Untitled Sermon (4)

MAIN POINT- As believers we must be concerned with this challenging question, “Who is my Timothy?”

POINT- Your Timothy is the person that you demonstrate what it means to be all in for Christ, it is the person you encourage to go the distance, it is that person you who you regularly remind of God’s word.

ILLUSTRATION- Watching Rick Play the Drums: The first instrument I ever learned was the guitar. When I was younger I loved the guitar, but I ALWAYS wanted to learn how to play the drums. Whenever given the opportunity I’d practice playing drums. Nothing quite beat plugging my “skull candy” ear buds into my iPod video and play along with my favorite rock songs…

The day finally came where I was good enough on the guitar however, so I started to play on the Sunday Morning Worship Team. So I show up for the morning sound check and I’m told where my “hook up” is for my guitar and to my delight it was directly to the right of the drummer. Our drummer was one of the best I had ever seen, played in the fifan drum core, had played for the president, etc. My favorite part of playing in the worship team growing up was not actually playing my instrument, it was watching someone else play theirs. I’d watch his warmups…

KEY POINT- There are people who are young in their faith who are looking for someone to model their faith after.

POINT- Your friends are not looking for someone like them, they are looking for someone to be like.

I want us to read 1 Timothy where we see Paul write a letter to Timothy, the young man he mentored…

1 Timothy 1:1–2 (NLT) — 1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. 2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

In just these two verses Paul shows us what it means to have a Timothy in our lives.

1. Who do you demonstrate what it means to follow Christ?

1 Timothy 1:2 (NLT) — 2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

KEY- Understand that Paul is taking time to write to Timothy here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is writing not just because Paul misses Timothy or because he wants to fill him in on all thats happened in life, Paul is writing to Timothy to give him Godly instructions on how to be all that God has called him to be.

1 Timothy 1:18–19 (NLT) — 18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

POINT- Instruction is great and all, but demonstration is even better!

The first time we see Paul and Timothy ever interacting Paul is on his 2nd missionary Journey and he ends up meeting a young man named Timothy…

Acts 16:1–4 (NLT) — 1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

Acts 16:6–10 (NLT) — 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

KEY- Consider how much travel that would’ve been! From Phrygia to Mysia was about 180 miles without breaking that takes 72 hours.

They go to Macedonia and preach and people are coming to the Lord, Paul and Silas cast out a demon out of a girl and then are arrested beaten severely and thrown into an inner dungeon chained to a wall, God delivers them saves the jailer, the jailer invites them into his home and then advocates for their freedom and where is Timothy??? Just taking it all in!

POINT- In less than one chapter Paul has demonstrated to Timothy his persistence in doing God’s will by traveling all over the Earth, demonstrated tenacity in perseverance when not being able to go where they originally had planned, demonstrated and set an example for following the leading of God by going to Macedonia, demonstrated the power of God in casting out demons, demonstrated how to break out of prison and save the guard and the guards family in the process.

If you continue reading Acts and the books of 1 & 2 Timothy you see how Paul taught and demonstrated to Timothy what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

CHALLENGE- Are you demonstrating to others what it means to be a follower of Jesus? Who is your Timothy?

2. Who do you show a “Parent” like attention to?

1 Timothy 1:2 (NLT) — 2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

2 Timothy 1:4 (NLT) — 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

POINT- A parent teaches a child, but allows them to go on to do great things.

3. Who do you Pray for?

1 Timothy 1:2 (NLT) — 2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

2 Timothy 1:3–4 (NLT) — 3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

4. Who do you show great compassion for?

1 Timothy 1:2 (NLT) — 2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Conclusion…

You may think to yourself, is having a Timothy really that important as a believer?

POINT- The great commission is not about salvation it is about discipleship.

2 Timothy 1:4 (NLT) — 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

POINT- This verse shows what Paul meant to Timothy.