WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.520 Well, please turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Timothy. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:12.880 We gather here as members of a historic movement, a gospel movement with a message that saved and changed the world. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:20.239 When this church began in 1851, it was during a time when our nation was divided against itself. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:26.480 Though our country was still young, it was a time leading up to the Civil War in the United States. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:31.440 But the leaders of NBC were united by a common purpose. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:38.719 They were unified about what they were fighting against, and they were also unified about what they were fighting for. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:42.000 And so our church was born. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:48.240 The scriptures tell us that the gospel is a foolish idea, a scandal. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:01:01.759 But in this delusion, we embraced a vision of putting an outpost for the kingdom of heaven right here at 520 King George Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and Millington Baptist Church was born. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.359 Our original core group did this together. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:27.840 And under the current leadership of this church, we will once again take on the task of envisioning a new future, driven by a vision of a future as a gospel-preaching church that will serve as not just the hope of our own community, but as part of the universal church of Jesus Christ, which is indeed the hope of the whole world. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:33.680 The church was founded 175 years ago, but the roots of this movement are from long before that. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:48.239 We're part of the movement that was predicted by the Lord Jesus Christ that he prophesied to build when he was at Caesarea Philippi, saying, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.920 We are his body. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:02:04.239 We are bound together by the deepest bonds that a human could possibly ever share, forged together by the one blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and his one Holy Spirit is living inside of us. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:12.879 We are here today because of the sacrifices that our forefathers had made together for the resources that we are heir to today. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:16.960 It was right here on this corner where our church was started. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:22.319 It was right here on this corner where so many missionaries have been sent out all across the globe. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:30.560 It was right here from this corner where we birthed a ministry known as Liquid Church, a very fast-growing church in New Jersey today. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:38.639 And it is right here where the Lord continues to direct us and to continue these same ministry efforts in our day today. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:43.520 So we're here today as again our nation is at war. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:50.400 This time there's an international conflict abroad, and we are also polarized here at home. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:03:01.599 Today many in our culture think that they have moved on from a need for the gospel, thinking that Christianity is regressive at best or hateful at worst. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:05.599 We have different worldviews that are on a collision course. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:08.960 We have faced challenges before. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:15.919 The church has been here in days past, and we will face these challenges again. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:20.479 This is why we need a compelling vision, and this is why God has given us one. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:27.680 We want to be a church full of disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ who are firmly planted, growing together, and made to multiply. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:34.560 We want to build a church that's stronger and prouder and prepared for the challenges of our children. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:40.400 We want to prepare a foundation for doctrinal instruction and catechesis. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:44.240 We want to engage our culture by defending the faith in apologetics. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:52.879 And we want to display our faith through serving the outcast and the oppressed in a society as we become a social witness for the Lord Jesus. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:59.599 What we have inherited together is something that is unique and it is distinct and it is irreplaceable. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:08.240 If we move and act together, we will hold back the forces of darkness that threaten civilization around us. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:13.039 My personal story began here about 10 years ago as a pastor. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:16.800 Many of you have been here much longer than me. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:23.839 But however long you've been here, we have inherited together a powerful and proud legacy here. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:30.160 We have a children's ministry that serves the needs of our youngest little ones and builds a strong foundation. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:37.759 We have a youth ministry that's on fire for the Lord Jesus, who are shining like stars in a crooked and perverse generation. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:44.160 We have a staff that's skilled and gifted and up to the task of taking our church to the next phase. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.079 And as one of your pastors, I want to tell you right now that we are ready. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:56.639 We are ready to take this next step, and we want to do it together with you, with all of our congregation, functioning as one. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:12.720 This past year has been an incredible year of growth, as seen quite obviously in almost every single metric: attendance, record giving, record baptisms, and the largest classes of new membership I've ever seen. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:22.480 We should be very proud of what we've achieved together over the last year, over the last few years, but now we must confront and embrace the opportunities to come. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:25.920 Yesterday is now behind us and over. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:30.879 The future is in front of us, and together our destiny awaits. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:35.680 Every generation of Christians faces the same exact question. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:40.240 Will we faithfully pass on what we received? 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:55.759 Some of you may remember a few months ago I talked about the image of a relay race and needing to pass the baton and how the exchange zone in a relay race is the most vulnerable and important part of the relay race. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:59.839 We must pass the baton, the baton of the gospel, carefully. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:06.800 The consequences of not passing the baton well are nothing short of catastrophic. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:12.639 And that is the moment that we find, I think, here in the book of 2 Timothy. