Category: 2 Timothy

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The opening verses form the basis of a good prayer to pray for every minister. Do you feel like Paul at times – deserted? Write to someone and encourage him or her. Take Paul’s example.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, You are the Creator God, Sustainer of all things, Giver of life. Please teach us today.

“… Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

In both letters to Timothy the apostle Paul makes a big deal out of teaching and listening.

His charge to Timothy is clear. And it is a charge to us all too.

Preaching. Readiness. Truth-sayer.

What do we preach?

God’s word and our obedience to it, we preach to those around us through our behaviour, through how we hold God’s Name.

Are we to take a back seat and let opportunities to tell people about Jesus go by?

No. Be ready at all times!

How do we tell the truth (reprove, rebuke, exhort)?

With complete patience and teaching!

This is good wisdom for all of us.

God’s people, regardless of vocation and calling, are to preach God’s word to those around us in thought, word and deed.

We are all to practice godliness, to humanly-speaking write God’s word on our hearts (trusting that God’s Spirit will write His word in permanent ink on our hearts).

And we are to be productive people; reproving, rebuking and exhorting one another – WITH complete patience and teaching.

Do not think to reprove or rebuke or exhort if you are impatient in the situation. Practice patience!

* Father God,

Please make us more like Jesus each day.

We love You Lord.

Please help us be light and salt in this world.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

When society gets bad, take some time to consider the lessons of the Apostle Paul’s life. What is his key to faithfulness and perseverance? Look at verses 16,17.

SJA Notes

* Lord God Above, thank You for Your word, which is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness.

“… Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”

The list of characteristics of “avoid these people” can be troubling to read through.

One particular example is those who have the appearance of godliness but deny its power.

With this we come up against our own inability to see past outward appearance.

But.

We can take hold of and rest in God’s ability to see to the heart of each person – to see the TRUTH.

Let us be encouraged to be on the lookout for people like this, and importantly to guard ourselves against being these sorts of people (even just one of the examples from the list Paul gives is something to flee from).

How do we do this?

God’s word must be written on our hearts, what we have learned – continue in it.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

* Father God,

Thank You for Your word, which is so powerful and important in our lives.

Please continue to write it on our hearts each day.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Verse 2 is Paul’s recipe for spiritual reproduction – teach reliable disciples so that they, in turn, can teach a new generation of reliable disciples, who in their turn can repeat the teaching. Pray for each other that we might be such disciples.

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord, please write Your word on the tablet of our hearts today.

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.”

This is the hardest of words.

How hard it is when we are working for the Lord, pouring ourselves out – And someone starts attacking us, ascribing untrue motivations.

We are in the right!

What does God’s word have, but a hard word.

Be kind to everyone (not just some).

Patiently endure evil (endure).

Correct opponents with gentleness (not fire).

Let us heed Paul’s exhortation to think over what he says, for the Lord will give us understanding in everything.

* God Above,

It can be so hard to behave as You want us to, in the righteousness of Christ, reflecting Your holiness to those around.

It can be difficult to keep our temper, to keep our eyes from sin, our thoughts, our words and deeds.

Please Lord God, please fix our eyes on You. Remind us of glory.

Mark us as a gentle people, kind and able to patiently endure evil.

Amen.