Lead PAstro at Bethel church, Devils Lake, ND
This course is designed to provide the students with pastoral and exegetical insights into two of the three Pastoral Epistles. Focus will be on understanding the meaning of these letters as well as giving practical and pastoral insights to assist the student in their personal application as well as those with whom they will share what they learn.
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1. Introduction
In this section Bruce Dick, who has been Pastor at Bethel Evangelical Free Church since October 1997, introduces himself and speaks about his wife and children. He also explains the course objectives, gives an overview of the syllabys and explains the meaning of synthetic and analytical approach to Bible study. Bruce Dick's life story will help you understand illustrations and personal applications during the course. - 2
2. The First Epistle to Timothy. Background. Paul and Timothy.
Background study is the key to understanding what was written and why. In this section of the lecture 'The First Epistle to Timothy. Background' Bruce Dick talks about the nature of pastoral epistles, which begin with an explicit identification of Apostle Paul as its author. The teacher answers the following questions: - Who is Paul?- Who is Timothy? - What is the relationship of Timothy to the author? - Where is Paul when he writes 1 Timothy? - Where is Timothy? - 3
3. The First Epistle to Timothy. Background. Ephesus.
What do you know about Ephesus as a city? What do you know about the churches in and around Ephesus? In this section of the lecture 'The First Epistle to Timothy. Background' Bruce Dick reads verses from the Book of Acts, where Luke describes Paul's visit to Ephesus on two different occasions. - 4
4. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 1. Introduction. Greetings.
In this section of the lecture 'Belief Drives Behaviour' Bruce Dick uses two personal illustrations to explain the point that what we believe is clearly revealed in how we live. He also invites us to turn to 1 Timothy 1:1-2, where Paul simply identifies who he is and who he is writing to. You will look at three words that are part of his simple greeting. - 5
5. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 1. Confronting False Teaching.
After his simple greeting to Timothy, Paul gets right to business. He tells Timothy to confront false teaching. In this section of the lecture 'Belief Drives Behaviour' Bruce Dick pays special attention to the heart, which is viewed as the very center of who we are, the core of our desires, our passions, our very being. And Paul says that our inner core must be pure, innocent and clean. - 6
6. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 1. Introduction.
To finish well, you must assess where you are, remember where you have come from and be persistent enough to succeed. In this section of the lecture 'How Can I Win in Life?' Bruce Dick talks about two men who looked at where they were and two men who looked back to see where they had come from, but one used his past to push him forward, and one seemed to have used his past to determine his failure. - 7
7. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 1. Paul’s Witness & Advice.
How is it possible to win in life? In this section of the lecture 'How Can I Win in Life?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 1:12-20 where Paul encourages his weary and sick friend Timothy and shares his gratitude for being part of God's team. Those who are continually conscious of their previous condition usually are the most grateful for what God continues to do in them today. - 8
8. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 2. The Priority of Prayer.
The first priority in the church which has trouble is to pray because our personal integrity and our outward evangelism can’t happen without it. We won’t find fulfillment personally or reach the world without prayer. In this section of the lecture 'Where Do We Begin?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 2:1-4 where Paul says that prayer is of crucial importance and it can be done in a variety of ways and with specific focus. - 9
9. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 2. The Privilege and Posture of Prayer.
One of the problems that we have in making prayer a priority is that we don’t understand the price that had to be paid so that we could pray. And for that reason, Paul lays out the basis for the privilege of prayer. In this section of the lecture 'Where Do We Begin?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 2:5-7 to see that what we often take for granted is a tremendous privilege. You will look at three things Paul wants men in the church to do in prayer. - 10
10. Instructions Concerning Church Conduct (2:9-15). Introduction.
How could women find value and freedom and still be considered 'godly'? What could Timothy tell them so they would be an attraction to the gospel rather than a distraction? To find the answer, turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 2:9-15. In this short introduction to the lecture 'Instructions Concerning Church Conduct' Bruce Dick admits that he was first attracted to his future wife by her good looks. But her inner character was the reason he wanted to marry her. - 11
11. The First Epistle to Timothy. How Can the Women Be an Attraction to the Gospel?
The question of how a woman can attract others to Christ is answered in 1 Timothy 2:9-15. The appearance is a starting point, truly coming from good deeds and accentuated by modest dress, but there is another part. In order for women to be an attraction to the gospel, they also do so by their behavior. Women can attract others to Christ by how they act in the household of God. In this section of the lecture 'Instructions Concerning Church Conduct' Bruce Dick helps us to draw some lines of application from Paul's explanation of why this is to be the expectation in the church. - 12
12. Oversight in the Church (3:1-7). Introduction.
What kind of church leader would you follow? If you could design a perfect church leader, what would he look like? In this section of the lecture 'Oversight in the Church' Bruce Dick reads a paragraph about the perfect leader who doesn't exist. He also shares from his experience, how God put him in a leadership position and encourages men to serve beyond the average and ordinary ways to minister. He creates the picture for the phrase 'sets his heart' and the word 'overseer'. - 13
13. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Character Qualities of Elders.
