Finishing The Race

Finishing the Race

(2 Timothy 4:1-8)

[Note: this was Pastor Ed Vasicek's retirement sermon after 43.5 years in continuous full time ministry and 39 years at Highland Park Church in Kokomo, IN)

1. People can justify just about anything, if they are quick enough. Today I have two jokes.

Morris Siegel, the owner of a small Kosher New York deli, was being questioned by an IRS agent about his tax return.

He had reported a net profit of $60,000 for the year.

"Why don't you people leave me alone?" the deli owner said.

"I work like a dog, everyone in my family helps out, the place is only closed three days a year. And you want to know how I made $60,000?"

"It's not your income that bothers us," the agent said. "It's these business travel deductions of $125,000. You listed ten trips to Israel for you and your wife."

"Oh, that?" the owner said smiling. "Well....we also deliver." [haruth.com].

2. Two friends run into each other while walking their dogs. One suggests lunch. The other says, "They won't let us in a restaurant with pets."

Undeterred, the first guy and his German shepherd head into the restaurant. The maître d' stops them, saying, "Sir, you can't bring your dog in here."

"But I'm blind," the man replies, "and this is my guide dog."

The maître d', apologizing profusely, shows both man and dog to a table.

His friend waits five minutes, then tries the same routine. "You have a Chihuahua for a guide dog?" the skeptical maître d' says.

"A Chihuahua?" the man says. "Is that what they gave me?"

3. When it came to serving the Lord, Paul the apostle did not rationalize away God’s truth or God’s calling. As he neared the end of his life, perhaps weeks or months away from execution, he had a sense of fulfillment: he had carried out the plan God had for him, and he had done so faithfully.

Main Idea: From the time we come to know the Lord, we are running the spiritual marathon He has marked out for us. Our concern is both to run the race well and to develop the next generation of runners.

I. We Should Be Concerned About the Church’s NEXT Generation (1-5).

A. The propagation plan was simple: well-trained faithful young LEADERS (1).

The “you” Paul is charging is Timothy, his protege, defined as, “a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person. “

B. The church needs leaders who can preach the WORD, not just preach or lead.

C. The danger of COMPROMISE and surrendering the culture is always looming.

1. Constant tension between ADJUSTMENT and compromise.

• Churches must adjust and change to a degree to accommodate the times; missionaries have done this for centuries. But those adjustments must be morally& spiritually neutral or positive.

• The Gospel is a scandal (skandalon); if people reject it, let it be the Gospel that offends them, not our failure to understand where they are coming from.

• Examples of neutral changes are styles of music, dress, service schedule – issues not directly or at least completely addressed by Scripture. Early church: Greek, men on one side, both men and women robes, no Bibles or hymnals, no A/C , nursery or organs or pianos. All innovations.

• But trying to adjust to the culture can easily result in Scriptural compromise; it is a delicate task.

• Too many such trends have been made by spoiled brat Christians who have a grudge or bitterness against the evangelical church. A lot of over reactions.

2. The temptation to “CORRECT” Biblical teaching via the culture through rationalization.

3. The temptation to gravitate toward made-up RELIGIOUS teachings, “myths.”

D. Solid leaders take the ministry SERIOUSLY (5).

1. Sober minded

2. Willing to suffer hardship and stress

3. Looking for opportunities to share the gospel (funerals, for example)

II. We Find Completing the Race SATISFYING, Even Amidst the Sorrow of Departure (6-8).

A. Paul was TRULY at the end of his ministry: he knew it (6).

B. The greatest satisfaction is knowing you have done what God CALLED you to do (7).

1. He calls us all to fight the good fight.

2. He calls us all to be faithful, to finish the race.

3. He calls us all to keep the faith, being true to clear cut Biblical teaching.

4. None of us know we will succeed in all these things until death; we can go astray.

5. Statistically, for example, the worse church troubled makers are retired men who have nothing to do, so they meddle with the pastor and the church. So I am not out danger like Paul was.

6. I have finished a major leg of the race, but hope to engage in a few more sprints as I serve in different ways. My ministry is not over, just my ministry as pastor of HPC.