WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.439 Thank you very much, Derek. You may have noticed that we read a little bit more than we're touching on tonight, and really the reason for this is just to get a bit more of a feel for the letter. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:26.219 So we're only going to look at the first seven verses of this chapter tonight. But thanks, Derek, for just giving us that extra context of the letter just as we start. 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:40.799 So as I said before, our theme tonight is passing on the baton of the gospel. Now, during the Olympics, you may love having that on the telly every four years. 00:00:40.939 --> 00:00:53.519 But for me, my favorite part of the Olympics is athletics. And in athletics, the four by 100 meters is the most dramatic, the most high stakes, exciting event of them all. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:01:06.320 Now, what are the ingredients of a four by 100 meter race? You take four exceptionally quick runners, and you get them to pass this stick of metal from the start line to the finish line. 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:13.140 And they have to pass it between themselves while running as fast as possible in this short little gap on the track. 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:24.079 And they need to make sure they don't drop it. Now, you might have spotted on that picture something not quite right going on in that changeover. 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:31.480 Now, many of the great four by 100 meter squads have failed spectacularly on the grand stage. 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:38.740 The American men's team stands out, and I'm sorry, Stephen, for naming the Americans, but it's true. 00:01:38.739 --> 00:01:49.280 They are infamous in the four by 100 meters. They're the quickest on paper every time, but they have failed to medal in over 20 years of Olympic competitions. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:57.859 And they've dropped the baton or been disqualified 11 times over the last 30 years in the Olympics and World Championships. 00:01:58.019 --> 00:02:00.579 That's a lot of DQs. That's a lot of drop battons. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:09.419 Now, 2 Timothy speaks, also speaks of a relay race, but with even higher stakes. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:16.319 2 Timothy is all about passing on the baton of the gospel to the next generation of believers. 00:02:17.419 --> 00:02:24.699 Now, by God's grace, we all find ourselves in this gospel relay race. 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:29.539 We've been handed the baton from a previous Christian generation, 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:38.319 and we must pass it on to the next generation so that the gospel may continue to go down the generations until Jesus returns. 00:02:39.259 --> 00:02:43.819 Think about how far the baton's already come over these last 2,000 years. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:55.500 And actually, this letter of 2 Timothy is actually documenting the first handover of the baton from the Apostle Paul to one of the first church leaders, Timothy. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:03:07.580 But just like in a 4x100m race, there are many examples where the gospel baton has been fumbled or it's not been passed at all. 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:21.879 There are at least two generations of young people and children in our land who know nothing about Jesus or the forgiveness he offers for sin. 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:36.400 There are countless congregations across the UK who have withered and died because none of the next generation have come in to fill the seats of those who came before. 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:41.699 Congregations have shrunk and people have become disinterested in the gospel. 00:03:41.699 --> 00:03:52.219 Another example is that there are not enough young men training for ministry to even sustain the number of churches that we currently have in Scotland, 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:57.799 let alone enough to grow and advance the church into future generations. 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:00.919 So that is the reality in our country. 00:04:01.179 --> 00:04:02.079 You might know that. 00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:03.799 But how has this happened? 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:12.840 Well, I think too often we've been too fearful of holding out the gospel baton to the lost in the first place. 00:04:14.140 --> 00:04:15.840 And so we've been too scared. 00:04:16.080 --> 00:04:18.240 And sometimes we've just botched the handover. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:21.540 We've just done a really bad job of passing the baton. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:26.360 Too often we have not taught our people what the Bible says. 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:32.900 Maybe because we've been fearful of a backlash because the content that we're teaching is sensitive. 00:04:33.080 --> 00:04:34.319 Our culture doesn't like it. 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:37.879 Or maybe we've just been lazy. 00:04:38.840 --> 00:04:47.379 We've failed to present the gospel of Jesus as a beautiful thing that people should treasure and hold above everything else in their life. 00:04:47.379 --> 00:04:56.779 And we fail to properly disciple and nourish our people so that their faith develops strong roots. 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:02.839 Too many have received the gospel but had no root and they withered away. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:04.159 Think about the parable of the sower. 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:08.579 Think about that seed that lands in the shallow soil and it grows up but it doesn't have a root. 00:05:08.779 --> 00:05:11.899 So when the storms come along, it withers and it dies. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:19.699 Think about the seed that landed in the good soil and it began to grow up but it was choked by the weeds and the temptations of the world. 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:28.519 And it was led away because it wasn't convinced of the beauty and the treasure of the gospel which is so much greater than anything else. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:34.259 Now, I'm not pointing the finger at any particular church, congregation or any particular denomination. 00:05:35.019 --> 00:05:38.439 I'm just saying how it is in our country. 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:39.519 We know the decline. 00:05:39.659 --> 00:05:40.459 We've seen the decline. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:52.159 We've seen many varied examples but this can actually happen to any church congregation when passing down the message of the gospel has not been the priority. 00:05:52.919 --> 00:05:55.019 So we need to wake up today. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:06:05.719 We need to see that the remedy to church decline, the remedy to the malnourishment of Christians in our nation, it's always been there in our hands. 00:06:06.719 --> 00:06:08.219 It's the message of the Bible. 