2 Timothy 4:19-22 Gospel Ministry is Team Ministry

Here are my notes from last night:

1. What were Paul’s priorities?
2. Is Paul’s ministry a success and why?
3. How do you disciple someone?

Paul is now finishing off his final letter to Timothy, encouraging him to keep going in ministry and to come visit him quickly before he dies for his faith. All through the letter two themes, two passions, have shone through. Firstly, Jesus is his Saviour and the great news of the gospel must be proclaimed and believed. Secondly, his passion for people to be discipled and to serve Jesus Christ. I had a quick count and there are twenty five people identified by name as well as a household and other brothers and sisters.

Those two interwoven passions are what Paul exhorts Timothy to give himself to because that is what gospel ministry is; the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ his Saviour and the discipleship and love of people.

1. Loving the Gospel means Loving people
Gospel ministry cannot be separated from people. By its very nature preaching and teaching only takes place when someone is listening and learning, and discipleship requires someone to be a disciple.

This letter is littered with people that Paul knew personally, that he had spent time with, that he had preached to, partnered in the gospel with, and discipled. Some like Alexander are enemies of the gospel who have opposed and fought Paul, others like Demas, Phygelus and Hermogenes have deserted him. Some like Hymenaeus and Philetus have lost their way and are teaching false doctrine. But even then Paul knows each of their names, he feels their loss, their desertion or opposition, because he is passionate about people. And those bad experiences do not stop him loving others.

I want you to notice something about the way Paul talks about God’s people, **how does he refer to them? He names them as individuals or talks about them as a household or brothers and sisters. Paul doesn’t talk about the church as a nameless, faceless institution, he doesn’t love an institution he loves people, and that term brothers and sisters speaks of a relationship. The way he talks about God’s people reinforces his commitment to the relationship they have. I think that is something we need to think through. How do we think of church? The word ‘Church’ is not relational but almost cold and clinical, but they are our family in Christ, it is a group of people we love in the gospel, who we are committed to, who we will not lightly leave because we love them deeply. Loving the gospel means loving people.

There are those like Priscilla and Aquila who have engaged in ministry with Paul over years – serving God through their marriage, opening their home, and by their generosity. **There is Onesiphorus’ household, who is he? (1:16)He searched for Paul in prison and refreshed him. There is Erastus – a civil servant – who works hard for the gospel through his work. There’s Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and the brothers and sisters; God’s people in Rome. All people Paul loves because he is reconciled to them in the gospel whether Jew or Gentile, whether like him or different from him.

Gospel ministry is loving people, not with a liquid love that is transient and changeable but with the same love God has for his people – committed, stable, reliable, active, lasting the test of time.

2. Loving the Gospel means Discipling Others
As Paul faces his death is his ministry successful or not? We know Paul was deeply concerned about the churches he had been involved in planting. He warns the Ephesian elders that savage wolves will come in and attack the flock, he writes to the Galatians rebuking them for turning from the gospel to embrace legalism, he writes to the Corinthians to tell them to stop welcoming immorality, and in 1 and 2 Timothy he warns Timothy to deal with false teachers in the church. The future doesn’t look too promising does it?

Paul preached to make disciples not just to win converts, he wanted to establish long lasting churches because what mattered was the gospels spread and peoples ongoing growth. And so we see in this letter that Paul isn’t just committed and passionate about people and ministry but about discipleship.

Paul disciples people who will disciple others, Paul disciples the next generation of preachers, teachers and pastors who will lead the church: Timothy, Titus, Luke, Crescens, Mark, Tychicus, and Trophimus all discipled by Paul, all trained as they partnered with Paul in mission. As they watched his life up close, as they heard his teaching first hand, and as they observed his love for people and for his Saviour who were then sent out on ministry themselves but always supported by Paul.

Paul loves all God’s people but he strategically seems to invest time in those who will be the next generation of church leaders. And it has been costly to Paul.

