Seven Marks of a Faithful Servant-Soldier of Christ: Honoring the Ministry of Dave Futral (2 Timothy 2:1-24)

Dave Futral, A Servant-Soldier For Christ

I cannot think of a better text to describe Dave’s life and ministry than Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy, specifically, the second chapter of the letter. 2 Timothy is the Apostle Paul’s final letter, written from a Roman prison to his spiritual son, Timothy, a young pastor in Ephesus. A deeply personal and urgent epistle, it serves as Paul’s farewell address, urging Timothy to remain faithful in the face of suffering, false teaching, and growing persecution.

Paul calls Timothy to guard the gospel, endure hardship, preach the Word, and pass on the faith to reliable men. Throughout the letter, Paul models what it looks like to finish the race well, even in chains and near death.

Every time I read 2 Timothy, I read it as if I hear Dave’s voice tell me to, guard the gospel, endure hardship, preach the Word, and pass on the faith to reliable men.

I see Dave’s life and ministry in the central motif in 2 Timothy as the image of the faithful servant-soldier. Paul says to to Timothy

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3

The soldier symbolizes loyalty, focus, discipline, and willingness to endure suffering for Christ's cause. Paul also employs metaphors of the athlete—dedicated to winning—and the farmer—hardworking in sowing and waiting for the harvest. He urges Timothy to adopt the qualities of courage, unashamedness of the gospel, strength in grace, and a commitment to passing on the truth to the next generation. In short,

2 Timothy is a battle cry for servant-soldiers of Jesus to stand firm, suffer well, and pass on the truth in love until the day of Christ’s appearing.

After twenty-seven years of knowing Dave, both through his ministry and from afar, I believe no one better exemplifies the qualities of a Faithful Servant-Soldier of Christ. The world is not worthy of such men. Men like Dave are a not as common as they once were in the church.  

Martin Luther observed,

A faithful and good servant is a real godsend; but truly it is a rare bird in the land.

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)

Dave has been a godsend in my life. I was a young man feeling lost and confused, and he welcomed me into his home and family. I didn’t just learn about Jesus from him; I saw Jesus reflected in his marriage, parenting, and ministry. For several years, I spent every day at his house eating Whoppers and babysitting Poocher and Hannah Bear. Dave was open and honest, sharing his life as practical theology while he taught me doctrine and ministry. He took kingdom risks, giving me chances to lead even when I feared failure. I remember asking Dave, “What if I mess things up? What if I preach or teach something that stirs trouble in the church?" He said, “As long as you're here Monday to help fix it, I’m fine.”

Spend time with Dave, and you’ll quickly see that he’s not himself without Tracy. She brings energy and faithfulness, and I’ve often been encouraged by her wisdom to view life and relationships through the lens of scripture and humor. She provides comic relief amidst the demands of ministry.

Her laughter is contagious and full of heart. She complements Dave’s ministry by offering warmth and hospitality to everyone the Lord brings into their circle.  Dave is not a faithful servant-soldier of Christ without his faithful beautiful wife, Tracey. So, when I offer up my remarks about Dave, do not forget his bride who faithfully walks by his side.

Dave will have a hard time with this sermon because he is not a man who enjoys the spotlight. But it is good and honorable to honor good and honorable men.

I believe Paul has giving us seven Marks of a faithful servant-soldier for Christ that Dave embodies in his ministry and that we can exemplify in our own walk with the Lord. You guys have known Dave for twenty years. I am not advocating perfection on Dave’s part, however, I am saying he embodies these characteristics over the ethos of his ministry.

Seven Marks of a Faithful Servant-Soldier of Christ

1. A Servant-Soldier is Strengthened by Grace (2 Timothy 2:1)

The command, “be strengthened,” implies being empowered and continuously drawing strength from within. Paul emphasizes that Timothy’s strength does not come from himself but is something he receives passively. He is instructed to allow God to strengthen him, drawing on the grace given through Christ Jesus. The Greek verb used is in the present passive tense, indicating an ongoing state of being or remaining strong. As God strengthens you, continue to be strong. Timothy’s fight for the faith is sustained by God's grace in Christ Jesus, whose Spirit resides in him. As it is for him, so it is for you and I who are in Christ.

