WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.760 Well, good morning, NBC. 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:05.440 Welcome back to another week in our series, Passing the Faith. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:07.919 We're looking at Paul's second letter to Timothy. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:11.359 If you're just joining us, this is the sixth message in our series. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.199 Please join me today in 2 Timothy 2, verses 20 to 26. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.399 2 Timothy 2, 20 to 26. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:24.480 And I know that baseball season just started, but it feels like football season outside. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.920 So I'm wondering, do I have any football fans out there today? 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:29.280 All right, a couple. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:34.960 Well, last week I was in Kansas City and I took a moment to drive past the Kansas City Chiefs Stadium. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:38.640 This is Arrowhead or Giha or whatever they're calling it nowadays. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:45.200 I did not see Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey, or Taylor Swift, but the area was cool nonetheless. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:49.840 Now, football stadiums, if you can see here, are just enormous. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:01:00.320 They accommodate well over 50,000 fans, and there is a disparity between the number of players on the field and the number of spectators in the stands. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:01.280 It's huge. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:08.719 Now I want you to notice that the players are the ones who work hard, they train, they get dirty during the game. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:17.200 It is the fans who show up once a week, they eat some overpriced concessions, and they have loud opinions the next day. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:25.599 The fans don't get dirty, but they still take it personally when their team loses, sometimes going into a deep depression. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:40.640 The spectator is the person who doesn't play the game but regularly calls the sports talk radio shows like Colin Cowherd to offer their opinions on management decisions because clearly the coach did not know what they were doing. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:44.319 In fact, an entire hobby has been created for these fans. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:45.920 Fantasy football. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.000 Any fantasy football people out there? 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:50.560 Yeah, well, it's just that, it's a fantasy. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:55.840 You don't physically train, you don't get dirty, but you get equally animated over your team. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:06.000 In fact, I've known people who put money into this hobby, who spend hours on the computer for it and have big opinions over their fantasy teams. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:12.479 Now, in between the services, somebody told me we're starting an NBC fantasy football team, so that's fine. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:14.639 But here's the kicker. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:22.479 Many people who play fantasy football or attend the sporting event have never actually played the game. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:29.439 Now, does that principle apply to any other area of life, including your spiritual life? 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:37.199 Do you know people who have opinions about your family or your school or your organization, but they're not really invested? 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.400 Now, sadly, that can be the case with the church. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:47.759 There are people that don't have skin in the game, but the question is this who can God use to build his kingdom? 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:53.199 If we're all just opinions and no commitment, that's a barrier to God using us. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:59.680 Now, many people will attend a church often for years and they have no trouble sharing their opinions about how it can improve. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:08.879 But many of those same people will never take the step of growing spiritually and becoming meaningfully engaged in the life of the church body. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:17.840 So, like the football stadium, there's a lot of spectators cheering and booing, but only a few people who are getting dirty on the field. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:24.719 Behind the scenes, people are making draft picks, they're on the computer, but never saying, put me in, coach. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:28.960 Now that's the spectators, but let's also talk about the athletes. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.639 Sometimes there's players, there's athletes who are careless. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.000 They're engaged, but they can become reckless with their life. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:41.280 They don't take their role in the body seriously, and they can damage the team. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.560 Consider, as an example, Tiger Woods. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.360 Oh, he's been in the news again recently. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:58.800 He is involved in yet another car crash in Florida, arrested for another DUI, suspected DUI, and he's announced he's stepping away from golf to focus on his health. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:05.360 Now he doesn't play a team sport, but his reckless choices are harming his effectiveness. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:12.479 Tiger Woods may be talented, but if you played a team, but if he played a team sport, would you want him on your team? 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:22.000 Through the scriptures, we see that God saves and redeems imperfect people, but Jesus also calls people to leave everything and follow him. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:28.000 And our personal holiness, our personal sanctification affects our community. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:32.240 Are we becoming people whom God can use to build his kingdom? 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:35.680 Or are we not taking our faith seriously? 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:45.279 Now I would submit that God calls all of us to a third category, that of aspiring spiritual athletes, sold out to Jesus Christ. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:48.720 And that's what Paul is teaching in today's passage. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:54.319 If we want to be used by God, we need to take spiritual training seriously. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:05:02.639 And if we're not starting right now, we need to always be ready, kind of like a backup quarterback, to step up when an opportunity arises. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:05.279 So which category do you fit in? 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:06.639 Are you a spectator? 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:10.240 Are you a careless player, or are you an aspiring athlete? 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.600 Take a moment to assess yourself as we begin. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:17.360 Who does God use to build his kingdom? 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:22.399 Is your engagement in the life of the church real, reckless, or a fantasy? 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:27.680 That's the topic that Paul is addressing in 2 Timothy 2, 20 to 26. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.759 Now, last week, Pastor Dave spoke about the uh the topic of church unity. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.680 Uh, this week I want to talk about engagement with the church. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:44.959 That if we're to be a church that passes on the faith to the next generation, we need fewer spectators and more spiritual athletes in the game. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:49.920 So here is the key question: how do we move from the stadium to the field? 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.399 Athletes must commit and train. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:58.079 In spiritual language, we must grow in our sanctification, becoming more like Jesus. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:06.720 And in our passage, Paul discusses the sanctified life of a Christian and outlines three concrete steps we can begin to take. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.040 And I'll voice them in a rather pithy way. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.360 Number one, you gotta take a bath. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.600 Number two, you gotta run the race. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:16.079 And then third, you gotta teach the truth. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:18.560 So let's pray and then we'll look at each of those. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:27.439 Heavenly Father, thank you so much for my friends who are here this morning, for those that are listening online or maybe later on to this message. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:30.720 I pray that you would open up the scriptures to us today. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:36.560 And Lord, may we be humble enough to open our ears and our hearts to hear what you are speaking to us. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:45.519 Lord, may you may you motivate us, may you draw us closer to yourself that we may more effectively build your kingdom and spread the gospel. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:47.439 We ask that in Jesus' name. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:48.399 Amen. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:49.279 Amen. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.920 Well, hopefully, uh all of you bathed relatively recently. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:01.600 Um, but if somebody starts inching away from you during the message, uh you might want to ask somebody you love for an opinion. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.879 Now, I'm speaking spiritually, of course, and so is Paul. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:07.279 Why do we need a spiritual bath? 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:10.959 Paul starts with an illustration in chapter 2, verse 20. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:24.079 He says, This, now, in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.360 Now notice that Paul establishes a contrast immediately. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:32.480 He speaks of gold and silver, wood and clay, honorable, dishonorable actions. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:40.240 The phrase a great house conveys the idea of wealth, or other translations literally say a wealthy home. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:45.680 The term was often used as a metaphor to describe a palace because the king lived there. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:52.399 Now, spiritually speaking, this phrase functions as a metaphor for God's household, the church. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:59.600 Did you know that you, as a Christian, have been blessed with a wealth of spiritual blessings in Christ? 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:01.839 You are wealthy, my friends. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:08.000 In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about our inheritance now that we are in the family of God. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:15.199 The spirit of the King of kings resides inside you if you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:21.839 Well, Paul now moves into this vessel illustration, or another translation uses the word utensil. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:35.360 In other words, in this great house there are there are vessels, there are utensils, instruments, tools, maybe a better word, that can be used by the king to accomplish his purposes in his kingdom. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:47.360 Now the image also points to the social reality of Timothy's day because a great house would have ample space to accommodate a large number of similarly wealthy people. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:57.519 But notice that Paul says this house includes these utensils, these vessels, uh, these tools of varying social strata. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:00.879 You have gold and silver and wood and clay. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:06.480 In that cultural context, this communicates the gamut of economic realities. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:09.360 And the key lesson is this don't be a tool. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:16.240 Now, before we move on, what is an example of a dishonorable tool? 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.480 I mean, that word dishonorable is in there. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:19.200 What does that mean? 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:21.360 Well, let me just let me illustrate it this way. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:28.240 Consider artificial intelligence, one of the most powerful new tools that's been developed in our generation. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:40.000 This same technology can be used by a doctor to detect cancer earlier than the human eye could, to develop new medicines, to translate scripture into languages that have never had the Bible. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.320 That can be a vessel of gold. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:57.440 But that same exact technology, that same model, that same code is being used to generate child exploitation material, to create deep fake videos that destroy reputations, to flood the internet with misinformation. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.279 Same tool, completely dishonorable use. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.360 And that is Paul's point. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:10.159 The problem isn't whether you are present in the great house of God, the problem is what you're being used for. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:17.200 Are you being used for honorable purposes, to build up the body, to advance the gospel, to love your neighbor? 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:25.120 Or have you become a vessel of dishonor, present, functional, but aimed at something that can be shameful? 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:30.480 Now, Paul's final metaphor turns the expectations on their head. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:35.039 This wide range of people could be living lives of honor or dishonor. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:40.320 This language indicates that some in the church may not be living honorable lives. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:49.200 Specifically, Paul is pointing out the difference between himself, Timothy, and the false teachers he's been harping on so often in his letters. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:54.320 His ministry is with honor, theirs is without honor. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:58.960 Or put another way, Paul and Timothy are on the field giving it their all. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:04.960 The false teachers are the opinionated people in the stands preaching a fantasy gospel. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:10.480 So I'll ask again: who can God use to build his kingdom? 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:22.960 Oh, these questions and application dovetail nicely with Pastor Dave's message from last week, because people with opinions and no skin in the game are the ones that often cause division. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:25.759 They are in the game only for themselves. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:32.080 By contrast, it's the players on the field who must work together to accomplish the mission. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:40.240 If the offensive line doesn't block their opponents, well, the quarterback goes down and is out of the game and is hitting the shower rather early. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:43.919 But how do we live honorable lives? 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:47.120 Paul continues in verse 21. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:12:02.960 He says, Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:06.240 Now, did you notice the therefore? 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:08.000 What's it therefore? 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:12.399 It points to the game plan for getting out of the stands and onto the field. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:16.960 See, when an athlete practices or plays in the game, they go hard. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.080 They sweat. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.519 Has anyone, does anybody have an athlete or is an athlete in their family? 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:22.000 Right? 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.120 Any athletes out there? 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.080 Okay, a few. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:24.639 A few. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:29.759 Well, um, what does the laundry or gym bag smell like of an athlete? 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.600 Not something you want to take a whiff of. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.440 It is the smell of commitment and sacrifice. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.240 But they also need to take a bath. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.919 Or a shower, if you like. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:45.200 You don't want that smell in the bag to linger too long. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.639 And the same is true in our spiritual life. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.559 Just because we are Christians does not mean we don't sin. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:13:00.480 It does not mean that there are no selfish, uh, there are there are no areas of selfishness and pride that need to be stripped away in our life. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.279 Our spiritual muscles need to grow. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:11.200 For the Christian, ongoing confession and repentance are crucial for growth as a spiritual athlete. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:12.960 It's not optional. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:19.039 So when Paul asserts that you must cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable, this is the principle. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:22.000 It refers both to conduct and doctrine. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:24.559 And that's an important application to make. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:30.559 Paul tells us elsewhere that we have to watch our life and our doctrine closely. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:40.159 That means that our ability to make an impact for the kingdom is not limited to what we believe, it is intrinsically tied to how we live. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:46.240 So ask yourself, church, does your life match your message? 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:54.320 If you live in such a way that dishonors God before a watching world, the impact of the message may be compromised. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:58.480 Likewise, if you preach a false gospel, you also cause harm. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:01.440 So don't be a stinky Christian. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:02.879 Take a bath. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:07.200 Now let's come back to the image of the backup quarterback for just a moment. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:11.200 They don't always play the game, but they always have to be ready. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:15.120 But how do we get ready for the good work that God has for us? 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:19.679 Well, that final clause in the section shows us how to do that. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:22.080 We must cleanse ourselves. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:24.720 And there's tension in that statement. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:27.519 Because you might say, well, doesn't God do the cleansing? 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.120 Doesn't he do the saving? 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.320 Absolutely. 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:32.639 But also how we live matters. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:39.440 There is an ongoing work of cleansing that we call sanctification in theological terms. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:50.639 And I would suggest that the way we prepare for the good work God has for us is that we need to take a bath constantly by confessing our sin and repenting of our sin. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.799 This is what it means to pursue a sanctified life. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:02.320 You grow, becoming clean as you constantly shed the sinful behaviors of your old life. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:12.960 Some Christians make the mistake that thinking that praying a salvation prayer or walking an aisle are the end of their Christian life, that the rest doesn't matter. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:16.399 And it's not, it's actually the beginning of your Christian life. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.720 And so confession and repentance must be a daily practice. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:29.360 Consider the words of King David in Psalm 139, where he writes, Search me, O God, and know my heart. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:38.159 Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there is any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:44.879 Now that's a prayer that we should pray every day when we wake up and every night before we go to sleep. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:53.840 Because as we do, we will more deliberately avoid sinful behavior and trust in Christ for our salvation and repent when we fall short. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:58.960 Christian, you must return to the cross daily. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:04.240 If we do, Paul says, God can use us to build his kingdom. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:10.639 He says, the master of the house, that's Jesus, will set you apart as holy and put you to work. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:12.320 But you have to be ready. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.679 So do you see why living a sanctified life is important? 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:21.440 When the Holy Spirit is working in your heart, it's just a matter of time before you get on the field. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:25.440 So ask yourself: Am I ready for the good work? 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:29.200 Am I living a life where God can use me? 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:36.320 Friends, I've seen too many people who call themselves Christians over the years get derailed by life choices. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:41.039 So in college, maybe they they party too much and they make choices they regret. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.759 They get involved in a romantic relationship and take their eyes off Jesus. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.519 That happens so often. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:54.320 Career advancement took precedence over their family and their spiritual life, and they turned to alcohol. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:17:01.120 Friends, in those situations, you might believe all the right things, but your life stinks and you need a bath. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:04.559 For God to use you, you need to be ready for the work. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.279 Give him your whole heart today. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:12.160 Take a bath and let the Spirit do His sanctifying work in your life. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:15.920 Because once your heart is cleansed, you're ready to run the race. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.200 That's point number two. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.039 Run the race. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:24.079 Now you might be saying that sounds like a counterintuitive path, Pastor Bob. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.839 Why would I take a bath before I run the race? 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.920 Although I guess some people do. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:35.359 Again, confession and repentance are daily activities, and so is the race. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:40.240 When you're following Jesus, you need to run every day after him. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:47.119 Because when you take time off, your spiritual muscles atrophy and you need to build them back up. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:54.480 Last week, the Artemis II astronauts came back from a 10-day mission, and I know Pastor Dave mentioned them as well. 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:58.640 But I want to point out that 10 days in space takes a toll on the body. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:03.599 Without gravity, your muscles weaken because there is no resistance. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:15.039 So what they did on this trip was they put they put them through a training regimen during the mission to make sure that when they came back to Earth, their muscles would still be strong to resist the gravity. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.440 And the same is true in our spiritual walk. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:26.640 If you're just kind of floating along in your spiritual life, when the trials come, you might collapse under the gravity of them. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:34.400 In verse 22, Paul offers now a training program, a training regimen to get us from the stadium to the field. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:48.240 He writes, So flee, flee, youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call on the Lord from pure heart. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:53.599 Now notice there's two action words here: there's flee and pursue. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:56.240 The Greek word for flee is fugo. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.599 It means to get away from that as fast as you can. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.680 Run as fast as you can away from that. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:04.160 It's actually one of my favorite Greek words to say. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.039 Fugo. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.559 See, it's really fun. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.599 Fugo. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.839 You gotta flee and pursue. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.920 They're fundamentally connected. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:18.480 Paul is telling us to flee, to get away from our vices and pursue the virtuous life that God calls us to. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:20.559 But you can't just run away. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:23.839 We need to replace those bad things with better things. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.839 Let me let me give you an example, what I mean. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.960 Has anybody tried a strict elimination diet? 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.599 Okay? 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:33.200 Now, if you have, you know that often it ends in failure. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.079 Why? 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:41.519 Maybe you cut out the carbs and the sugar, and for the first two weeks, your willpower just carries you along. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:46.640 It brings you over, but then, then the cravings they return. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.599 They hit you. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.119 And they're powerful. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:51.680 You can say amen if you know what I'm talking about. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:53.680 They call with intensity. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:56.160 They say, It's just a chip. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.720 It's just a cookie. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:03.279 And before you know it, an entire sleeve of Oreo cookies is gone. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.400 Poof. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.720 Who knows where they went? 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.920 Your wife, your spouse asks you, where are the cookies? 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.559 I want one. 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:12.559 And you say, Well, the dog ate them. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:18.880 You see, deprivation without replacement is not sustainable. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:23.920 You need something better, food with nutrients that that takes away the craving. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.559 So, what do you need to flee right now? 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:32.319 Maybe you check social media first thing in the morning and you need to replace that with Bible reading. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:38.400 Maybe you're a critical person and you need to replace those critical words with encouraging ones. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:41.759 Maybe you need to replace anxiety with more prayer. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:45.200 Replace bad things with better things. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.480 Now, what does Paul say we are to flee? 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:51.759 Specifically, youthful passions. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:55.200 It can also be translated as lusts. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:01.279 Now, when I say lust, most will assume I'm talking about unholy sexual desires. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:07.519 And while it's certainly the word certainly does encompass that, the semantic range is wider. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:22.000 Now I'm not going to spend much time on any time on the sexual piece because, fair warning, uh next week, Pastor Dave, that's his job, he's gonna get up here and do an entire sermon on this verse right here, focusing on pornography and sexual temptation. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.160 So we'll pray for Pastor Dave. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:29.359 But parents, fair disclaimer, use the kids' ministry next week, April the 26th. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:37.039 But youthful passions also speaks to a broad range of sinful or lustful longings. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:46.559 Paul uses this word in his famous vice list of Galatians 5, 19 to 21, the works of the flesh. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:55.599 And he includes both sensual and mental sins such as greed and exceeding desire for controversy and so forth. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:59.839 In the context of 2 Timothy 2, though, this statement follows verses 14 to 19. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:04.160 Where Paul addresses, as we learned last week, division in the church. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:12.960 So the passion he's referencing here most certainly includes unbridled quarreling, which is as deadly as unbridled lust. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:17.200 You see, in our youth, and those of you that are young out there, you're passionate. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:22.079 We talk about passion and God's calling and all those good things. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.599 We have energy, right? 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.599 When we're young, some of you out there say, Man, I wish I was young again and I had energy. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:33.440 But we have a lot of opinions at that stage of life that haven't been tempered. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:37.599 We have a tendency to fight about things that don't really matter. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:45.119 So, as a follow-up from last week, I will ask, are you somebody who loves to fight and cause controversy? 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:47.920 Paul is speaking to you here. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:53.279 And he's saying you don't need to stir the pot from a fleshly desire, from a youthful passion. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:55.519 Instead, what should you pursue? 00:22:56.079 --> 00:23:02.160 He says, pursue righteousness and faith and love and peace. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:07.599 So if you look at that list and ask, Am I pursuing these virtues? 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.039 What would your answer be? 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:14.480 Am I pursuing them in my family, in my marriage, at work, at church? 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:21.119 And if you're not, you gotta ask the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, you gotta help me pursue these virtues. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:26.880 Because a quarrelsome spirit can easily slow down your ability to run the race. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:34.640 Now, this final clause in the verse also points to a communal aspect of the pursuit. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:41.440 So you should pursue these virtues with others, it says, who desire a pure heart before the Lord. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.279 You're not running the race alone. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.519 You're not supposed to run the race alone. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:52.400 But if you give in to youthful passions and you have this quarrelsome spirit, people are gonna abandon you. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.039 Now, what is it, what does running together look like? 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.799 Well, let me let me give you an illustration. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:03.440 Recently, I've noticed initiatives among parents to delay giving their child a smartphone. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:06.720 One of them is called the Wait Until Eighth Pledge. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:14.480 It's a national movement that encourages parents to commit together to delay giving their child a smartphone until at least eighth grade. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.359 At least. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:27.119 Now, parents are concerned rightly that children, especially younger ones, will be exposed to harmful social pressure and damaging content on the internet before they are old enough to be discerning. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:30.559 So as a community, people are encouraging everyone to wait. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.039 Now, why? 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.839 You say, why? 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.000 That seems so stodgy, right? 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:44.319 Because you can choose not to give your child a phone individually, but if their best friend has one or their group of friends have has one, they're still gonna be exposed. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:49.680 See, the point is the only way it works is if the community runs together. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:25:01.920 And Paul is applying the same principle here that unless the entire community of faith is running towards these virtues together, one person's youthful passions can slow everybody down. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:11.039 That's what the writer of Hebrews was talking about in chapter 12, about the cloud of witnesses and running together, throwing off everything that hinders. 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:14.559 So here's the challenge for you this week. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:23.519 Regarding the smartphone, if you've got a child in elementary or middle school, you can look up this Wait Until Eighth Pledge and talk with some people about it. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:38.720 Because unless the community is doing things together, as Paul describes, people running in the same direction, pursuing the same Jesus, holding the line together, it's easily gonna fall apart, not just with smartphones, but with so many other things. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:42.000 And if you don't have kids at home, the question is still the same. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.920 Who are you running with? 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:47.759 Because according to Paul, it's not optional, it's the point. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:55.599 So before we move on, it's worth asking, how do you cultivate a pure heart if you're running together with people that do this? 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.279 How do you cultivate that? 00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:00.799 How do you do this individually and as a church community? 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:07.920 Well, if you remember in the Beatitudes, Jesus Himself said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall what? 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.559 They shall see God, right? 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:16.000 Purity is cleansing language, and it's rooted in baptism. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:23.200 When you go under the water, you are symbolically dying to your sin and you're being raised to new life. 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:28.960 Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the finished work of Christ on the cross, you are clean. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:33.279 Not because of your work, but because of Jesus' work. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:37.920 Now, at the end of our service today, hang around because we have a baptism. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:42.799 That every time somebody gets in the tank, what they're saying is, I want to be clean. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.960 I want to follow Jesus with my whole life. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:47.359 This is my declaration that I want to do that. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:52.799 I'm dying to my sin and trusting Jesus to raise me from the dead, make me alive. 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:55.440 I'm confessing that I'm trusting him for that. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:59.599 And if you've not been baptized, we would love to help you take that next step. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:03.920 Stop by the Welcome Center to receive a packet for more information. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:11.359 Cultivating a pursuit requires a decision to run after Jesus every day. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.319 Trust him. 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:18.400 Because the closer you get to him, the desire for things displeasing to him fades away. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:20.559 And just don't run alone. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:26.880 You need to get in a running group who will cheer you on, who will pray for you, who will read scripture with you. 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:35.440 And when you run hard together and the spiritual sweat is strip just dripping off your brow, they're the ones who are gonna tell you to take a bath. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.559 So how do we move from the stadium to the field? 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:45.200 Take a bath, run the race, and then as you train, the final step will just become natural every day. 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:47.359 You gotta now teach the truth. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.960 Teach the truth. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:53.200 Again, Paul tells us watch our life and our doctrine closely. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:59.200 That if you don't desire to run after Jesus in your life, you're not gonna care about doctrine. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:02.880 You're probably gonna twist it to suit your own needs. 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:09.359 But if you are running after Jesus from a pure heart, the truth of the gospel will flow from your speech. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:11.759 Look at how Paul continues in verse 23. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:17.200 He says, Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:20.960 You know that they breed quarrels. 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:25.519 Now this verse connects back to those youthful passions in verse 22. 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:30.559 That Paul has told Timothy, flee, youthful passion, run after virtue. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:35.759 But now he outlines the implications of living for the sake of youthful passions. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:44.240 Again, the word it encompasses that sexual temptation, but this verse makes it clear that it extends to this infighting Paul has been warning against. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:48.079 These passions breed quarrels. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:57.839 Now, some in the church are interested in foolish controversies, controversies that lead to Christians fighting amongst themselves and getting distracted from God's mission. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:03.279 Now, in Timothy's day, the church was arguing over topics that had little spiritual benefit. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:05.359 They only led to social destruction. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:07.759 Paul says, have nothing to do with them. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.480 He continues by offering Timothy instruction. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.000 Look at verse 24. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:23.200 He says, And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everybody, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:29.440 God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth. 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:35.039 Now notice again, Paul says, God, God may grant them repentance. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:40.319 You are not responsible for the result, you are responsible for being faithful. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:42.559 The harvest belongs to God. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:50.240 But it's in the midst of the infighting and division that Paul looks at Timothy, at the leader, and says, Timothy, you must lead by example. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:52.400 Don't start unnecessary problems. 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:55.279 Instead, do something countercultural. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.160 Be kind. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:30:00.480 Do you know how hard it is to be kind to your enemies? 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:07.680 See, when somebody comes at you swinging their fists or wagging their tongue, what's your first reaction? 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:11.680 Do you want to give that person a big hug and tell them you love them? 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.559 Probably not. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:19.519 The flesh, it wants to duck and swing back, right? 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:23.200 Your words become reactive and harsh rather than loving. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:28.319 By a show of hands, how many have reacted ever in a harsh and unloving way at some point in your life? 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.759 Yeah, just about everybody. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:33.759 And the rest of you, well, I'll pray the Spirit will convict you. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.559 Now here's the thing. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:43.279 If you always react this way and you never grow, you're never going to move from the stadium to the field in the Christian life. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:54.720 The reason people stay in the stands is that they don't want to do the hard, heart work of growing in community, of being corrected and humbling themselves before the Lord. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:31:02.720 From a worldly perspective, it's much easier to stay up in the stands and offer your unfiltered opinion and say the heck with those people. 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:10.640 But notice that Paul tells Timothy that if you're going to have an impact, if you're going to display the life of Christ and be a servant, you have to be what? 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.920 You have to be kind. 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:13.680 You have to be kind. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:16.960 And you say, even to the people I don't like? 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.480 Yeah. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:21.039 Even to the people you don't like. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:24.880 Because if you're not, they're not going to listen to your teaching. 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:27.599 You have to patiently endure evil, he says. 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:30.240 Oh man, you say that is that is hard. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:41.039 You see, your character is on full display, not when things are easy, but when you react to situations in which somebody is unfair to you. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:53.519 When somebody tears you down in front of others with their words, and you patiently endure that evil and respond, and you correct that person in gentleness, that's showing something about your character. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:56.480 Now you may say, Well, why would I even do this? 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.319 Why just not swing back? 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.599 It feels so good. 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:04.160 Well, in the last clause, Paul gives the reason. 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:08.319 He says it may lead them to repentance. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:14.799 They may turn from their wicked ways and come back to Jesus or come to Jesus. 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:18.319 Friends, fighting for fighting's sake is not going to win hearts. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:20.240 What does Paul tell us in Romans 2? 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.680 He says it is God's what? 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:24.799 God's kindness that leads us to what? 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:26.160