Demas has deserted and there is a rawness about that loss, but it hasn’t stopped him discipling others. Demas here is a warning to Timothy and us about not loving the world more than Jesus. But he is also here to say don’t let someone who you disciple going off the rails stop you discipling others.

Then there is Mark. **How is Mark described? “helpful to me in my ministry” yet there was a time (Acts 15:36-39) when Paul refused to take Mark on mission with him because he had deserted previously. But now he has been restored and failure is not final – it’s no wonder Paul tells Timothy to gently instruct opponents because look what God’s grace can do – it restores to service. Isn’t that an encouragement; failure isn’t final God’s grace restores us even if we fail. And isn’t it a great model of grace as Paul shows that same grace welcoming back one whose loss he had felt so keenly earlier.

I think discipleship has been missing from our vocabulary as God’s people. But we need to rediscovery it. Are we committed to discipling others? To laying our life open so others can see, so they hear the teaching, see the passions, see the areas where battles are fought and grace needed? To training others so that things don’t suddenly stop when we stop doing something but seamlessly transition, so that the next generation of youth workers, Sunday School Teachers, preachers, pastors etc is growing. Real Gospel ministry is one which multiplies ministers.

But how? How do you disciple someone?
· Help them think about how they have been disciple already.
· Show them what discipleship looks like in the bible (Luke 9:51f)
· Discipleship means sharing life with them (1 Thess 1)
· Time – spend time together
· Let them see you teach and ask you about how and why?

I want you to notice something else. Gospel Ministry is team ministry. Paul isn’t a one man band, Paul always engages in ministry with others, normally with a team of people. Remember how throughout the letter Paul has been encouraging Timothy to endure not desert because gospel ministry is hard, Paul knows that through bitter experience. It can involve persecution, opposition, confrontation, rejection, desertion. Gospel ministry needs to be team ministry, even here he writes to Timothy because he is not alone he is part of a team.

It is not just here but it seems to be a biblical pattern, gospel ministry is team ministry. As we stand for Christ in the workplace we need others with us, ideally physically with us but if not supporting us in prayer, Sunday school teachers, youth workers, pastors need others with them.

Gospel ministry is team ministry. We engage in ministry relying on God but needing the God given support of others.

3. Loving the Gospel means pointing to the Lord and Grace
Paul’s closing words are significant, he knows that he will die soon and as he prepares Timothy and the church for that eventuality he points them to two things which never die, two things he has pointed to throughout the letter and throughout his life.

(22a)”The Lord be with your spirit.” Even as Paul will be no longer with him Timothy is not alone. Paul prays he will know Jesus presence, a presence which enabled Paul to preach at his preliminary hearing strengthened by the Lord even when everyone else had deserted him. What an encouragement for Timothy. What an encouragement for us, God is with us.

In the final phrase the “you” is plural not singular, this is something Paul prays for the church not just for Timothy. “Grace be with you all”, grace that (1:9) “was given us in Christ Jesus...” revealed in his appearing which conquered death and brought life and light. The church needs God’s grace – it is what saves us, it is God’s power at work transforming us, enabling us to life liberated by and under the rule of Jesus.

It doesn’t matter that I won’t be with you, you don’t need me you need Jesus and grace says Paul and they will be with you.

Isn’t that liberating and humbling, the church doesn’t need one person, no matter how gifted or charismatic, it needs Jesus presence as Lord by his Spirit active through his word and his people and a working and growing understanding and appreciation of the wonder of grace. That’s why even as Paul faces death it will not be the end of the gospel because it is not Paul’s gospel but God’s, not Paul’s power but God’s, not Paul’s talent but God’s grace, not Paul’s word but God’s.

Are you ready for this week? Jesus goes with us into our week and Jesus grace covers us for this week.