What is Timothy to do with the grace filled strength?

God provides grace to live a faithful Christian life. Paul is helpful in his second letter to the Corinthians explaining empowered grace.

“8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”2 Corinthians 9:8

There are three notable graces that strengthen you to be a faithful-servant soldier for Jesus.

God gives you Spirit empowered grace

It is God who is able to make you abound. It is not your budget. Not your charisma. Not your leadership skills or your even your seminary training. It is God’s infinite divine power given to you as grace. Paul says of Abraham, who believed that God could make him the Father of many nations even though his wife was barren and they were old in age, that he “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised (Romans 4:20-21).”

One of the spiritual maturities I’ve loved about Dave is his God-centered humility to recognize, but by the grace of God there I go. Dave has never given me the impression that he is strong enough, or capable enough on his own merits to remain faithful. He’s always pointed to Jesus as the source of his strength to do anything for the kingdom. Throughout my Christian life, when I would fee inadequate, Dave would wisely point me to scriptures like,

“4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:4–6

God is the one who gives Spirit-empowered grace that makes us sufficient ministers of the new covenant. It is God’s Spirit that gives you everything you need for a life of godliness, and he gives it all to you by grace. It was one of the first lessons Dave taught me as a young Christian.

God gives you overflowing abounding grace

God’s grace is not just a one and done saving grace. No, Paul says its sustaining grace, supply grace, service grace. So much grace every day that it overflows. He does not give his servant soldiers a trickle down kind of grace. He gives you torrent grace. It’s like a Niagara Falls kind of grace that spills over millions of gallons a minute, never ceasing, and never lacking.

God gives you sufficient grace

Paul says His grace is fully sufficient in all things at all times. It is sufficient in that it produces contentment in every circumstance on the road that is straight and narrow and difficult to walk. Nothing is off-limits. It is sufficient for every season of life and ministry. God’s grace sufficiently meets your needs, just as He did for Israel with manna, just as He did for Elijah by the brook, just as He did through Christ feeding the 5,000. Jesus says grace is sufficient for you.

God gives you grace for the good works he has planned for you.

God has good works planned for you. Paul says this is why you were made alive in Christ and saved by grace though faith. Paul says,

“10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

God doesn’t pour out grace so we become spiritually proud; rather, He overflows His grace so that we can excel in good works. Keep in mind, God does not assign works for which His grace is insufficient.

I can remember having conversaitons with Dave in his car either doing ministry or traveling to a conference. For me it was gold. I had Dave trapped for two hours or so, and I would liter him with questions. The most often answer I remember in some form or fashion was, “Jesus’ grace is sufficient for you, His power is made great in your weakness.” Dave’s ministry is marred by God’s sufficient grace.

2. A Servant-Soldier is focused on Discipleship (2 Timothy 2:2)

The phrase “what you heard from me” indicates that Paul taught Timothy sound, accurate words. What does this entail? As referenced in 1 Timothy 6:20 and 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul’s teachings are considered the deposit of this truth. The “deposit of truth” encompasses the tradition of correct doctrine, including the true gospel—salvation, redemptive truth, and the apostolic message. Paul emphasized right teaching and core Christian doctrines so that Timothy would remain qualified for ministry. Timothy likely learned these during his ordination and throughout Paul’s ongoing ministry with him. Just as Paul trained and instructed Timothy, he also commanded him to find faithful men who could be trusted and held accountable to receive the same teaching and training. In essence, Paul is instructing Timothy to replicate what Paul did: make disciples who grow disciples. This is discipleship, and discipleship is fundamental to the church's identity and faithfulness to Jesus. The great Commission is to go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all I commanded you. Great Commission discipleship is always at the heart of what Dave wants to the church to be doing until Jesus returns. You guys experience it in your Sunday class. There is a reason why you goes use TRUTH78 fr your curriculum. Its sound Bible teaching that encourages you and helps you grow in your relationship with Christ. It’s in the DNA of you home groups and outreaches as a church. Dave looks for opportunities to pour into you as Paul poured into Timothy.  

