Letters to Timothy

Letters to Timothy

Instructions for Church and Life

Intro: Every four years America has a potential transfer of power from one president to another. For the Congress certain seats change more often. Every few years, we the people are more or less in control of our government. As we wait to see what happens next week in the elections, our constitutional republic is vastly different from the monarch we broke away from and the parliamentary system that England has now.

But with businesses, empires, and kingdoms sometimes there is not always a peaceful transfer of power and the company or in gods ruled by good people are left in the hands of bad leaders that run the company or country into ruin.

On some level churches are no different. One pastor can be great, and the next one can be terrible. So what happens when there are new people or a change of. Leadership? What can we rely on to keep the church moving forward in her mission to Spread the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ and Glorify God?

Paul knew that he had to help the church at Ephesus and so he sent. His trusted worker, some say Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son, to go and keep the church on track and to make sure the churches in the city could flourish by preaching and teaching sound doctrine.

Read Verses: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Main Point: Paul gives Timothy some final instructions on how to renew the church at Ephesus and keep the church on track so the church can glorify God. (2 Timothy 2:14-15)

I. Paul Instructs Timothy to Lead Well

These letters were most likely written between 62 and 66 Ad, more likely the earlier date is more reasonable.

Paul expects Timothy to lead well, and also select new leaders that meet criteria. He gives the instructions for elders or overseers, or what we usually call pastors. And also servants or deacons. Leadership is more than just being in charge, but it is about being responsible. Men are responsible for the church, the bride of Christ. And so they are called to submit to Christ’s rulership.

In Chapter five of first Timothy, Paul also expects Timothy to take care of the people in the churches; treating older men and women like parents and treat younger people like siblings.

He also instructs Timothy his ideas on taking care of widows; he says if they are all alone, with no family they should be enrolled on the list for support. But if she has family , then they should be the primary caretakers and should be taught to have compassion taken care of but if they are able to remarry and or work then they should do so.

But men and women are given gifts to serve the church in other capacities. And it doesn’t mean they are not leaders, but they are not called to bear the responsibility of the whole church.

But it is ultimately God’s church, we are all stewards, taking care of our manor house and grounds until the Return of the King.

Paul knows his time is short, Timothy is going to take over for Paul and he must teach others well so that the Church continues.

II. Paul Instructs Timothy to Teach Well

In 2 Timothy 1:12. Paul tells Timothy to “follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Jesus Christ.” Paul is encouraging Timothy to pass on the true teaching that Timothy received.

And the true teaching rests on Christ Jesus. It is not what you or I think God’s Word says, but what God is saying to us. Our response to what we read, should move us toward God and What he is telling us, not the other way around. So sometimes, God tells us some things we do not like or don't agree with. But Timothy is reminded to keep teaching truth, and be aware that some people will not want to listen and only listen to entertaining people or ideas that agree with them and what they think the Bible says.

The more important doctrine or teaching is what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:10-15 “This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy:

For if we died with him,

we will also live with him;

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful,

for he cannot deny himself.

AN APPROVED WORKER

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. -- 2 Timothy 2:10-15 (CSB)”

III. Paul Instructs Timothy to Live Well

Ephesus was a great city that had a lot of merchants, money, and power.

This is why Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10, for the love of money is the root of all evil.

It was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire and also the pro consulate so it was like the capital of the region. Lots of politicians and socially important people.

The Greco-Roman culture was also used to living their own way and the Christian faith was a huge change to that. The goal of the Christian I’ve is not to live as you want to live, but to live as God would have you live. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Everything else comes second.

In 1 Timothy 6:11 Timothy is instructed to “Flee these things”, meaning money, and fleshy cravings and “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness.” To take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made a confession in the presence of many witnesses.

This is not a list of rules to abide by, but our realization that God's Way of life is the best way of life. The Good way of life.

