Be a Courageous Christian!
Text: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1-3 NIV).
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1—7
Introduction
The last recorded words of Paul are found in 2 Timothy. Paul had been arrested. His trial had proceeded far enough that he knew there was no hope of escape.
While waiting in the Roman prison for the “time of his departure,” he wrote these words to Timothy, a trusted friend.
Those were not easy days in which to be a Christian. To dare to be a leader in a local church was to volunteer to be a martyr. So Paul wrote this letter to his “son” for the purpose of encouraging Timothy to be a courageous Christian in the most trying times the church had ever faced.
In 2004 in the UK, Christians may not be nailed to crosses or thrown to wild animals or burned as torches, but the need is as great now as it was in Paul’s day for us to be courageous. As we approach the Christmas Season the Lord wants us to be courageous for Him.
I have five brief points for us to consider:
I. A courageous Christian has a heritage to enjoy.
II. A courageous Christian has a hope to share.
III. A courageous Christian has help to offer.
IV. A courageous Christian has hurts to avoid.
V. A courageous Christian has a heaven to gain..
I. A courageous Christian has a heritage to enjoy (2Tim. 1:3-6).
Paul’s purpose was to inspire and strengthen Timothy for his task at Ephesus. To keep his courage high and his effort strenuous, Paul reminded Timothy of the heritage that was his to enjoy.
A. Our Heritage includes The belief of others in you (vv. 3—5). Paul reminded Timothy of his own belief and confidence in him. No greater encouragement is ours than to know that someone believes in us. An appeal to honour is effective. The fear that we might let down those who believe in us is a constructive fear. The fact that others believe in us and look up to us is a heritage to enjoy.
B. Our Heritage includes A Christian family that supports you (v. 1:5; 3:15). Paul reminds Timothy of his family tradition. If Timothy failed, not only would he mar his own name, but he would lessen the honour of his family name as well. A Chris¬tian family is one of the greatest gifts a person can have.
C. Our Heritage includes A calling that requires the best in you (v. 6). Your calling to be a witness for Christ requires the best that is in you. Be courageous in witnessing.
II. A courageous Christian has a hope to share (1:12).
Verse 12 contains three key words:
Ashamed, Know and Committed.
A. Ashamed. The hope and faith we have in Christ are never a cause of shame but always a truth to share.
B. Know. The reason for this hope was Paul’s personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. Merely to know Christ was all that Paul needed in order to trust Him. The Greek word oida (“know”) means “fullness of knowledge”—the kind of knowledge that comes from a personal experience with another.
C. Committed. Paratheke means “a deposit committed to someone’s trust.”
III. A courageous Christian has help to offer (2:2; 3:15-4:5).
A. Help by Winning and discipling others (2:2). It is not only our privilege to receive the Gospel, it is our duty to transmit it.
All Christians must look on them¬selves as links between two generations.
William Barclay said that the reception of the faith is the privilege of Christians; transmission of the faith is the responsibility of Christians.
A church grows not by addition but by multiplication.
You lead someone to the Lord and stay with that person until he or she begins to lead others to the Lord.
Don’t ask yourself “How many spiritual children do I have?” (that is “How many have I led to Christ?”), but “How many spiritual grandchildren and great-grandchildren do I have?”
B. Help by Proclaiming Bible truths (3:16-4:5).
1. That are addressed to our own needs. “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right” (3:16 LB).
2. That will equip us to win others (3:17).
3. That may not always be popular (4:1 -5).
IV. A courageous Christian has hurts to avoid (2:14-16,21 -23;
3:1-7; 4:10).
For the courageous Christian to be effective in the service of Christ, he must avoid certain hurts.
Paul mentions four of them in this letter:
Theological arguments, Moral compromise, Social trends and Spiritual unfaithfulness
A. Theological arguments (2:14-16, 23). There are times when too much talk can be positively dangerous (see w. 14,16, 23). The Christian alternative is found in verse 15. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
B. Moral compromise (2:22). Doesn’t it seem quite shocking that Paul would
suggest that the young preacher Timothy could be tempted sexually?
Some think there are three sexes—men, women, and preachers! Still others think the three sexes are boys, girls, and Christian youth. But many Christian’s have the same physical urges as non-Christian’s.
And when they fail to “flee youthful lusts,” the same emotional and biological consequences are experienced by them as by any other young person.
C. Social trends (3:1-5). Paul warns Timothy to avoid the hurt of social trends. He says that as time passes on, social trends will not get better but worse.
D. Spiritual unfaithfulness (4:10). The spiritual pilgrimage of Demas is often repeated today.
V. A courageous Christian has a heaven to gain (4:6-8).
Paul wrote these words in the midst of persecution.
This was the darkest hour in his life.
He was about to be executed for a crime he did not commit.
Friends were forsaking him.
Yet there is no doubt that the church, though apparently defeated, would eventually be triumphant.
There is no doubt that the second Paul’s head would be cut from his body, he would go directly to Christ, whom he loved and served so devotedly.
Conclusion
Across the ages Paul still challenges us to be courageous Christians. “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.... Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2:1, 3 NIV).
Stand firm for Christ, Proclaim the Truth, Be a courageous Christian!
