INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• What is one thing we all face, many times on a daily basis?
• Sometimes, unfortunately, we face this use even within our own homes and families.
• We all, at times, find ourselves in the midst of conflict.
• Because of conflict, Paul is writing from prison.
• Both of the letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus are from a time when Paul is surrounded by persecution, betrayal, and suffering (2 Timothy 1:15; 4:14).
• What should Christians, and particularly, Christian leaders do during conflict, opposition, and suffering?
• Christians have always faced opposition and conflict because the way we believe is contrary to that of the world around us.
• Paul spends a great deal of time talking about the poison the false teachers were feeding to the flock.
• How do we deal with those who seek conflict?
• Today we see a great deal of conflict on social media such as Facebook.
• When you do not believe like the rest of society does, they will seek a fight with you, and that eventually can lead to being persecuted.
• Leaders and those who are willing to stand for the truth will be in the crosshairs of an increasingly less tolerant society.
• Some of the most influential leaders in history were oppressed and mistreated; however, they overcame struggles to make the world better for all.
• One leader who stands out is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his fight against segregation.
• His theology of racial reconciliation and nonviolence can be seen in his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
• Dr. King suffered and was persecuted for his faith and race; however, he did not retaliate and give evil for evil. Instead, he reflected the leadership that can truly bring change even in the face of opposition.
• Paul tells Timothy that suffering is a part of leadership. We are to suffer just as our leader, Christ, suffered (2 Timothy 2:3). “If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him” (vv. 11–13).
• Jesus faced conflict from the most influential people in society at the time.
• Today we are going to examine some thoughts concerning conflict and how to maybe look at it in a different way.
• When it comes to conflict, we have a tendency to either avoid it at ALL costs or seek to win the conflict no matter what the cost.
• The direct context for our text today is Paul is writing to Timothy, who is probably in his early to mid-thirties at this time.
• In the previous verses, Paul talks to Timothy about what it takes to be a special vessel that can be used by God.
• Part of that process is knowing how to deal with conflict. The principles laid out in our text are directed toward those who are leaders in the church.
• However, the text is relevant and applicable to all who are servants of the Lord!
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• Our big idea for today is that we will lead with love and truth in times of conflict.
• Let’s turn to 2 Timothy 2:22-26 together, we will start with verse 22.
• SLIDE #2
• 2 Timothy 2:22 (CSB) — 22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. The plea.
• I have been waiting to say this, because it rhymes, in part, the plea is to flee!
• This passage ties back to the concept of being a vessel that can be used by God.
• The first part of the plea is to flee from youthful passions.
• The word FLEE is a present tense imperative which requires continuous action on our part.
• We must CONTINUALLY flee from the passions of youth that pulled us away from God.
• It is noteworthy that Paul did not tell us specifically what those passions were.
• The idea here is to pursue a more mature way of life. This will be illustrated in the next couple of verses.
• As I said before, Timothy was most likely between 30 and 40 years of age at this point in his life.
• If you remember that time in your life, for most there was still a tendency toward the immature at times.
• For me, this was true in the way I dealt with conflict. I still struggle with it at times, but back in the day, my less mature way of thinking was to win at all cost, to never back down!
• If you are going to flee from something, you have to have something to go after.
• In this verse, we are told to pursue some things.
• The word PURSUE is also a present tense imperative, meaning that we are to always be pursuing the things Paul offers to Timothy.
• If we are going to be a vessel for honorable use, we will need to make these pursuits a priority for our life.
• Instead of winning at all cost, or not engaging when we need to engage, first, we are told to pursue RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• In this context, righteousness is the pursuit of right relationships with other people as well as right conduct toward them. 1 Timothy 6:11 gives the same encouragement.
• That verse is almost a parallel passage to verse 22.
• When we are in a conflict, instead of looking to destroy the opponent, we need to remember that we are to treat them respectfully!
• We are encouraged to pursue FAITH!
• Pursuing faith means that we will be a person of God’s Word, that we will pursue knowing, and understanding God’s Word.
• If you are in the middle of a conflict, what truth are you going to use to try to influence your opponent?
• When Jesus was confronted by Satan in the wilderness, what did Jesus use? The WORD OF GOD!
• We are called to pursue love!
• Love means to do what is spiritually best for the other person. Do you know how many marriages would be awesome if both husband and wife would love the other in this manner?
• This type of love demands that we seek the highest good for others NO MATTER HOW THEY TREAT US.
• This means in conflict, we are not trying to win at all cost, that we are trying to do something that is at a higher level.
• Finally, we are told to pursue peace.
