How We Argue Matters. 2 Timothy 2:20-26

Introduction Illustration: Goblets Show and Tell

Context Reminders:

Whole Letter, Chapter 2.

For us, not directly to us. “One side of a phone call.”

Readiness, focus, usefulness (Soldier, athlete, farmer, unashamed worker)

Issues: false and misleading teaching inside the church

Pray

How We Argue Matters

Our Formation

God’s Revelation

The World’s Reclamation

Formation

Metaphor about household items

2 Tim. 2:20-21

Use of Honorable/Dishonorable in this passage carries sense of special importance vs. mundane more than a sense of pure vs impure. The focus of the set-apart-ness is on our readiness to be used by God for good works. The focus is not on comparative outward religious appearance.

Jesus has some very strong words for Pharisees who get this wrong .

Matthew 23:25–26 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Matthew 23:27–28 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

[The Point] Holiness is not about outward cleanliness. It’s about inward readiness.

Getting Practical-How should we argue?

Series of callings and commandments

2 Timothy 2:23-25a (the fake version)

23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 destroying his opponents with savage clapbacks,

2 Timothy 2:24-25a (the real version)

23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness.

Called to resisting foolish ignorant controversies.

Paul must have been stalking their social media accounts

These are the youthful passions Paul describes.

Priorities (remind about core value: Essentials, Unity; Non-Essentials, Liberty; Everything, Charity.

So much of our talk and attention lives out on the edges of our orthodoxy. Out in the non-essentials. We expose ourselves to ignorance risk catching it ourselves. We can make regular visits to the borders of our belief to engage in important conversations, but we must live in the deep center of our belief. The core of the gospel and God's grand story of redemption.

Called to have a pure heart pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace

Pursuit takes active intent.

Called to be in company with those pursuing the same thing.

Importance of God-centered Community

What company do you keep?

What do you regularly talk about. What consumes your conversations?

Do they (people and conversations) help you pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace?

Called to be committed to kindness to everyone.

Reference Romans 2:4 (God’s kindness meant to lead to repentance).

Called to be able to teach

Orthodoxy does not teach well without Orthopraxy.

Teach the truth, but teach it truthfully. Live what you are saying. Live with integrity

Tell the truth beautifully.

Everyday teaching

Called to be patient enduring evil

What do we picture when we think of evil?

If God is patiently waiting with compassionate long-suffering for people to repent and turn to him, then our job as his agents is to act in this same manner. When the fullness of time arrives, God will judge the world. Until then, His Great Commission is not for us to render His judgement on the earth because we’re afraid that He forgot to.

Called to be gentle correcting opposition. 

Describe Gospel-centered scenario where many people repent and surrender their hearts to God

Describe human-centered scenario where your candidate and party of choice has a sweeping win in the election

Which scenario brings you the greatest excitement and hope?

Did you get a thrill or goosebumps at any point that betrayed what your conscience would tell you ought to be the churchy answer? The answer may be a window into where the greatest hope and greatest fear of your heart lies. Our greatest hope and greatest fear will tell us what we worship as our greatest god.

The worship of any god other than YHWH will distort our lives and destroy those around us.

Romans 2:24 (God’s name blasphemed among Gentiles because of you).

Decisions to open up to in-person gatherings. How will others see us? We can’t control other people’s projections on our motives, but we can steward and control how we conduct ourselves.

Forceful arguments, air-tight rationale, or agile debate skills can be helpful, but they do not fill God's Kingdom with new citizens unless God's people are willing to prove the reality of the gospel with their own transformed lives.

Is your first concern for the soul of the opposer?

“I have reminded myself over the years to never forget that behind every question is a questioner.” - Ravi Zacharias

God’s Revelation

25b God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

World’s Reclamation

2 Timothy 2:26 ESV

and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Our Formation, God’s Revelation, World’s Reclamation

Invitation Prayer