From the time Dave met me in a Denny’s at Eau Claire, WI, to this very moment, he has not stopped discipling me as a brother in Christ. He calls me once or twice a month and asks me, “How are you doing? Are you preaching the Word. Stay faithful. Hold fast. Keep turning to Jesus.”

Dave taught me to read good books on theology, doctrine, and biographies of faithful believers. He exposed me to expository preaching from his very own pulpit, and encouraged me to listen to others like John MacArthur who recently went to be with the Lord. Dave took me to conferences like John Piper’s Desiring God Pastors Conference, challenging me to wrestle with the Doctrines of Grace and the Soverign goodness of God in suffering. He allowed me to ask deep and personal questions, and he never failed to tell me, “I don’t know,” when the question was above his pay grade.

Even more, Dave didn’t just educate me, he equipped me by letting me watch his life. As I said before, nothing was off-limits to me. I was more than a member of his church. I became a friend, a brother, and even a son. I am his Timothy, and he is my Paul.

Juan Carlos Ortiz once said,

Discipleship is more than getting to know what the teacher knows. It is getting to be what he is.

Juan Carlos Ortiz

Dave taught me the Bible well, but even more so, Dave continues to help me conform into the image God’s Son, to become what He is, through his continuous focus on discipleship. Dave’s ministry is marked by discipleship.

3. A Servant-Soldier Endures Hardship ( 2 Timothy 2:3-4)

Dave and Tracy have a sign on the wall of their kitchen that reads:

God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

It’s an expression of their commitment to the sovereign goodness of God in joy and in pain, in sunshine and rain. Dave taught me to me from day one to understand that hardships are part of a Christian soldier’s life. For Dave, the Christian faith is not passive. It is an active engagement in the fight to persevere to the end.

Dave was a military man in his younger days. He understood that when you enlist in the military, your first experience to military life is basic training. Basic training is designed to break your individualism so that you can embrace community. You are trained to fight so you can survive in war. You are put in uncomfortable conditions because war is not comfortable. It is violent. It’s miserable. Bombs, bullets, and bodies meet you as you sleep in foxholes and tents. You write letters to people you love trying to remember the sound of their voice. Military life is a fighting life, and so is the Christian faith.

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul told his son in the faith

“12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

Paul uses Ephesians 6:10-18, to describe the spiritual armor believers should put on to stand firm against the devil's schemes. He emphasizes that the Christian struggle is not against physical enemies, but against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Peter says we must be sober-minded, be alert like a soldier on patrol, because we have an adversary prowling around like a lion, waiting to devour our faith (1 Peter 5:8).

We don’t fight with our hands and knives. We do not joyfully advance the kingdom of God by with guns and swords. Our enemies are not of this word, therefore our weapons are not of this world. The word of God is our sword and faith is our shield. Our power to fight comes from His Spirit who helps us pray, and gives us the courage to even lay our lives down for the sake of the gathering the elect. Dave did not shield me from this truth, and neither does he you when he preaches. As I’ve listed to Dave over the years I have seen him sharpen his call his call to have a united heart for Christ so you can endure suffering well. Paul emphasizes that same focus in verse 4.

Single-minded Heart United Focus

In verse four, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” What Paul is saying here is, “Timothy, “Stay focused, son.” A soldier doesn’t get tangled up in civilian affairs—he’s been enlisted by a commander, and that means his heart, his time, and his energy belong to that mission. There’s no room for side hustles or split loyalties. The calling is too urgent, the battle too real. Timothy is to lay aside anything—no matter how ordinary or appealing—that would pull him away from serving Christ with undivided devotion. He’s not a businessman; he’s a soldier of the cross. To be servant soldier of Jesus requires a single-minded heart united loyal love focused on Christ alone.

