Workmen Approved By God

Introduction:

Now: When we first started Heritage in 2007....

[pictures of kids going to AWANA program at FBC Wildwood]

AWANA stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed

Then: the apostle Paul was definitely a workman, approved and tested by God, who was not ashamed. 2 Timothy is perhaps the last letter Paul ever wrote, and as would be expected in a final letter to a close friend and coworker, it is a very personal letter.

To this point in our study, Paul has urged Timothy to stand strong and persevere for the Gospel even in the midst of struggle. He’s encouraged Timothy to have endurance in his ministry there in Ephesus.

One of the things Timothy is dealing with in his ministry is false teachings. There were people involved in the church who were not teaching God’s Word correctly and in the process were upsetting the faith of the Christians.

Always: Because the way we handle God’s Word has eternal implications, we must understand it correctly and explain it clearly.

So let’s look at our passage for today, 2 Timothy 2:14-19

2 Timothy 2:14–19 ESV

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

[short prayer]

Let’s look at our passage together on the screen real quick. I want you to notice a few things....

[switch over to iPad]

our words, what we say, and God’s words, what he says… and what we say about God’s Word is the main theme of this passage.

words

word of truth

babble

talk

saying

names the name

to this point, Timothy has been the subject of Paul’s encouragement, but here it changes...

remind them

charge them

Paul contrasts the good workman and the bad workman

rightly handling the word of truth

swerved from the truth

[switch back to propresenter]

One of the characteristics of Paul’s theology throughout the New Testament is that he emphasizes the authoritative teaching, NOT the authoritative person. The gospel is the authority, not the teacher or pastor per se. Some of the church leaders were going astray in their teaching and leading the people into false doctrine so Paul is careful to find authority in the message rather than the messenger.

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, he told them to test everything! and reject any evil.

The Good Workman

Rightly handles the truth (to cut straight)

To be accurate with the Word of God (can’t say the bible says things that the bible doesn’t say)

one example I hear people say sometimes is, “God helps those who help themselves.” ..... not in the Bible.... actually the opposite message of the Gospel. God helps people who had not chance in helping themselves.

another example.... money is the root of all evil. not in the bible. the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.... that’s in the bible.

We have to be accurate with the Word of God. do you have that friend who always sings the wrong lyrics to songs? michael jackson’s song You Are Not Alone. my friend would say “your burgers are the best” actually says “your burdens I will bear”

it’s funny when you’re in the car and they start singing along with the radio but they have no idea what the actual words are! a lot less funny when we inaccurate with the Word of God.

so the good workman is accurate with the Word of God.... secondly, rightly handling the truth means to be clear with the word of God

To be clear with the Word of God

can’t be so confusing when we talk about the Bible. part of it is we aren’t being accurate about it so that makes it confusing!

stick to the gospel!

The Bad Workman

Swerves from the truth (to miss the mark) picture here is someone shooting an arrow at a target but missing it by a long shot! you know what happens to all the people watching when the arrow misses the target? their eye gets off the target and they keep watching the arrow going off into the distance.

Leads people to ungodly behavior

Leads some to even turn away from the faith

Paul describes one of the false teachings here explaining that they were saying the resurrection had already happened. Jesus had been resurrected… YES! but his resurrection pointed to what was still to come… namely OUR resurrection. he defeated sin AND death which is why we have hope for a spiritual AND physical future with Him.

It appears that Paul dealt with this same type of false teaching in his letter to the corinthians. He dedicates an entire chapter to it in 1 Corinthians 15. There he says that the resurrection is vital to the gospel message and our to faith.

Application:

So the question for us today is, “How are you handling God’s Word?”

According to a survey done by the Barna Research Group in 2018, less than 14% of American adults use the Bible everyday.

Check this out, in the same survey, they found that Two-thirds of Americans (66%) express at least some curiosity to know more about what the Bible says

and (63%) are interested in knowing more about who Jesus Christ is!!!

but how are we going to tell these people about the Jesus and His Bible if we don’t even know what it says?

Couple of things I want to challenge you with today:

Read one chapter of your Bible everyday

Practice talking about what you’re reading with a close friend or family member

Conclusion:

Because the way we handle God’s Word has eternal implications, we must understand it correctly and explain it clearly.

God created all the earth by the power of His Word

Jesus is the living Word of God

The Bible is the written Word of God

His letter to us.

We must give it the priority in our lives it deserves.