00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:25.879 So the letter of 2 Timothy, it teaches that the key to gospel recovery and gospel advancement in this land and around the world, it lies in our commitment to firmly placing the baton into the hands of those who follow us. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:28.600 So just to avoid confusion. 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:31.100 Yeah, that's right, slide. 00:06:31.219 --> 00:06:36.060 What exactly do I mean by passing on the baton, the gospel? 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:38.240 So I've just put it up there on the screen. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:39.139 So I'm just going to read it. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:42.319 So first of all, this means evangelism. 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:51.000 This means we need to pass the message of Jesus to lost people so that they might be saved and be swept up into his kingdom. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.300 So it means evangelism. 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:55.420 But it also means discipleship. 00:06:55.579 --> 00:07:00.220 It means we need to teach our people what the Bible says. 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:09.759 We need to teach the message of the Bible so that people will mature in their faith, will develop those strong roots of faith that I was speaking about a minute ago. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:17.139 And thirdly, it means what Paul's also explaining in this letter is that it's about training. 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:25.839 It's about identifying that next generation of gospel leaders, preachers and teachers who are going to lead us into the next generation. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:31.199 So tonight when I talk about passing on the gospel, I'm talking about evangelism. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:33.039 I'm talking about discipleship. 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:34.399 This is what we're doing tonight. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:34.759 This is discipleship. 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:38.860 This is being equipped and growing in our understanding of the Bible. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.980 And we're also talking about training. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:44.899 So just lock that away in the back of your minds. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:50.060 So a little bit of context for 2 Timothy. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:51.659 What are we talking about? 00:07:52.099 --> 00:07:54.759 Where are we in the history of salvation? 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:02.459 This is the second of two letters that the apostle Paul has written to his son in the faith, Timothy. 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:13.919 Now we think this letter was written around AD 66, AD 67, in the final days or weeks or months of Paul's earthly life. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:19.779 Paul has been imprisoned for the second time now, but this time he won't be released. 00:08:20.179 --> 00:08:23.859 This time, this imprisonment will end in his execution. 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:26.319 Paul knows this. 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:29.100 He knows that he's at the end of this, of his life. 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:36.320 And he says at the end of, sorry, at the end of the letter in chapter 4, and we'll get to this later on in the series. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:09:06.300 He says, 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:09.899 This was a gospel hub in modern day Turkey. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:17.599 And Paul had instructed Timothy to remain there in Ephesus in the letter of 1 Timothy. 00:09:17.939 --> 00:09:19.579 We read that at the beginning of 1 Timothy. 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:29.659 Now Timothy is one of the first church leaders, and Timothy has been tasked with leading the flock into the next generation after the apostles have gone. 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:41.459 And Paul has told him to stick around in Ephesus to bring about good church order, but also to stamp out the false teaching, which is flaring up in the church. 00:09:42.219 --> 00:09:47.219 And false teaching is another theme that we will see in the second letter to Timothy. 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:51.139 So this epistle, 2 Timothy, is like Paul's dying breath. 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:56.080 It's his final and most important instructions for his spiritual son. 00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:59.620 And his message in a nutshell is this. 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:05.259 Timothy, you know the gospel that I've spent my life teaching others. 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:10.879 You have seen my pattern of ministry, which has often caused me to suffer. 00:10:11.939 --> 00:10:14.439 Now, follow in my footsteps. 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:17.340 Make sure this gospel is preached. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:21.960 In the church, but also to the lost. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:24.539 Pass on the baton of the gospel. 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:27.240 So we've set the scene. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:30.779 Hopefully I've shown you why we should care about this letter. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.879 Why it's important to us today. 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:37.219 And we're going to just focus on those first seven verses of chapter 1. 00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:40.659 And we'll see that they contain a heartfelt greeting. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.259 They contain a family of faith. 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:47.439 And we also see a commission to serve. 00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:50.159 So let's get into the text. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:55.839 Let's look at the first four verses and think about and see the heartfelt greeting. 00:10:57.339 --> 00:11:06.799 So we see in those first four verses, we see this greeting from Paul, a spiritual father to a spiritual son. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:10.159 And we see that Paul cares very much for him. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:14.139 We see in verse 2, Paul calls Timothy, my dear son. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:20.720 And then in verse 4, Paul tells Timothy that I long to see you. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:27.059 How would it cheer Paul's heart if Timothy came and visited him in prison? 00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:32.259 Now, it's clear that Paul and Timothy, they have a strong relationship. 00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:36.399 And I think that they did the maths. 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:40.799 I looked at the history over the remainder of Paul's ministry. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.340 And I think they've known each other and worked together for about 15 years. 00:11:45.059 --> 00:11:47.019 So safe to say they know each other really well. 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:49.259 They've been through thick and thin together. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:56.319 Just for a bit of history, if we quickly rewind 15 years back to Acts chapter 14. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:01.000 This is when Paul and Barnabas first rolled into the town of Lystra. 00:12:02.520 --> 00:12:06.420 Now, the story goes in Acts 14 that they healed a man who was lame. 00:12:07.280 --> 00:12:11.600 Then the Gentiles of that city, they overreacted. 00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:13.600 They thought, whoa, who are these guys? 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.100 They must be gods. 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:19.320 And they sought to worship them like gods. 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.600 But Paul says, no, no, no, we're just men. 00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:25.120 But we have a message about Jesus. 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.280 And we want to tell you about him. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.540 He truly is God. 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:32.660 Now, the Jews from the neighboring town of Iconium, they roll into town. 00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:33.720 And they don't like this. 00:12:34.140 --> 00:12:35.620 And they whip up the crowd. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:39.320 They turn the crowd against Paul and Barnabas. 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:42.440 And they persuade the crowd to stone Paul. 00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:44.520 So Paul is stoned. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:46.660 They think he's been stoned to death. 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.680 They drag him out of the city. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.880 They've left him for dead. 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.379 But miraculously, God saves Paul, preserves his life. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:57.480 And he's able to go back into the city and keep carrying on his ministry. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:02.060 So that's what happened the first time in Lystra when Paul was there. 00:13:03.280 --> 00:13:06.460 But Paul, amazingly, he goes back to that city. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.260 And amazingly, the gospel has flourished. 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:15.620 And the next time he goes back in Acts chapter 16, he meets a man called Timothy. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:20.779 And we're told that Timothy's mother has become a Christian. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:26.159 And we learn in the letter of 2 Timothy that also Timothy's grandmother has become a Christian. 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:32.440 And these were some of the pagan people who sought to worship Paul and Barnabas way back when. 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:37.640 So Timothy was held in high regard in the Lystra church. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:40.520 And Paul sees some potential in Timothy. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:49.400 So he decides to take him along into the ministry so that he might be trained up and eventually carry this gospel baton into the future. 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:50.980 So that's the history. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.480 That's how Paul and Timothy met. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:56.139 But now, back in AD 67, they're separated. 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.519 Paul's in prison. 00:13:58.319 --> 00:13:59.500 Timothy's in Ephesus. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:03.699 But what else are we told in these first four verses? 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:11.899 Well, we see at the very beginning, the first sentence, in verse 1, Paul reminds Timothy of his credentials. 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:13.399 We see that there. 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:24.360 Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ, chosen by God to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to establish churches wherever he goes. 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:29.879 Paul is an apostle in keeping with the promise of life that's in Christ Jesus. 00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:35.120 What that means is that Paul is a minister of this life-giving gospel. 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:39.379 This gospel message is a message of forgiveness. 00:14:39.579 --> 00:14:41.699 It's a message of eternal life. 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:44.819 Which may only be found by believing in Jesus. 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:56.459 Now, the thing about Paul being an apostle, what this tells us, this was a very special, time-limited role, this apostleship. 00:14:57.299 --> 00:15:02.879 This means that his message and his teachings, they carry significant weight. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:11.960 God has used Paul's apostolic writings all through history since to teach us about God and about his son. 00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.620 So, Paul's an apostle. 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:16.279 His message carries weight. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:20.600 And he tells Timothy that he serves God with a clear conscience. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:21.620 We see that in verse 3. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:25.720 Paul knows that he has fulfilled all the duties of his ministry. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:31.340 He's left no stone unturned in sharing and teaching the gospel to the lost. 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:38.560 Paul knows that he can safely go to be with his Lord, knowing that he's done everything that Jesus called him to do. 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.240 Okay, so that is a heartfelt greeting. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:46.100 The next thing we see is a family of faith. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.620 We're just looking at verse 5 now. 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:50.139 This is a really remarkable verse. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:56.240 Paul, first of all, he's thankful for Timothy's faith. 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:59.200 He's really glad that Timothy's trusted in Jesus. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:04.280 But Paul also says that it was Timothy's grandmother, Lois. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.040 He was the first one in the family to believe. 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:11.780 Then it was Timothy's mother, Eunice, who believed next. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.460 And then it was Timothy who believed. 