Continue in the Word

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to share the Word of God with the saints of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church this morning. This church exists by grace for glory in love.

We live in an incredible time with the access that we have to information. You can now get online and figure out how to do just about anything! I’ve fixed my cars because of youtube videos. Taught myself how to make sourdough bread. Worked on plumbing for a clawfoot tub. If you have an interest or need, you can almost certainly find a video on how to do it. Its really wonderful. However, there is also danger in this. The quality of your project is only as good as your guide. Sometimes you will watch a tutorial, to fix something in your house or cook a new recipe, and suddenly realize, with screws all around, hole in the wall opened up, that the person who created the video must have skipped a crucial step.

You pause the video. You rewind. You listen more carefully. But no matter how many times you replay it, the part you really needed just isn’t there. The person making the tutorial assumed you already knew something you didn’t. Or maybe they just missed it entirely. Regardless, you're stuck, with a half-fixed sink, a ruined dinner, and in any case a new level of frustration.

The tutorial video is only as good as the care and attention it was given during it’s creation and the quality of the creator. There are lots of wonderful guides out there. But there’s also lots of horrible ones. Who you listen to, who you follows matters. The quality of direction you receive has massive impacts on your success.

For the past three weeks we have been walking through the book of 2 Timothy. As a reminder, Paul is writing this letter to Timothy from the dungeons of Rome. But the tone of the letter is mentor to protege. Paul is passing the torch to Timothy so that the work of the ministry will continue through the generations. Paul wasn’t just a distant theologian writing letters, he was a flesh-and-blood mentor who showed Timothy how to walk the path of faith through his life, his suffering, his perseverance. Paul made a great guide for Timothy. And even more than that, both Paul and Timothy shared an even greater guide: the Word of God. A lamp to their feet. A light to their path. A guide that never fails.

If you haven’t already, open your Bibles to 2 Timothy 3. Today, as we look at chapter 3:10 through 4:8, we will see that Paul is handing Timothy, and by extension, us, the baton. The charge is simple, but it’s weighty: Continue in the Word. Don’t drift. Don’t be swayed by trends or trials. Stay rooted. Stay faithful.

Here is the Big Idea: In a world drifting from truth, we must continue in the Word: learning it, living it, proclaiming it, and finishing strong by it.

As we begin in verse 10 we will see the loving mentor relationship shared by Paul and Timothy, and then we’ll get to the ultimate guide of God’s Word as we progress through the text. Read with me verses 10-13.

I. Follow the Pattern of the Word (3:10–13)

2 Timothy 3:10–13 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

The first thing we see here is a contrast. Paul says to Timothy, “You, however…” That little phrase marks a turning point. In the verses just before this, Paul described the false teachers and those who opposed the truth: men who were lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. But now, he turns his attention back to Timothy and says, “You’re different. You’re not like them. You’ve found and followed something different.”

So what had Timothy followed that is so different?

Paul lists it out: “my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings…” It’s quite a list. And don’t miss this: Paul didn’t just give Timothy a set of doctrines truths to learn and store in his mind; he’s offering him a pattern to follow.

There’s an important side note here. I think Christians can struggle with what to do about personal humility. It might look like Paul is pretty proud of himself here. But we need to understand that biblical humility isn’t a denial of genuine accomplishment. Paul’s intent here isn’t to build himself up. It’s to show Timothy that persistence is possible. We don’t have to go around looking for, more specifically, creating opportunities to tell everyone how holy we are. But we can also glorify God’s faithfulness in our lives and be glad to share how we love to serve Him in response. The key to humility is understanding your own intent. Are you sharing this to make yourself look better or to give God glory? And then don’t be fake about using God’s glory as an excuse to glorify yourself. Paul knows that everything he’s done has come from the Lord. He gives God all the credit even in verse 11.

Paul’s life wasn’t perfect, but it was purposeful. And Timothy had seen it up close. He saw how Paul taught truth, but also how he lived with humility, endured with patience, and loved people well. He saw how Paul suffered with joy and remained faithful in the midst of pain.

And Paul is saying: this is a guide, Timothy. It’s a pattern to follow.

