SERMONIC / WORSHIP THEME
Opening Statement: A retirement home resident asked some children who were touring the home if they had any questions. “Yes,” one girl said. “How old are you?” “I’m 98,” she replied proudly. Clearly impressed, the child’s eyes grew wide with wonder. “Did you start at one?”
Transition: We’ve got some people here today that started at one and now they are in their 70’s, 80’s, and few are in there 90’s. Wouldn’t it be great if Sunman Community Church had a few 100 year olds in 10 or 20 years, still going strong and having an impact?
Observation: I just read this week that people 100 or older are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. There are now 61,000 members of the 100 plus club but by 2020 there will be an estimated 214,000. Senior citizens have a wonderful contribution to make to all of our lives.
Theme: In fact, a senior citizen by the name of Paul does this very thing. Referred to as “Paul, the aged” in Philemon 9, he does us a wonderful service when he gives to believers a view from the finish line in 2 Timothy 4. He’s just about ready to finish his life’s race, when he decided to write to young Timothy, his protégé, and said, “Tim, let me tell you how I feel right now. Allow me to give you a view of what I’ve got going on inside me as I approach the finish line.”
Title: A View From the Finish Line - Part 2
Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8; 2:1-26
Recitation: 4:6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. 4:7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.
MESSAGE
Background: Due to persecution, Paul was in prison in Rome. Coach Paul wrote his final words of encouragement, challenge, and caution to a young man that he had mentored and discipled in the faith. From what Paul wrote to him in 2 Timothy, it appears that Timothy was flagging a bit in his faith. He was a bit apathetic and his spirits were down. He was holding back and he was even a little embarrassed at times to be identified as a Christian, especially a Christian minister. Timothy was on the retreat. This led Paul to write things like “Don’t be ashamed of our Lord… (1:8)” and “Don’t be ashamed of me… (1:8).” “Retain my words… (1:13)” and “Guard…the treasure… (1:14).” “Be strong…in Jesus… (2:1).” “Suffer with me… (2:3).” “Be diligent…as a worker… (2:15).” “Flee youthful lusts… (2:22).” “I solemnly charge you…preach the Word… (4:1,2).” Timothy is on the retreat and Paul is trying to rally him to action so that he can have the kind of view from his finish line that Paul now had from his.
Key Word: If you are going to have the kind of view from your finish line that Paul had from his finish line, then you need a course, a coach, and a crown to motivate you to get the job done.
OUTLINE
The Course You Must Run
4:6 For I am already being poured out as a sacrifice, and the time for me to depart is at hand.
Exposition: Paul uses two figurative expressions to indicate that death was near for him and that he was surrendered to this fact. He compared himself to a sacrifice that was poured out and to a traveler who was getting ready to go on a journey.
Transition: Before Paul departs on his voyage, he looks back over 30 years of ministry and described it to Timothy in three terse expressions with an emphasis on completion.
The Coach You Must Listen To
4:7 I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
Exposition: Any good coach is going to teach his players that they must finish what they start. Paul does this by using three figures here in 2 Timothy 4 and several metaphors or figures in 2 Timothy 2. Here, he compared himself to a fighter, a runner, and steward.
Like a fighter, Paul weaved and bobbed his way to victory, measuring and landing as many blows as he could on the enemy.
Like a runner, he stayed in the race when his body and mind were exhausted.
And he had the mentality of a steward - he kept the gospel treasure safe. He never cut corners. He never fouled out. He was faithful in what was entrusted to him.
And now, he could feel the sense of accomplishment and die knowing that he played all of the music that was within him, and to use a basketball phrase, “he left it all out on the floor.” He wanted young Timothy to pursue his Christian calling with the same intensity and mind toward completion as he had. He hangs his thoughts on these three metaphors to make his point.
Amplification: These aren’t the only metaphors that Paul used to get Timothy to re-enlist in the fight. Look at 2 Timothy 2.
Like a child, Timothy was to be strong and active (2:1,2).
Like a soldier, Timothy was to suffer hardship and please his superior (2:3,4).
Like an athlete, he is to obey the rules of the game (2:5).
Like a farmer, he is to labor and thus have full participation in the results (2:6).
Like a vessel, he is to be ready for the Master’s use (2:15).
Like a servant, he is to be gentle and helpful (2:24,24).
