Lois, Eunice, and Timothy

Introduction

Scripture -

2 Timothy 1:1–7 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 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. 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. 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.

Background

Author: Paul

Disciple: Timothy

Lystra Area

Missionary Journeys

Ephesus

Letter:

Theme is discipleship - Paul is going to die

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Paul has been discipling Timothy to take his place

… and yet Paul was not the only disciple-maker in Timothy’s life.

Enter - Lois (grandmother) and Eunice (mother) as disciple-makers

(ladies begin the process, and Paul finishes)

Emphasis Today!

Mothers and Fathers (Paul) are important in raising your children to be a disciple of Jesus

Eunice and Lois - Disciple-Makers.

Jewish believers

Father was a gentile (unbeliever)

Acts 16:1 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

Ac

Multi-generational

Based upon the sincere faith of Lois and Eunice

Passed on to Timothy

They knew the Scriptures

Too the time and effort to learn the scriptures

In such a way as they could teach, her children

The Disciple-makers overcame certain adversity!

Lack of interest in spiritual things from the Father (he was absent from his spiritual upbringing)

He was not circumcised (until later in life)

No help in spiritual things from the Father

The Father possibly made things more difficult for them

Another meeting? You gave how much!! You want him to learn the scriptures!!

The Disciple-makers taught Timothy the Scriptures!

Work, Preparation for missionary work

2tim 3:16-17

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.

The Disciple-makers surrendered their disciple (Timothy) to God.

Timothy eventually left home and family for the ministry.

How about you?

What are we to do? Make Disciples!

Fan into flame your gift(s)

Rely on the Spirit

Power, Love, and Self control

Share in suffering for the gospel

Conclusion.

Don’t be absent from you child’s spiritual upbringing (mother or father)

You can’t give that responsibility away.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Join together in raising them as disciple’s of Jesus

Be thankful for faithful Mothers who daily take care of our children, both physically and spritiually