The Power Of Compound Interest -- A Reproducing Ministry Series

BIG IDEA:

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF DIVINELY EMPOWERED SPIRITUAL

LEADERSHIP IS TO FAITHFULLY REPRODUCE BOTH THE MESSAGE

AND THE MINISTRY

INTRODUCTION:

“Therefore” – review of what has gone before; How is it that Paul can now exhort Timothy to take on such a tremendous challenge?

I. (:1) THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTER TRAIT FOR SUCCESSFUL

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP = DIVINE EMPOWERMENT

“CONTINUALLY BE STRENGTHENED IN GRACE”

A. A Spiritual Leader Should Naturally Reflect His Family Parentage

“You my son”

Address of affection and encouragement;

Timothy is not being asked to do the unnatural or the impossible; A child possesses the nature of his parents

B. Divine Empowerment is a Continual Process (Pres. Middle or Passive Imperative)

“strengthen yourself” Or “Be strengthened”

Hiebert: “It is not an appeal for him to summon up and assert his own strength. He is not asked to ‘be strong’ but ‘be strengthened,’ to be made strong…

This grace is embodied in Christ Jesus who imparts it to all who are in living union with Him, just as the vine imparts its life and fruitfulness to the branches

that are in abiding union with it.”

C. Divine Empowerment Depends on Grace

“in the grace”

D. Union with Christ Jesus through the Indwelling Holy Spirit is the Key

“that is in Christ Jesus”

Stott: “’Take strength from the grace of God which is ours in Christ Jesus.’ Timothy is to find his resources for ministry not in his own nature but in Christ’s grace. It is not only for salvation that we are dependent on grace (1:9), but for service also.”

II. (:2) THE FUNDAMENTAL TASK FOR SUCCESSFUL SPIRITUAL

LEADERSHIP = REPRODUCE BOTH THE MESSAGE AND THE MINISTRY

The chain of gospel transmission is only as strong as its weakest link;.cf. the game: “whisper down the lane” – all it takes is for one person to blow it to affect an entire generation; fortunately we have the written Word to refer back to – even when the oral teaching is not accurate

A. The Message Received

“the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses”

the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27)

Kent: Constative Aorist – “gathering into one all that Timothy had heard from Paul over the years”

“many witnesses” – the other apostles and prophets taught the identical truths

B. The Message Reproduced

“these entrust to faithful men”

You cannot pick or choose what elements of the teaching to pass along. You must transmit the entire body of doctrine.

Tyndale: “to entrust something to another for safekeeping”

Thayer: “to deposit, intrust, commit to one’s charge”

Thayer: Re “faithful men” – “of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official

duties”

Whitcomb: “Originality in doctrine or a streamlined message would not be tolerated by Christ or Paul.”

C. The Ministry Reproduced

“who will be able to teach others also”

Stott: “The ability or competence which Timothy must look for in such men will consist partly in their integrity or faithfulness of character already mentioned and partly in their facility for teaching.”

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) How do we go about being strengthened “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”?

2) Do we place the same priority on the whole counsel of God that Paul does here? Or do we minimize the importance of doctrine and say “What does it matter as long as you get the fundamentals right?” Who is the one to make the call as to what constitutes the

fundamentals?

3) Does our ministry impact the different circles of preaching to the public masses while still spending quality time with those few faithful men who will be the key to perpetuating our ministry into the next generation?

4) How do Bible Institutes and Seminaries fit into God’s program of indoctrination?

Download the entire 2 Timothy commentary in pdf

format (including notes on each sermon from other

commentators) from:

http://www.bibleoutlines.com

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