Explanation: Men and women, and especially our senior citizens, listen to Coach Paul! Get back in the fight! Don’t take your greatest contributions back to the locker room with you. Don’t die with your music still in you. Don’t drop out of the Christian race when your best lap is still ahead. Don’t stop short of your potential. Some of you have incredible potential to offer lives of great service and blessing. Don’t allow bad habits and attitudes and selfishness to slow you down. Work hard at this, and at the end of the day when you finish your life’s work and it’s time to close the books, you’ll have the joy of a job well done.
Quotation: How we finish the race depends to a great extent on the pace we set along the way. Joseph Wittig remarked that when we write people’s biographies we should start with their death, not their birth. After all, we have nothing to do with the way our life began, but we have a lot to do with the way it ends.
Illustration: Dr. Anthony Campolo tells about a sociological study in which fifty people over the age of ninety-five were asked one question: “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” It was an open-ended question, and a multiplicity of answers came from these eldest of senior citizens. However, three answers constantly reemerged and dominated the results of the study. These three answers were: If I had it to do over again, I would reflect more, risk more, and do more things that would live on after I am gone.
Observation: This idea of finishing what we start belongs in the smaller areas of life as well. Paul realized this and that’s why he’s writing to young Timothy. Instead of looking years ahead to when we might die and speculating on whether we’ll end strong, ask yourself how well you’re finishing now in the shorter, less glamorous dashes of life. How about that project you’re working on for your boss? Will the finished-product be first-class, or simply mediocre, with excuses attached as to why it couldn’t be better? And what about when you’re called to do something behind-the-scenes? Do you stay at it until it’s done right, or do you settle for “good enough to get by”? Finish what you have started and do it with integrity! It is important to start right, but it is imperative to end well.
Application: Listen to the coach. Fight hard! Finish strong! Keep the rules! Why resign when you can re-enlist. Let’s get a victory.
The Crown You Should Anticipate
4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.
Exposition: Paul is looking ahead to the moment when earthly work is done and a heavenly existence is begun. And, he again employs the use of a figure to make his point. He talks about a crown. This undoubtedly motivated Paul to stay faithful until the end. In Paul’s case, it was the finish line of life where a crown awaited him.
Application: This is a fundamental principle of life-success. Picture where you want to be and never stop pushing toward it! In order to finish strong, think about what’s ahead and anticipate your outcome and focus on the finish line. Are your struggling to get through school? Focus on graduating. Picture yourself crossing the stage to receive the hard-earned prize of your diploma. Are you raising a houseful of small people with sticky fingers and dirty diapers? Take your focus off the grape-jelly handprints on your couch and put it on the end product – mature adults who love God, who work hard, who are responsible citizens, and who are capable of handing down their faith to the next generation. Are you depressed with your marriage? Picture yourself, hand-in-hand, walking along the beach with a life-partner who has weathered the storms alongside you and been there every step of the way. Are you completely dominated by alcohol? Picture yourself, sober, happy, joy-filled, loving your family without guilt and doing things with your time and resources that are changing people’s lives. Are you caught up in the values of this present age and your family has suffered for it? See yourself 20 years from now, after throwing yourself fully into the things that are eternal like your family. See the daughter that you loved and cherished rush up to you and hug you and thank you for giving her the tools she needed to succeed in life. Picture your son who would rather spend a weekend with Dad than party with the guys because Dad is the neatest person he knows. Are you in a professional vocation? Envision how you can use your position and influence to move people toward the Savior.
Exhortation: I am talking about the finish line. Always keep the finish line in sight. Focus the future in all of your life goals, but especially in your Christian walk.
CONCLUSION
Recap Questions: Are you on the right course? Are you listening to the right coach? Are you focused on the right crown? When it comes time to break camp and pull in the anchor, can you do so with great expectation? I want you to be able to enjoy the view you have of life at the finish line. Stay the course. It will not always be an easy road. Listen to the Coach. Look forward to the Crown. We must anticipate what the end result will be for a life well lived. I fully expect to see every one of you at the finish line! Get with it!
Application:
To Senior Citizens: Throw your hat back in the ring. Now is not the time to falter or waver. Push ahead with new ideas. Push ahead with great visions for a better tomorrow. Be someone that the church can build on to achieve her vision. Don’t hold back on the last lap. Don’t be so conservative with your resources. Touch a hundred lives or more while you can.
To All of Us: Kindle the flame. The tendency is toward apathy and irresponsibility and retreat. Now is the time to jump in! You never know when we will be on our last lap. Beth Watson jumped in. Cathy Lehman jumped in. Roger Lehman jumped in. Our teen teaching team jumped in. The deacons are jumping in. The Whitehair’s jumped in with AWANA. Ardy Wilson jumped in.
