Retain, Guard, Be Strong, Entrust, Suffer

In one paragraph

This message came from 2 Timothy 1:12 through 2:3, preached by the pastor on his first Sunday back after traveling to Georgia for the funeral of his grandmother, Grace McDaniel. He wove her life and faith throughout the passage, and walked the congregation through a series of imperatives Paul gave Timothy about holding on to the gospel and passing it on. The personal and the doctrinal stayed close...

Read together

1. 2 Timothy 1:1 Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
2. 2 Timothy 1:2 grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord
3. 2 Timothy 1:3 Paul serves with a clear conscience as his forefathers did, remembering Timothy in prayers night and day
4. 2 Timothy 1:4 Paul longs to see Timothy, recalling his tears
5. 2 Timothy 1:5 sincere faith that first dwelt in Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice
6. 2 Timothy 1:6 reminder to kindle afresh the gift of God that is in Timothy
7. 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and love and discipline
8. 2 Timothy 1:8 do not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord but join in suffering for the gospel
9. 2 Timothy 1:9 God saved us not according to works but according to his own purpose and grace
10. 2 Timothy 1:10 grace revealed in the appearing of Christ Jesus who abolished death
11. 2 Timothy 1:11 Paul appointed as preacher, apostle and teacher of the gospel
12. 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul not ashamed because he knows whom he has believed and is convinced God can guard what was entrusted to him
13. 2 Timothy 1:13 retain the standard of sound words heard from Paul in faith and love in Christ Jesus
14. 2 Timothy 1:14 guard the treasure entrusted to you through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us
15. 2 Timothy 1:15 all in Asia turned away from Paul including Phygellus and Hermogenes
16. 2 Timothy 1:16-18 the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus who refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of his chains
17. 2 Timothy 2:1 Timothy commanded to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus
18. 2 Timothy 2:2 entrust what you have heard to faithful men who will be able to teach others also
19. 2 Timothy 2:3 suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus
20. 1 Peter 4 each one given a gift should use it to build up the body of Christ
21. 1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness
22. John 16:33 in this world you will have troubles but take heart because Christ has overcome the world
23. 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 Paul lists his sufferings including imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks and daily concern for the churches
24. Colossians 3:16-17 used as the closing benediction, let the word of Christ richly dwell within you

Talk about it

1. Paul wrote to Timothy about the faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Who in your own life passed sincere faith on to you, and how did that happen?
2. The pastor shared that he believes the only thing that really works for sanctification is continuous application of scripture over time. Do you agree, and what has that looked like practically in your own walk with God?
3. Paul lists five imperatives for Timothy: retain the sound words, guard the treasure, be strong in grace, entrust what you know to faithful people, and suffer hardship as a good soldier. Which of these five feels most difficult for you right now, and why?
4. Paul prays that Onesiphorus would find the mercy of God, meaning he would actually internalize that he had been fully forgiven rather than continuing to dwell on his failure. Have you ever struggled to receive forgiveness you had already asked God for, and what helped you move forward?
5. Paul's list in 2 Corinthians of beatings, shipwrecks, sleepless nights, and daily concern for all the churches gives weight to his command to suffer hardship as a good soldier. What kind of resistance have you actually run into when trying to live your life for Christ, and how did you respond?