Sheep, Wolves and Shepherds - 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Intro:

2 Timothy 3:1–5 CSB

1 But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

Point #1: Hard Times Will Come…in the World and in the Church!

The direction the world seems to be going seems to confirm the truth that hard times will come in the last days...

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Sadly Paul is not talking about the world, Paul is talking about the church!

5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

2 Timothy 3:6–9 CSB

6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.

Point #2: Wolves Will Come and Attack the Flock!

Matthew 7:13–17 CSB

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. 15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

Be on your guard against false prophets...

They come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves...

You’ll reckognize them by their fruit...

To discern whether a leader is a Shepherd or a wolf you have to listen to their words and watch their actions...

Paul identifies some wolves for Timothy...

6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith.

9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.

2 Timothy 3:10–12 CSB

10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Point #3: All Who Want to Live a Godly Life in Christ Jesus Will be Persecuted.

Paul gives a testimony about Timothy’s faithfulness...

He says, “But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love and endurance.”

One of the most humbling parts of scripture comes from 1 Corinthians 11:1...

1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB

1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

b. Paul was so committed to his relationship with Jesus, so committed to the mission of the Gospel that he functionally tells the church if you are not sure what Christ is like, follow my example...

2. Paul even calls Timothy to follow in the hard times...

a. 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.

b. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

c. 12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:13–17 CSB

13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Point #4: When Evil People Come with Evil Teaching, Will We Stand of the Truth of Scripture?

13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed.

You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Paul gives us insight into the mission of the church...

16 All Scripture is inspired by God[a] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

God calls us to be complete...

God calls us to be equipped...