How to Keep the Faith in Uncertain Times | 2 Timothy 1:1-18
Series: Guard the Treasure
Title: How to Keep the Faith in Uncertain Times
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-18 NIV
Bottom line: We keep the faith in uncertain times by standing tall, suffering well, following the pattern of sound teaching, and guarding the deposit together.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
OUTLINES
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MAIN REFERENCES USED
INTRODUCTION
“There was no doubt that Timothy could do this. He was a prime candidate because, in Oswald Chambers's words again,
‘All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.’
God is looking for a few good "nobodies" —people who know they cannot succeed in serving him in their own strength.” -Hughes, P. 195
CONTEXT
Serious uncertainties exist:
Timothy’s struggles in Ephesus continue
Now Paul is imprisoned with execution imminent
Feels like the future of the Church hangs in the balance
We live in uncertain times as well:
Threat of WW III (Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Sudan, Nigeria)
Threat of Enemy attack on US (EMP, power grid, southern border, bio warfare, terrorism)
Threat of civil war over the culture war (Blue vs Red states)
Threat of corrupt leaders at the highest levels
Threat of the basics (college; jobs; retirement; healthcare; inflation; energy indedependence)
SERMON
In light of these uncertain times, we can keep the faith despite the fears if we’ll embrace Paul’s 4 commands to Timothy also living in uncertain times. These 4 commands include:
Stand tall. (“Don’t be ashamed”)
Suffer with me.
Follow the Pattern of Sound teaching.
Guard the Deposit.
Paul believes in the power of the Gospel made possible by grace through faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must depend on Him. We embrace being a nobody by depending on Christ alone. If we’re a somebody, we must do the same or lose the faith.
CONCLUSION
“As a young preacher from Zimbabwe so memorably expressed it:
‘I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power.
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made; I'm a disciple of His!
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still...
I won't give up, shut up, let up,
until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up
for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.’” -Hughes, p. 194
Bottom line: We keep the faith in uncertain times by standing tall, suffering well, following the pattern of sound teaching, and guarding the deposit together.
What is God saying to me right now?
What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.
What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.
[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.
Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.
Pray
NOTES
“This was not something Timothy was to work out for himself or was entitled to enlarge. It was divine revelation committed to his care.? In the fifth century St. Leo gave Timothy's charge classic expression:
What is meant by the deposit? That which is committed to you, not that which is invented by you; that which you have received, not that which you have devised; a thing not of wit, but of learning; not of private assumption, but of public tradition; a thing brought to you, not brought forth of you; wherein you must not be an author, but a keeper; not a leader but a follower. Keep the deposit.”
1 Tim, p. 176
Kent Hughes
Other images
Mamertine dungeon
Not ashamed
Guard the gospel/deposit
Deposit
Power
Love
Self-discipline
Flame
Gift
Tears
Grandmother
Mother
Prison
Holy Spirit
To Claude.ai I wrote, “We know that in 2 Timothy of the New Testament Paul called for Timothy to come to him in Rome. About how long would that trip have taken?”
It replied:
The journey from Timothy's location (likely Ephesus or somewhere in Asia Minor) to Rome during the time of Paul and the early church would have been quite arduous and time-consuming. Here's an estimate of how long it may have taken:
- The total distance from Ephesus to Rome was around 1,500-1,600 miles (2,400-2,600 km).
- Travel in ancient times was done mostly by walking, riding animals like horses/donkeys, or sailing by ship when possible.
- Land travel speeds averaged around 15-20 miles per day on foot or by animal.
- Sea travel by ship could cover 50-100 miles per day depending on winds and currents.
So if Timothy traveled only by land, walking and riding animals, the journey would have taken around 3-4 months to reach Rome from Asia Minor, covering 15-20 miles per day.
However, it's more likely he combined land and sea travel, which could significantly reduce the time:
- A ship from Ephesus across the Aegean Sea to Athens was around 5-7 days.
- From Athens overland to the port of Brindisi in Italy was around 2 weeks.
- A ship from Brindisi up the Italian peninsula to Rome was 5-7 more days.
Using this combined route, the total journey could have taken around 1-1.5 months with favorable winds and no delays. Of course, bad weather, shipwrecks, or other issues could have extended this considerably in ancient travel conditions.
So in summary, Paul summoning Timothy from Asia Minor to Rome would likely have required at least 1-2 months of very difficult travel in the 1st century AD.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
Let’s ask some summary sermon questions:
Q. What do I want them to know?
A.