2 Timothy 4:9-18 Strength for Gospel Ministry

Notes from last nights LightHouse:

Paul has been calling Timothy not to give up teaching and preaching God’s word even as he faces opposition and confronts false teaching. He’s also been calling him to live out the gospel message, to be changed by the word of God so that he doesn’t just proclaim it but people can see its power at work in his life.

Last week we saw from (4:1-8)Paul call Timothy to live out his kingdom context, to fulfil his commission to preach the word , to understand the threat to gospel ministry and to pick up the baton Paul was passing on and pass it one to others. Now Paul shows Timothy how those things are being worked out in his life even as he is in prison and awaiting his death.

Next week we are going to focus particularly on passing on the baton and the nature of gospel ministry as team ministry, but this week we are going to focus on the other elements.

1. Fulfilling his commission: Preach the word
Turn to Acts 9:15-16 we see there God explain to Ananias his plan for Paul, **what is it? “to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Paul has given his life to fulfilling that commission, he is aware of it himself, in 1 Tim 2:7 he writes “for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle... and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.”

I don’t know about you but if I ended up in prison for preaching the bible I think I might be tempted to take a break from doing so. To take it as an opportunity to rest. But did you notice the emphasis in this section on ongoing ministry and preaching. **So Paul wants Timothy to do what? “come to me quickly”, **why? (10)“for...” Demas has deserted, and Crescens, Titus and Tychicus have been sent elsewhere to preach the word. Paul is not totally alone he has Luke with him, but he wants Timothy to come and see him too.

But not just as a comforter and friend, **what does he want Timothy to bring with him? Mark, his scrolls and his parchments. Now it isn’t that Paul wants some holiday reading, he isn’t asking Timothy to bring his airport novels or the latest Dan Brown. These scrolls are most probably his copy of the Greek Old Testament. **And he wants Mark to come to him why? “because he is useful to me in my ministry.” Paul wants Timothy, his son in the faith, and useful in ministry Mark and his scrolls so that he can continue ministry even from within his prison cell.

Paul has not retired from gospel ministry, (2:9) he has already reminded Timothy that though he is chained “God’s word in not chained...” And knowing that he lives that out. Just as he exhorts Timothy to continue preaching the word in hard circumstances so he continues to preach the word. You never retire from gospel ministry.

Do you see the dimensions of Paul’s understanding of the power of the gospel unleashed as God’s word is taught. As he preaches it, and Timothy and Mark multiply ministry in Rome, God’s word, the only power that can, is unleashed to change the world one life at a time.

Do I share that conviction about the power of the bible as it is taught? Do I share in that passion to see people changed?

I think this also helps us see a great prayer to pray for our brothers and sisters who are in prison for their faith, for preaching the gospel. Pray that they would keep on preaching the gospel that they would not despair or give up but maintain their convictions and lives would be changed.

But it’s also a conviction we are increasingly going to need to have as in Britain there is a growing resentment of and opposition to public expressions of the Christian faith. If you can lose your job for wearing a cross imagine the reaction to explaining the truth about Jesus.

Some of you will know of the ‘Not Ashamed’ campaign which is encouraging Christians to sign a declaration of hope that we believe that Jesus Christ is good news for our nation. He is the only true and solid hope for our society. And calling on government, employers and other leaders in our country to protect the freedom of Christians to participate in public life without compromising biblical teaching and to promote in our society the values that are revealed through Jesus Christ and that have so shaped our nation, for the good of all.

How does Paul say we ought to act? We join such campaigns as we continue to preach the word even in the face of hostility and opposition.

2. Understand the threat to gospel Ministry
Timothy is facing opposition to preaching the word and Paul has been encouraging him to endure, to persevere, not to give up and desert but to devote himself to preaching the bible. And here we see that it isn’t just Timothy, that in fact opposition is part of gospel ministry. **Paul advises Timothy to be on his guard about who? “Alexander”. **Why? “because he did me great harm”, **how? “he strongly opposed our message.”