Then Paul adds this sobering reminder in verse 12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Not “might be.” Will be. Paul is not giving Timothy an escape hatch from pain—he’s preparing him for it. Because faithful living invites opposition.

You know, sometimes we’re tempted to believe that if we just do everything right, read our Bibles, go to church, live a clean life, then everything should go smoothly. But Scripture tells a different story. Following Jesus doesn’t remove hardship, it redefines it. Faithfulness in Christ will often place you in the crosshairs of a world going the other way.

Then in verse 13, Paul draws a stark contrast: “While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” In other words, the world is deteriorating. It is not progressing morally or spiritually. It is unraveling. And that’s why the call to follow a godly pattern is so urgent. That other way may not always bring hardship, but this world is fading away and that fruit will whither. Paul is peeling back the curtain of eternity so that Timothy wont be tempted to go that route. The mentor is setting up the protege for success in life and ministry and service.

Paul is handing the baton to Timothy. And he’s saying, “You’ve watched me run. You’ve seen how I’ve stayed on track, even when the track led through hardship. Even when the race was hard. Now it’s your turn. Run like I ran. Stay in your lane. Keep your eyes on the goal.

So now let me ask you: Who are you patterning your life after? Is it someone who is formed by the Word—or someone shaped by the world? Ultimately, our aim is to model our lives after Jesus. But don’t overlook the grace of God to provide us with brothers and sisters in Christ to live with and learn from. We need mentoring relationships where people are intentionally pouring into us. People who have gone before us and can guide us along the way. And we also need to be pouring into other people! So, Are you living a life worth imitating? Would anyone look at your life and be drawn closer to Christ? Would someone say of you what Paul said of himself, that you’re not just talking the talk, but walking the walk? If not, remember if you have breath God isn’t done with you yet. Put in the holy sweat and honor the Lord. And if you are being faithful in your personal conduct, pass it on! Reach out to someone in the next generation to guide and support. Discipleship relationships are the model for growth in the church.

I recognize that this takes work. It takes stepping out of your comfort zone. It takes intentionality. Don’t buy the lie that following Jesus means a life of ease. Both in how we conduct ourselves, and in pressure from the world around us, Paul tells us plainly—faithfulness takes work and will bring opposition. Opposition isn’t something to fear. In fact, it’s confirmation that you’re headed in the right direction. In a world spiraling downward, we need patterns worth following. Patterns shaped by the Word and modeled by the faithful. And we need to be those patterns for others.

Let’s follow the pattern of the Word. In the section we just walked through, Paul used his life as a pattern for Timothy to follow. Now let’s see where the original blueprint for living a faithful life comes from. Read with me verses 14-17.

II. Continue in the Truth of the Word (3:14–17)

2 Timothy 3:14–17 ESV

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 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. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

So where we had left off, Paul has just warned Timothy that evil people will go from bad to worse. But once more, he makes a contrasting statement: “But as for you…” Timothy is not to follow that crowd. He is to stay the course.

“Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed…” That word “continue” means to remain, to abide, to hold fast. Paul is telling Timothy: “Don’t drift. Don’t give up ground. Don’t abandon the truth when the winds start to blow.”

Paul is urging Timothy to continue in the truth that has already shaped him. And he gives Timothy two compelling reasons to do so:

First, “knowing from whom you learned it.” Timothy learned the Scriptures from trustworthy guides like his grandmother Lois, his mother Eunice, and Paul himself. These weren’t just academics. They were people whose lives were marked by sincerity, love, and integrity. The content of the message was reinforced by the quality of the messengers.

Second, Paul says, “how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings.” Timothy didn’t just hear the Scriptures as an adult, he grew up with them. The Word of God was planted in his heart from a young age. And what does Paul say these Scriptures can do? “They are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

That’s an amazing claim.

The Bible isn’t just inspirational, it’s transformational. It doesn’t just inform, it saves. Because when you open this book, you don’t just encounter words, you encounter the Word-made-flesh, Jesus Christ.

Paul then delivers one of the most important theological statements about Scripture in all of the Bible:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God…”

Not some. Not most. All. Every word, every phrase, every chapter, from Genesis to Revelation, is breathed out by God Himself. The Bible is not human speculation about God; it is divine revelation from God.

