Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Are you standing strong and confident in the foundation of the word and resting the assurance of the foundation of the church.

We are surrounded by false teachers and false teachings.

However, we can stand confident knowing God’s church is sure.

We must all ask ourselves, once we’re resting in the sureness of the foundation of the church, am I useful for kingdom service?

If not, what do I have to do be useful?

Paul identifies one sure way of becoming useful for the kingdom within our text.

Focus Passage

Outline

Building off our last message in 2 Timothy, we find that God is speaking of the Church and her foundation.

I begin this message where I ended in 2 Timothy, discussing the foundation of the church.

An Encouraging Word

Paul stands in distress over the false teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus(the resurrection already happening, which caused a spirit of complacency within the church), and he knows that their teachings have spread through the congregation of Ephesus.

As he writes his letter to Timothy, he wishes to encourage the congregation that church of God is strong and well.

It is rooted on a strong foundation.

The foundation of the church is solid and established

Paul writes, Nevertheless the foundation of standeth sure.

Let us see the truth of sureness of the church.

Brothers and sisters, the church may take hits.

The church may face persecution.

The church may falter at times, but our foundation is sure.

You say, how do we know this?

How do we know that we know that she will not fail?

As we look through the Scripture, we find three truths that give us assurances of the sureness of the church.

Three truths that reveal the church’s sureness

Jesus is her cornerstone

The contemporary church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and of the apostles and prophets

The promise of Jesus Himself

God has sealed His church

God has sealed His church in two ways

God has sealed his church by knowing His own

God has sealed his church by calling His own to holiness

Honor v. Dishonor

Paul, in his encouragement to the church at Ephesus, reminds them that not every Christian is what they seem to be.

We find this to be true in churches today.

It is easy to put on your Sunday best and have the Sunday tongue and Sunday attitude and spirit.

All that could be the true character of the individual or it could be a facade.

Paul writes Timothy to warn him of this truth.

Paul states that there are two types of Christians within the church

There are those Christians that are true and honorable

There are those Christians that are false and dishonorable

The reality is, that God has made both.

Becoming Useful for the Kingdom

To be useful, one must extract themselves from false teachings

Paul writes, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor.

Paul, when stating purge himself from these, he is referring to false teachings, not necessarily the false teachers themselves.

He would later in his letter, tell Timothy how to correct the false teachers.

How does one identify false teachings?

He does this by doing what Paul has already addressed with Timothy.

He told him to be a student of the word.

To be diligent in his service to the Lord and diligent in his studying of God’s word.

We must do as David said, and meditate on God’s word morning and evening.

We must know the word to identify the false teachings of false teachers.

Once we identify the false teachings, we must avoid them at all cost, if we are to be useful for the kingdom of God.

If we avoid false teachings and embrace only, the truth of God, we will find that the results are favor in God’s service.

Let us avoid false teachings and embrace the truth

Paul states that if we will avoid false teachings and embrace the truth of God’s word, we will find a three-fold result.

We will be of value to the kingdom of God

Paul writes, ...he shall be a vessel unto honor...

We will be set apart for the kingdom of God

Paul writes, …he shall be a vessel…sanctified...

We will be useful and ready for service in the kingdom of God

Paul writes, …he shall be a vessel…meet for the for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work

Conclusion

If we want to be used of God, we must know the truth of God’s word.

If we want to be used of God, we must avoid false teachings.

If we are going to be used of God, we remain confident in and act upon the sure foundation of the word of God.

All this begins with a new found relationship in Jesus Christ.

Do you know Him?