It is not enough to have the aspiration to be an elder; leaders have to have an unstainable character. In this section of the lecture 'Oversight in the Church' Bruce Dick invites you to look at the list of qualities that would be observable character qualities, with the expectation that while perfection is not possible, a level of competency exists. You can’t escape the fact that being an elder in a church, as God expects, takes time. But we need spiritual leaders who have a passion for the Lord and a healthy relationship with him. - 14
14. Service in the Church (3:8-13). Introduction.
When the New Testament uses the term “deacon” it is talking of men who take care of the physical needs of those in the church. In this section of the lecture 'Service in the Church' Bruce Dick explains where we get the idea of a deacon. Even though the word “deacon” isn’t used in Acts 6, it is believed to be the seed from which Paul’s instructions come in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Deacons are the servants who would help the widows with food, help people find proper shelter, get clothes for those who had lost theirs or had none. What would you expect these servants or helpers to be required to do or be like? - 15
15. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Character Qualities of Deacons.
In this section of the lecture 'Service in the Church' Bruce Dick emphasizes that a healthy church uses men and women who serve from godly character. He invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 3:8-13, where Paul is not concerned with what deacons do, but is concerned with who they are and what character they have. What do these men and women gain or obtain by serving well? - 16
16. The First Epistle to Timothy. Reason for Writing and Song of Praise (3:14-16).
Having described a healthy church as one that uses men and women who serve from godly character, Paul closes the first half of his first letter to Timothy with a 'big picture' view. In this section of the lecture Bruce Dick summarizes the third Chapter this way: 'a healthy church behaves in a way that reflects the majesty of Christ’s life'. In all Paul's discussion of a healthy church, it all comes back to Jesus Christ. Our churches can become healthy again when we pray and worship and lead and serve with Jesus Christ as our focus and our hope and our longing. - 17
17. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Reject the Voices of Deception.
I can’t become like Christ by following every voice I hear – some will make me become more like him and some, well, not even close. But how can I tell which voice is the right one? That is where Paul gives all of us some advice. In this section of the lecture 'What Path Are You Taking?' Bruce Dick shares Paul's first piece of advice which simply would say this: I can reject the voices of deception. Take your Bible and turn to 1 Timothy 4:1-5 to learn how to reject a lie that Satan has made to sound like truth so that you will choose the wrong path. - 18
18. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Follow The Voices of Godliness.
As we stand at a fork in the path of life, we have to make choices. And the standard for making our choices is whether or not it helps us become more like Christ. How Christlike we become depends on which voices we listen to. In this section of the lecture 'What Path Are You Taking?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 4:6-10, where Paul talks about two ways of learning how to hear the voices of godliness. - 19
19. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Integrity.
The integrity of a ship’s hull means that there are no cracks that could leak. The integrity of an airplane’s wing means that there are no missing rivets that could lead the wing to collapse or fly apart. Integrity is a very difficult thing to gain and a very easy thing to lose. And once it is lost, it is even harder to reclaim. In this section of the lecture 'Marks of a Godly Servant' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 4:11-12 and discover the first mark of a Christian servant. - 20
20. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Giftedness. Dedication. Balance.
Not only do we need Christians with integrity, we need Christians willing to serve in their area of their giftedness. We need servants who will constantly watch closely to keep their private and public lives in balance. But what you are gifted to do is going to take dedication and effort to see it grow and mature. In this section of the lecture 'Marks of a Godly Servant' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 4:13-16 to discover three marks of a Christian servant: serving in the area of giftedness, dedication and balance. - 21
21. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Honoring Those in Church as Family.
Paul wants Timothy to treat everyone in the church like family. In God's household there is an appropriate way for the leaders to treat people, exactly as one does in one's own family: with great deference and respect. In this section of the lecture 'Instructions to the Church' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1Timothy 5:1-6:2 where Paul gives instructions on how to honor the widows, the elders of the church and the slave owners. He also gives instructions about how to deal with young widows and straying elders. - 22
22. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6 6. How to Honor the Widows.
