Picture Perfect (LHCOC)

Picture Perfect

2 Timothy 2:3-6

Introduction:

1.                   A few weeks ago Adam Tinin gave the invitation on Wednesday night.

a.                   He mentioned 2 Timothy 2:3, where Paul gives an illustration of soldier engaged in warfare.

b.                  As I looked at this text, it seemed to just unfold into a sermon so I made note of it until I was able to study it further.

2.                   While this passage is primarily applied to a preacher of the gospel of Christ, I feel we can glean many secondary applications from the text as it relates to the Christian life.

a.                   Let’s turn to 2 Timothy 2 and read verses 3-6 and see what we can learn as Christians from some advice given from an apostle to a young preacher.

b.                  What pictures does Paul show?

Discussion:

I.                        THE SOLDIER – 3-4

A.                A soldier – endures hardships.

1.                  The phrase “endure hardships” can also be translated “join in suffering together.”

                                                                        a.                   Just as soldiers “band together” through battle, so must the Christian.

                                                                       b.                   Gal.6:1-2

2.                  As Christians, we are not promised a life free from heartache and trial (Matt.5:45; 7:24-27).

B.                 A soldier – avoids the affairs of this life.

1.                  The same word for “entangle” is used to reference to those who have fallen away in 2 Pet.2:20-22.

2.                  It is the affairs “concerns” of this life that cause us to lose track of what it is we are longing for.

                                                                        a.                   Rom.12:1-2

                                                                       b.                   1 Jn.2:15-17

C.                 A soldier – obeys his commander.

1.                  I recall a story about a Civil War soldier who happened to be a watchmaker. One day the bugle sounded and the men were told to break camp. “But I can’t go now!” the soldier complained. “I have a dozen watches to repair!”

                                                                        a.                   Can we honestly sing, “when my savior calls I will answer…I be somewhere listening for my name”?

                                                                       b.                   Is it possible for someone to consider him/herself a Christian and not obey his commander?

2.                  Jesus commands no less than whole heart service/obedience (Matt.6:24; Lk.9:23).

II.                        THE ATHLETE – 5

A.                An athlete – competes in order to win.

1.                  Becoming a Christian is a major decision, but if you want to go to heaven, it is something you MUST do.

2.                  If we enter the Christian race, we must give all we’ve got (Lk.9:62; Heb.12:1-2).

B.                 An athlete – competes according to the rules.

1.                  Our standard of authority is that Bible.

2.                  If we do not compete according to the rules, we will be disqualified (Mt.7:21-23; 1 Cor.9:27; 2 Tim.4:7-8).

III.                        THE FAMER – 6

A.                A farmer – is a hard worker.

1.                  If you leave a field to itself, it will produce mostly weeds.

2.                  Real Christianity is hard work (Mt.10:16).

B.                 A farmer – must be patient.

1.                  In order to yield a good crop it will take the right soil, the right amount of light, water, etc., but it will also take a lot of patience upon the farmer.

2.                  Sometimes we may want to run ahead of God, but we must learn from the farmer (Jas.5:7).

C.                 A farmer – deserves his share of the harvest.

1.                  This is an allusion to ministers being paid (1 Cor.9:7, 11; 1 Tim.5:18).

2.                  Something else is true in this image of the farmer: The spiritual leaders who share the Word with the people are the first ones to enjoy its blessings.

                                                                        a.                   The preacher and the teacher always get more out of the sermon or lesson than do the hearers because they put much more into it.

                                                                       b.                   They also get great joy out of seeing planted seeds bear fruit in the lives of others. Farming is hard work, and it can have many disappointments; but the rewards are worth it.

Conclusion:

1.                   We can learn a lot from the Bible.  As Christians we are soldiers, athletes, and farmers.

2.                   We have different jobs ahead of us and we must be prepared for them.

3.                   Are you a Christian?  If not, why not.  The Christian life is the greatest life anyone could live on this earth.

a.                   Christians are not excluded from any trial and heartache in life, but we know by faith that God has something far better waiting for us.

b.                  Do you have this hope?