Sermon Tone Analysis

Abandonment and gratitude

Paul is drawing to an end of his journey and the end of his letter, his final writings.

This morning we start a journey at looking at significant people to Paul, and to the church.

All for our understanding.

(insert personal story) people who have impacted in positive, negative and in restoration ways)

Now as for our characters, but need to keep in context and back up a verse

First we have Timothy, in Ephesus whom Paul wants to come to him.

Demas who deserted Him

Crescens who left to Galatia

Titus who left to Dalmatia

Luke who is with him

Mark whom Paul requests to come too.

This morning we are going to look at three of the men and the examples they set so to see what we can learn, Demas, Luke and Mark.

A tale of three men.

The apostate Demas

The steadfast Luke

The penitent Mark

The Apostate Demas

The story, the questions raised regarding Demas and the apostate today.

Demas served as a fellow laborer with Paul (Phm1:24; Col4:14)

He is noted as one with Paul sending greetings to others

And to the church at Colossi

This was during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment

(Transition) though a servant who Paul thought highly of he, at the end of his life was abandon, forsook by Demas.

Yet he forsake Paul (2Tim4:10)

Hendrickson states “not that he merely left Paul, but left him in a lurch, abandoned Paul”

Why did He do it, our verse tells us “He loved the present world”

This is different then the one who has the world choke out the word (Mk4:19), but the one who willingly because of the world and the things of the world leaves the truth.

Makes me think of (Rom1:22-32) where they traded the truth

He loved the world more (2Tim4:10; 1Jn2:15-17)

Here is what some commentators had to say regarding Demas loving the world

Barnes/Gill both state “He did not want to die”

Clarke “He reverted back to Judaism”

Erdman “The tradition of most is that he became as apostate from the faith”

(Transition) any way about it, it was not good.

Paul was left in a lurch at a minimum, and at worst he forsook his faith and forsook the Lord and fell away from the Lord.

In other words chose to give up his salvation.

Now, something to ponder, to consider:

Will we follow the apostate Demas, can we?

Can we start a life of faith become an apostate?

To fall from grace (Gal5:4)

Gal5:4 “4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

To be entangled by the world (2Pt2:20-22)

2Pt2:20-22 “20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.””

To fall from our steadfastness (2Pt3:17)

2pt3:17 “17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,”

To become hardened by sins deceitfulness (Heb3:12-14)

Don’t stop, press on, reach forward.

For we can get caught back up into the world like Demas and give it up.

To love the world , and be distracted by the world and render us fruitless (Lk8:14)

We don’t want to be distracted by the worries of the world, the riches of the world, the deceitfulness of sin and render ourselves fruitless.

For a disciple is known by their fruit according to Jesus (Mt7:15-20; ref only)

(Transition) Do not forsake your faith!

Now may we look at our next person?

When I say forsake it is not a slip, it is a decision, it is not a sin, but a habit of sin, it is not just not walking with God, but walking against God.

Our next person set’s a different example.

The steadfast Luke

Luke the author of the gospel after researching for Theophilus and the writer of Acts because he wanted to continue about what Jesus both did and what He taught.

He is our example of steadfast, let’s look together.

Luke labored with Paul (Col4:11, 14, Act16:10-22, 20:3-5)

In Col4:11 Paul is starting to make mention of those who labored with him on the missionary trips and in (v.14) he mentions Luke

Col4:14 “14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.”

Then we see further proof

Notice the word “we” Luke the writer of Acts is now inserting himself, which means he is travelling with Paul now.

And further evidenced

Here we see the word “us” so Luke was with Paul here on the 3rd missionary trip too.

Then there is still more about the steadfast Luke

Luke went to Paul in Rome in prison (Act27:1, 28:16)

Here is the we,

There is no evidence that Luke was under arrest, but while Paul was, he still stayed with Paul, ministered to Paul, suffered with Paul

Luke proved himself to be steadfast and faithful Christian (2Cor8:18-19; Phm1:24; Col4:14; 2Tim4:11)

There is a good chance he is the brother sent with Titus to travel and partake of the gracious works being done in and for the gospel (you can look at (2Cor8:18-19)

and we have looked at Col4:14 “14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.” - before and 2Tim4:11 from our passage today.

So Luke the faithful, the steadfast was with Paul in his last days.

(Transition) again we get to a point maybe can can do some self examination on looking at Luke’s example and can we follow his example.

Can we live a life characterized by faith and being steadfast in the Lord (1Cor15:58; Heb3:14)?

Or as written by the Hebrew writer

Other examples were church of Colossi to Paul (Col2:5) and the members of the household of Stephanus (1Cor16:15-18)

Listen to the words of Paul to the brethren in Colossi.

col2:5 “5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.”

Or the household of Stephanus

Faithful, steadfast, giving!

What great examples of being steadfast we have, may we prayerfully strive to be steadfast like that.

(Transition) With such a contrast between the apostate Demas and the steadfast/faithful Luke, there is still one more to look at today.

The Penitent Mark

Mark, also known as John Mark, cousin to Barnabas, son of Mary (Act12:12).

Has an amazing story that we can learn from.

He was a man who joined in prayer (Act12:12)

Who travelled with Paul and Barnabus (Act12:25, 13:5)

act12:25 “25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.”

Mark not just a proclaimer but a helper too.

but yet he left the mission field and returned to Jerusalem, and that did not set well with Paul (Act13:13; Act15:36-41)

Later, Mark redeemed himself and was useful to Paul again in the ministry as noted in our passage (v.11) and we have looked at (Col4:10 and Phm1:24) previously.

He was useful and dear to Peter too (1Pt5:13)

He is author of Gospel of Mark

He died in Alexandria of Egypt, sometime between 62-68 depending on historians, but was by rope around the neck and dragged through the streets

(Transition) - In looking at the shortcoming and the restoration to service of Mark we have seen a few things and can we learn and follow, if needed, his example?

Is our commitment, our engagement, our service all that it should be?