And what is it good for? Paul says it is profitable—useful, powerful—for four things:

Teaching – it shows us what’s right.

Reproof – it shows us what’s wrong.

Correction – it shows us how to get right.

Training in righteousness – it shows us how to stay right.

Why? “That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

In other words, the Word of God gives us everything we need to live a life pleasing to God. It equips us. It completes us. It shapes us.

Say you're about to build a house. You’ve got a plot of land. You’ve got a crew. But when the materials show up, the lumber is warped, the nails are brittle, the foundation mix is full of sand instead of concrete. That house isn’t going to last very long.

But what if everything you needed came from the Master Architect? What if He handed you the perfect blueprint and all the tools to carry it out?

That’s what our God has done for us! It’s not cheap, human-made material. It is divinely sourced. Breathed out by God. And it equips us—not just to build a strong life, but a life that glorifies Him.

So church, are you continuing in the truth of the Word? Are you staying rooted in what you’ve learned, or are you drifting with the current of culture?

We need to do a bit of personal evaluation here.

Are you reading the Word regularly?

Are you submitting to it humbly?

Are you allowing it to teach you, correct you, and train you?

If you treat this book like a snack, you’ll never grow strong. But if instead you treat God’s WORD like your daily bread, it will feed your soul, shape your character, and equip your life.

And if you're a parent or grandparent, take heart. Paul reminded Timothy of what he learned from childhood. The Word planted early can bear fruit decades later. Don’t underestimate the power of sowing Scripture into the next generation.

Let’s not just respect the Bible, let’s rely on it. Let’s not just hear it—let’s continue in it.

Paul has called Timothy to continue in the truth he’s learned—the truth that saved him, shaped him, and equips him for every good work. The Word is not just a foundation to stand on—it’s a tool to work with. It forms us, prepares us, and strengthens us.

But Paul doesn’t stop there.

You see, continuing in the Word isn’t just about holding it privately, it’s about proclaiming it publicly. The Scriptures aren’t just for our transformation; they’re for the transformation of others.

And so now, in chapter 4, Paul takes this charge to the next level. He moves from personal endurance to public ministry. He says, “Preach the Word.” Declare it. Announce it. Share it.

Why? Because the world doesn’t need more opinions, it needs truth. And the only truth that saves, sanctifies, and secures us is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let’s look now at chapter 4, verses 1 through 8, as Paul urges Timothy to proclaim the message of the Word.

III. Proclaim the Message of the Word (4:1–8)

2 Timothy 4:1–8 ESV

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul does not pull any punches here. These are some of the most solemn, weighty words in all of Scripture. He begins this section with a charge—not a suggestion, not encouragement, but a divine summons.

And look at the courtroom where Paul places Timothy. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead…” This is serious. This is eternal. This is Paul showing Timothy how serious his charge is, but before we get to the specifics of the charge, don’t overlook this phrase! We should all straighten up when we are reminded that the God of the Universe, our Creator, our Savior, is also our judge! What we do matters! You might not have the same vocational calling as Timothy, but you still answer to the same judge! Never forget that God has given you this life to steward for His glory. Your purpose is to be faithful with what has ben entrusted to you and give it back God so that you will hear, “well done my good and faithful servant.”

And what is the charge?

“Preach the Word.”

Not opinions. Not politics. Not trends. The Word. Timothy’s job, and the job of preaching today, is not to impress or entertain, but to proclaim the truth that saves and sanctifies. The preaching of the Word is not a casual exercise, it is a sacred commission before the King of kings and Judge of all. Preaching can and will have an influence on opinions, politics, and trends, but it should never be the other way around. The Word comes first and the ideas flow from it!

Paul tells him to “be ready in season and out of season.” That means when it’s convenient and when it’s not. When people applaud, and when they walk away. There is never a time when the Word of God is out of season.

Then Paul outlines what preaching should do: reprove, rebuke, exhort—with complete patience and teaching. Reprove, that is correct, what’s false. Rebuke, that is call out, what’s sinful. Exhort, that is call to action, what’s right. And do it all with patience and clarity. The Word is both a scalpel and a balm. It cuts and it heals.

Why is this so urgent?

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching…”

Church, that time is here. We live in a culture where truth is treated as flexible, where people don’t want to be taught, they want to be affirmed. “Having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” That’s exactly what we’re seeing. We don’t search for truth, they search for validation. And when the Word convicts them, they walk away and find someone who tells them what they want to hear.

But Paul says, “As for you…” Again, the contrast. Timothy must be different.

He must be:

Sober-minded – clear-headed. Stay clear-headed when the world loses its mind.

Enduring suffering – not fleeing from it. Expect it. Don’t give up.

Doing the work of an evangelist – always pointing to Jesus. Timothy had the responsibility to tell the good news. All of us do. The Word we continue in is the Word we must carry to others.

Fulfilling his ministry – finishing the job God gave him. Carry the torch to the end.

And just in case Timothy is tempted to give up or grow weary, Paul gives him one last example—his own.

“I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”

Paul knows his end is near. But he is not bitter. He is not afraid. He is full of hope. Why?

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

What a testimony. Paul didn’t just start strong, he finished strong. He stayed faithful. And now, he says, “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day…”

But don’t miss this: “And not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

That crown is not just for apostles. It’s for all who are faithful. All who long for Christ. All who finish strong. That’s for you. For me. For everyone who clings to the Word, preaches the gospel, and finishes the race by God’s grace.

Paul says, “I’ve crossed that line. And the prize is waiting—not because I was strong, but because I held on. I kept the faith.”

And now it’s our turn.

The baton has been passed. The race is ours to run.

Church, let me ask you:

Are you preaching the Word in your daily life? Parents, are you reading Scripture to your kids? Students, are you standing for truth when it’s unpopular?

Are you ready in season and out of season? Or do you only speak up when it’s safe?

Are you patient in the work of ministry? Or are you growing bitter or discouraged?

Are you enduring suffering or avoiding it?

Are you living in a way that says, “I want to finish well”?

God’s people are not called to be successful in the world’s eyes—we’re called to be faithful in God’s eye.

And that faithfulness is fueled and directed by the Word of God.

So, continue in the Word. Proclaim it boldly. Live it humbly. And finish your race with joy.

We’ll finish with this:

The Word of God is not just information—it is transformation.

It’s not merely a set of religious facts or doctrinal ideas. It is the very breath of God, given to us so we can know Him, follow Him, and proclaim Him. In a world where people drift, deny, and distort the truth, God’s people are called to stand firm, stay rooted, and carry the torch. It is the perfect guide given to us from the perfect God. It is crafted with care and always pertinent for our needs.

In our text this morning, Paul’s final words to Timothy are not casual suggestions, they are a solemn charge. In light of Christ’s return and the coming judgment, Paul calls Timothy, and us, to continue in the Word.

Don’t trade truth for comfort. Don’t lose conviction because of cultural pressure. Don’t drop the baton. Finish the race.

Paul handed the torch to Timothy. Timothy passed it to others. And now the flame has reached you.

Will you carry it?

Let me ask you today:

Will you continue in the Word when it’s costly?

Will you remain faithful when it’s inconvenient or unpopular?

Will you carry the torch and pass it on with clarity, conviction, and courage?

Maybe for some of you, the Bible has become more of a decoration than a daily bread. Today is the day to come back to it. Not just as a habit—but as your life source. A living Word that shapes your heart and your home.

And maybe today… You’re here, and the truth is, you’ve never truly trusted in Christ. You’ve heard about the Bible. Maybe you’ve even read parts of it. But the Word of God isn’t meant to stay on a page, it’s meant to lead you to a Person. The Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.

He lived the perfect life you couldn’t live. He died the death your sin deserved. He rose again so that by trusting in Him, you could have eternal life.

The same Word that Paul preached, the same Word that sustained Timothy, is calling to you today: Repent. Believe. Follow.

Turn from your sin. Believe in Jesus as your salvation. Follow His Word.

If you don’t know Jesus, if you’ve never turned from your sin and trusted in Him alone to save you, today is the day. Not to become religious. But to be made new. To begin a life built on the firm foundation of the Word of God.

As we leave today, remember this: You don’t need to be flashy. You don’t need to be famous. You just need to be faithful. Faithful to the Word. Faithful in your walk. Faithful to finish.

Carry the torch. Continue in the Word.

Let’s pray.