A Sermon for Christian Ministry Leaders
on the Assigned Text of 2 Timothy 2:14–26
My message will be live-streamed at 6:00 PM PDT at Christianity.com. The audio and video will also be available for free download from The Gospel Coalition within a day or so.
This blog post is intended to serve as an outline for my message at the Gospel Coalition. Because of the seriousness of the text that was assigned to me some months ago, I have prepared what is, for me, a very thorough outline. Rarely do I use notes of any length but I felt it would be helpful to post these notes because there are likely too many points (40ish) for attendees to capture. Nonetheless, I want to also stress that the message likely will deviate from the notes at certain points.
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Positives
- Paul is the positive speaking into Timothy’s life and ministry, seeking to help him stay positive and not go negative, lest the neutrals only have negatives to influence them and the entire ministry becomes negative and toxic.
Twenty Ways to Be a Positive from 2 Timothy 2:14–26
- Positively emphasize what you are for instead of against.
Remind them of these things (v. 14) - Positively use your God-given authority.
charge them before God (v. 14) - Positively invest your words.
not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. (v. 14) - Positively do your best.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved (v. 15) - Positively work hard.
a worker who has no need to be ashamed (v. 15) - Positively study harder.
rightly handling the word of truth. (v. 15) - Positively avoid getting drawn into endless arguments.
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. (v. 16-17) - Positively warn the sheep about the wolves.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. (v. 17-18) - Positively rejoice that God rules the church.
But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” (v. 19) - Positively practice repentance before preaching it.
“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (v. 19) - Positively use your passion to be a better servant.
Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (v. 20-21) - Positively grow up quickly.
So flee youthful passions (v. 22) - Positively seek righteousness, faith, love, and peace with urgency.
pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (v. 22) - Positively grow in discernment.
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. (v. 23) - Positively be kind like Jesus.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone (v. 24) - Positively harness the opportunity to teach your people.
able to teach (v. 24) - Positively suffer patiently like Jesus.
patiently enduring evil (v. 24) - Positively correct gently.
correcting his opponents with gentleness. (v. 25) - Positively desire good for your enemies.
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (v. 25-26) - Positively use your energy to win converts, not arguments.
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:5–7)
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