Approved Workmen

Why go to school?

Productive member of society - at least that’s the idea

Maybe the better question is “Why learn?” Why is that important?

Why Study God’s Word?

Productive member of Heaven, with earth as our workplace.

Productive workers show up every day! :)

READ: 2 Tim 2:15

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

DILIGENTLY STUDY - For What Purpose?

Diligent - steady, earnest, energetic effort

Study - devote time and attention to acquiring knowledge

Again, for what purpose? Energetic pursuit of knowledge of God’s Word - WHY??

1) God’s Approval

To show yourself approved to God

God’s Word is truth (John 17:17) - God approves of your study of His Word

He is pleased by the study of His Word

Awana clubs are centered on that very Word

He is pleased when believers are productive for Him - making disciples

2) An Unashamed Worker

Paul tells Timothy - Be bold! Not ashamed

There is no reason to feel ashamed b/c you know God’s Word

The question is, do people know if you study and follow His Word?

If you do, are you ashamed to tell people? Embarrassed?

Awana clubs are designed to train young people to be bold, not ashamed

3) Correctly Handling Truth

God’s Truth = His Word

“Rightly dividing” = “cut it straight”

(NOT - some applies to Jews, some to Gentiles, some to some people and not others…NO)

Correct understanding, correct application

(Great study of misunderstood Bible passages…)

Matthew 7:1, Phil. 4:13, 2 Chron 7:14, John 3, Acts 2:38, and so on

STUDY TAKES EFFORT

You’ll do it if you want to

The Context of this passage:

Living for Jesus, enduring this age/world/culture

Surrounded by false teaching, non-truth

Your kids are hearing, from school, online, family, friends, neighbors, even from some “churches”

God’s not real

People are born good

Just be a good person - Heaven

Earth 4.5 B years old

People came from animals over millions of years

Faith and science cannot co-exist

Gender is fluid

Any two people can get married so long as they love each other

Bible is just a book

Paul is focused on TRUTH - in this letter to Timothy

Kids hear truth at Cornerstone, and Awana is one tool (what are they hearing at home?)

God is indeed real, and we have His Word

People are born sinners

Repent, ask forgiveness

Earth is roughly 6000 years old, created in 6 literal days (YEC)

God created man and woman, not through evolution

Science, true science, upholds the Bible (where the Bible touches science, it is dead-on accurate)

There is no gender, the accurate Biblical word is sex, God’s Word says there are two sexes, male and female

Marriage is between one man and one woman

Bible is God’s Word - “What the Bible Says, God Says”

How should one respond to false teaching, senseless babble, lots of words?

V. 15 - STUDY GOD’S WORD - It is truth

Rightly divide that Word (of TRUTH)

Do this diligently, like it’s really important

CORNERSTONE and AWANA

Presenting the Gospel with no distortion - accurate words

Jesus is the promised Savior

Came, Lived, Died, Rose, Returning

When you get the Gospel right, the rest should follow

Training young people to follow the Lord

Memorizing and applying God’s Word - accurately

Playing a little along the way

ADULTS

2 Timothy 2:15 is not written to children initially, but to an adult, to share with other adults, to teach them

So.....adults here

DO THIS - Study....

Then pass it to children, young people

Awana helps, but this starts at home, the bulk of the spiritual training takes place at home

Lots of effort to correct what culture is teaching the young people today

THINKING

You need to think well

Our kids need to think well

False teaching is everywhere - even in the church

SOME GOALS HERE - Working with the youth

Prepare - Know the Word, study it

Identify false - can’t do this if you don’t know truth

Respond - with the Word, the best weapon

Jesus said the fields are white with harvest , in need of workers- We are doing our best to prepare those workers

Parents, grandparents, friends - thank you for bringing your children and entrusting them to us

VBS June 25-29

Leaders - thank you for the hard work, Sunday evenings take effort, and it’s tiring

Clubbers - Study God’s Word - see you in September