4. A Servant-Soldier Runs the Race with Discipline (2 Timothy 2:5; 14-19)

Single-minded heart united loyal loving Discipline

In verse 5, he refers to an athlete who competes in an athletic event. Running was a popular event in the Greek Olympics. An Olympic runner may finish first, but if they cheat, they lose the prize. The point Paul was driving toward Timothy was to discipline his life and ministry by proclaiming the true gospel, so he would earn the ‘wreath of righteousness.’

Faithful ministers don’t cut corners. They run the race with discipline, truth, and integrity. Dave does not waiver in his conviction to call people to respond to the full gospel; a gospel that first calls people to repentance, turn for your sin, and trust in Jesus.

Dave emphasizes the inerrancy and complete sufficiency of God’s holy word above ministry fads and programs. To the best of his ability, Dave aligns his life up with what pleases God, and when it gets out of line, he is quick to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

Dave’s integrity is his testimony. He doesn’t manipulate the message or his people—he honors the Lord and His Word. And because he does so, you enjoy the fruit of his discipline.

Dave Guards the Church from Foolish Controversy (v. 14).

Paul warned against divisive, distracting debates that fracture the body and cloud the Gospel.

Pastor Dave understands this well. He doesn’t waste time on petty arguments or speculation. He focuses on what builds up—not what tears down.

Dave stands Approved by God, Not People (v. 15)

Faithful ministry is about working for the approval of heaven, not the applause of man. That means diligent labor (bi-vocationally mind you)—study, prayer, truth-telling, even when it's hard.

Dave does not seek popularity—he seeks God’s approval. As Erskin notably says, he serves an audience of One.

Dave Rightly Handles the Word of Truth (v. 15b)

The Greek word orthotomounta means “cutting straight”—like a farmer plowing a straight row or a builder laying a true foundation.

Dave Futral is a pastor of the Word. His sermons not aimed to be clever soundbites—they are faithful expositions. He handles God’s Word carefully, humbly, and truthfully.

Dave stands on the Firm Foundation of the Lord (vv. 16–19)

We live in a culture and time where false teachers plague the church like a cancer. Dave stands firm on the foundation of the Lord. Like a lighthouse in a storm. The waves crash, the winds howl—but the light remains. Pastor Dave is that kind of man—steady, unmoved, anchored in Christ.

5. A Servant-Soldier Patiently Waits With Faith for the Fruit (2 Timothy 2:6-13)

Every follower of Christ—especially pastors—will face moments of weariness, hardship, and discouragement. In those moments, we are tempted to believe the lie that faithfulness doesn’t matter, that fruit will never come, and that endurance isn’t worth the cost.

I know this more now than I did when Dave was serving at Cornerstone Community church. Dave spent a lot of time tilling the ground of spiritually frozen rocky soil. Small church bi-vocational ministry can be grueling at times. It requires patient trust in the Lord. Paul reminds Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:6–12 that ministry is hard—but it’s not in vain. Faithfulness to Christ always matters because Christ is faithful, and because Christ is faithful:

Dave Labors Like a Faithful Farmer (v. 6)

Paul starts with the image of a farmer—not a celebrity preacher or philosopher, but someone who works daily, patiently, and quietly. The farmer doesn’t expect quick results; he works with faith, rises early, plants, waters, and waits, trusting the harvest will come in its time. Pastor Dave Futral is like that farmer—avoiding the spotlight, quietly sowing Scripture, counseling souls, and praying in secret. Laboring day and and out for the good of his sheep trusting that Christ’s results aren’t always immediate, but they are lasting.

Dave toils for the Gospel Without Shame (vv. 8–9)

Paul reminds Timothy to recall Jesus not only as Savior but also as the suffering, victorious King. Although Paul was in prison, the Word of God remained powerful and unhindered. Faithful followers face suffering—not due to God's failure—but because God works through their weakness. Dave faces trials head-on—he doesn’t avoid them.

