timothy of those who have abandoned him and the faith in his need.

Paul's suffering is not only in his persecutions, but his separation from the body. Still, he believes that it is for Jesus' name he is suffering, and puts his hope in him.

2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)

 ...which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for 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.

Loneliness is a hard burden to bear. Our hope and encouragement is that we are not alone when our hope is in Jesus. By faith, we receive the Holy Spirit, the presence of God dwelling within us. Jesus promised to never leave us. Even when alone, or at the end of our journey, God is with us and will continue to use us, and keep us in his loving will.

Read 2 Timothy 1