Proverbs 1:7 says 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline. -- Proverbs 1:7 (CSB)

And we talked about this in June when we covered Psalm 107,the wise and the fool. Who likes to be called a fool? I do not,at least not in the way it is meant here.

“Scripture portrays fools as those who have rejected God and his ways and are unable or unwilling to appreciate the wisdom of knowing and obeying him.

The world regards Christians as fools

1Co 4:10 See also 1Co 1:26-31

The world regards the gospel as foolish

1Co 1:18 See also 1Co 1:20-25”

Application

1. God Calls us to Ministry Work

In Ephesians 2, Paul asserts that it is by Grace you have been saved through faith. And this not our own doing, it is the gift of God. Not a result works so that no one may boast. And we are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints.

Paul continually refers to himself as being called by God. Or he is an apostle by the will of God. And we were chosen before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Eph 1:4) Romans 8:30 is the Golden chain, for how we get to God’s Kingdom.

And God did I not call us to just lean on the wall like a bunch of sixth graders at a dance. Just hanging out with our friends and ignoring or avoiding others. He wants and specks us to get on the dance floor and dance, so to speak.

2. God expects us to participate in Ministry Work

Timothy was gifted as a leader or Paul probably wouldn't have put him in that church or position. We see through history the leaders of the Church and what they did with their ministry. But you know who is also there? The countless workers taking care of the small details. Paul mentions important people that further the Gospel message and we never hear anything else about them. Timothy’s Mother and grandmother are also mentioned by Paul for their important work.

Everyone has their favorite song to dance to and that is what we do.

That is why in other letters, Paul explains the different gifts that exist to work together to make the church work and the Gospel is able to be preached to all who come and come in contact with Christians.

The good news is Especially here, God has blessed this church with faithful workers, encourages, evangelists, and teachers. And God is sending us more it seems so we work together with other churches to have the kids hear the Good news.

The knowledge that Jesus the Christ,the second person of the trinity, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross at the hands of Pontus Pilate

3. God expects us to Train others in Ministry Work

This is the whole point of the letter and What Paul did every where he went. he made disciples who make disciples. The Great Commandment was not just for Peter, John, and James. the church needs people who know the message and are able to teach it to others.

In Deuteronomy the nation of Israel is commanded to learn the Torah and also teach the Torah or the teachings to their children. This is why God preserved the His people. because the Law and it is the Old Covenant, points us to the Savior and the Need for the Savior. We cannot fulfill God’s law on our own and we need a mediator. The God man Jesus Christ, who acted on our behalf as the lamb of God as John the baptist said to take away the sins of the World.

and so we teach people this new covenant that was made with Jesus’ Blood and flesh to bring us into the Kingdom, to give us permanent access to the Ministry.

Like Paul, we are mortal and we will all pass away at some point, but the Church will not because it is part of God’s everlasting Kingdom and as Paul says “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”. -- 1 Timothy 3:15 (CSB)

Conclusion

So what happened to Timothy? Eusebius, the 4th-century historian and bishop of Caesarea, records that Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus. An apocryphal Acts of Timothy, dating from the same period, describes his martyrdom on 22 January in the year 97, when protesting at the licentious festivities in honor of Diana of the Ephesians.

Timothy died defending the faith and glorifying God with his life.

Tom Schreiner says this at the conclusion of his book on Paul

“Believers can be filled with confidence about the future because the Lord Jesus Christ will come again. He will vindicate his own and raise them from the dead. His saving work will be completed for those who are his own, and believers from every people group will worship God and Christ. Unbelievers and those who practice evil will be judged and punished forever. God will also fulfill the promises he made to Israel, for he is a faithful, covenant-keeping God. God’s people will enter a new world full of joy, praising his goodness forever.”

Whoever wins the elections next week, we know that God is still on the throne and he will return. Our Job as the church is to stay the course that God has laid for us to preach the gospel in season and out of season.and To participate in to the ministry we have been called To focus our eyes on the Cross and Live a life that glorifies God.