Rooted and Ready

Bible Passage: 2 Timothy 3:10–17

Teaching: The sermon teaches that Scripture is not only a source of knowledge but is also living and active. It equips believers for good works, provides wisdom for salvation, and serves as the ultimate authority for moral and spiritual guidance.

We are coming down to the end of our little series here in the Timothy’s— These two letters have been a helpful window into the ideas of mentorship, leadership, church fellowship.

Today our passage is sandwiched between two powerful areas of scripture—

2 Timothy 3:1–9 Speaks about the last days— but when I read that list of all the hard things Paul says will happen:

false teachers and people turning away from God— it sounds a lot like today.

But on the other end of this passage, which we will deal with next week:

2 Timothy 4:1–8 “1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to…”

That sounds a lot like today too—

I think we might be living in the last days? OR at least today we are one day closer to that day than we were yesterday...

This is super practical for us today.

How can we live faithfully in a world that seems so dead set against God? How do we work together with each other to love, mentor and abide with Jesus together in this world of distractions, temptations, philosophies and logic that seems so against God?

In this passage of the Letter to Timothy— Paul give us four quite clear instructions— each described in two verses each:

Big Idea: To stand firm in faith, we must be deeply rooted in Scripture, allowing it to shape who we are, and what we do.

The first is to remember the example we have been given:

A. Remember the examples (v. 10-11)

2 Timothy 3:10 NIV

10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,

2 Timothy 3:11 NIV

11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Every Christian is called to be different from the world.

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Paul’s example for Timothy:

Timothy knew Paul’s teaching, because he had heard him teach it over and over and over again.

He knew his way of life, because he had lived and traveled extensively with him.

He knew his purpose, because Paul lived it out in front of Timothy

He knew his faith, patience, love, endurance and suffering because Timothy experienced it first hand.

Acts 13 and 14 explain what Paul is referring to here with the persecution. We don’t have time to explore all of that, but the basic story is that Paul goes to Antioch— persecuted and he leaves, Iconium--persecution and he leaves, Lystra, the people from the first two places follow him, everyone attacks him— beat him up so badly that they think he’s dead… But he’s not dead, but when he heals up enough to travel— what does he do? (Like you and I may be tempted to just go on our way and leave these places alone?) No— Paul goes right back into all three of those places to preach and teach about Jesus. Timothy wasn’t quite a follower and Teammate with Paul yet— but guess where he lived? Lystra— (16), but he certainly knows about the story— and has lived with Paul through dangerous times.

What does this sound like? It’s discipleship! Original disciples lived and learned from Jesus, just like Timothy lived and learned from Paul.

1. Discipleship is learning from Jesus, being transformed by Him, and helping others do the same.

It’s the being transformed part that is extra special to me… Timothy is being reminded of Paul’s teaching and way of life. Timothy has followed him. We need to do that too. Who do we have in our life that we study and KNOW these things about them?

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 4:16–17 NIV

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

That’s pretty bold, right? I want to have that kind of confidence with my life.

Follow me— do what I’m doing, because I’m following Jesus. I’m a disciple of Jesus, I know His purpose, His Teaching, His sufferings.

I sometimes try to encourage young couples preparing for marriage. “It’s really pretty simple— it’s not easy, but it’s simple...” Just love this person the way Jesus loves them. He is appointing you to love them on His behalf.

Raising kids is simple— it’s not easy, but just do what you want them to become. That’s all.

2. We too can be an example.

2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Three ways to be an example:

instruct, illustrate, and inspire Godly living.

We need to work to show people what life with Jesus can be.

And Paul continues by helping us to: Not just remember and set the example for those around us: We must also:

B. Realize the risk (v. 12-13)

2 Timothy 3:12 NIV

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John Stott in his commentary on these verses mentions that there are two distinctive ways Paul was confident in telling Timothy to trust and follow him:

The life that Paul lived was steadfast, consistent, and self-controlled… It reflected the fruit of the Spirit.