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:18.079 So today we're beginning a sermon series through this book entitled Passing the Faith to the Next Generation. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:21.680 This will be an 11-week series that will take us to the end of May. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:24.399 You can see on the back of the bookmark that you got on your way in. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:27.279 If you have that, the series is all laid out for you. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:33.519 If you don't have it, pick one up on your way out so you can follow along and be prepared for what's coming up each week. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:36.720 Last year, if you were here, we studied the book of 1 Timothy. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:43.920 And originally we were thinking about doing these two studies back to back, but as we studied them, something about that just didn't feel quite right. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:46.319 Those two letters are very different. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:55.360 And so this study, this time, is actually perfect for where we are as a church as we celebrate our 175th anniversary. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:00.319 Second Timothy is the last letter that the Apostle Paul ever wrote. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:01.759 Think of that. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:06.639 If you knew you only had one letter left to right, what would you write? 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:08.079 What would you say? 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:13.040 Today we'll find out what Paul says as we look at chapter one. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.600 The title of my message is Leaving a Legacy of Faith. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.519 We'll look at the first five verses. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:19.680 And we'll see three things in our passage today. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:24.639 We're gonna look at the messengers, and then we're gonna look at the message, and then we're gonna look at the method. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:28.480 And with that as our plan, let's ask God for his help. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:30.160 Would you pray with me together? 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:35.600 Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us here today as your people, your church. 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:46.319 You're the God of our generation, but you are indeed the God of every generation, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who's faithfully sustained your people, your church through the centuries. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:53.839 So we want to thank you for the legacy of faith that we have received, for those who prayed for us and taught us and pointed us to Christ. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:00.959 And now, as we open your word, dare we ask that your Holy Spirit would speak clearly to us. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:08.560 Give us ears to hear and hearts to believe, and then courage to live out the gospel that we've been entrusted with. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:11.120 Strengthen our faith, I ask. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:19.040 Deepen our love for Christ, and prepare us to faithfully pass the baton of the good news to the next generation. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:24.240 For we ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:27.120 And everyone said, Amen. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:32.639 Movement one, the messengers, we'll start by looking at the opening greeting in verses one and two. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:46.720 The letter starts like this Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:53.039 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.519 Pretty standard Pauline introduction. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:58.559 This letter was written by the Apostle Paul. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:04.399 Paul writes this letter to someone who was very precious to him, to Timothy, his beloved child. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:08.399 Why does Paul refer to Timothy as his beloved child here? 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:17.679 The reason is because Timothy was a convert of the Apostle Paul at his first missionary journey that he took in Lystra, where Timothy was from. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:23.519 So here, Paul, I want you to see is not writing to a co-worker, he's writing to his spiritual son. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:32.559 Now, all three pastoral epistles, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, mention Timothy, and they mention a kinship that Timothy had with Paul. 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:35.840 In 1 Timothy, he's called his true child in the faith. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:41.759 Here he's called his beloved child, and in Titus 1:4, he's called his genuine child in a common faith. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:51.039 All have a personal touch, but 2 Timothy is far more heartfelt and far more personal than any other letter that the Apostle Paul writes. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:59.840 In fact, this letter contains 14 verses of introspective and autobiographical comments in its conclusion of chapter 4. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.600 What's the setting? 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.519 Where did all of this take place? 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:09.759 Well, the recipient, Timothy, is a pastor at the church at Ephesus. 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:14.320 He's serving as the pastor there, and he has been serving as the pastor there for many years. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:17.279 We learned about this in 1 Timothy chapter 1. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:25.840 Paul said, as I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus, so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:28.399 So Timothy is remaining at Ephesus. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:29.919 He's ministering there. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:33.840 We have no evidence to think that the situation has changed whatsoever. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.159 He's still pastoring at Ephesus. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:37.840 That's where Timothy is. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:38.960 Where is Paul? 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.559 Where is Paul writing from? 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.720 Well, Paul is writing from the capital of the Roman Empire. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.440 Look at 2 Timothy 1, 16 and 17. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:54.720 It says, May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onecephorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:59.039 But when he arrived in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:04.960 So what we learn here is the geographical location of Paul as he's writing this particular letter. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.519 And we also learn about his condition, don't we? 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:08.799 He's in chains. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.360 He is a prisoner. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:22.639 Again, we see this in verse 8, where Paul says, Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:27.200 So Paul is in Rome and he is a prisoner. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.639 Paul is now an accused criminal. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:39.120 And there is a negative stigma in their day, as in our day as well, in terms of anyone being in prison. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:44.000 And so, because of that negative stigma, there's going to be a great temptation for Timothy here. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:49.039 And the great temptation is for Timothy to be ashamed of the Apostle Paul. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:52.080 And we'll talk a lot more about that next week. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:12:02.879 For some further context, back in 1 Timothy chapter 3, Paul had given some important instructions to Timothy, and it appears that the context is very different. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.679 Look how he writes back in 1 Timothy chapter 3. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:08.240 Paul says, This, I hope to come to you soon. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:13.600 But I'm writing these things to you so that if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:17.360 Notice as he writes 1 Timothy, Paul is not in prison here. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.279 He's not constrained whatsoever. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.200 He hopes to come and visit Timothy. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.879 He hopes to come soon. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:26.559 Not the case as he writes 2 Timothy. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:28.559 He's not hoping that he will come. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:32.879 In fact, he's expecting that this imprisonment will end in death. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:38.240 Skip over to the ending in chapter 4, where Paul writes this. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:41.120 He says, Luke alone is with me. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:46.399 Get Mark and bring him with you, for he's very useful to me for ministry. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.039 Tychicus, I've sent to Ephesus. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:56.639 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpis at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:01.279 Notice here, Paul is expecting Timothy to come. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.799 And Tichochus is evidently being sent. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:21.759 And the likely reason that Timothy is being sent, uh I'm sorry, the likely reason that that I'm getting my name's mixed up, that Tychicus is being sent over to Ephesus is to replace Timothy as the pastor at Ephesus so that Timothy can leave and go be with Paul. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.960 Notice it looks like Paul has recently been visiting Troas, if you see that. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:34.080 His cloak was left there, along with some parchments that wouldn't have been left there unless he had recently been there. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.879 Now I want you to think about this for a second. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:42.320 Paul is the most important Christian in the whole world. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:47.039 And this guy has one cloak. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.159 Why? 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.519 Why wouldn't he just say, Go buy me a cloak? 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.759 The reason is because he's poor. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.000 Think about that. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.320 This is the apostle Paul. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:07.200 Paul standing in the church, even here, is awesome. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.240 And yet he's nobody. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.399 So he says, I have this important cloak. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.639 I left it over in Troaz. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:18.240 It keeps me warm. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:20.799 I didn't realize I'd be spending the winter over here. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:23.519 When you come, can you just bring the cloak? 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:29.440 You can still visit the dungeon where they kept Paul if you go to Rome today. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.600 It's the Mamertine prison. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:37.919 It's a dark and dank and cold, confined Roman jail cell. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.519 Look at that. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:45.200 That place is where he was confined, where they kept him. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:55.440 And that place is where he writes one of the most wonderful, personal, heartfelt, warm books of the Bible. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:58.720 This is Paul's second imprisonment. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:01.519 After the first imprisonment, he had got out. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:08.720 But now, for a second time, he's back in prison, and the timeline here is around 67 AD. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:12.159 And this time it's his last time. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:20.480 In fact, he knows this, which is why he says in verse 6 of chapter 4, for I am already being poured out like a drink offering. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.360 And the time for my departure is near. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:25.279 I have fought the good fight. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:27.279 I have finished the race. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.679 I have kept the faith. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.519 Notice, Paul says, the time of my departure is near. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.960 Not maybe it's coming. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.159 No, it's here. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.639 That word departure there is fascinating. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.000 It means to untie. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:46.480 It was used to untie a ship and set the ship out on its voyage. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:50.000 This is the way Paul views death. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:57.360 Not as the end, but as being untied and being set out on a voyage. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.039 This is what he's taught us elsewhere, right? 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:03.039 In Philippians chapter 1, he says, if I stay here and live, that's good. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.320 Like let's say get to work. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:06.799 But if I die, that's actually better. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:10.879 For to me, to depart and be with Christ is better by far. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:14.399 To live is Christ, but to die is gain. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:19.279 So here he says, I've I've fought the good fight, I've kept the faith. 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:23.759 What this letter is, is it's like the last will and testament of the Apostle Paul. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:26.159 So let's review. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:34.960 The situation here as we enter into this study is what we find is that Paul is beginning a very authoritative and yet heartfelt letter. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:40.159 And what we also learn is that Timothy is supposed to come and see Paul. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.799 Antichicus is going to take his place. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.879 And Paul wants him to come. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:47.919 He says, I want my cloak and I want my books. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:48.799 Why? 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.320 So I can do ministry here while I can, while I'm still alive. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.639 So that's the messengers. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:59.120 And now let's talk about the message. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.960 For this part, I want to look at two things. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:04.559 I want to look at the source of the message and then the structure of the message. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.319 First, the source of the message. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.519 Look again at verse one. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:10.799 Paul refers to himself as an apostle. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.839 That was a term that carried with it a great deal of authority. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:16.799 The word apostle just simply means one who is sent. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:20.960 Like the Greek term apostelo means to send. 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:29.920 They had these ships that they called apostelic ships, where they would carry cargo and take the cargo from one place to the next place. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:32.480 They were sent on these apostolic ships. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.680 Paul is an apostle. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:37.839 He's been sent to carry the good news of the gospel from one place to the next. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.680 He is like one of those ships. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:44.799 And Paul says, I'm an apostle according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:53.759 And that phrase to begin this letter is supposed to be striking to us, considering that he's writing from prison, because Rome sees him as a condemned prisoner. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:56.720 Rome sees him as someone who's a dead man walking. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:02.160 Rome sees him as someone who is awaiting his own demise, who is waiting for his own death. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.920 But Paul does not see it that way. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:08.240 Paul sees himself as an heir to the promise of eternal life. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:25.759 This is important because later in the letter he will exhort Timothy to endure suffering with the hope of eternity on the horizon, appealing to his own situation and his own authority to give that exhortation some special weight. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:30.400 So the gospel promises life even when this world threatens death. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.599 That is the hope that the early church hung on to. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.079 That is the hope that turned this world upside down. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.119 The first century church did not know about that hope. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.039 They did not understand the Christians. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.839 But yet, this is the kind of hope that they had. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:47.759 And this is what Paul is testifying here. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:50.799 Notice also it says, Paul is an apostle by the will of God. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.680 See that? 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.000 What that means is that Paul did not self-appoint himself. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:05.119 Paul, formerly known as Saul, was basically uh, you know, a Jewish Pharisee that was turned into a terrorist that was killing the early Christians. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.640 In the book of Acts, that's where we first meet him, named Saul. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:11.839 He's this guy that's going around wreaking havoc on the early church. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.359 Everybody's terrified him. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:24.480 And God like knocks him off of his horse in Acts chapter 9 on the road to Damascus and says, I'm going to use you to be my witness to the Gentiles. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:35.039 To try to illustrate this, I just want to get you to see that Saul starts out as one man and he ends up like a totally different man. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:42.079 And the image I want to give you to kind of get this is this picture that was taken back in 2015. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:44.960 This picture captured the hearts of the entire world. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:57.119 You had these religious terrorists, these ISIS members, those are the ones dressed in black, and they captured these 21 Coptic Christians, those are the ones dressed in the orange jumpsuits, down in Libya. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:09.519 And they told them with knives at their necks that they should convert to Islam or they would record a video of them being beheaded on camera and circulate the video and show it all over the world as a threat to the rest of the world. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:20.559 And the guys in the orange jumpsuits, they were not pastors or theologians or seminary professors or bishops, or they were just day laborers. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.880 They were Christian construction workers. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:34.079 And so they get this message that basically says, convert or die, and all 21 of them refused to convert. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:39.519 Twenty-one out of 21 stay faithful to the Lord Jesus to the end. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:50.559 In fact, the last thing on their lips, it's on the video, I do not recommend you watch this video, but the last thing they say is Yarab Yeshua, oh Lord Jesus. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:55.279 These guys die with the name of Jesus on their lips. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:01.680 That guy in camo there, you see him kind of in the middle, he's like the leader of that terrorist cell, that ISIS cell. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:07.920 Now, when you meet the Apostle Paul in Acts, he's like the guy in Camo. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:19.200 He's the leader of this terrorist group, and he's going around hunting down people who name the name of Jesus and killing them to terrorize this early Christian movement. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.359 That's where God finds him. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:27.599 Saul starts out as one guy, and he ends up as a completely different guy. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:34.480 And I think the lesson that we can learn right here, friends, is this God can save anybody. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:44.319 God can take the guy in black and actually turn him into the guy in orange, because that's what happened with Paul. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:49.680 He was the guy in black at the beginning, and by the end of his life, he's the guy in orange. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:54.319 This is the life changing power of the gospel. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:59.039 And Paul comes to the end, he's in this dungeon, he knows he's about to get beheaded. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.880 That's how He dies. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:04.079 He knows that and he's fine with it. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.440 I fought the good fight. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.720 I've kept the faith. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:07.839 Wow. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:12.799 Is that anything that lines up with your definition of success? 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:20.160 Mark Dever said this quote What if you were executed as a terrorist for Jesus? 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:22.720 Could you still consider yourself a success? 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:28.160 Answer that, Mark says, and I will tell you if you've understood 2 Timothy. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:31.200 And I will tell you if you've understood the gospel. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.759 And I will tell you if you've understood life. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:36.000 This is success. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:40.960 Back to the text, Paul says, I'm an apostle by the will of God. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.480 God came and got me. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.119 The gospel was not a human invention. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:49.119 The ministry that he's received is a ministry that's a stewardship. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:54.640 Unlike other successful organizations, the Church of Jesus Christ does not exist because of human vision. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:57.680 It exists because of the will of God. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:01.279 The source of the message of the gospel is super clear. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.279 The gospel is from God. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:08.160 Notice the words that are used in chapter 1, verses 9 and 10. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:15.440 You see these words like gave and manifested, and words like revealed and brought. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:22.480 This is the kind of message that Paul has received, and now he's got to pass it along. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:25.839 This is what Christians are supposed to do. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:28.960 We need not be inventive or original. 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:33.039 Timothy is to take this message and to guard it. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:36.720 It's kind of like a trust, if you will. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:39.200 Look at 2 Timothy 1, 13, and 14. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.079 This makes this more clear. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:47.519 Paul says, follow the pattern of the sound words that you've heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:51.119 Guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.720 He's got a trust underlying that section of your Bible. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:03.359 The gospel was entrusted to Timothy, and it's been entrusted to each generation up until our generation, it's now been entrusted to you and me. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:13.839 You and I are not called to change the message or give out another message or to come up with something that has more surface appeal or to craft a gospel better suited to meet modern needs. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:17.680 We are called to deliver the gospel from God to people. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.799 You know why? 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:23.200 Because if the gospel of Jesus Christ is altered, it's lost. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:27.200 If the gospel is altered, it's lost. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:35.839 And so Paul was sent, and then Timothy was sent, and then each generation gets sent with this message. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:40.799 To give you another illustration, it's kind of like a mail carrier, if you will. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:43.519 The mail carrier that comes to your house every day. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:54.400 The mail carrier is not supposed to go visit the store, buy a bunch of postcards, fill them out, stamp them, address them, write them to you, put them in your mailbox. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:25:00.400 The mail carrier is supposed to take mail from one place and deliver it to another place. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.799 That's what the mail carrier is hired to do. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.880 Just deliver the mail. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:09.759 That's the same really mission you and I have been given as well. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:12.079 Take this, bring it over here. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:16.000 175 years ago, our church got that. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:21.440 Mount Bethel Baptist Church was a church that was founded in 1767. 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.160 I actually pastored that church for eight years. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:29.920 There was 80 people that came from that church and planted this church in 1851. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.200 They had this gigantic revival, second great awakening, Reverend E. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.440 C. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:39.279 Ambler, a bunch of people came to Christ, and this new work of God was started on this corner back then. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:50.880 That generation understood the mission, and every single generation had to continue the mission, continue sharing this, to continue sharing this same message, just as it was back at the beginning. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:53.279 So that's the source of the message. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:56.480 Now I want to look at the structure of the message. 00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:04.400 It helps sometimes when we begin a new study to see kind of a bird's eye view of the whole letter, the macro level structure. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:07.680 Timothy has two letters to his name. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:11.599 Second Timothy has four chapters, and it's easy to remember there's four parts. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:14.240 And I'll give you the major thrust of each chapter. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:17.920 So chapter one is all about this guard the treasure. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:23.680 Timothy, kindle afresh the gift of God that is in you and guard the treasure that's been entrusted to you, which is of course what? 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.640 The gospel. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:28.960 Chapter two, Timothy, multiply your ministry. 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:35.279 The things that you heard from me, I want you to pass those along to faithful men who will be also able to teach others. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.799 Multiply your ministry. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.680 Chapter three. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:40.079 Timothy, stick with the scriptures. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:44.799 Here's the thing things are gonna go from bad to worse. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.640 In time, evil men will come. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:50.480 You, Timothy, stick with what you've been trained in already. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:27:00.799 All scriptures inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the good man might be adequate, equipped for every good work. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:02.319 Chapter 4. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.759 Finish well. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:06.079 Timothy, preach the word. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:08.240 I'm being poured out like a drink offering. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.519 I've fought the good fight. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:21.519 I've kept the faith, and now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who long for his appearing. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.720 Finish well. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:25.440 So this is Paul at the end of his life. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:34.160 He's in prison, he's in chains, and he knows he's reached the end, and he is passing the baton to Timothy. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:43.599 It's like that four by one hundred relay race where the first guy takes off running and puts that stick out and goes, stick, and then the next guy takes off running, stick. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:46.799 This is the Apostle Paul saying, stick. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:50.079 That's the heart of 2 Timothy. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:52.319 So that is the message. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.000 Now let's take a look at the method. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:58.640 We've seen the messenger, we've seen the message, but that's not all. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.319 Now I want you to picture this. 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.920 Imagine you're in Paul's shoes, okay? 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:08.720 You're alone, you're incarcerated, you're probably hungry, you're poor, you are isolated, you're about to die. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:12.799 This is how he begins the body of this letter. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.920 Look at verse 3. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.160 I thank God. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.279 Whoa. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:28.559 Paul has this amazing attitude of gratitude, even despite the worst conditions you could possibly imagine. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:30.160 Paul is thankful. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.839 Now, what's he thankful for? 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.119 Well, let's continue. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:38.640 He says, I thank God, whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:50.400 As I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day, as I remember your tears, I long to see you that I may be filled with joy. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:52.000 Notice a couple things here. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.720 Notice, first of all, that word ancestors. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:29:05.680 This is Paul's nod to his Jewish ancestry, his general affiliation to the God of the prophets, the patriarchs, his spiritual heritage. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:18.400 Paul is not saying that Christianity continues Judaism unchanged, but that it is the fulfillment of the promises to the patriarchs, and there's one larger story with the Messiah Jesus who caps it all off. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:23.279 Second, I want you to notice how close this relationship is here between Paul and Timothy. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.559 Take notice of the words. 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:26.720 Timothy, I thank God for you. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:28.640 I pray for you night and day. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.400 I remember your tears. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:35.839 It shows the deeply emotional tenor of this letter. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.359 It shows the emotional depth of their Christian friendship. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.960 These are brothers. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:43.519 He says, I long to see you. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:46.160 You bring me so much joy. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:50.880 This is a relationship that's clearly been invested in. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.880 And that's the method. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:57.440 Ministry is deeply relational, it's not just functional. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:04.799 What we learn here is that faithful ministry is sustained through relationship, through prayer and relationship together. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:07.519 That's very important if we're to understand our task. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:14.960 The message of Christianity doesn't move forward through institutions, it moves forward through people, it moves forward through relationship. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:19.039 Every believer needs somebody who has invested in their faith. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:28.400 And behind every faithful Christian is someone who has prayed for them and who has taught them and who has encouraged them and who has corrected them at times. 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:38.000 A healthy Christian life always includes deep, significant spiritual relationships, never isolation. 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:42.559 There is no such thing as the lone Christian in the New Testament. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:54.960 Paul continues in verse 5 saying this, I'm reminded of your sincere faith, a faith without hypocrisy, that's that word, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:58.079 And now, take this to heart, grandmoms and moms. 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:02.480 And now, I am sure it dwells in you as well. 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:06.240 Timothy's story did not begin with Paul. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:10.400 First, it was his Jewish grandmother named Lois. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:13.440 And then it was his mom, Eunice. 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:16.480 They laid the foundation. 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.200 This is a generational thinking. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.920 This is generational faith we're talking about here. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.559 Now notice that word faith used here. 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:30.079 In this context, this is not talking about a momentary decision. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:38.160 Rather, this is a virtue that's formed over a lifetime through teaching, through example, through imitation. 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:46.240 This is the faith that's being taught and passed on by parents and grandparents and church family. 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.799 Dr. 00:31:46.960 --> 00:32:00.160 Caravilla in his commentary on this letter says the fidelity shown by parents and teachers toward the young and emulated by the young and the formation of their character is a critical part of the formation of this theological virtue. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:04.960 Faith here is not a momentary decision that occurs at a moment of crisis or conversion. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:10.160 Rather, it is a virtue that can grow through the stages of a person's life. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:23.200 This is the kind of faith that each generation is supposed to pass down, which is why there's such a burden right now for where we are in our cultural moment. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:33.759 Because there's some troubling statistics about kids who had parents who associated themselves with Christianity but who aren't maintaining that faith today. 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:44.079