2 Timothy 1:1-18

Paul addresses Timothy as “my dear on.” Timothy did not have a Christian father. H had a mother and a grandmother who passed the faith onto him. Paul was a spiritual father to Timothy. Paul shared two challenges with Timothy that our pastor wants to share with men today. … Our best guess for some context of this letter is that Paul is in his sixties and Timothy is in his thirties. Paul is very much a father figure for Timothy and Timothy a son to Paul. … Fathers are important. There are several statistics that indicate just how impactful a father is in the family. But that doesn’t mean that children who grow up without a father have to be doomed. The church should be full of men who can be spiritual fathers to the fatherless.

  1. Be bold in following Jesus (2 Timothy 1:1-12). … From what we know, it seems that Timothy was a naturally timid and passive person. Men can sometimes be pretty passive as they see things happen. Paul encourages Timothy to fan the flame of our gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit. He tells Timothy to be bold and not ashamed of the Gospel or of Paul’s imprisonment, but rather toi join Paul in his suffering. Why should we join Paul in suffering by being bold in our faith? (side note: Being bold does mean being obnoxious or annoying. You won’t win many souls for God that way.
    Three reasons:

    1. We are saved (2 Timothy 1:9-10). … Jesus died on the cross to save us. When He died and rose from the grave, he defeated, obliterated, death.

    2. We are sent (2 Timothy 1:11). … Preacher or not, we are sent into the world to make disciples.

    3. We are sure (2 Timothy 1:12). … Even as he sat in prison for his beliefs, Paul was still sure of his salvation in Christ.

  2. Be faithful in following Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13-18). … There’s a beginning and a continuing to the Christian life. Some people begin the Christian life and then something happens and they quit. Paul gives examples of people who were not faithful in their walk and someone else who was faithful. It is important to only begin following Jesus, but to also continue following Jesus even when the journey grows difficult.

    1. Two negative examples (2 Timothy 1:15)

    2. A positive example (2 Timothy 1:16-18)