Embrace The Faith of Your Family
The Art of Finishing Well • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Some inherit land. Others inherit wealth.
But the most valuable inheritance any person can receive is something you can’t hold in your hands: a legacy of faith.
If you had parents or grandparents who prayed for you, opened the Bible with you, or brought you to church when you didn’t want to go—you’ve been given something far more valuable than silver or gold.
But many of us didn’t grow up that way.
Some of us were raised in homes where Christ was rarely mentioned—or only mentioned in anger.
Others saw the damage of religious hypocrisy… where church was a mask and home was a mess.
And some of us didn’t have any spiritual influence at all.But listen—whether you had a legacy of faith or not, you can start one today.
And if you did have one… it’s time to thank God and make sure you don’t let it die with you.
Instead, you need to embrace your faith handed down to you!
That’s the tone Paul sets in the opening of his final letter to Timothy.
This isn’t a textbook. It’s a farewell. A fatherly plea to a beloved son in the faith.
Paul is nearing the end of his life, writing from a Roman prison.
Timothy is still in Ephesus, shepherding a church that’s facing all kinds of spiritual pressure.
And what does Paul do with his remaining days?
He reflects on faith—his own legacy of faith, Timothy’s spiritual lineage, and the gift of God that fuels it all.
Main Idea: A Faith-Filled Family is a Precious Gift from God!
That’s what Paul celebrates—and what we’re going to explore today.
Let’s anchor in this truth right up front:
A faith-filled family—whether biological or spiritual—is a precious gift from God.
You didn’t choose your parents.
You didn’t orchestrate your influences.
God, in His mercy, placed people in your life to lead you toward Jesus.
And now He calls you to be that person for someone else.
So here’s the question:
What are you doing with the faith legacy you’ve been given?
Are you nurturing it?
Are you passing it on?
Or have you allowed it to go dormant?
Paul, in his opening words, shows us how to respond:
He begins with gratitude—because gratitude for a legacy of faith is where spiritual renewal begins.
Let’s look at the first way to live out this legacy:
Be Thankful for a Legacy of Faith.
1. Be Thankful For A Legacy of Faith (vs. 3-4)
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
Paul is thankful.
And we should all be thankful. Thankfulness is the mark of a true believer in Christ.
But specifically, what is Paul thankful for here?
He begins this final letter to his beloved spiritual son by saying, “I thank God, whom I serve, as did my ancestors...”
In other words—Paul recognized that his faith stood on the shoulders of others.
He wasn’t the first to serve God. He was part of a long line of faithful men and women—like Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets—who trusted and obeyed the Lord before him.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes here:
“In passing, Paul referred to his own upbringing, just before he turned to Timothy’s (v. 5). The apostle viewed his own faith in Christ, not as a break with his Jewish forefathers, but in continuity with their faith.” - BKC
So even as Paul sat chained in a Roman cell, his heart overflowed with gratitude—not just for Timothy, but for the legacy of faith that shaped them both.
And then, as he turns his attention to Timothy, he sees the same kind of legacy at work.
Timothy’s faith was shaped by his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois—two faithful women who poured Scripture and truth into him from childhood (v. 5).
Paul and Timothy - Two different men, from two different backgrounds—but both are grateful for a legacy of faith that shaped their walk with God.
Listen—none of us got here on our own.
Someone prayed for you.
Someone taught you.
Someone encouraged you.
You’re here today because God worked through someone yesterday.
Be thankful for the legacy of faith that brought you here—and then become part of someone else’s legacy.
Paul also says he served God…
“…with a clear conscience.”
What does that mean?
His conscience was clear because he had been faithful in carrying out the ministry that God had given him.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
These verses summarize the life and ministry of Paul.
He knew his calling—and he executed it as faithfully as he could in the time the Lord had given him.
Now he’s sitting in a cold, dark cell… awaiting his inevitable departure from this life.
But even there, Paul is thankful.
There wasn’t much he could do—but he could pray.
And so he did. Day and night. Constantly.
I’m sure Paul prayed for many things… but he certainly prayed for his beloved son in the faith—Timothy.
At the time Paul wrote 2 Timothy (around AD 66–67), Timothy was still serving in Ephesus, continuing the pastoral ministry Paul had entrusted to him.
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
Timothy stayed behind to do what pastors and elders must do—protect the church from false doctrine.
And Paul, from his prison cell, did what he could do—he prayed.
Prayer is not a last resort—it’s a first priority.
Christian, if there’s nothing else you can do… you can still pray.
And in his constant prayer, Paul thanked God for Timothy.
Can I ask you—wouldn’t it encourage your soul to hear that someone was praying for you night and day?
