Last week we finished up Galatians. Now we visit a Roman Province in the region of Galatia, called “Lystra”.
Let’s visit a house there & meet a family that represents the strongest trio stemming from a maternal line.
Read 2 Tim.1:5
Grandmother – only once found in the bible “Lois”(Lane).
Lois & Eunice step right of the pages of Scriptures here to remind us that there is nothing moms & grandmom’s that is more important in your calling than theearly trainingof your children!
Make your goal to be like Prov 4:11 “I have taught you in theway of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.”
Read 2 Tim.3:15
Pray for Mothers!
Mother’s Day Card read: (Picture) Little boy w/untied sneakers, wagon, toys, cut on his face, smudges on card, in 1st grade printing. (Cover) “Mom, I remember that little prayer you used to say for me every day,” (inside) “God help you ifyou ever do that again!”
Outline: Endure! Enabled! Equipped!
Church Conduct! (1-20)
INTRO! (1,2)
Paul adds Timothy to his team when he meets him in Lystra(Acts 16).
Timothy traveled with Paul & became his special assistant.
Timothy eventually is sent to pastor the church in Ephesus.
This is towards the end of Paul’s life, between his two Rome imprisonments.
Paul as known his protégé “Pastor Timothy” about 20 years at this point.
Q: Why is this epistle being written? – See 3:15.
We today need to know how to conduct ourselves in the church.
It exhorts the worker for God to be uncompromising in his loyalty & devotion to his duty!
Here we have a guide book on How to do Church!
I believe most stay away from Jesus not because of Jesus, but because of his church!
Do this assignment! - Ask people if they have a problem with Jesus or the Church?
Oh & when they mention sins & hypocrisy in the church, don’t disagree with them, agree along with them…God does!
ENDURE! (3-11)
(3) The work in Ephesus was not easy, & Timothy probably wanted a new assignment.
Ephesus was the center for the goddess Artemis aka Diana.
Paul’s first burden was to encourage him to stay on and finish thetask.
False teachers(Judaisers) were in the Ephesians’ church pews just as Paul predicted they would be.
The pastor’s job was to stay, teach, & warn.
Every Christian worker has wanted to quit at one time or another.
Q: How about you lately?
Don’t abandon your post! Remain! Don’t quit!
Paul will use a word Progress in 4:15.
It means “pioneer advance” its root mean to “cut forward”.
It’s a challenge to move courageously forward. Day by day; step by step; or even inch by inch.
Gal.6:9 “let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
It’s learning, as Isaiah said, to walk & not faint!
Josh Billings(American humorist) said, “Consider the postagestamp, it’s usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.”J
Lehman Strauss used to say, “The formula for blessing in ministry is to simply preach, & pray, & plug away!”
Know this about ministry!!!
It’s recognizing there is “seasons” to God’s work!
Eccl.3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time”
He uses different workers, at different times, to accomplish various purposes. (In Praise of Plodders; Warren Wiersbe; pg.23)
He will not always allow you to measure the “results”!
“God rarely permits His servants to see all the good the are doing.” (George Morrison)
Verses 1-20