Author: Philip

‘Timothy: the last days are here and they’re coming’ (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

AudioPhilip

When the Apostle Paul wrotes this his last letter to Timothy, he was aware that he was living in the ‘last days’ – days when human sin and rebellion will increase and become part and parcel of daily living. In fact, ever since the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven, those ‘last days’ have been here – and so in 2 Timothy 3:1-9, Paul encouraged Timothy to have a ‘mindset’ that his ministry was to be in those days, and like a paratrooper dropped behind enemy lines, be prepared for battle – not against flesh and blood, but for the truth of the gospel.

Message

Outline

• The eighth in this series
• The church facing a crisis
• What of the future?
• See Paul’s teaching on the ‘last days’ and…

  1. The troubles in them (v.1)
  2. A preview of them (v.2-5)
  3. The causes behind them (v.6-9)

Behind enemy lines…
Preparation, perseverance, purity

‘Timothy, here’s how to be useful to your Master’ (2 Timothy 2:10-26)

AudioPhilip

Paul used numerous meteaphors in the first part of this letter and also in 2 Timothy 2:20-26, especially the diea of a ‘clean vessel’. In order that Timothy might be a ‘worker approved by God’, he would need to be like a ‘clean vessel’ and it would be this, not his wisdom or strength that would make him useful to the Master – especially as he faced the onslaught of false teachers. Even then, Timothy’s response to opposition was to be Christ-like and not one of impatience. There would be no point winning ‘the argument’ if he lost his hearers in the process.

Message

Outline

• The seventh in this series
• Goals of faithfulness and single-mindedness
• The ‘images’ Paul has used
• See how Paul wanted Timothy to be useful by being a ….

  1. A clean vessel (v.19-23)
  2. A godly servant (v.24-26)

Who was Timothy to imitate?
The servant approved by his Master!

‘Timothy, watch both your talk and your walk’ (2 Timothy 2:14-19)

AudioPhilip

With the Apostle Paul aware that he would soon die, part of his motive in writing to Timothy the young pastor was to prepare him for the day when he would no longer be there to help him. Further to this, the church at Ephesus (like all the churches of that era) faced the challenges associated with the rise of false teachers and their associated heresies. In 2 Timothy 2:14-19, Paul wanted Timothy to watch both his talk and walk in order that false teachers might be silenced and the truth made clear.

Message

Outline

• The sixth in this series
• The danger facing the church
• ‘Approved by God’
• See how Paul called Timothy to….

  1. Be very careful with his talk (v.14-18)
  2. Be very watchful of his walk (v.19)

A leader for a crisis moment
Our high calling & great challenge!

‘Timothy, endurance is needed for the gospel’s sake’ (2 Timothy 2:8-13)

AudioPhilip

The Apostle Paul was never one to tell someone what to do or to face danger, if he hadn’t done what he said or faced that danger himself. Sitting in his prison cell, writing to young pastor Timothy, Paul wanted Timothy to ‘do as he had done’ – that is, prove to be faithful in all aspects of his ministry and true to the Lord Jesus. How Paul did that was to encourage Timothy towards endurance, perseverance and singleminded service of the Lord. Only then would Timothy prove that the Lord will reward those who endure suffering for the gospel’s sake.

Message

Outline

• The fifth in this series
• Where we left off last week
• Endurance required!
• See how Paul called Timothy to be encouraged by…

  1. The central truth of the gospel (v.8-9a)
  2. The effective power of the gospel (v.9b-10)
  3. The great reward of the gospel (v.11-13)

The battle of Waterloo
The gospel: worth living for and dying for!

‘Timothy, it’s faithfulness that counts’ (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

AudioPhilip

Any talk about being ‘soldiers of Christ’ may be a bit ‘on the nose’ for many today. Images of the Crusades might quickly come to mind. But this was the metaphor that Paul used the most in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 as the Apostle urged Timothy to do many things that would show him to be a faithful servant of His master and trustworthy with the gospel.

Message

Outline

• The fourth in this series
• What we’ve noted from chapter 1
• The ‘imperfect’ first century church
• See how Paul called Timothy to be …

  1. Strong in grace (v.1-2)
  2. Ready for suffering (v.3)
  3. Faithful in service (v.4-7)

William Booth and the Salvation Army
Your task and mine….!

‘Timothy, be an encourager with the truth of the gospel’ (2 Timothy 1:13-18)

AudioPhilip

As Paul wrote to the younger pastor/teacher Timothy from his Roman jail cell, his time on earth was short, and Timothy’s time on earth would soon become more complicated with the rise of many false teachings and teachers. So what Paul wanted Timothy to do was be committed to the truth of the gospel – not be like others who fell away – but remain strong like Onesiphorus who not only sought out the Apostle in jail but met his needs there. We find this is 2 Timothy 1:13-18 were we read of a man who was a great encouragement to the imprisoned Apostle.

Message

Outline

• The third in this series
• Paul’s example and what he expected of Timothy
• The passing of that baton
• See how Paul pointed Timothy toward …

  1. Committed to the truth of the gospel (v.13)
  2. Guarding well the truth of the gospel (v.14-15)
  3. Living out the truth of the gospel (v.16-18)

That ministry of encouragement
What will you do…?

‘Real repentance’ (Jonah 3:1-10, Rev Peter Phillips)

AudioPhilip

Message

Outline

• What’s unbelievable here?
• Jonah’s sin
• Your sin and mine
• See how the text speaks of….

  1. Jonah’s second chance – a gift of grace
  2. Jonah’s repentance – proven genuine by obedience

‘Fruit in keeping with repentance’
Responding to the grace of God…
Something you need to put right?

‘Noah’s flood – a deluge of evidence’ with Rod Walsh, 7pm on Fri Oct 25 at St John’s.

Philip

Evidence for design abounds in this world. Even some ardent atheists acknowledge this, but they deny the need for a Designer, attributing it to ‘evolution’. Modern science reveals design that ‘shouts out’ that God created, as the Bible says. However, many reject God on the basis that he must be god to allow the terrible events and suffering that we see in the world today. The idea that there was a ‘global flood’ that covered the earth and any suggestion that the ‘Noah’s Ark’ story is true, now gets laughed at by many. But the Bible holds this out as a fact, and in this world there is evidence in support of it. Do you know what that evidence is?

Rod Walsh, a well known speaker on Creation matters, from Creation Ministry International, will present some of this faith-affirming evidence that will encourage you in his topic, ‘Noah’s Flood – A Deluge of Evidence’. It’s on at St John’s, 7pm on Friday 25 October 2024. Supper follows and tables full of CMI resources. Come and join us!