It’s important that we understand Alexander is an enemy of the gospel because he opposed the gospel, not because he has had a personality clash with Paul. We cannot identify this Alexander with any certainty but we know that he did everything he could to stop Paul preaching the word, in fact some commentators think he is the one whom informs on Paul so that he is arrested. And notice that he is not a priest or a church leader he is a metal worker, he is just an ordinary guy, but he does everything he can to undermine the preaching of the truth.

Notice how Paul says Timothy is to treat him, he is to “be on your guard against him”, or beware him. He does not say take some of the boys round and see to him, or fire bomb his house, or tell everyone what he has done. He says be wary of him. Paul entrusts the situation to the Lord who will repay him(15), the Lord who (1)will judge the living and the dead.

There are enemies of the gospel, be on your guard against them but entrust their judgement to God.

Can you think of someone who is an enemy of the gospel? Who does everything they can to stop you teaching the bible? Here is a model of how you treat them, you guard against them and you entrust them to God who will judge. Expect opposition some people will hate the gospel and so they will hate those who teach and preach the gospel.

3. Live life in your Kingdom Context(16-18)
The kingdom context is vital in determining how Paul lives, how he reacts to every situation he is in, be it prison, teaching Timothy or dealing with Alexander. **We saw last week how though in prison Paul sees himself as **simultaneously living where? “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” Well here we see it again.

Outwardly things look bleak(16) outwardly he had no-one stand with him at his trial. Now we need to be clear about what he is saying here, he is not saying there are no believers with him, because Luke is there(11) and (21)we see that there are other believers in Rome who he sends greetings from. But there was no-one who would be his advocate or character witness at his preliminary hearing. Paul is too hot to handle, no-one will stand with him in court.

But notice the difference in his reaction to them, Alexander opposes the gospel and Paul prays handing him over to God for judgement, fellow believers are fearful of standing with him because of persecution and Paul prays for their forgiveness. They have not opposed the gospel, or rejected Paul just been scared of standing with him.

But notice how important his kingdom context is, there is no-one stood with him and he feels isolated and alone and bereft of support, is it worth it, am I doing the right things, can I make it through this may be how he felt as he looked at the situation with physical eyes. But (17) **how does his kingdom context change that? “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength”, the fear and failure of others highlights all the more the faithfulness and power of God.

 The Lord himself enables Paul to carry out the commission he has called him to, proclaiming the gospel even at his trial. The Lord himself is his advocate and character witness – that is his kingdom perspective.

God enables and empowers him to stand as a New Testament Daniel, and yet again God shuts the lion’s mouth, some suggest here that is a physical rescue, but Paul remains on trial and will die, though he is rescued from death at his first trial. I think it’s a spiritual rescue, Satan is described elsewhere as a lion, and Paul is saying God empowered and enabled me to overcome the spiritual battle, the temptation to give up, the temptation to bitterness at being left alone, the temptation to choose ease over preaching the truth, the temptation to pull up lame, to throw in the towel instead of fighting the good fight. It is the kingdom context that enables Paul to withstand that attack and those that are coming and enables him to say with confidence “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will being me safely to ... **where? “His heavenly kingdom.”

We need to know the present reality of the kingdom which we are part of. Do you feel the temptation to give in, to give up the fight, to stop guarding, to stop running the race? When we find ourselves weary in doing good, drained in standing, tired of preaching we need to stand back and remember our kingdom context. The power to persevere is not something we have to whip up in ourselves it is given by God 2 Tim 1:7 “For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 1:12 “I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” 2:11-13, 2:19, 3:17, 4:1 all remind Timothy that God enables us to endure, that he empowers by his Spirit.

We have everything we need to endure in Christ by the Spirit. We are not on our own, we are not summoning up our reserves of endurance, and perseverance but we are depending on God who promises us his resources. Remember your kingdom context and that all the resources of the Father are yours, you are safe in his hands and you fight the fight, as you run the race, as you keep the faith.

