AIT (Advanced Individual Training (Part 2)- 2 Timothy 2:22–26

Advanced Individual Training (Part 2)- 2 Timothy 2:22–26

Last week, we began our “special training” by looking at four aspects which we must apply to our individual stations in life. They were...

I. Constantly Revisit the Basics- 2:14

II. Consistently Engage in Training- 2:15

III. Circumvent Harmful Teaching- 2:16–19

IV. Cultivate Yourself for Holiness- 2:20–21

This week, Lord willing, we will consider two more aspects of advanced individual training for pastors/elders, but there will be plenty of connections with the church at large. These are:

I. Prioritize Righteous Living- 2:22–23

II. Practice Patient Shepherding- 2:24–26

As we consider pastors in the church today, they are marked less by righteous living and patient shepherding and more by dynamic communication skills and business-mindsets.

Let me offer you a few examples before we dive into this passage. In a research poll conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, they found that only 37% of pastors in ministry have a “biblical worldview.” That means that 63% of pastors standing in the pulpit this morning do not have a biblical worldview.

In that same poll, a third of pastors believe being a good person will get you into heaven. These are pastors generally, and are not necessarily Baptist churches.

But according to a study conducted by LifeWay Christian Resources, of 860 pastors in SBC churches, only 16% were satisfied with their personal prayer lives.

On top of these (and many other) startling aspects to their living, we see an enormous need for pastors to be serious about their work as ministers of the Gospel to shepherd patiently.

Pastors today dress up as Toy Story characters, preach on movie themes, even good ones like StarWars.

Or consider some pastors who angrily yell at “sinners” in a prideful, arrogant way. They hold up signs that “God hates _________” and protest and scream at soldiers’ funerals.

These are depressing when considered at any length.

If we are to know God and make Him known through suffering and steadfastness, we must have pastors and be a people of righteous living and patient shepherding.

I. Prioritize Righteous Living- 2:22–23

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells the young pastor (1 Tim. 4:16), “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Righteous doctrine void of a righteous lifestyle is mere religiosity. It is damning, harmful, and if unchecked will be far worse than any earthly pandemic.

Paul instructs the young pastor on how to prioritize righteous living. He tells him to...

A. Flee Immaturity

B. Focus on Righteousness

C. Forget Pointless Arguments

A. Flee Immaturity

“Youthful passions” or “youthful lusts” is not inherently sexual, Paul is talking about sinful immaturity that is often associated with young people. Scripture offers us several lists into these various aspects of “youthful passions/lusts” but a helpful list is in Gal. 5:17–21. Paul tells Timothy to flee from these. If you were walking down the street and saw a lion, I imagine after overcoming the shock, you would flee. The lion is dangerous, more than capable of killing you. You know the dangers and run for safety.

That should be Timothy’s approach to youthful passions/lusts. Although this is true for the pastors of the church, it is equally true for her members. Run away from dangers to the safety of righteousness.

Practically speaking, this means avoiding situations in which we may be tempted to sin. For example, it is unwise for a young man and young woman in love to be alone. Or, if someone has struggled with drunkeness, it would be unwise to frequent bars.

B. Focus on Righteousness

Paul tells Timothy to pursue righteousness (cf. 1 Tim. 6:11), faith, love, and peace. We could summarize these points with Christ. Who displays more righteousness, or faith, or love, or peace than Christ?

With as much energy as we muster to flee immaturity, we run to Christ and pursue righteousness. It is our aim in life! Dedicate time to the pursuit of a righteous life. We do this with others, as Paul notes “with those who call on the Lord.”

“with a pure heart” = with true devotion, being truly in love with God

“Sugar sweetens unripe fruits, and neutralizes the acidity of those which are already ripe—so true devotion is a spiritual sugar which takes away the bitterness of mortification, and the danger of gratification; it counteracts the poor man’s discontent, and the rich man’s self-satisfaction; the loneliness of him that is oppressed, and the vainglory of the successful; the sadness of him that is alone, and the dissipation of him that is in society; it is as fire in winter, and dew in summer; it knows how to abound, and how to suffer need; it draws some good alike from honor with contempt, it accepts both joy and suffering with an even spirit, and fills us with a marvelous sweetness.”— Francis De Sales, An Introduction to the Devout Life

Focus on righteousness with the church, a people of pure heart (i.e., true devotion).