00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:20.860 So, what we see here is an example of the gospel being passed down through the generations of a family. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:27.960 If it hadn't been for Lois receiving the gospel and passing it on to her family, 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:32.900 then maybe her grandson Timothy may never have become the Christian leader that he did. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.060 So, that is really interesting. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:45.519 Now, up on the screen, this is a picture of a Northern Irishman called James McAllister. 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.379 James McAllister. 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:50.280 And he was born in 1836. 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.139 He was a farmer. 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:58.500 And he spent his whole life in rural County Antrim in Northern Ireland. 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.580 Now, James was not a Christian. 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:07.839 And the legend goes that on the way home from work every night, 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:15.539 his horse was so used to him pulling into the pub at the side of the road on the way home from work 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:22.379 that the horse would just pull the cart in automatically on the way home without James having to steer it in. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:26.359 So, safe to say, he was a regular in the pub and he liked to drink. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.420 And he wasn't a Christian. 00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:36.619 But by God's miraculous grace, when James was in his 70s, he became a Christian. 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:42.639 And this was when a visiting preacher came to the area and shared the gospel with the folk in the area. 00:17:43.239 --> 00:17:47.679 And James was convinced about the truth of Jesus and gave his life to him. 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:51.119 Now, I don't know much else about James' life. 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:57.439 But what I do know is that James passed the gospel baton down to his children, 00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:59.559 who also became believers. 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:06.599 James' son, Daniel, passed the gospel baton down to his son, Robert. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:11.919 Robert passed the gospel baton down to his daughter, Doreen. 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:16.279 And Doreen, my mother, passed it on to me. 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:21.740 James McAllister is my maternal great-great-grandfather. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:27.720 And I am so glad God reached into his life and changed his heart at such an old age. 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:29.839 So amazingly. 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:36.039 But I'm also so glad that James had the conviction that his children needed to know about Jesus. 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:41.180 And he faithfully passed the gospel baton down onto them and to his ancestors. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:48.860 And there's some people in this room that could probably tell a very similar story of Christian family heritage. 00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:53.500 And maybe you don't know exactly when faith entered into your family, 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:56.779 but you know that it did and it was passed down. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:03.180 And you, like me, you can be so thankful that God chose to intervene into your family 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:06.519 and use their faithful witness to reach you. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:12.819 So, yeah, what we can learn from this Christian family in Lystra 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:19.819 is how effective and how important it is to pass the gospel on to our children. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:27.960 Now, the famous minister and theologian, John Wesley, he once said this, 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:35.640 I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:43.180 It seems that John's mother was also faithful in passing the gospel baton on to our son. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:49.460 So our family homes should be our primary mission field as Christians. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:53.400 Our parents, our siblings, our children, 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:56.279 they should be the first people that we share the gospel with. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:59.259 They know our lives really well. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.500 And they've seen the difference that Jesus has made in our lives. 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.759 Maybe you don't have children. 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:13.339 Well, there are other families, other parents in our church with children, 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:17.019 other parents who are trying to raise their children up in the faith 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:18.740 and teach them about Jesus. 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:21.619 We can be supporting those families. 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:27.579 We can be praying for those children and helping these parents raise their children up to know Jesus. 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:35.459 So all Christians have a duty to pass the gospel on to their children 00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:38.599 or to the children in their church family. 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.299 You've heard the phrase, 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:42.179 it takes a village to raise a child. 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:44.620 The same is true of the church. 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:49.420 It takes a church to raise a child in faith. 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:55.019 Now, I also just want to acknowledge that it can be a terribly painful thing 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:57.640 when our children choose not to follow Jesus, 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:03.019 even when their parents and church family have done everything to teach them about him. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:05.460 They've prayed tirelessly for them. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:09.099 Let's remember those families in our church 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:12.480 and let's commit to praying and supporting those parents 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:18.099 as they seek to keep praying and taking those gospel opportunities. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:23.259 Let's remember it's Jesus' grace that saves our children. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.740 It's his grace. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:31.839 Now, the final couple of verses we're going to finish by looking at. 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.859 Verses 6 and 7. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:36.620 And we see a commission to serve. 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:41.920 So in verses 6 and 7, if you look at them with me again, 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:47.160 we see the first of many instructions that Paul has for Timothy in this letter. 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:54.640 And we also see some of the things that God has given Timothy to equip him 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:58.560 in order to serve and pass on the gospel baton. 00:21:58.800 --> 00:22:01.460 So let's read verses 6 and 7 again. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:08.540 For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:13.140 which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:17.700 For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, 00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:22.920 but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:29.480 So God had given Timothy gifts of teaching and leading, 00:22:30.580 --> 00:22:35.440 and Paul commands Timothy to fan these gifts into flame. 00:22:35.780 --> 00:22:41.380 In other words, to exercise these gifts so that he can use them more effectively. 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:45.380 And on the screen there, I've got some old school bellows. 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:51.940 So you might have seen these, but traditionally they would have used these to pump air into the embers 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:55.900 and to fan it into flame to cause the fire to grow. 00:22:56.020 --> 00:22:58.360 And just in the same way, Paul is telling Timothy, 00:22:59.020 --> 00:23:03.780 these gifts that God has given you, he's given them to you for his service. 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.360 Exercise them. 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.140 Put them into practice. 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:12.680 Grow in these gifts so that you might more effectively serve him. 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:17.640 But I think Paul has got this instruction for all of us too. 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:20.220 He speaks to all of us today as well. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:28.180 And God has given all Christians spiritual gifts for the upbuilding of his church and to serve him. 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:39.900 God wants all of us to fan these gifts into flame so that we might serve him effectively and to build the church up. 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:48.380 Just from a personal example, I believe God has called me to preach and teach the gospel in this nation. 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:53.820 And I believe in order to do that, he's given me some gifts in this area. 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:56.799 But the onus is on me to practice them. 00:23:57.579 --> 00:24:00.859 So I need to learn how to preach more effectively. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:06.339 I need to learn how to get the message of the Bible across faithfully, but also clearly. 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:09.099 And I know I have a very long way to go. 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:14.700 And I'm quite early on in using these things that God has given me. 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:19.640 But even when I'm old, I know I'll still have a lot of room for improvement. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:26.420 But I know that I need to fan into flame the gifts that God has given me today. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:30.500 And the same goes for all the gifts that God has given us. 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:35.000 Maybe God has given you the gift of encouragement. 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:43.400 Then maybe you could be seeking ways to encourage and affirm your brothers and sisters and help them to go on in their faith. 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:46.500 Maybe you've been given the gift of hospitality. 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.980 How do we fan that into flame? 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:56.420 Well, it's by getting folks right into our home and learning how to love them and serve them and help them. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:03.420 Naturally, as we use our gifts, God is able to use them more effectively for building up the church. 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.460 Great. 00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:09.800 So let's finally look at verse 7. 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:15.039 Then, the final thing that we see, God has given his followers the Holy Spirit. 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:21.700 And what we see in this verse is that the Spirit helps us to be confident Christians. 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:27.879 God's Spirit comes and it indwells all those who put their faith and trust in Jesus. 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:32.299 And God, through his Spirit, equips his followers with three things. 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.839 And we see them in verse 7. 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:39.539 He equips his followers with power, with love, and with self-discipline. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.440 Why? 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:46.240 So that we won't be terrified at the task of passing on the baton of the gospel. 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:55.319 We thought a bit earlier, maybe one of the reasons that we've, folk have struggled to pass on the gospel baton is because we've been scared. 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.319 We've been scared of the consequences. 00:25:57.319 --> 00:26:06.519 Now, we know in Ephesus, where Timothy was, it was probably a pretty tough place to be a Christian leader. 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:11.500 There was pressure from the Roman Empire to conform. 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:18.139 There must have been pressure from the pagan leaders, those other faiths that were going on in the city. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:21.900 There must have been pressure from Jewish leaders. 00:26:23.020 --> 00:26:32.680 There must have been pressure from within the church as well, from members of the church who were tricky and who were questioning the things that Timothy was teaching them. 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:38.800 But also there was this constant shadow of suffering looming over Timothy. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:43.639 But God, by his spirit, he gives Timothy three things. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:48.500 He gives him power, he gives him love, and he gives him self-discipline. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:59.180 So that despite the clouds of persecution looming on Timothy's horizon, he can confidently press on in passing on the gospel. 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:05.860 Now, why these three specific things? 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.539 Why power, love, and self-discipline? 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:16.039 Well, I think God gives us his power so that we can press on when we're facing adversity, so that we can endure persecution. 00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:24.799 Even going to our deaths if need be, God gives us his power so that we can endure. 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:29.259 God gives us his love, which banishes fear. 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:36.639 God gives us his own love, which is ready to risk all and laid in its life to save the flock. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:45.379 And God gives us his self-discipline so that we might use the power and the love that he's given us wisely. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.559 He gives us his wisdom. 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:53.980 So the Spirit gives us these three things so that we can fiercely pass on the gospel. 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:57.460 We need his power when we feel weak and scared. 00:27:58.180 --> 00:28:01.000 We need his love when we struggle to love God's people. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.799 And let's be honest, we sometimes struggle to love God's people. 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:07.460 We sometimes struggle to love the lost. 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:09.339 But he gives us his love. 00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:15.940 And he gives us his self-discipline so that we wouldn't waste the gospel opportunities that he presents us. 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:23.660 So just going back to those relay races that we thought about at the start. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:29.180 I don't know if you remember, just a few weeks ago we had an Easter Open Day. 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:36.320 And I think it was Ian put together some helpful history on the church and the displays downstairs. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.180 There's some on the wall there as well. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.420 It's really interesting. 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:40.940 You should have a read of it. 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:50.059 But one thing that struck me was this list, this cleaning rota from 1982. 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.640 And you might see some of the names. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.200 I'm sorry. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.620 You can't see the names. 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.279 I'm sorry. 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.960 They're really small. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:04.460 But if you were to look at this list on the wall, you would see a number of names who were involved in this cleaning rota. 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:06.640 Some names that you might recognize. 00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:09.240 Some other names that you might not. 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:18.039 And what we have here is an example of people involved in faithful and ordinary service in the church 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:23.240 who were committed to serving the Lord Jesus in this church and to keep it going. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:31.200 These people, whether they're still alive or not, they have passed us, sitting here in this room, 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:35.319 they have passed us the gospel baton here in Brunsfield. 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:40.980 We are here today, Christians at Brunsfield, for two reasons. 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:49.099 First, because God in his grace chose to save you and use somebody to share the gospel with you 00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:51.240 so that you might come to faith. 00:29:52.199 --> 00:29:59.679 And secondly, because God was pleased to preserve this church as a place where the teaching of scriptures remained at the center. 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:06.419 We sit here today in this church because the gospel has been written on our hearts 00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:10.259 and because the gospel is here in our hands in the word of the Bible. 00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:13.639 We have the baton, the gospel, in our hands. 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:17.680 So I guess the question is, what are we going to do with it? 00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:20.940 What are we going to do with it? 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:29.140 Well, we've just seen that the Spirit has given us those three things, power, love, and self-discipline, 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.820 not a spirit of fear. 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:35.420 So I just want to ask us some questions just as we finish. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:38.220 We've thought about those three things at the start. 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:45.779 Will we commit to boldly taking the gospel out there and sharing it with the lost? 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:48.460 Will we commit ourselves to evangelism? 00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:52.880 Will we commit ourselves to discipleship? 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:59.360 Will we commit ourselves to teaching the message of the Bible well to one another? 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:00.940 Will we teach what it says? 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:09.160 Now, Graham and I and the elders, they have a specific responsibility in faithfully teaching 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:12.380 the congregation what the Bible says. 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:15.180 But we actually all have a part to play in this. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:21.080 And that passage that I read from Ephesians earlier, it talks about speaking the truth 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.100 in love to one another. 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:27.360 And what Paul is saying is that we all have a responsibility in speaking the truths of the 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.960 Bible to one another. 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.640 So how can we do that? 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:34.780 Well, maybe you could commit to reading the Bible with somebody else. 00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:37.640 Some of the folks in this church do that. 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:43.320 They meet up regularly and they open up the word and they see what God has to say from 00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:43.720 his word. 