Centuries ago, to be a widow meant falling to the very bottom of the barrel. Having no inheritance rights and often in want of life’s necessities, she was exposed to harsh treatment and exploitation. In this section of the lecture 'Instructions to the Church' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 5:3-16 to discover the clear message: God is absolutely passionate about those whom society has forgotten. But first, you need to see who widows are and who they are not. - 23
23. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Positive Side.
One of the problems we are having in our society, which is becoming increasing individualistic, is that we don’t like to have authority figures over us. We like to be our own boss, make our own way and make our own decisions. And that attitude has infected the church. And so we don’t like having people in authority over us. But when we don’t, we are not reflecting the very order that God himself has given us. In this section of the lecture 'Instructions to the Church' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 5:17-18 to learn how to appreciate and respect elders of the church. - 24
24.The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters. Negative Side.
Because leadership is not about power, but about responsibility, sinning leaders should be disciplined fairly. In this section of the lecture 'Instructions to the Church' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 5:19-25 where Paul makes transition from honor to discipline. Criticism of leaders is a spectator sport that has only grown more popular over the centuries. Sadly, when it comes to pastoral criticism we are too quick to believe the charge made against them. That’s why we must be very careful. - 25
25. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Show Your Unsaved Bosses Respect.
There is a sense in which respect is earned and there is a sense in which it is simply given. How can I place my trust in God and give my respect to my non-Christian boss? In this section of the lecture 'Instructions to the Church' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:1, where Paul teaches the church how to honor the fourth group of people, slave owners. So what are some things we can do if we work for a non-Christian boss so that they will see God in us and listen to us? - 26
26. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Show Your Saved Bosses Respect.
Sometimes working for a Christian boss is even harder than working for an unsaved boss. Paul’s counsel is essentially this: show your unsaved bosses respect because it benefits a “brother”. In this section of the lecture 'Instructions to the Church' Bruce Dick invites us to turn in our Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:2 where Paul didn’t tell the masters to ease the workload of their servants now that they were equal in God’s eyes, but told the servants that they served even better than if their maters were unsaved. Why? - 27
27. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. On Relationships.
What people of Ephesus chose to believe had an effect on everything they did. In this section of the lecture 'The Effects of Beliefs' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:3-5 where Paul explains that our belief system has an effect on our relationships. The things that Paul shares with Timothy become extremely valuable reminders to us today, whether young or old; rich or poor; intrigued by Christianity or a long-term believer. - 28
28. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. On Finances.
When our focus is on Christ and our beliefs are centered in him, we want to be like him, think like him and live like him. And when we do, that is going to affect what we think about money and what we do with it. What does your use of money and your desire for it say about what you believe about Jesus Christ? In this section of the lecture 'The Effects of Beliefs' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:6-10, where Paul explains that our belief system has an effect on our finances. - 29
29. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Flee and Pursue.
In this section of the lecture 'How to Follow the One Worth Following?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:11-12 to find the practical message of how to follow Jesus Christ. Paul tells Timothy to flee from some things and gives six things to pursue. As desperately as you are to run from what is bad, you are to chase after these six things with all the energy you have. Watch this video if you want to know what things to add up to a balanced Christian life. - 30
30. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Fight and Take Hold.
In this section of the lecture 'How to Follow the One Worth Following?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:11-12 where Paul writes about gaining victory over sin and living a life pleasing to God. We should always flee from things that will trip us up and always pursue the things of God and fight the good fight, but once and for all, we need to get a grip on this eternal life that Jesus Christ bought and paid for so that you could live. But how do we fight and take hold? - 31
31. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Follow Persistently and Passionately.
First, you can follow Jesus Christ practically. But you can also follow him persistently and passionately. In this section of the lecture 'How to Follow the One Worth Following?' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:13-16 where Paul encourages you to stay in the game, ask for help through the tough times and celebrate his goodness in the triumphant times. - 32
32. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Be Humble and Dependent.
In this section of the lecture 'Investing in Kingdom Opportunities' Bruce Dick invites us to turn to 1 Timothy 6:17 to learn about the first and the second responsibilities of a 'rich' person. The first piece of advice that comes to us from this section is this: 'Invest in ways that will outlast you'. Our second responsibility is to be dependent and put our hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. - 33
33. The First Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 5-6. Do Good and Be Generous.
In this section of the lecture 'Investing in Kingdom Opportunities' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 1 Timothy 6:18-21 to learn about the third and the fourth responsibilities of a 'rich' person. The advice that comes to us from this section is this: do as many good things as you can and be generous. Paul wants us to have an attitude that every day we wake up, we are wondering how we can give something away to help others come to Christ. And what are the results of what happens when we do these things? - 34
34. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Introduction.