Q. Why do I want them to know it?
A.
Q. What do I want them to do about it?
A.
Q. Why do I want them to do it?
A.
Q. How can they begin to do this?
A.
OUTLINES
Outline Bible (Willmington)
—
OUTLINE (by WW)
“The essentials for a successful ministry have not changed: courageous enthusiasm, shameless suffering, and spiritual loyalty.” -WW
THE PASTORAL APPEAL—chapter 1
A. Courageous enthusiasm—1:1–7 4 Encouragements:
Paul’s love. (1-2)
Paul’s prayers. (3-4)
Paul’s confidence in Timothy. (5)
God’s gift to Timothy. (6-7)
B. Shameless suffering—1:8–12
Be not ashamed of the Lord’s testimony. (8-10)
God gives us power. (8)
2 Timothy 1:8 (The Bible Exposition Commentary): “Years ago, I read about a Christian who was in prison because of his faith. He was to be burned at the stake, and he was certain he would never be able to endure the suffering. One night, he experimented with pain by putting his little finger into the candle flame. It hurt, and he immediately withdrew it. “I will disgrace my Lord,” he said to himself. “I cannot bear the pain.” But when the hour came for him to die, he praised God and gave a noble witness for Jesus Christ. God gave him the power when he needed it, and not before.” (WW)
God has called us by his grace. (9)
Christ has defeated death. (10)
Four reasons not to be ashamed of his association with Paul, the prisoner:
Paul was called by God. (11)
A herald—official messenger of the king
An apostle—one sent with a commission
A teacher—shepherd to the local church
Paul was confident in Christ. (12)
C. Spiritual loyalty—1:13–18
Be loyal to God’s word. (13-14)
Be loyal to God’s servant. (15-18)
Outline by Merida
I. A Gospel-Centered Letter
II. A Gospel-Centered Leader (1:1-7)
A. Paul: Called by the will of God (1:1)
The origin of Paul’s apostleship (1:1b)
The purpose of Paul’s apostleship (1:1c)
B. Timothy: Shaped by the grace of God (1:2-7)
A personal mentor (1:2-4)
A godly mother (1:5)
The Spirit and the gifts (1:6-7)
OUTLINE by WW
Key theme: Preparation for the ministry in the last days
Key verses: 2 Timothy 1:13–14
I. THE PASTORAL APPEAL—chapter 1
A. Courageous enthusiasm—1:1–7
B. Shameless suffering—1:8–12
C. Spiritual loyalty—1:13–18
II. THE PRACTICAL APPEAL—chapter 2
A. The steward—2:1–2
B. The soldier—2:3–4, 8–13
C. The athlete—2:5
D. The farmer—2:6–7
E. The workman—2:14–18
F. The vessel—2:19–22
G. The servant—2:23–26
III. THE PROPHETIC APPEAL—chapter 3
A. Turn away from the false—3:1–9
B. Follow those who are true—3:10–12
C. Continue in God’s Word—3:13–17
IV. THE PERSONAL APPEAL—chapter 4
A. Preach the Word—4:1–4
OUTLINE by BKC
I. Salutation (1:1–2)
II. Call to Faithfulness (1:3–18)
A. Thanksgiving for Timothy (1:3–7)
B. Call to courage (1:8–12)
C. Call to guard the truth (1:13–14)
D. Examples of unfaithfulness and faithfulness (1:15–18)
III. Challenge to Endurance (2:1–13)
A. Enduring hardship for Christ (2:1–7)
B. Christ’s example of endurance (2:8–10)
C. A faithful saying (2:11–13)
IV. Marks of a Good Workman (2:14–26)
A. Faithfulness in ministry (2:14–19)
B. A clean instrument (2:20–21)
C. Faithfulness in conduct (2:22–26)
V. Predictions of Faithlessness (3:1–9)
VI. Challenge to Faithful Preaching (3:10–4:8)
A. Faithfulness in the face of opposition (3:10–13)
B. Faithfulness to God’s Word (3:14–4:5)
C. Faithfulness of Paul (4:6–8)
VII. Reminder of God’s Faithfulness in Paul’s Adversity (4:9–18)
A. Paul’s enemies and friends (4:9–16)
B. Paul’s deliverance by the Lord (4:17–18)
VIII. Final Greetings (4:19–22)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really true, what should I do?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
Final Questions (Write this down)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
“1 & 2 Timothy” by John Stott
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)
ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt
“The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn