​If you were stuck on a desert Island & were only allowed three things with you what three things would you choose? Paul wasn’t stuck on a desert Island, but he was in prison for his faith & if you were to ask him what three things he would want he would say Timothy, his cloak & his books. This closing section of 2 Timothy shows us Paul was no superhuman, he had the same basic needs that we all have. He knows the time of his departure has come (4:6) & he is longing for human company even though he has known the profound reality of Jesus standing by him. In these verses we also see his commitment to his Christ-given mission right to the end, that “the message might be fully proclaimed & all the Gentiles might hear it.”  

​Timothy’s charge to “preach the word” comes just after Paul reminds him of the power & sufficiency of Scripture. The Scriptures are God’s central means for leading us to saving faith in Christ & discipling us towards maturity in Christ! So much so that Paul told Timothy the Scriptures ‘super-equip’ him for ministry! This is why Paul charged Timothy to preach the word in season & out of season & this is why preaching the word is such a vital aspect of Christian worship. 

In this section of 2 Timothy Paul is telling Timothy how he can be thoroughly equipped for every good work God has called him to! Paul points Timothy to the power & sufficiency of Scripture to not only make him wise for salvation but to completely equip him to be God's man in difficult times. Paul wants Timothy to see that Scripture ‘super-equips’ him for the work of the Gospel! This is why it is so vital ‘the man of God’ be a man of the Bible! For when combined with faith in Christ, the Bible is sufficient for leading people to both salvation & maturity in Christ.

​When the New Testament talks about “the last days” it’s talking about the whole period between the first & second comings of Christ. In other words, it is talking about the period every Christian lives in. At the beginning of the third chapter of 2 Timothy Paul writes “that in the last days there will be times of difficulty”! The phrase “times of difficulty” literally means times of darkness & distress. Paul then goes on to give a shocking portrait of such times. Church leaders like Timothy need to especially be prepared for such times, so they can lead church in & through them! 

​Do you desire to be a useful Christian? Do you long to be used for God’s special purposes? If so then this message is for you. In 2 Timothy 2 Paul has provided six analogies which help define the who, what & how of Christian ministry – solider, athlete, farmer, worker, vessel & servant. Together these analogies help paint a picture of the perspective, priorities & character church leaders especially should exhibit. This sermon focuses on the last two analogies which underline the purity & people skills needed for useful gospel ministry, qualities that describe what a useful Christian looks like!  

In the second half of 2 Timothy 2 Paul uses another three analogies - worker, vessel & servant – to help highlight the qualities a Christian minister should exhibit as he endures for the Gospel. This message looks at the first of these analogies: Like a good worker a Christian minister should handle God’s truth with accuracy & clarity! He must not get sidetracked with theological disputes or discouraged by false-teachers. Instead he is to keep focused on rightly dividing God's truth while trusting God to keep his own people safe from error.  

 ​A Christian minister’s mindset for ministry plays a vital role in his endurance in ministry. A right view of himself & what he is called to is so vital. In these verses Paul seems to be giving Timothy a mindset for ministry – a way of viewing himself & what he does – that will help him endure for the gospel. So, he gives Timothy three analogies for ministry, three assurances in ministry & a song to help keep him strong. Things which can also help every Christian set their mind for endurance!

​Resilient (3): Sermons on Paul's second letter to Timothy
Reading: 2 Timothy 1:13-2:2

The reading for this sermon begins with Paul telling Timothy the Gospel is now in his hand & ends with Timothy being exhorted to pass it on to other "faithful men" who will be able to teach "others also". One of the things Paul wants Timothy to understand in this letter is that the gospel 'baton' is now in his hand. Paul’s lap is run & it’s over to Timothy now, so he's writing to make sure Timothy takes a firm grip of the gospel, runs well with it & passes it on to other faithful people. . Paul is saying what he says to strengthen Timothy's grip on the gospel. In a very real sense he is saying; “Don’t drop the gospel.”

Timothy is faltering with fear & shame. He’s feeling the pressure of gospel ministry & knows what Paul has suffered for it. He’s wondering ‘is it worth it?’ Paul is writing to strengthen his resilience for the Gospel. In this opening section of the letter he encourages Timothy to remember his story, remember his calling & remember who dwells within him before charging him to guard the gospel! 

Reading: 2 Timothy 1:3-14 

Resilient (1): Sermons on Paul's second letter to Timothy

Paul’s purpose in writing 2 Timothy is to strengthen Timothy to guard, pass on & preach the Gospel no matter what, to instill in him a much-needed ‘resilience’ for the sake of the Gospel. It seems that Timothy found himself at a T-junction, one sign read exit the other endure. Paul is writing to call Timothy to 'resilience' for the sake of the Gospel. Yet it was so vital that Timothy understood that such resilience is rooted in knowing God & is fueled by the power of his grace! 

Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-2