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:46.680 So maybe you could do that over coffee. 00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:52.280 Or maybe you could meet up with somebody and chat over what you heard in the sermons. 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:58.340 So we can do that every Sunday morning or every Sunday evening over coffee and that time 00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:58.980 after the service. 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:03.799 But growth groups are also another great place where we can chat over the things that we've 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:05.200 heard in the sermons. 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:12.580 And will we commit to supporting and praying for those who teach people in this church? 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:17.000 So there are a number of people who are committed to teaching folks in this church. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:20.659 So I've mentioned the preaching team. 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.899 I've mentioned the elders. 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:25.099 But then we've got our growth group leaders. 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:28.519 We've got Keita, who leads the women's Bible studies in Grove. 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:34.000 And we've got those who are committed to teaching our children in Sunday school and embassy. 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:40.299 We need to pray for these people so that they will teach the word faithfully. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:43.660 They'll teach what it says and they'll get it across clearly. 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:45.900 So can we pray for those folks? 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:48.960 And then finally, the third thing in our list. 00:32:49.080 --> 00:32:52.820 Will we commit to do our part in training? 00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:55.980 Training the next generation of Timothys. 00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:58.040 Well, how can we do that? 00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:59.720 Well, we can give. 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:05.600 We can give financially so that we can fund people for training and ministry. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:07.939 But again, we can pray. 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:14.079 We can pray to the Lord of the harvest to raise up workers to go out into the harvest fields 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:21.480 so that a new generation of gospel preachers and teachers can teach the next generation. 00:33:22.719 --> 00:33:27.339 And we can ask God to keep building his church in this nation, 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:34.179 to stop the decline, to cause the tide to turn and cause this nation, 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:36.720 and the church in this nation to grow again, 00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:39.779 seeing the baton being passed to the next generation. 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:42.440 So are we up to the task? 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.340 Let's pray. 00:33:44.340 --> 00:33:45.080 Let's pray. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.980 Our dear Heavenly Father, 00:33:53.580 --> 00:33:58.799 we just thank you for this chance to spend some time in 2 Timothy. 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:09.320 And Lord, I just pray that you take these verses and some things that I have said 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:13.400 and encourage us to just look to the future. 00:34:13.779 --> 00:34:16.259 Lord, we know that our earthly lives are short, 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:21.159 and we know that the gospel can be lost within a couple of generations, 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:23.900 and we've seen it through history, not just in our country, 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:25.500 but in other parts of the world, Lord. 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:29.920 And we know there is a sense of urgency to make sure that Jesus, 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:32.320 and the message of Jesus is passed on. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.059 So I just pray that as a church, 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:37.179 we would be committed to passing on to our children, 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:41.639 to be committed to passing on to the children of our church family. 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:44.500 And I pray that we would be committed to 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:49.099 just really what the Bible truly says, Lord, 00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:50.420 to going in deep, 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:55.119 and to really seeing what you have to say in your word. 00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:57.360 Give us a real hunger for your word. 00:34:57.880 --> 00:35:02.240 And I pray that you would give us opportunities to share it with one another, 00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:05.559 to share it one-to-one. 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:09.200 Would you give us boldness to go out into the world 00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:11.240 and to keep telling people about Jesus, 00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:14.940 to keep filling the pews with new believers 00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:16.800 who will replace us when we are gone. 00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:21.039 And would you help us to just think about 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:23.820 training that next generation of leaders as well, 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.240 to be looking around 00:35:25.240 --> 00:35:31.019 and seeing who God is gifting with these sorts of things 00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:33.080 and encouraging them and spurring them on. 00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:35.980 So, Lord, thank you for this. 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:38.380 Starter up in 2 Timothy, 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:41.720 I pray that you take away anything that I've said that's unhelpful, 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:43.839 and would you just press upon us 00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:46.959 the things that you would have to say by your spirit, 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:50.119 especially the power and the love and the self-discipline 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:51.619 that you've given each one of us 00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:56.679 to serve you and to speak of Jesus clearly to the world. 00:35:57.079 --> 00:36:00.679 So we pray all this in Jesus' precious name. 00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:01.559 Amen.