It was counter-culture. It was strange, and it may seem extremely foolish to some around us.

Secondly, Paul lived all this in the face of grievous persecutions.

And he states here that if one seeks to live a Christ-centered life, that experience awaits us as well.

Everyone that wants to live a godly life in Jesus, Will be persecuted.

John 15:18 NIV

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

The words of Jesus himself in that last evening with his disciples in that Upper room.

Jesus basically says— the world hates me— and if we live a life that reminds them of Jesus— the world will hate you.

Two tests: The Fruit of the life— and the sufferings they endure.

George Blaurock was one of the first leaders of the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland. Formerly a Catholic priest, he became convinced that infant baptism was unbiblical and that true Christian faith required a personal decision to follow Jesus.

On January 21, 1525, (That was 500 years ago last month!) George, along with Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz, gathered in Zurich, Switzerland. In a bold act of obedience to Christ, Blaurock asked Grebel to baptize him upon his confession of faith, making him one of the first adults to receive believer’s baptism in the Reformation era. This event is considered the birth of the Anabaptist movement.

Persecution and Martyrdom

Blaurock became a fiery preacher, traveling across Switzerland and surrounding regions, boldly proclaiming the Gospel and baptizing new believers. His passionate preaching led to repeated arrests, floggings, and banishment from multiple cities.

In 1529, while preaching in Tyrol (modern-day Austria), he was arrested by Catholic authorities, severely beaten, and then burned at the stake. Even in the face of death, Blaurock refused to renounce his faith in Jesus or his commitment to biblical truth.

Why Does His Story Matter?

George Blaurock’s life demonstrates boldness, faithfulness, and a willingness to suffer for the Gospel. He took Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) seriously, spreading the message of radical discipleship despite intense persecution.

His legacy lives on in the global Anabaptist movement, inspiring believers to stand firm in their faith, even in the face of suffering.

2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1. Our most powerful witness:

a. Our conduct in the midst of suffering.

This is not to be mean, or cruel, or defensive,,, The witness is lost when we are just like the world. We don’t need any more angry, bitter, mean Christians. Your conduct when you are persecuted is the most powerful witness you can present for Christ.

2 Timothy 3:13 NIV

13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Up til this point— Paul has been reminding Timothy of what has happened— the past. Now he transitions to the future:

C. Remain in Truth (v. 14-15)

2 Timothy 3:14 NIV

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

Paul’s example showed a way to be true to his traditions— Jewish law, and Jewish history— and yet also be forward focused and willing to adapt to contemporary demands.

Many struggle to reconcile the traditions of the past with the changing times.

Those traditions and history represents the “trellis” that is built for vines at a vineyard.

It was a beutiful metaphor that one of our Flourish speakers challenged us with.

The trellis was the structure— built or a purpose. The purpose was not the trellis! The purpose is the FRUIT!

[PHOTO of a trellis covered with fruit!]

2 Timothy 3:15 NIV

15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Remain true to your heritage, your upbringing, your relationship and discipleship under Paul, don’t back down— don’t back up.

Stand firm— but for the correct reasons!

Tom Petty, a famous classic rock and roll artist may not have had the Apostle Paul in his mind when he wrote these popular song lyrics, but I find a great connection:

Well, I won't back down No, I won't back down You can stand me up at the gates of hell But I won't back down No, I'll stand my ground Won't be turned around And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down Gonna stand my ground

— Don’t sing it out— LOL.

Paul is urging Timothy— and you today to stand your ground. Remain in the Truth that you know is Christ.

D. Rely on Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Maybe underscore the divine inspiration and utility of Scripture. These verses affirm that all Scripture, God-breathed, is instrumental in teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, culminating in thoroughly equipping believers for good works. Highlighting this as a fundamental truth emphasizes its Christological focus, showing Scripture as the declaration of God’s sovereign plan fulfilled in Christ. This point encourages believers to actively engage with the Bible, allowing it to mold and empower their lives.