And then we come to verse 4:
4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
Feel these words!
This isn’t cold theology—this is raw emotion.
Paul remembers the last time they were together. He remembers the tears that fell.
And now, in that cold prison cell, Paul’s desire to see Timothy has turned into a deep longing.
He longs to see the one he’s invested in.
He’s thankful for the God he’s served.
And he’s thankful for Timothy’s legacy of faith.
Seeing Timothy would be an incredible joy for Paul in his final days.
That got me thinking—who would fill me with joy if I were nearing the end of my life?
Who would I long to see, just one more time, because of what they mean to me in the faith?
But then another thought hit me—am I that kind of person for someone else?
Would anyone say, “Just seeing you one more time would fill me with joy because of your walk with Christ”?
That’s the kind of person Timothy was to Paul.
And, by God’s grace, that’s the kind of person we should all desire to be.
Paul’s gratitude wasn’t shallow or sentimental but deeply theological as well as generational!
He viewed his faith not as a departure from his Jewish heritage but as a fulfillment of it.
He could trace his spiritual lineage back to faithful forefathers who trusted and served God—men like Abraham, Moses, and David.
That’s why he says, “I serve God, as did my ancestors.”
Then he sees a similar legacy in Timothy—a young man whose mother and grandmother were faithful believers, who poured the Scriptures into him from childhood.
Paul saw the connection—that God uses people to pass on faith from one generation to the next.
That’s the pattern throughout Scripture:
4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Faith is meant to be passed on - first and foremost to your family, then to others!
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
That’s how the church grows and the gospel multiplies.
And that’s why Paul is so deeply thankful—not just for Timothy, but for the spiritual legacy behind him.
“The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.”
—Corrie ten Boom, Each New Day (Revell, 1977), January 1 entry.
Let me ask you three questions:
Who are you thankful for?
Thank God for them today. Maybe even reach out and tell them.
A mom who prayed?
A pastor who discipled you?
A friend who showed you Christ?
2. Who are you investing in?
Be part of someone else’s legacy of faith.
Are you being intentional with the next generation?
Are you pouring into a Timothy?
3. Are you praying with purpose?
Don’t underestimate what God can do through your prayers.
Paul couldn’t travel. He couldn’t preach. He couldn’t write much more. But he could pray.
So he did—night and day.
Church, we’re not just called to receive a legacy—we’re called to pass it on.
Let’s thank God for the faith we’ve inherited…
…and then live in such a way that someone will thank God for us.
Review:
A Faith-Filled Family is a Precious Gift from God!
Be Thankful For A Legacy of Faith
If faith is passed down, then it also must be received.
That’s what Paul highlights next—the personal, sincere, genuine faith that Timothy possessed.
Let’s look at verse 5, where Paul encourages us to…
2. Recognize The Gift of Sincere Faith (v. 5)
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
Again, Paul is recognizing and appreciating the legacy of Timothy’s faith.
He is reminded - He had a relationship with Timothy’s mom and Grandma.
Paul likely met Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, during his missionary visits to Lystra.
As he got to know Timothy, he also got to know the godly women who shaped him.
By the time Paul writes 2 Timothy, their influence was so significant that he names them personally—a testament to their faith and impact.
“Sincere faith” (ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως) — literally “unhypocritical” or “genuine” faith. It’s authentic, not performative.
The verb “dwelt” (ἔνοικεν) means to “live in” or “take up residence.” This faith wasn't just surface—it made a home in them.
Paul connects Timothy’s personal faith to the legacy of Lois and Eunice.
He says, “I am sure…” showing confidence in Timothy's own spiritual authenticity. Paul believed Timothy was a believer!
Please notice that genuine saving faith is not inherited like red hair or freckles.
Genuine, saving faith is individually given, not by anything that we have done. It is an act of grace and mercy.
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Timothy had a sincere, authentic, faith that resided in his mom and grandma, but then became part of him as well.
Paul says he is “sure dwells in” Timothy as well.
How could say this about Timothy? Because genuine saving faith never keeps a person the same. It changes them and makes them more like Christ.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
The genuine believer will…
Have a love for God
Repent from sin
Be genuinely humble
Be devoted to the Glory of God
Will be compelled to pray continually
Will grow in selfless love
Will be more and more separated from the world.
Will grow spiritually
Will be obedient to God
Will hunger for God’s Word
Will be transformed into Christlikeness.
These are proofs of authentic Christianity.
These were traits that Paul witnessed in the life of Timothy.
To be clear, not perfectly, but these traits were there and growing.
Paul was sure this kind of genuine faith resided in Timothy.
