Sermon Tone Analysis

Recap

2 Timothy

Paul’s last epistle

long time between 1st and 2nd Timothy

Paul is imprisoned in Rome, near death

Abandoned by many who were ashamed

Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel

There is power (Grace) in the gospel

strength to accomplish what can’t be done on our own

Hope for the promise to come

Hope is our fuel when on fumes

It keeps the big picture (salvation) in focus

We are not called to ‘not be ashamed’....but…to be Loyal.

constant allegiance no matter the cost

Chapter 2 is about being steadfast

QUESTION: What does it mean to be steadfast?

What is a picture of steadfast to you?

Steadfast: resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.

being persistent despite setbacks

resiliency

focused

Be strong in Grace

QUESTION: What does Paul mean...”be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”?

It’s a catchy biblical phrase…repeated, but poorly understood.

Through the incarnation, when divinity was united to humanity, humanity received grace (power/strength).

This grace was able to overcome the finality of death for humanity.

This ‘grace’ is necessary to be steadfast...

Pictures of steadfastness

QUESTION: What are elements of steadfastness seen in these examples?

Discipline of a soldier

endurance of hardships

discernment on what not to get entangled with.

difference between doing something good v. doing the best things for me

there are guidelines or rules governing my training... asceticism, morality, passions/virtues…God is the one who gives the reward at the end of this life…therefore He has set the ‘rules’

reward for being steadfast

In summary, the road all believers must travel is wrought with challenges to which we must learn to respond with steadfastness

Reorientation of Remembrance

Paul continually re-orients Timothy to the inseparable link between the message of the gospel, suffering and the power received to endure....Paul is bringing about a mindset in Timothy.

St. John Chrysostom

to encourage Timothy, by underscoring the divine blessings accompanying sufferings, since Christ, our Master, himself overcame death by suffering.

“The word of God is not chained”

The message of the gospel can be preached in every circumstance.

free or in prison.

home or abroad.

in native tongue or without words.

No one can bind the tongue…even when they cut out the tongue of some martyrs they were still able to witness.

So can anything silence the word of God in us?

St. John Chrysostom

For our hands are bound but not our tongue, since nothing can bind the tongue but cowardice and unbelief.

Where these are not, though you fasten chains upon us, the preaching of the gospel is not bound.

Its our character that can silence the word of God in us…every opportunity we have to preach can be robbed by cowardice and unbelief....unbelief not only in word but in actions…(break in integrity between our inner and outer man)

Origin the Scholar

The Savior, too, first granted you this very thing—that you should fall.

You were a Gentile.

Let the Gentile in you fall.

You loved prostitutes.

Let the lover of prostitutes in you perish first.

You were a sinner.

Let the sinner in you fall.

Then you can rise again and say, “If we have died with him, we shall also live with him,” and, “If we have been made like him in death, we shall also be like him in resurrection.”

QUESTION: How do you understand v. 12 When we deny him, he denies us...

it is a respect of our will.

Becoming a vessel for honor

In coming verses Paul sets up a comparison between those who remain steadfast and those who do not.

As we said early, discernment of good vs. best practices is important for our spiritual growth.

The more we desire to grow the more we will spare ourselves from useless endeavors.

The Lord sees the heart of man, while we see only the appearance.

God knows those who are steadfast in their faith v. those who are not.

(this is not pre-destination) God has intimate knowledge of us.

in the right time, God will separate those who love him and continued in that struggle from those who do not.

separate the wheat from the tears.

Vessels

Gold and Silver - Sons of God…different maturity

Wood and clay - sons of the world…indifferent to God

everyone has the opportunity to turn towards god becoming a vessel of honor

v. 21

“cleanses himself...’ is not to be understood as needing to fix their life before coming back to God…its a spark or desire to return…ie.

prodigal son.

Steadfast and choices

The challenge in being steadfast is to see both the big picture and the small daily choices as part of the same process of being steadfast.

The big picture keeps us focused on the end, salvation.

Hope for the promise to comes provides us the fuel when we are tired

Grace, through the incarnation of Christ, gives us strength for the challenges

steadfastness keeps us steady on the path in the face of challenges and suffering.