Family Faith Transfer: Doing It Alone (Lesson 3)

A. WHY ARE YOU ALONE?

1. Death. Romans 8:28.

2. Divorce. There was a choice involved.

3. Uncommitted. Mate is unsaved or uncaring.

4. Away. Mate travels, war, family needs.

5. Unsaved. “His (Timothy) father was a Greek” (Acts 16:1,3).

6. No faith. “The unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy . . . mother Eunice” (II Tim. 1:5).

7. Can’t break cycle. You do what your parents did – leave. Both Lois and Eunice married Greeks (outside the faith) and raised a child without spiritual help.

B. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO BEING ALONE?

1. Blame God. When you blame God for your circumstances you:

(a) don’t take responsibility;

(b) don’t know the scriptures;

(c) can’t help self;

(d) can’t help your child.

2. When you give up you: (a) you will not help your child; (b) you will hurt your child in the present; (c) you will teach your child negative lessons for the future, i.e., by role model and by principles.

3. Fight mate. This can involve sarcasm, physical abuse, treachery, sneaking, and non-cooperation.

4. Ignore child to win mate. Some spend all their time and energy to get/win their mate, but ignore the needs of the child.

5. Blame self. Some live in guilt, always blaming self for everything.

6. Take it out on the child. Some take out their frustration on the child by legalism, punishment, isolation, or ignorance.

C. WHAT EUNICE DID ALONE.

1. Poured faith into Timothy. “I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which first dwelt in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded in thee also” (II Tim. 1:5).

2. Magnify Timothy’s gifts. “Sir up the gift of God which is in thee.” (II Tim. 1:6).

3. Teach scripture. “That from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures” (II Tim. 3:15).

a. Reverent attitude. “Holy Scripture.”

b. Entire word. “Scriptures,” i.e., plural.

4. Obedience. “Continue thou in the things thou hast learned” (II Tim. 3:14).

5. Honesty and sincerity. Eunice taught him “unfeigned faith” (I Tim. 1:5; II Tim. 1:5).

6. Raised in the house of God. “Well-respected by the brethren” (Acts 16:2).

7. Had a habit of following God. “A certain disciple was there named Timothy” (Acts 16:1).

8. Entertained visiting minister. When Paul and Silas came to Lystra and Derbe, probably stayed in Eunice’s home.

9. Eunice made Timothy respect his father. “His father was a Greek” (Acts 16:1).

10. Took on characteristics of mother.

a. Naturally timid and reserved. “Let no man despise thy youth” (I Tim. 1:2; I Cor 16:10, II Tim. 1:7).

b. Identified with Paul as role model. “As a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel” (Phil. 2:22).

11. She first believed, then poured her faith into Timothy. “Faith dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice” (II Tim. 1:5).

12. Timothy counted cost. Paul was stoned when he first visited Lystra (Acts 14:19-21), yet Timothy still decided to be a companion with Paul.

13. Eunice broke the chain of compromise.

a. Intergenerational weakness. Lois married a Gentile, and her daughter Eunice followed her example. Timothy didn’t follow mother’s example.

b. Obedience to scriptures can break intergenerational sins. “Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children” (Ex. 20:5).

14. Eunice respected her husband and taught Timothy to respect his father. Timothy was taught faith (inward) but out of respect to his father was not circumcised (outward). “Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him” (Acts 16:3).

a. Agreed to differ on religion.

b. Agreed to live together.

15. Timothy was ordained.

a. Paul was the instrument of ordination by leading. “By the putting on of my hands” (I Tim. 1:6).

b. The church was the agent. “Well reported by the brethren” (Acts 16:2). “By the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (I Tim. 4:14).

c. Paul with the motivation by preaching. “Neglect not the gift that is given thee by prophecy” (I Tim. 4:14).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.