Untitled Sermon

Intro

Paul instructing Timothy as a leader in the church to endure.

As believers in some ways we are all leaders.

Some however, have been called by God to lead out in the church. This calling entails sacrifices and special blessings. We as followers likewise are blessed through these leaders and are instructed in how we are to follow them.

Before passage, let us consider the a Parable of Jesus in Matthew 13:44.

Parable of the Treasure hid in a field

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 13

44“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Treasure was free to the man who found it. Once he found it, he did not want to loose it, and gladely gave up everything for it.

1. Godly leaders live unashamed of the gospel (2 Tim. 1:8-12)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

9who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

10but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

11for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

12For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Paul gave up alot:

Well Educated

Pharasee

Well regarded, comfortable living

Because of the gospel, he was beaten, ship wrecked, imprisoned ...

But because of his calling, he endured these things so that others may know the truth of the gospel. The truth of the gospel is what drove him forward.

Sacrifices of Travis, Jason, Josh, and Paula.

As dimonstrated by our leaders, we too are call to a sacrificial love: 1 John 3:16-18

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

16We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

What are some ways that we can be ashamed of the gospel?

2. Godly leaders guard the gospel through sound teaching (2 Tim. 1:13-14)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

13Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

14Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

What are the sound words we are to treasure? John writes in 1 John 3:23-24:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

24The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

The church through its history has taken seriously this charge to carefully guard the word entrusted to us (manuscripts, etc).

Importance of learning in a group growing together

The catholic church pope developed as a way to protect against false teachers. What we saw though was without accountability of fellow believers, the teachings of the church drifted away from the original gospel.

Don’t fault Pope, Jerusalem council of the apostles.

Our leaders guard the gospel intrusted to them and train us in the same way (through the help of the Holy Spirit).

If we are to ever critize our leaders it to be on this point (in a loving corrective measure).

Apostles did the same thing

They weren’t the most talented

3. Godly leaders find strength in the grace of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:1-7).

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

3Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

5Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

6The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

7Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Our leaders are called to and follow a life as sacrificial servants leading us in the good news.

We too are called to sacrificial service to others and this can become wearisome of our own strength.

Therefore we lean on the grace and strength of Christ.

How can we encourage our leaders?

Share the fruit of their labor with them.

Pray for them.

Closing

The church is the Word of Christ, the gospel. When a church loses the gospel, the church loses. What does it look like, then, to unite under godly leaders for the sake of preserving and advancing the gospel?

It looks like being unashamed of our leaders when they suffer.

We unite under godly leaders by walking worthy of the gospel.

Finally, we unite under godly leaders by being disciples who make disciples.

Paul’s remedy to the brokenness in society and to people falling away from the church is faithful leaders pouring into faithful people. A focused church who lives to make disciples supports godly leaders and allows them to serve with joy (Heb. 13:17).