Sermons

Series: Guard the Treasure

Title: “How to live faithfully in these last days”

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9 NIV (Read from 3 different translations)

Acts 20:28-31, Rev 2:2-5; Exodus 7:10-12; Acts 2:36-39 (Invitation)

All these are NIV

Bottom line: We love in the last days by humbling ourselves, living generously and with integrity from the inside out because we trust who first loved us.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

7. OUTLINES

8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

We used to play a game with our youth group to see how long they could go through the next hour without saying “I,” “me,” or “my”. They were dropping like flies within 60 seconds. We are consumed with ourselves. Few are consumed with the Lord.

If you’ve been following the SBC convention news you are likely to conclude that they spend a lot of time arguing. Now I know that they do a lot of good things. They support thousands of missionaries around the world who are sharing the gospel message faithfully because these churches cooperate financially and otherwise. But they argue a lot.

It’s worse online. People are just more comfortable speaking their mind (to a fault) than in person. People will say things to someone online they’d never say to that person face to face. Sometimes that’s because they are not godly people. They are not true Christians.

Kent Hughes tells the story of how a group of people decided to start a new church. “It started when several members of a church sensed a need for increased Bible knowledge and began attending a community Bible study, where they learned that their pastor’s denials of Christ’s virgin birth and resurrection were at variance with what the Bible actually taught. They came to see that, though their church weekly said the Apostles’ Creed, their pastors had personally redefined the terms so they could repeat the words without actually believing them. Their leaders viewed the incarnation and resurrection of Christ as metaphors for God’s presence and a life-giving source, not actual historical events. When parishioners protested, they were told they were bringing dishonor to the Body of Christ by their divisiveness. The intimidation worked, and they quieted down. After all, they were only laypeople.

But the situation reheated when one of the pastors was discovered to be an active pedophile, and it was further learned that the local church authorities knew it and had been covering it up! This time their parishioners would not be put off. They demanded changes.

Again the response was that they were dividing Christ’s Body and must no longer meet for Bible study or else. So it was that Bible-believing, creed-confession, Biblically-orthodox Christians (whose great offenses were believing in the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ and in his ethical teachings) were kicked out of their church. Unbelievable! Sadly, ‘having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power; (v. 5) is nothing new.” -Hughes, p. 241

CONTEXT

In light of the continuous onslaught of false teaching throughout the church of Ephesus, Paul helps Timothy identify them and encourages him

Acts 20:28-31 written c. AD 57

2 Timothy written c. AD 67 (10 later)

Revelation 2 written c. AD 97 (30 years after that)

SERMON

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. How to live faithfully in these “last days”

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because we will be bombarded by false messages in these last days

Let’s look at 2 Tim 3:1-9 together…

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. 1. Mark this: last times = terrible days

1. Avoid this = ungodly people in the church

2. Rest in this = their folly will become clear to everyone

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this is how you stay faithful in terrible times

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Answer some questions:

Questions we should be asking according to Merida:

1. What kind of person are you, godless or godly? (Notice no inbetween)

2. What kind of person are you becoming?

3. Whom are you following?

4. Paul says to avoid following ungodly people and to follow godly examples.

Merida and several other young pastors had the chance to talk to Rick Warren once and he shared a strong warning about the temptations of Satan. “Pastor Rick said that pastors must prepare for three main temptations that plunge leaders into ruin: narcissism, hedonism, and materialism. He said the first temptation is the temptation “to be” (narcissism), the second is the temptation “to feel” (hedonism), and the third is the temptation “to have” (materialism). He said that every moral failure of pastors is due to one of these three traps. He added that virtually every television commercial is aimed at one of these three temptations. He said he used to ask his kids after each commercial, ‘Which of the three temptations was that commercial?’”

“Pastor Rick said that leaders must fight these three temptations by pursuing the opposite of each: humility (in contrast to narcissism), integrity (in contrast to hedonism), and generosity (in contrast to materialism). Indeed we are to be ‘lovers of God’ ultimately. Out of the overflow of love for God, we can live lives of humility, integrity, and generosity.” -Merida, p. 186

“These two groups of sins, misdirected loves and corrupt relationships, reveal that the underlying failure in fallen humanity is disobedience to the Great Commands (Matt 22:36-40): they love neither God nor people.” -Merida, pp. 186-187

“The Bible is full of examples of religious showmen, those who have an appearance of godliness but are actually ungodly. Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a mighty rebuke to the people of Judah. He urged them to wash themselves, remove evil, and repent. Why? They had big religious feasts, prayers, and worship services but were not doing good, seeking justice, correcting oppression, defending the fatherless, or pleasing for the widow (Isaiah 1:14-17). At which point God says, ‘I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood’ (1:15). In contrast, James writes that ‘pure and undefined religion’ in God’s sight involves caring for those in need, like widows and orphans in their affliction (James 1:27).” -Merida, p,. 187

CONCLUSION

Matthew 22:36-40

1 John 4:7

Romans 5:8

Revelation 2:4-5

Bottom line: We love in the last days by humbling ourselves daily, living generously and with integrity from the inside out because we trust who first loved us.