In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward a Christ-Centered Life' Bruce Dick wants you to consider for just a moment, how many times in your life you felt that you were going to die. He shares the situation when he thought that he was going to die on the day of his surgery. What if you really were about to die? What would you say? What would you pray about? Who would you want to be at your bedside? Bruce Dick encourages you to think about these questions before reading the letter of a man about to die. - 35
35. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Paul’s Situation.
The cross and Christ transformed Paul from a Christian-hater and murderer to a Christ-follower who suffered incredible hardships and did it with joy; he lost all his prestige and power and position and thanked God for it. He went from one of the brightest rising religious stars in Judaism to a single voice for Christ. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward a Christ-Centered Life' Bruce Dick invites you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 1:1-2 and gain practical insights from Paul's situation. - 36
36. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2.The Power of Fear.
When God gives you a gift for his kingdom service, you have a choice as to what you will do with it. Timothy had a gift but he needed a bit of encouragement to stay committed, to stay focused, to keep going and exercise it for the glory of God. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Courage'us, Gifted Service' Bruce Dick talks about gifts that God gives us, and we may use them or lose them. - 37
37. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Reflection and Remembrance.
In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Courage'us, Gifted Service' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 1:3-7, where Paul begins with thanks and memories. His service and worship of God has allowed him to be reflective. He remembers Timothy in his prayers, he is reminded of his sincere faith and he asks him to use his gifts for God's kingdom-building work. In these uncertain times the church should stand firm and be light to the world that is increasingly going dark. - 38
38. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. The Example of Paul's Life.
What you are about to see in 2 Timothy 1: 8-14 is Gospel-centered suffering on the part of the apostle Paul. He’s in the underground prison in Rome awaiting the day when they will hoist him out of that cistern and execute him. He’s suffered countless times on land and sea. But that suffering is not suffering for the cause of Paul; if it were, it would not be worth mentioning. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Gospel Suffering' Bruce Dick talks about Paul and Timothy who are suffering for the Gospel. - 39
39. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. How to Identify with Christ.
The Christian is faced with three basic ways of public identification with Christ. The first is through speech and lifestyle. Another way we identify with Christ is through solidarity with his people, especially those who suffer on his behalf. The third means of identification is with the message, the proclamation of God’s truth and Christ’s life. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Gospel Suffering' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 1:8-14 where Paul exhorts Timothy to join courageously with him in suffering for the Gospel by enduring suffering for Christ. - 40
40. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. One Lesson from Paul.
Every one of us has had times when people you thought were your friends abandoned you. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Courage' Bruce Dick talks about Paul's heartbreaking experience of being abandoned by those who at one time were close to him. All we need is for one person to have courage in the face of embarrassment and apparent failure to stay. - 41
41. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Four Commands from Paul.
In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Courage' Bruce Dick invites us to turn to 2 Timothy 2:1-7 where Paul gives four short, specific commands to Timothy. In the face of abandonment by most of his friends, Paul celebrated the one who stayed. He told his rather timid and sickly protégé to get off the bench and go back in the game with courage: courage to be strong, to pass it on, to joyfully endure and to think deeply about the work of God through him. - 42
42. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2.Remember Jesus Christ.
We all get distracted. But it’s worse when things are tough or when we are in crisis mode, so Paul tells Timothy, Let’s just keep it simple – remember and keep on remembering Jesus Christ.' What is it about Christ we are to try to remember and keep on remembering? In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Jesus Christ' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 2:8 to find the answer. - 43
43. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Remember Paul's example.
In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Jesus Christ' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 2:9-13 where Paul is willing to remind Timothy that he is not the only one who is struggling in the mission he was given. It’s like he’s saying, 'Remember me, too, Timothy'! When you strip everything away, what you see in Christ and what you see in Paul is the living Word of God and the Gospel, the good news, that all who come to him can and will be saved. - 44
44. The Second Epistle to Timothy. With the World: Handle Words with Care.
Worthless words close doors to the Gospel; gracious words open doors to the Gospel. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Away From Worthless Words' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 2:14-19 where Paul writes about handling our words and the word of God with great care, great precision, so that whenever we speak, the door for the Gospel can open rather than close. - 45
45. The Second Epistle to Timothy. In the Church: Preserve Biblical Integrity.
Jesus once said that what comes out of our mouths is a reflection of what is in our hearts. What’s the condition of your heart? In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Away From Worthless Words' Bruce Dick invites us to turn to 2 Timothy 2:14-19 and talks about the importance of preserving biblical integrity at all costs and challenges us to look at the words we use inside and outside the church. - 46
46. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Being a Vessel For Useful Service.
