Complete & Equipped 2 Timothy 3:10-16

Scripture: Mark Esola

Intro: Outdoor Man

One of my favorite youtube channels just stopped posting videos

Outdoor Boys is a youtube channel that has over 12 million subscribers and used to post videos every Saturday

These videos show him camping in Alaska, usually in the middle of snow and freezing temps

He would dig igloos out of 12 feet of snow and then cook these gourmet meals

The amount of prep he had to do to do these trips and produce these videos would usually take him 80 hours a week

The grind and his popularity made him stop

He wants his three boys to grow up with a normal life and his privacy was getting invaded more and more

So he stopped

What made him so popular was that he pushed himself to the extreme and was the nicest guy while doing it

Today we are going to look at what it takes to be complete and equipped to be used by God

Just as any camping trip needs preparation, every Christian needs to equipped for the work of the ministry

Follow My Example vs. 10-11

Timothy was complete & equipped because he followed Paul’s example

The word complete is often translated perfect

It doesn’t mean without fault

It means whole, capable, & proficient

Paul knew that Timothy’s training was complete and that he was fully capable of the job he was doing in Ephesus

He also knew that Timothy was equipped with the calling and gifts to fulfill his duties

So Paul reminds him of four things that made him complete and equipped

Carefully follow my example

1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Doctrine

It all began with Timothy catching Paul’s doctrine.

The reason Paul lived the way he lived was because he believed certain things.

What we believe will determine how we live.

Manner of life (Purpose & faith)

Patience & Love

Paul was longsuffering – that is, patient with the little irritations of people and life in a special way, and he had a love that made him stand out.

Psalm 34:19 ESV

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Prepare for Persecution vs. 12-13

Timothy was complete and equipped because he had endured persecution

If you desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus you will suffer persecution

Three types of persecution

Worldly: government & systems set up against Christian beliefs

Personal: People attack you because your light endangers exposing their sin

Friendly Fire: A fellow Christian tries to throw water on your fire

This is most common form of persecution

It is inevitable but don’t run to it or try to run away from it

Let the Lord lead you through it

Be aware that evil men will grow worse

They will deceive while being deceived

Continue Learning vs. 14-15

Timothy was complete and equipped because he continued learning

Paul encourages him to continue in what he has learned

The implication here is that knowledge isn’t a one time thing but a practice of it

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Scripture is Profitable vs. 16-17

Timothy was complete and equipped because he knew Scripture was profitable

He knew the power of God’s Word

Paul injects an important theological doctrine in this verse

All Scripture is breathed out by God

The inspiration of Scripture is an important doctrine

We believe that all Scripture was inspired by God and infallible

from the back of our bulletin

We Believe in the Bible as the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God by which all things are given to us pertaining to life and godliness (2Peter 1:3). We, therefore, place a great priority on knowing God through the study of His Word.

Scripture is also profitable

Reproof & Correction

Another word for reproof is conviction

When you are sitting here and something in scripture hits your heart hard that is conviction

Instruction in Righteousness

The instruction is to train and bring discipline

Romans 15:4 ESV

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Equipped for every good work

Hebrews 13:21 ESV

equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.