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. What is God saying to me right now?

2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

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

Merida says 3:1-9 is ungodly examples and 3:10-13 is godly example.

I. Avoid Ungodly Examples

A. Their lives are totally self-centered (3:2-4)

B. Their religion is a show (3:5)

C. Their proselytizing is evil (3:6-9)

Love of self = narcissism

Love of money = materialism

Love of pleasure = hedonism

This excessive and inverted love is not good and leads people to love what is not good. It’s idolatry and God hates idolatry. (No other gods before me)

that God’s love will carry them through to the other side of all of this.

The Great Commandment and Jesus’ warning to the church of Ephesus in Revelation remind us that God’s love is undefeated and will forever be so.

Paul encourages Timothy to be aware and avoid those who live ungodly lives and disciple ungodly disciples.

Merida summarizes: “Timothy and others were to

1. Avoid these men

2. And these practices

3. They must avoid

1. Self-centered lives

2. With misdirected loves

3. Corrupt relationships

4. Religious forms devoid of Christ’s power

5. The evil tactics of false teachers

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Questions we should be asking according to Merida:

1. What kind of person are you, godless or godly? (Notice no inbetween)

2. What kind of person are you becoming?

3. Whom are you following?

4. Paul says to avoid following ungodly people and to follow godly examples.

Other questions always worth considering:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

5. How do I do it?

Let’s ask some summary sermon questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. How to live in the “last days”

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because we will be bombarded by false messages

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. 1. Mark this: last times = terrible days

1. Avoid this = ungodly people in the church

2. Rest in this = their folly will become clear to everyone

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this is how you stay faithful in terrible times

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Answer some questions:

Questions we should be asking according to Merida:

1. What kind of person are you, godless or godly? (Notice no inbetween)

2. What kind of person are you becoming?

3. Whom are you following?

4. Paul says to avoid following ungodly people and to follow godly examples.

OUTLINES

Hughes outline

I. The False Teachers—Their lives (1-5); Last days = from resurrection until Christ returns; couplets from here:

A. Their inverse love. (2-4) This is the main point—they lost their first love (Christ, who died for them so that they could live); love of God replaced by love of self

1. “Lovers of themselves, lovers of money” cf. Matthew 22:37-39 Great Commandment

2. “Boastful, proud”

3. “Abusive, disobedient to their parents”

4. “Ungrateful, unholy”

5. “Without love, unforgiving”

6. “Slanderous, without self-control”

7. “Brutal, not lovers of the good”

8. “Treacherous, rash” rash = traitor, like Judas Iscariot

9. “Conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

B. Their bogus godliness. (5)

1. Experts on externals

2. Masters of asceticism

1. No marriage

2. No to certain foods

3. Legalisms—Rules for everything

4. Myths and genealogies

II. The False Teachers—Their “Ministries” (6-9)

A. Their disciples. (6-7) Specifically, a group of weak “little women”

1. Gullible

2. Burdened with sin

3. Easily swayed

B. Their futility. (8)

Outline Bible (Willmington) SECTION OUTLINE THREE (2 TIMOTHY 3)

Paul warns of the coming great apostasy.

I. THE PERVERSIONS (3:1-9)

A. The evil (3:1-5)

1. People will love only themselves and their money (3:1-2a).

2. They will be proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and unholy (3:2b).

3. They will be without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, and brutal (3:3).

4. They will be treacherous and will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (3:4).

5. They will have a form of godliness but will deny its power (3:5).

B. The examples (3:6-8): Paul lists two types of people involved in apostasy.

1. Sexually weak-willed, sin-burdened women (3:6-7)

2. Depraved men who will oppose God as Jannes and Jambres once opposed Moses (3:8-9)

—

OUTLINES

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)

1. The origin of Paul’s apostleship (1:1b)

2. The purpose of Paul’s apostleship (1:1c)

B. Timothy: Shaped by the grace of God (1:2-7)

1. A personal mentor (1:2-4)

2. A godly mother (1:5)

3. 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

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

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/

1. Retell the story in your own words.

2. Discovery the story

1. What does this story tell me about God?

2. What does this story tell me about people?

3. If this is really true, what should I do?

3. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

4. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

5. 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:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

5. 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

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com

“The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn

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