2 Timothy 4:1-8 A Charge to Gospel Leaders

Notes from Sunday Night

1. What does successful gospel ministry look like?

2. What makes ongoing gospel ministry hard?

This letter is Paul’s final charge to Timothy, in it as he faces death for his faith we see the passion and purpose of his life clearly displayed in how he calls Timothy to live.

I found it striking this week to think what would I write if I knew I did not have long left to my children? What convictions would I look to pass on? What advice? As we look at Paul’s final convictions its worth asking ourselves to what extent they are ours.

1. Live life in your Kingdom Context
**Where is Paul as he writes this letter to Timothy? in a Roman prison, our problem in thinking about prison is that we have a very 21st Century view of prison – comfortable, sanitary, TV channels, exercise, health care, etc... That is not prison as Paul knows it, Roman prisons were dirty, dark, damp, there were no rights, there was often torture and mistreatment, little food or water, and there was little hope.

**But how does Paul describe where he is in(1)? “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus...” Paul is not just a prisoner in a Roman jail awaiting his trial and inevitable death. That is not who he is or his defining reality. Paul is in the presence of God and of Jesus. Isn’t that a different take on his reality. Paul lives out his life in the presence of God, and he exhorts Timothy to remember that he too lives out his life and ministry in the presence of God. Does that change how you think of your reality? We live out our lives in the presence of God and of Jesus.

The kingdom of God is now, but it is also coming. This section is bookend by a focus on the coming of the kingdom when Jesus returns as judge, it’s here in v1 as he gives Timothy this solemn charge but also in(8) as Paul anticipates Christ’s coming and his reward.

The most important thing Timothy, is to realise that this world is not the most important thing, it’s not the enduring reality, it’s not even what determines how you live. Don’t live life for now live life in the light of Christ’s coming kingdom.

Don’t let your visible circumstances determine how you serve Christ but serve in light of his kingdom which is now – you live life in the presence of God and Jesus – and not yet – you have a glorious future when Christ will judge the living and the dead. That is the reality which determines how you live.

Timothy needs to know this because he is labouring in a church which false teaching is infecting, where people are not wanting the bible taught, where preaching the truth is becoming unacceptable and unwelcome, where its results may be slow growing, or look insignificant, where he will experience persecution.

But that isn’t the only reality, if you focus on that reality you will give up. Serve your saviour, live out your kingdom context.

We need to share that context as we engage in gospel ministry. Often church looks unimpressive, our evangelism looks insignificant, we feel weak, and are tempted to despair as we look at what we see. But remember your kingdom context, we are in the presence of God and Jesus and his kingdom and victory are certain, Jesus will judge.

2. Fulfil your Kingdom Commission
**What is the thing Paul tells Timothy to do? “preach the word”. Timothy, my dying charge to you is keep on preaching the bible, don’t give up on it, it is the most important thing you can do, give your life to it, die for it.

And Paul doesn’t just tell Timothy what to do but tells him how he is to do it;
a. Urgently – Timothy is to preach the bible when and wherever opportunity arises, when you feel like it and when you don’t, when you are on duty and when you are off duty, when people want to listen and when they don’t. There is an urgency to preaching the bible because (3:16-17)it is God’s word, it alone teaches us how we are saved, and it changes people.

b. Relevantly – **Paul uses three words what are they? “Correct, rebuke, encourage...” **Which of those do you naturally not want to hear? In our society we don’t like correcting or rebuking but we like encouragement. But preaching the bible exposes our sin both before we trust in Jesus and afterwards, it warns us of its consequences, and it comforts us not by saying ‘there, there’ but by pointing us to Jesus. Timothy preach the bible in a way that is relevant to your hearers as you point to Jesus, that corrects, rebukes and encourages in Christ as and when necessary.

c. Faithfully – Timothy also needs two characteristics as he preaches, “great patience and careful instruction”. There is a danger in preaching the bible – it is that you get frustrated when people don’t get it, or don’t change, or their hearts are not lit up by it. But Timothy preach the bible with great patience, in other words keep on preaching. Don’t give up and go somewhere else, don’t adapt what you teach, keep on preaching the bible. But he is also to preach carefully in terms of content, this is about what he teaches - teach sound doctrine, preach the bible.