In 2 Timothy Chapter 2, verses 20-21, Paul uses an analogy to help him make a point. Bruce Dick calls this first section of two verses 'Being a vessel for Useful Service'. Before Paul tells us what to do or where to go or how to live, he begins by offering this analogy to help us be sure we are being the kind of person and church God can use. - 47
47. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapters 1-2. Becoming a Vessel For Useful Service.
How do I stay focused and how do I maintain a character as an individual and as a church that honors God? In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Useful Service' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 2:22-26 where Paul gives three commands and one expression that functions like a command, giving us four means of becoming and remaining a vessel for useful service. Is there anything we need to run away from as fast as we can? Is there anything we need to pursue? - 48
48. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Сharacteristics of Self-Centeredness.
Ungodliness and self-centeredness are two terms for the same thing. We can’t be ungodly if we wish to be effective in our Gospel-oriented mission. A self-centered church or an individual can never truly be Christ-centered. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Away From Self-Centeredness' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and look at the list of descriptions of what a self-centered life looks like. - 49
49. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Three Guidelines.
If we belong to Christ, then we can’t afford to be self-centered any more. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Away from Self-Centeredness' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where the point of Paul's worry is that false preachers teach the things the Scripture never says or intended to say. Bruce Dick also shares three guidelines that help identify false teachers and preachers. These suggestions come from John MacArthur and are very useful. - 50
50. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Counterfeit and Conniving Charlatans.
God’s truth cannot be hidden; it cannot be destroyed; it cannot be forever corrupted. It will throw off the junk that self-centered Christians add to it and shine through. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Truth' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 3:5-9 where Paul gives us some specific warning signs of what those who have a different Gospel will say and what they are like. - 51
51. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Corrupt Charlatans.
It is so hard these days to tell who is a true believer in Christ and who is not. And the Christian world pauses to take a good look at itself and asks what the truth is, where it is found and how it can change one's life. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Truth' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 3:5-9 to find one more bad category of charlatans before we get the good news. He simply calls them corrupt. - 52
52. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Paul's Example.
If we are going to have integrity and build it over time, especially in our relationship with God and others, it is always helpful when we have an example, and hopefully a positive one. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Integrity' Bruce Dick invites you to look at the list of nine things in Paul's ministry and life. Paul is not bragging, but he is not afraid to list his example as something Timothy can look to as he strives for his own integrity. What kind of examples do you have in your life that would mirror a life like Paul’s? - 53
53. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 3. Expectation and Preparation.
When we sign up for anything, we want to know what to expect. If you want to be a Christ-follower, more than a Sunday church attendee, and one who wants to live out what they believe, you will face persecution. Expect it. It’s going to happen. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Integrity' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 3:12-17 and talks about expectation and preparation. If you know what to expect, then you need to know how to prepare. You will not find integrity, soundness, wholeness and comleteness apart from getting the Bible in you. - 54
54. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Five Commands.
False teaching is infiltrating the city of Ephesus and churches through these itinerant preachers whose Gospel message is either partially or comletely warped. In this situation Paul commands Timothy to preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Focus' Bruce Dick invtites you to turn to 2 TImothy 4:1-8 and look at five short, pointed and very important commands. - 55
55. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Four Admonitions.
We live in a the world that is not perfect. But we can have a focus on God whose Son’s life was given for us; a focus on the Word that is life-giving and the more it is in us, the more it transforms us. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Toward Focus' Bruce Dick invtites you to turn to 2 TImothy 4:1-8 and look at four admonitions: be sober-minded, endure sufferings, do the work of an evangelist and fulfil your ministry. Why should Timothy do this and why should we also do this 2000 years later? - 56
56. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. Bookend # 1.
In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Through Winter' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 4:9-22, which is a tricky passage to outline. He attempts to look at it this way: there are two 'bookends' and the heart of the book in this passage. There are two almost identical statements, one at the beginning and one at the end, that form these bookends. And between the bookends there are updates, greetings and warnings. So what is the first 'bookend'? - 57
57. The Second Epistle to Timothy. Chapter 4. The Heart of the Book. Bookend # 2.
Do you feel the loneliness and isolation that Paul felt, the darkness and coldness that is felt in your bones and your soul? If you do, don’t worry or fear; winter is just a season. It passes. In this section of the lecture 'Navigating Through Winter' Bruce Dick invites you to turn to 2 Timothy 4:9-22 where Paul explains why he wants Timothy to come. Paul is about to die and yet he still wants to read, study and learn. He is a student of the Word and will not waste one moment prior to his death. He will not mail it in; he will finish strong."