Title: Christian Growth
Theme: Show the importance of growth in finding our purpose
Text: 2 Timothy 2:1 - 7
Introduction
Paul here is giving Timothy some instructions as a father in the ministry. He makes an analogy between three areas of life compared to being a Christian. I believe that Paul does this to help Timothy understand the using of his gift of pasturing. This can also be applied to 1) general Christian life 2) gifts 3) our calling.
So let us look at this from the perspective of gifts.
2Ti 2:1-7
(1) You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
The word that is important is the word grace. This is where we get our calling from. It is by God’s grace that He uses us. Grace is used as “unmerited favor” but also as the “power to be and do what God has called us to be and do”. It is God’s power.
Unmerited favor PLUS _ Darrel Rice teaching
?Grace is the empowering presence of God enabling me
to_____BE_________what God created me to_____BE______
and____DO_______what He has called me to_____DO_________
Luke 2:40, And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (NKJV)
John 1:14, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (NKJV)
This is encouraging because yes it is not what we deserve. Nor do we “deserve” the power of God to work in us. Nor do we deserve the.
As in how God uses us and His grace to empower us to do what God has called to do. We don’t deserve it but it is by God’s grace that we can be a part of His work for the kingdom.
Strong – not in my own strength but in the “grace of Christ Jesus”
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephes. 6:10).
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).
Rom_8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Looking past our weaknesses
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
4 Challenges and Analogies
Be a Teacher – Disciple maker
(2) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Paul tells Timothy don’t just keep these teachings to yourself but pass them on to others. Then expect them to pass it on to others. This is what a true teacher does. They don’t teach to give out knowledge but they teach so that the student may get it, apply it and pass it on to others.
Father, Mother, Grandparent
"Every Christian must look on himself as a link between two generations. Not only has he received the faith; he must also pass it on. E.K. Simpson writes on this passage: 'The torch of heavenly light must be transmitted unquenched from one generation to another, and Timothy must count himself an intermediary between apostolic and later ages....The teacher is a link in the living chain which stretches unbroken from this present moment back to Jesus Christ. The glory of teaching is that it links the present with the earthly life of Jesus Christ' " (The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, p.181f).
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
Have a Paul, a Barnabas and a Timothy
Key: Entrust that which you have learned
Goal: Find others who can pass on
Be a Soldier
(3) Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (4) No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer
Soldier – don’t get caught up with daily affairs but please his commanding officer
Three Purposes
1) Train
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved (pleasing) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2) Guard
Proverbs 24:3 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
3) Fight
Ephesians 6:10 - The Armor of God
Key – Don’t get involved with civilian affairs
Goal – please the master
Involved – entangled, intertwined
Be a Athlete – Disciplined, focused
(5) Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.
Key: compete according to rules
Goal: victor’s crown
Be a Farmer
(6) The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
Farmer – hardworking, diligent, receives a share of the crop, remembering that his share is according to how much crop is achieved
Key: hardworking, diligent
Goal: receive a share of the crops
Sow and reading
What is the similarities between the four ?
1) They all must be diligent.
2) They all must be faithful.
3) There is an element of faith.
4) There must be a dependency on the Lord to make each successful.
To achieve success one must be diligent to the task. We can’t sit back and expect things to happen even if we have talent and skill. We must work hard.
Illustration: Michael Jordan who made thousands of shots in practice before he made them in the game. Tiger Woods who continued to practice early even though he was leading the field.
Too many Christians are sitting on the sideline with knowledge and skill and not using it for God’s kingdom.
2 Corinthians_9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Galatians_6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Thought
No matter who we are we all have all calling, but when does God call us? Before the foundation of the world. While we were in our mother’s womb we were called. We accept the call when we walk in it.
Then it is our duty to put diligence into it and work hard for God’s kingdom. We may see the skill that God has given us in the calling but we can’t sit back and wait on God to just do everything. We have to work and make our skill better.
Just as a soldier, athlete and farmer. To get it right they have to continue to work.
The final piece of the puzzle is the anointing. When you have all three, God’s calling, our diligence (hard work) and God’s anointing then you see awesome results.
What is the differences?
Notice the progression. Soldier then Athlete, then Farmer.
A soldier can be just about anyone. The main thing they need is training.
Not everyone can be a great athlete in any area. It would be almost impossible to take a person who is built large and turn them into a sprinter. So people are fit for certain duties and calling and purpose.
Finally the farmer is the least of the three dependant on skill. There is a measure of skill but there is a lot of faith that depends on the Lord.
Thought
God wants us to operate in all three.
There are times he just wants us to be a soldier. Hold to what we believe and move forward. Sometimes bull headed. We do have to chose our battles carefully.
Other times we are athletes. Take our skill we make it better then we just compete and fulfill our calling. Specifically designed for us.
The final area is the farmer. In this we sow but we let God do the rest. We may plant, we may water, yet God gives the increase.
Thought
How to know when you are not growing?
1) You have lost your joy
2) You have settled in life.
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
How to regain your joy?
1) Get into the word of God
2) Get alone with God
Conclusion
(7) Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
In other words. Think about what I just told you, there is more here. Pray about this and let the Lord give you insight in how it relates to your own life.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (25) And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (26) Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. (27) But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