Don’t we need this. Preach the bible, it is God’s word, it reveals salvation, it points to Jesus, it convicts, it changes us. Preach it and keep preaching it. In Sunday school, in youth groups, to our children as parents and as grandparents, in our churches, in our marriages, to one another, to ourselves, we need this conviction keep on preaching the bible.

3. Understand the threat to Preaching the Word(3-5)
**Why does Timothy need this exhortation? Because there is a time coming when people won’t want to hear the truth, they won’t want to hear sound teaching, but instead will find teachers willing to teach what they want to hear. There is no correction, no rebuking, no real comfort just teaching that suits their desires. The truth of the bible is substituted for myths.  How is this seen today?

a. A desire to be entertained –One church in America tried to stop dwindling numbers by having church staff wrestling as part of their service! But it doesn’t have to be that extreme, it can simply be that jokes dominate instead of the bible.

b. A desire not be challenged – It can simply be not wanting to hear the bibles correction or rebuke or wanting false comfort not biblical comfort. Biblical comfort shows us our sin, warns us of its danger and comforts us by pointing to our salvation in Christ as the answer and calling us to live out our new identity in Christ. False comfort is as powerless as the ‘there, there’.

c. A desire not to be stretched – The bible taught properly will stretch us, it will require us to engage, to think about it, to weigh our hearts, thinking and motives. It is not like watching TV; it requires us to participate.

d. A pressure to be short – How long will you commit to listening to the bible for in a week? The pressure is on to be short, 20mins is thought to be a long time – our attention spans to some extent are moulded by TV. But teaching the bible takes time, to explain the text, to work it into our lives and to apply it.

How is Timothy, and how are we, to respond to this? (5)”But you...” Be countercultural, fight against the prevailing trends and desires. People will not want to listen to the truth so what is Timothy to do keep on preaching. He is to think clearly about these trends and keep teaching the bible, as he experiences opposition he is to keep teaching the bible, as people reject and confront him he is to do the work of an evangelist – that isn’t going door to door, or doing open are but it means to proclaim the truth of Jesus – in other words teach the bible, he is to complete the task – preach the bible.

4. Pass on the baton
Paul gives one final reason for Timothy to preach the word, to fulfil this commission. Paul has done it(6-7), he has laboured and sweated and endured in gospel ministry preaching and teaching, committed to his saviour and now he is excited about going home.

Notice how he speaks of his death(6), it is his departure, it is not the end, simply time to leave this sphere of service and hear his masters well done! Paul has lived for the kingdom, preaching the truth, he has fought the fight, finished the race, kept the faith and he considers it worth it. All of those words contain the idea of contenting, striving, battling towards a goal.

Timothy preach the word, pick up the baton I am passing to you because it is worth it. And remember Timothy is to pass this on to others (2:2), pass on what, to absolute necessity of preaching the bible.

We must share those convictions because we live in the day Paul says in coming, when people will no longer put up with sound teaching. How do we respond to living in such a day, we teach the truth and we encourage others to teach the truth.

1. Pray for your bible teachers. In 2 Tim 2v15 Paul tells Timothy to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." We ought to pray this for our bible teachers.

2. Come ready. Nothing encourages a bible teacher like teaching people who are keen to learn, read the passage before you come, engage during the talk, and ask questions of others afterwards.

3. Resource your bible teacher. Churches must be resourcing their bibles teachers by providing them with the means to study well, to buy commentaries, to be taught and trained themselves. But we must also resource them time wise, not crowding out their preparation time with expectations to be at or doing other things (Acts 6 - provides a good model).