• Peace is the absence of contention, a tranquil state of the soul of the one who is right with God.
• In conflict, we are trying to seek peace whenever possible.
• SLIDE #4
• Romans 12:18 (CSB) — 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
• The plea is to flee and pursue the virtues we covered. When we are in the midst of conflict, these pursuits are still our calling.
• We are called to do these pursuits together!
• Let’s look at verse 23-24
• SLIDE #5
• 2 Timothy 2:23–24 (CSB) — 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,
• SLIDE #6
II. The poison.
• We are called not to get baited into foolish and ignorant disputes.
• We looked at some of the issues Christians were being drawn into with the genealogy myths of the Judaizers.
• Foolish means to be dull and sluggish of mind. It denotes someone devoid of wisdom or good sense or sound judgment.
• Ignorant means to be uninstructed, unlearned arguments from someone who is poorly educated on the subject or topic at hand.
• The word DISPUTES Is translated debates, speculations, controversial questions in different places in the New Testament.
• It speaks of ANGRY debate. When the discussion gets angry, nothing much good comes from it.
• I like speculations in this spot because it shows the disputes were over things that were not important and were not based on facts and reason.
• These types of disputes cause quarrels and quarrels are not spiritually edifying.
• In the end, they do not produce what we are called to pursue.
• I have learned that Facebook is not a good place to get into some of these things.
• Facebook is filled with foolish and ignorant disputes.
• There are times to take a stand, but usually, Facebook is not going to change most folks uninformed views.
• We are told that we are called NOT to quarrel. We are not to try to run over others, but instead, we are called to be but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,
• This is a conclusive exhortation against engaging in a foolish, heated argument with someone who is just looking for a fight.
• We need to make sure that when we do need to engage, we are not foolish and ignorant, that we know what we are talking about, and that we be gentle.
• You may have the intellectual power and knowledge to make someone look like a fool, the gentle person allows the other to make a fool of themselves.
• I find that when people get angry and name call, they have no rational argument, so they call you some kind of PHOBE or IST, like RACIST because they have nothing else.
• If you have the truth, you can stay calm and try to teach that truth to others in a gentle way.
• Being gentle does not mean that we do not take a stand for what is right, but it means that we have the wisdom to know when enough is enough.
• We also maintain the right attitude when dealing with wrongdoing in a firm yet gentle way.
• This is why we are told to be patient! It implies we are patient when wronged. Sometimes when folks do not have a leg to stand on, they try to get you upset so you will look the fool with them.
• Being patient means to bear up against ill-treatment, or evil perpetrated against you without resentment.
• It means to be able to withstand insult and such without returning insult for insult.
• Let’s look at verses 25-26.
• SLIDE #7
• 2 Timothy 2:25–26 (CSB) — 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
• SLIDE #8
III. The pursuit.
• I could have called this point the goal.
• When you are in the midst of conflict, what is your ultimate goal, what are you pursuing?
• Is your goal to win at all costs, or do you have a higher calling to pursue?
• We are called to instruct our opponents with gentleness so that they will change their heart and mind.
• We are not called to get angry with folks who embrace things that are not true, nor are we to call them out immediately to embarrass them.
• Without causing unnecessary pain, we are called to go about the business of instructing and training them in the truth.
• We cannot change the hearts and minds of those we make angry and embarrass!
• We have a pursuit, to help them to come to a knowledge of the truth.
• The passage speaks of God, granting them repentance.
• This is an appeal for God to give them the time and opportunity to change and repent before it is too late for them.
• Repentance is something we do, but its God whose grace grants it.
• Repentance is a change of heart and a change of will, it is deciding that one needs to follow God’s ways instead of the former path they were following.
• Ultimately, we want someone to come to a knowledge of the truth, we know that the TRUTH will set them free!
• This what verse 26 means.
• 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
• Coming to one’s senses means to recover from drunkenness. A person who has been following false teachings has been spoiled of their senses, they are out of their minds as one who is drunk would be.
• The Greek in verse 26 reads SO THEY MAY RETURN TO SOBERNESS OUT OF DEVIL’S SNARE.
• The Devil snared them by duping them into following what was not truth.
• False doctrine does not look like a trap, but it is!
CONCLUSION
• When conflict comes to our door, we have to have the wisdom to know if someone is just looking for a fight or if they are entrapped by something that is not the truth.
• Our goal is not to win at all cost, but rather, to bring them to repentance and to a knowledge of the truth!
• As Christians and especially for Christian leaders, we need to model this behavior.
• Christian leaders will suffer at times and should speak truth in love to those who oppose them.
• We must lead with love and truth in times of conflict.
