Sermon Tone Analysis

Legacy: Lois and Eunice

Psalm 137:1-6 • 2 Timothy 1:1-14

This is a new series.

In October, I’ll be using the Lectionary passages, but I’ll tie them together around the concept of the Legacy of Faith.

What is the “legacy of faith” left behind by others, and what do we do with it today?

In today’s passage, Paul, after his extended “Paul-like” introduction, reminds Timothy that he has a sincere faith within, that was handed down as a legacy from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.

Timothy is a third-generation Christian.

Paul is telling him to not be ashamed of him or his hand-me-down faith or let the legacy die in him.

I was talking with a friend recently about the difference between being ignorant and stupid.

I found a pretty cool website called differencebetween.net.

According to their website:

“The intrinsic difference is that ignorance simply implies lack of awareness about something, while stupidity denotes the inability of a person to understand something due to insufficient intelligence, thus leading to the misinterpretation of a fact.

Read more: Difference Between Ignorance and Stupidity | Difference Between http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-ignorance-and-stupidity/#ixzz7gI7o7su3”

During our conversation, I suggested there is an in between that involves neglect!

Some people have the knowledge available, and they’re intelligent enough to process it, but they REFUSE to process it.

They’re capable, but neglect the knowledge and intelligence they’ve been given.

Paul is telling Timothy: “Look, you’re not ignorant.

You’re not stupid.

Don’t be negligent either!

You’ve been given a great faith from your mom and from your grandma and from me.

Don’t put it on a shelf and let it collect dust.”

In the middle of this section, Paul makes a statement that is easily missed, but I think is very important.

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We easily recognize our own works are not the reason for the Lord saving and calling us.

But we don’t often realize the purpose Paul gives us!

God saved and called us … according to His own purpose and grace.

“For this reason ...” We’re facing a “for this reason” statement!

He provided salvation and a calling for the reason of HIS OWN PURPOSE!

It’s always about us, isn’t it?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! Paul is saying it’s NEVER about us … EVER! NONE OF IT!

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As we prepare to come to the Lord’s Table this morning, Why did Jesus die?

So your life and mine would no longer revolve around ourselves, and would instead revolve around HIM! How you doin’ with that?

I’ll confess I struggle with this just like you do.

I want what I want, and I’m often willing to go toe-to-toe about what I want.

But the legacy of faith I’ve been given says that’s not right.

We should be busy fighting for what He wants instead!

“But, Pastor Chris, that’s hard to figure out a lot of the time.”

MAN ALIVE … ISN’T IT!

And if we don’t understand what Jesus wants, we spend more time trying to figure it out before we fight over stupid issues, right?

Wrong!

Legacy: Lois and Eunice

Instead, we take the easy road and fight over what we want instead.

It’s just easier, so we neglect paying attention to what Jesus may want.

Is that the legacy we were handed?

When I was a child, my family was Catholic.

Some of the theology is different, and some of it dramatically.

But human nature isn’t.

In my family’s home church, people griped about the decorations around the altar, because they didn’t “look the way I wanted it to look”.

They complained if the service was longer “than they wanted it to be”.

They complained when a guitar service was introduced because “I like piano better.”

The last generation complained about the piano because they wanted everything played on organ.

They complained when a new choir director was hired … and then complained when that choir director left because they’d grown accustomed to them.

They complain when a new person sits in “their seat”.

Why on earth are we here?

Jesus can tell us plainly why he came to us ...

Can we tell him plainly why we come to him … or why we come here?

The legacy of faith we’ve been given would remind us ...

None of this is not about us!

Jesus said:

“But ‘true worshipers’ would only sing old hymns, right?

Or maybe they’d only sing newer choruses.

Or maybe they’d only sing in Latin.

Or maybe they’d only this or that...” Let’s fight about it awhile.

We were not given the legacy of faith to defend what we want.

“...His own purpose...”

Lois and Eunice handed down their faith, and Paul strengthened their legacy in Timothy.

Legacy: Lois and Eunice

Let me ask you...

Your faith in Christ … whose legacy is that a part of?

What are you doing with it?

Are you fighting for what you want?

Or are you trying to figure out what he wants?

[Brad takes slides from here]

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.

Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

MERCIFUL GOD,

WE CONFESS

THAT WE HAVE NOT LOVED YOU

WITH OUR WHOLE HEART.

WE HAVE FAILED TO BE

AN OBEDIENT CHURCH.

WE HAVE NOT DONE YOUR WILL,

WE HAVE BROKEN YOUR LAW,

WE HAVE REBELLED AGAINST YOUR LOVE,

WE HAVE NOT LOVED OUR NEIGHBORS,

AND WE HAVE NOT

HEARD THE CRY OF THE NEEDY.

FORGIVE US, WE PRAY.

FREE US FOR JOYFUL OBEDIENCE,

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

AMEN.

[All pray in silence.]

Hear the good news:

Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;

that proves God's love toward us.

[Leader to people:]

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

[People to leader:]

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, YOU ARE FORGIVEN!