All Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Introduction

Today in your bulletins you will notice a scripture reading plan. This is a plan I’ve been thinking about for a while which we’re calling the “70 week plan”. It is a six day a week plan that is really balanced. Every day is around 1900 words. Long chapters have their own day, and short chapters are grouped together so that each day is 10-12 minutes at most. It is extremely easy to do, and we will be done as a church by May 5th, 2027.

Most Christians have read most of the bible, but very few have read it from cover to cover. And to be honest, it is just something you must do.

Theres no light way to put this. I am asking you to follow this plan and read the bible.

You might say “I need to pray about it.” Okay I get it we can pray in a moment. But, I promise you, as soon as you bow your head and pray “God, should I read your word?”, you’ll probably have your answer.

This isn’t random- I am asking you to do this for a reason.

Pastors often hear the question: What is your plan to grow the church? Do you what to know what my plan is? It is to challenge you, the church, to grow.

Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we ]-p``

ould walk in them.”

2 Timothy 3:17 “17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Every member here is a minister, and a minister must be equipped for their work. Now here is a question for you: What is your plan to grow this year? What is your plan to grow as a disciple of Jesus this year?

My prayer is that your walk with Jesus, through scripture, would transform you to be men and women of God, fully equipped to do their work. This is something you’ve always thought- yes, I need to get around to this.

Our passage today in 2nd Timothy is about just this, how to stay rooted in scripture to become effective.

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.

Pray

I. 14-15 Timothy and Jesus

1.Background for Timothy himself:

In our text today, we will visit Paul’s letter to Timothy. Timothy is a companion of Paul, who has been installed as a pastor of the church in Ephesus after traveling for many years. Timothy is probably in his mid 30s, he is prone to sickness, and a little shy it seems. When Paul writes these letters, they are just full of this fatherly love he has for his mentee. Paul believes in him and admires his steadfast servant attitude in the face of the difficult job of ministry.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

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.

Timothy had a greek father and hebrew mother. that's why paul commends his mother and grandmother for teaching him. this also makes him an effective pastor since he has such a rich knowledge since childhood

2 Timothy 3:12–13 ESV

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.

Why does Paul devote so much energy to Timothy? He isn’t the strongest, most charismatic or wisest of leaders that Paul could work with. This letter is written by Paul as he is in chains in Rome about to be put to death.

But what Timothy did have was a firm grasp of the scriptures. This made him unlike the evil people and imposters of verse 13, and made him useful for ministry. This experience and attitude made Timothy indispensable in the eyes of the apostle.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 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.

2. Jesus in the OT

2 Timothy 3:14–15 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.

Isn’t that odd? The Pharisees and Sadducees, who were so learned in scripture, were totally surprised by Jesus of Galilee being the messiah. They read the same verses Paul read and thought “Jesus can’t be the messiah” and Paul writes to Timothy that those same scriptures “make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”.

In fact, throughout scripture Jesus is always asking the pharisees, “have you not read”? Over and over, the most learned people come to Jesus, and He is shocked by their ignorance. Just look at Jesus on Emmaus road:

Luke 24:25–27 ESV

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Torah (תורה - Teaching/Law): The first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

Nevi'im (נביאים - Prophets): Books recounting Israel's history and the prophet’s messages

Ketuvim (כתובים - Writings): Writings and stories like Psalms, Proverbs, Job and Esther. 

All of these books speak and point to Jesus. But, it’s usually only through going back and re-reading through the lens of the Gospel that it is noticed.

Illustration: cleaning a dirty house. “I’ve never noticed how much dust, or how many holes, or how blank”. It’s not that it wasn’t obvious- you just weren’t looking for it.

John 5:39 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

This is seeing without perceiving. And it’s easy to do. It’s also another reason to read the whole bible every few years. Over the years, you will know more of your savior, and see more of Him in scripture.

Quote:

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me." (Martin Luther)

II. (Short) Be Bible- First Believers

Acts 17:10–12 ESV

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies, and they claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.” — Voddie Baucham

Point: the necessity of ALL scripture.

2 Peter 3:15–16 ESV

15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

III. Equipping the Saints (through the regular reading of scripture)

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

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.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Ephesians 6:17 ESV

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Ending:

Why does Paul devote so much energy to Timothy? He isn’t the strongest, most charismatic or wisest of leaders that Paul could work with. This letter is written by Paul as he is in chains in Rome about to be put to death.

But what Timothy did have was a firm grasp of the scriptures. This made him unlike the evil people and imposters of verse 13, and made him useful for ministry. This experience and attitude made Timothy indispensable in the eyes of the apostle.

You are disciples of Jesus. You are called to do the work of your Father. January 1st starts a new season for you as a disciple-making disciple of Jesus.

Are you equipped for that?

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV

17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Are you equipped work the harvest of Gospel fruit right now? Are you equipped to quench the arrows of Satan? Are you ready to resist sin to the point of blood? Is the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God ready?

Or are you hoping this year is easy?

Pray