Remember The Faith Passed Down
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Happy Mother’s Day. Reflect on your own mother. For many, it can be a joyful thought, and for others it may not be a fond memory. We inherit much from our family. Some we think is good, and some we wish would have never been passed. Some qualities we consider to be unworthy. Our response to this: Work hard at improving ourselves. Not inherently wrong. We believe we are never worthy.
Need: We don’t trust that God’s provision for us is enough.
Main Idea: Grow in what God has given you
Writing to Timothy. Leading the church in Ephesus.
2 Timothy 1:1-7
Imperative #1: Remember the faith passed down from others (1-4)
Exp. Paul is writing to Timothy. Here we see the depth of their relationship. Verse 2. My beloved child. He is a son in the faith. Why would he say that?
Age difference. Reminds Timothy to not let his youthfulness deter him.
His disciple. Poured his life into. As a father would a son.
Exp. He had much affection for him. Verse 3. Paul is constantly praying for Timothy. Verse 4. Spent so much time, he remembers his tears. Seeing him brings joy.
Ill. Few guys I’m discipling at Montreat. I love them so much I have to see them on campus. Sad that they are leaving for summer.
Arg. Being discipled by someone more mature is necessary for growth. Positive model to become.
Christ - Christ was this way for his disciples. Taught and lived it. Jesus loved his disciples and often prayed for them. Jesus also intercedes for us. Model we grow into.
App. Remember those who discipled you.
Thank those who invested in you. Jim Miller. Steve Woodworth. Andrew Walker. Jerry Lewis.
Ask someone to invest in you. Find someone further along than you and let them pour into you.
Find someone to invest into. College full of students looking for it.
Imperative #2: Remember the faith passed down from your family (5)
Exp. Goes into Timothy’s family. Verse 5. What a legacy to be reminded of on Mother’s Day. Sincere = without hypocrisy. This faith was something your grandmother had, your mother, and I’m sure you have. Timothy has to believe for himself. They taught him.
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Exp. Timothy was taught how to have genuine faith, but it’s not their faith. YOUR sincere faith. Faith is passed, but also must be adopted. You pass things onto your kids and hope they catch on.
Ill. We pass many things onto our kids. Sports. Christian likes Tennessee sports, but doesn’t like baseball. He’s adopted one and not the other. Kids also have to adopt the faith.
Arg. We pray. Pray for our kids to adopt the faith and make it their own.
Christ - Faith is passed down through family. This was the design given by God in Deut. 6. The gospel of Jesus was so powerful that households would be saved. Christ gives us the model for faithful parenting.
App. Remember your family who passed down the faith.
Reflect on the faith passed down from your family. Praise God for it.
Find a positive model. Can’t only live with “I’ll never do this.”
Pay attention to what you’re passing down.
Imperative #3: Remember the gifts God has given to you (6-7)
Exp. Next, Paul reminds Timothy about what else God has given him. Verse 6-7. God has given others, family and specifically, mothers, and the HS. Laying on of hands in confirmation. Spirit of love and self-control. Not fear. Timothy faced a difficult task in Ephesus. Not to be fearful. HS dwells in you empowering you for the task. God has provided you with discipleship, a faith passed down from family, and the HS. What else do you need?
Ill. Modern day baseball. Elbow guard, wrist guard, arm sleeve, face shield, ankle shield, and now oven mits to run the bases with. What more do you need?
Arg. You don’t need more than what God has already provided you. Paul talks more detail about his character and competence, but the calling of Timothy is all he needs to get started. And it is for you too. Jesus says in John 14:12 that we will do greater works, not because we are like God but because the HS dwells in us. We believe we are deficient to do the work of the kingdom, but that is based in fear. The only fear we are to have is the fear of God, not fear the task God gave us. We are equipped to do the work.
Christ - Jesus proved it. He took a bunch of non-seminary trained group and did the work of the ministry. Jesus inaugurated the coming of the HS. The HS dwells in his people. Same HS that raised Jesus from the dead resides in believers.
App. Remember God giving you the HS.
Do not fear the task of ministry. Guys, it isn’t overly complicated.
Fan the flame of the Holy Spirit. Listen and obey the HS. We’ve stopped listening.
Conclusion
Thank those who’ve poured into you. Thank your families, mothers, for the faith they passed down. Thank God for the HS.