C. Forget Pointless Arguments

We won’t dwell long on this, other than to say this point is made several times by Paul (1 Tim. 6:4; 2 Tim. 2:14; Tit. 3:9).

II. Practice Patient Shepherding- 2:24–26

The second “advanced individual training” for Pastor Timothy was practicing patient shepherding. The “Lord’s servant,” or slave, must practice patient shepherding.

This applies to two types of people: Christians and non-Christians.

The pastor is to shepherd God’s people patiently, helping them grow without becoming agitated or frustrated, without leaving them behind, or without leading them in the wrong direction.

Think of a small child following his parent. The parent walks at the child’s speed, helping him with tasks that are to difficult for their stage of life.

Likewise, the pastor walks through life with the church (“Being king to everyone”). When appropriate, the pastor is to “teach” the people truths of God’s Word and how to live them.

The focus, though covering both groups (Christians and non-Christians) seems more on the non-Christian. Paul tells Timothy to endure patiently the evil that comes with following Christ, seeking to establish the truth of God in their hearts and minds and entrusting their salvation to the God who saves.

Notice the sweetness with which Paul encourages Timothy to respond: kind to everyone, gentleness, patiently enduring evil.

Is this not the path the Lord Jesus trod? There is no doubt in my mind Paul thought of Jesus’s treatment of the apostle at this point.

You remember that Paul is a completely changed man by God leading him to a knowledge of the truth. The apostle who hated Jesus was now so in love with Jesus (true devotion, pure heart) that nothing could sway him from following the Messiah.

Jesus’ earthly ministry was filled with his kindness to all, his gentleness, and his patient endurance of evil. Are we, then, his slaves and bondservants, any less responsible to conduct ourselves accordingly?

Pastors should follow in the steps of Jesus and adhere to Paul’s teaching here. But you, as followers of Jesus Christ, also follow in these steps.

Fathers and grandfathers, be patient with your children and your wives. They are a work-in-progress, as much as you are.

Mothers and grandmothers, be patient with your children and your husbands. They are a work-in-progress, as much as you are.

Children who follow Jesus, be patient with your parents! They are on the road to Christlikeness, as are you, and a long road it is.

Brothers and sisters of WC, be patient with one another! If we are commanded by God to correct our opponents with gentleness, how much more should we do so to the Bride of Christ?

What is Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired goal? Conversion, the transforming of one dead to sin to being alive with Christ.

“God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge (saving) of the truth.” Paul offers an analogy in 1 Cor. chapter 3, where Paul plants, Apollos waters, but God gives the growth (3:6–7).

This is a key point in our discussion, not only involved with unbelievers, but with one another. Paul tells Timothy to shepherd these people patiently, correcting them with the Word of God. However, Timothy is not responsible for how the individuals receive the Word of God. God will either provide repentance, or will leave them to their own choices.

“The grace of faith…is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word...” 2LCF 14:1

For unbelievers, we are called to share the Gospel and present God’s truth. We should prepare for this, study, and think clearly in order to articulate biblical truth. We should share it gently and patiently. But we should leave the results to God’s sovereign work. If God grants the grace of faith, that individual is freed from the bondage of Satan and comes to their senses. *PRISONERS OF WAR*

For believers, we share God’s truth with each other, and as we do, we do it gently and patiently. But we should leave the results to God’s sovereign work. God works in our lives differently, at various intensities and with individually-tailored opportunities to grow into Christ’s image. Some of you grow quickly and consistently, and others of us grow slowly and inconsistently. God gives the growth.

If we are to know God and make Him known through suffering and steadfastness, we must have pastors and be a people of righteous living and patient shepherding. Are you living righteously? Are you patiently shepherding those with whom you are in relationship?