Dave Endures for the Sake of Others (v. 10)

Paul faced hardships to spread the Gospel and save others. Shepherds will vigilantly guard all night against wolves—that’s what good pastors do. They watch over souls, bear burdens, and endure hardships so others could come to Christ. I know deep inside of Dave’s love for the Lord is a love for his church.

Dave Trusts the Faithfulness of Christ (vv. 11–13)

This “trustworthy saying' probably originates as an early Christian hymn, serving as a reminder that our relationship with Christ influences everything:

Die with Him to live with Him, endure with Him to reign with Him, deny Him to face judgment, and be unfaithful while He remains faithful.

Essentially, your hope depends not on your strength but on Christ’s faithfulness. Dave Futral places his trust not in himself but in the One who cannot deny Himself.

6. A Servant-Soldier Pursue’s Holiness (2 Timothy 2:20-22)

Paul offers Timothy an illustration of what is honorable and dishonorable in church life. He’s calling Timothy to be clean and pure. Verse 22 is the application of verse 20.

Youthful passions are wrong sinful desires; everything from sexual lusts to selfish-ambition. I’ve known Dave since he I was in my early twenties, and he was in his mid thirties. In many respects, both of us were young men. I remember Dave’s honesty in his fight to mortify sin, and he inspired me to pursue the same purity. There were times when I would jump head long into sin, and he would graciously warn and rebuke me, not out of a sense of moral superiority but from a humility as one working through it himself.

Dave would call me to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22 ).

Paul commends Timothy to find good men who can walk with you to put your confidence in God’s promises, who teach you that love is more than a feeling, and to be at peace with who you are in Christ. Find men who help you pursue holiness as your happiness, and that in the presence of God is the fullness of your joy. Dave is that man, and has been that man for me for me the last 27 years.

7. A Servant-Soldier Leads with Kindness (2 Timothy 2:23-25)

In verse 23, Paul urges Timothy to avoid ignorant controversies, which lead to unnecessary arguments over trivial matters. A few verses earlier, he advised not to quarrel about words, as they do no good but harm the flock. Paul was unafraid to defend the gospel, even confronting Peter when he separated from Gentile believers. Timothy was to have the same courage to address these issues tactfully.

A faithful servant of Christ should be kind, teachable, and patient, avoiding quarrels. Dave exemplified this by engaging in necessary arguments to win others over, addressing issues directly, and restoring relationships after genuine repentance. Dave is not one to hold a grudge or to be resentful.

I have felt Dave’s kindness in his leadership. He rebuked me early in my faith when I made a foolish decision that nearly cost me everything. Dave disapproved sharply, warning it would lead to humiliation, but I ignored him. God humbled me. Dave was right. I was a thousand miles away and feeling very alone, so I called Dave. I wasn’t sure if he’d say, “I told you so, You deserve it, You made your bed, now sleep in it.” No, that is not the grace that strengthens Dave. He showed kindness. He said, “Come home, brother. We’ll do whatever to get you back on track, even if we have to put a cot in the living room.” I did return home, and spent most of my time for the next seven years at the Futral’s, learning to be a servant-soldier for Christ.

What kind of man am I?

Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of a man you are.

Thomas Carlyle (Scottish Historian)

Today I am the man I am because of the man I honor, Dave Futral. There is nothing in my ministry, marriage, parenting, and Christian life that you will not lift Dave’s finger prints. God uses Dave and Tracey to this day to point me to the grace that strengthens me, to be the voice of truth that disciples me, to encourage me to endure faithfully, to run the race with discipline diligently, to wait for the fruit of my ministry patiently, to pursue holiness passionately, and to lead my church, community, and home with kindly as we wait for the Lord to return.

Thank you Dave and Tracey for your faithfulness to the Lord these past twenty years at Bristol, and the seven years before that. Please know your ministry is bearing fruit for Kingdom. Everything we do at First Baptist Church Litchfield, finds its Genesis right here at Bristol and in your faithfulness to Jesus. You are deeply loved, and I pray, by God’s grace, you continue to be a faithful servant-soldier for Jesus until the Lord calls you home.