And you must realize that this kind of faith. This sincere faith is not generated by one’s own will but it is a sweet, glorious, and amazing gift from God!
“You may have good principles handed down to you by your parents. But unless you lay hold on Christ for yourself, unless you repent and believe, you will be lost. Grace does not run in families.”
—J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, Chapter 3.
Do you have a sincere faith in Christ?
Share what this means…
Review:
A Faith Filled Family is a Precious Gift from God!
Be Thankful For A Legacy of Faith
Recognize The Gift of Sincere Faith
Once you have a sincere faith, you have a responsibility to do something with it…
3. Intentionally Grow Your Gifts of Faith (vs. 6-7)
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Paul says, “For what reason?”
For the reason of your sincere faith.
We know from the Scriptures that Timothy wrestled with timidity.
10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
And perhaps this is Paul’s way to encourage him through reminder of who he is in Christ and what, through the Spirit of God, he is capable of.
By the way, find a friend that will encourage and challenge you in the way that Paul did with Timothy.
I can hear Paul saying…
“Timothy, because you are a born again, you have the Spirit of God living within you. And when He came to live within you, He brought a gift.”
Meaning a Spiritual Gift. Whenever someone becomes a follower of Christ God imbues them with a gift.
1 Cor 12 7, 11
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Pastor Larry, for the last two weeks has been teaching you all about this.
And from this text we can see that Timothy received a gift from God.
Combined List of Spiritual Gifts in Scripture
Apostles
Prophecy
Teaching
Shepherding (Pastoring)
Evangelism
Exhortation (Encouragement)
Leadership
Administration
Service (Helps)
Giving
Mercy
Faith
Wisdom (Word of Wisdom)
Knowledge (Word of Knowledge)
Discernment (Distinguishing between spirits)
Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
Miracles
Healing
Not only did Timothy receive a gift (Probably gifting for the ministry) - Paul was there - he laid his hand on him when he received that gift.
To be clear, this does not mean Paul gave Timothy the gift through the laying on of hands.
The gift was IN Timothy by the INDWELLING ministry of the Holy Spirit.
This was a special event for certain, but Paul hands were not necessary for the dispatching of Timothy’s Spiritual gift.
The point is, the laying on of hands is not necessary for the distribution of God’s Spiritual gifts.
What is necessary is salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
Here is the point.
Timothy was to become an expert in using his gift.
He dare not sit on the gift that God entrusted to him.
He must make every effort to become proficient with the gift so the church would grow stronger.
God’s gifts must be used if they are to reach and maintain their full potential.
God gifted Timothy so that the church of Ephesus would be stronger for it.
God gifted you for the very same reason. So that this church would be stronger for it.
But look at the rest of Paul’s sentence which is a further challenge to Timothy to not succumb to his fearfulness, but to walk out his faith in boldness.
Take a look!
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Why would Paul finish his thought on Timothy’s spiritual gifting with a phrase like this?
Because he does not want Timothy to be a fearful pastor.
He does not want Timothy to be impotent in his role as a Christian or the lead in the church.
Paul’s point is clear: Timothy, don’t let fear keep you from using what God has put in you.
Fear is not from God—and when fear silences your gift, it starves the church of what God gave you for their good.
“for God gave us a spirit NOT of fear…”
The greek work here is literally cowardice!
The root that it comes from is root δεος which means “awe, or reverence.”
So there is a sense in which fear is a reverence for safety.
We even pray that way, don’t we. “Lord, keep them safe!”
How about we shift that prayer to, “Lord make them bold!”
There is no safer place to be than being born again!
Christian, what are you so afraid of?
Let us not be a people of fear!
Who is the one who leverages fear? The Devil himself.
Fear is a powerful tool in his hand to keep believers from accomplishing great things for God.
Christian Code Phrases That May Mask Fear
"I’m just trying to be wise."
But is it wisdom or fear of loss?
Sometimes "wisdom" becomes our excuse for never stepping out in faith.
"I just don’t have peace about it."
Or do I just feel uncomfortable because it stretches me?
Biblical peace doesn’t always precede biblical obedience.
"We don’t want to get ahead of God."
Or are we just unwilling to move forward in faith?
This can sound spiritual while actually justifying passivity.
"We need to be good stewards."
Or are we afraid to invest boldly in God's kingdom?
Stewardship can be used to protect comfort instead of promote mission.
"We’re still praying about it."
Or are we just avoiding a hard yes to God's call?
Sometimes we use “praying” as a delay tactic when obedience is already clear.
"That could upset people."
And are we fearing man more than fearing God?
Appeasing others is not the same as pursuing peace.
"Now might not be the right time."
Or is there never a right time because we never feel ready?
Delay often disguises a refusal to trust God’s timing.
"That’s not really my gifting."
Or am I afraid to get uncomfortable or fail?
Avoiding service under the banner of “gifting” may limit growth.
"We tried that once—it didn’t work."
Or are we afraid to trust God again?
Past failure doesn’t cancel future faithfulness.
"I just want to protect my family."
Or am I shielding us from anything risky for the gospel?
Protection is good—but it’s not the ultimate calling.
Those are the kinds of questions fear loves to ask.
Fear makes you focus on what might go wrong instead of what God has already made right!
FEAR is the polar opposite of FAITH.
FEAR does not please God, FAITH does!
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him…
Do you want to please God as a Christian?
As a member of His church?
As a leader in His church?
Walk in FAITH not in FEAR!
Put God to the text and watch Him deliver!
The prophet Malachi challenges the Jews to walk in faith by giving their Tithe and when they do, see what God will do…
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
What’s the point?
God doesn’t need your money, but He wants your faith-filled heart!
So we do not walk in FEAR.
Church - WE DO NOT WALK IN FEAR!
But instead the text tells us that God GAVE a spirit of three things…
Power - δύναμις dúnamis - to be able. Power, especially achieving power…being able, capable. - The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 1411. δύναμις dúnamis
Love - ἀγάπη agápē; to love. Love, affectionate regard, goodwill, benevolence. With reference to God’s love, it is God’s willful direction toward man. It involves God doing what He knows is best for man and not necessarily what man desires. - The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 26.
Self-control - σωφρονισμός sophronismos, “saving the mind,” “an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, or to self control,” - Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Discipline
This triad of TRUTH is the remedy for fearful cowardice that has no place in the Christians’ life or God’s church!
Paul’s direction for Timothy was to not traffic in fear, but walk in Spirit enabled POWER, LOVE, and SELF-CONTROL!
Paul wanted Timothy to do whatever he needed to do to stir up his gifting and be powerful, loving, and self-controlled while doing so.
BE INTENTIONAL IN GROWING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS!
“Timothy did not need any new spiritual ingredients in his life; all he had to do was ‘stir up’ what he already had.” - Warren Weirsbe
Think of a campfire. When the flames die down, you don’t need new wood—you need to stir the coals. Fan the embers. Feed the flame.
Some of you already have the gift… but you’ve let the fire die down.
Fear has doused it.
Comfort has choked it.
Insecurity has smothered it.
It’s time to stir it up.
Fear doesn’t always wear a mask of panic.
Sometimes it wears a mask of maturity.
But Paul says:
“Fan it into flame. Walk in power. Walk in love. Walk in self-control.”
Because fear doesn’t please God—faith does.
If we want to please God…
If we want to strengthen the church…
If we want to finish well…
We must stir up the gift, reject fear, and walk in Spirit-empowered faith.
Be Thankful for a Legacy of Faith – Paul looked back with gratitude, both to his ancestors and to Timothy’s family, and so should we. Whether your legacy is inherited or new, give thanks—and pass it on.
Recognize the Gift of Sincere Faith – Paul celebrated the real, active, living faith in Timothy, passed down through generations. Is your faith the kind that others can see and thank God for?
Intentionally Grow Your Gifts of Faith – You’ve been gifted. The Spirit of God lives in you. So stir it up. Walk in power. Love well. Discipline yourself. Don’t let fear win.
Conclusion
If you were blessed with a godly heritage, don’t take it for granted. Thank God today—and thank them if they’re still alive.
If you weren’t raised in the faith, don’t despair. Start the legacy today. Be the one who breaks cycles and builds Christlike generations.
Write a note to someone who shaped your walk with Christ. Let them know their faithfulness mattered.
Ask yourself: Who am I helping grow in the faith right now? Who will say, “They helped me follow Jesus”?
Identify your spiritual gift(s) and commit to fanning them into flame—this week, not someday.
Say no to fear. Call it out. Refuse to let it rule your life or your ministry. You’ve been given power, love, and self-control—walk in it.
"The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or material things, but a legacy of character and faith."
—Billy Graham
Imagine a church where legacy runs deep—but not just by blood.
Where spiritual parents raise spiritual children.
Where moms and dads disciple their kids, and those without godly parents find family in the body of Christ.
Imagine a church where fear isn’t in the driver’s seat—faith is.
Where every believer fans their gift into flame, and the whole church glows with the fire of bold, Spirit-empowered ministry.
That’s what Paul wanted for Timothy.
That’s what Jesus wants for us.
Let’s be that kind of church.