4. Question your bible teacher. On a personal note I love it when someone genuinely asks questions about the passage, or challenges something that was said, not because it builds my ego but because it is thrilling to be part of someone grappling with and seeking to understand more of the character, plan and power of God through his word.

5. Treat your bible teacher as a person. Don’t put your bible teacher on a pedestal, they are not infallible and it will not help them to be treated as such. Instead treat them as a person whom you trust and love in Christ and do the same for their family.

6. Remember ministry is not about the minister. Ministers prepare people to engage in ministry. The fruit of teaching the bible is changed lives among the congregation, it is the congregation increasingly teaching one another and becoming ministers themselves.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 Gospel Ministry Convictions

My Notes from last weeks LightHouse with opening discussion questions.

1. What convinced you of the truth of the gospel?

2. A friend asks you why you read the Bible what would you say?

In the second half of this letter Paul has been exhorting Timothy to continue in ministry, specifically to do so in a way that is in sharp contrast to the living and teaching of the false teachers. From 2v14 onwards Paul compares and contrasts the false teachers and their behaviour with that of the gospel teacher that Timothy is to be.

Now he does so again having just described the false teachers he contrasts the way what Timothy is to teach and how he is to live with two “But, you” in v10, and 14. Timothy must have these two convictions as he faces up to false teachers and as he continues ministering the truth in this circumstance.

1. The Gospel is Caught (10-13).
**What is your reaction to(10-11)? Is Paul being arrogant, is he boasting? No, he is not; he is reminding Timothy of his character and the cost to him of preaching the truth of the gospel. Not because he wants a pat on the back but because Timothy needs the conviction that the gospel is worth contending for even as it brings suffering, opposition and persecution.

Paul reminds Timothy of what he knows what he has seen in Paul as he has followed him in his ministry learning from him and being discipled by him. Timothy has been Paul’s disciple; he has followed him around, seen him engage in ministry, and seen the highs and the lows. There are 9 things Timothy knows about Paul:

1. My teaching
2. My living
3. My purpose
4. My faith
5. My patience
6. My love,
7. My endurance,
8. My persecutions
9. My sufferings

In contrast to the false teachers Timothy knows the effect that Pauls’ teaching has on his living and his suffering. Paul was so convinced of the gospel that he lived it, it was his purpose, and he suffered and endured counting it worth the chance to teach the gospel. Whilst the false teachers love themselves Paul loves his Saviour, something blatantly obvious to Timothy. Whilst the false teachers adapt their message to what people want to hear Paul keeps preaching the gospel even when rejected, persecuted, stoned, left for dead and so on.

Timothy has observed the true nature of gospel ministry as he has spent time with Paul and he must remember that as he engages in gospel ministry.

(12)Paul is keen to point out that he is not extraordinary, but has just experienced the norm of godly living. The godly are persecuted whilst false teachers are not because they are doing the work of their Father the deceiver. In contrast Paul is a follower of Jesus, as Timothy is, and he follows where Jesus led (John 15:18f), persecution is the norm for those in Christ.

But I guess that poses a question what if I am not being persecuted? What does that say about me?

We live in a country whose laws are heavily influenced by biblical principles and that means the persecution we face will not normally be state sponsored as Paul experiences, though I think looking ahead that is coming. But not all persecution is physical or imprisonment. Jesus persecution was not just his death, but his betrayal, the desertion of the crowds, the opposition of religious leaders, and the mocking of his teaching.

Teaching the truth and the Bible applied to our lives will produce persecution and opposition. Be it the angry reaction when we contend for lifelong monogamous marriage, or God’s plan for man and woman as exclusively true, or when we stand firmly behind the truth that Jesus is the only way to God. Or when our commitment to godliness simply shows up someone-else’s immoral behaviour

However I also want to suggest two ways that we may subtly avoid persecution.
1. We live out our identity in Christ but we aren’t living in the world. We live our life in a little Christian bubble, like rabbits dashing from hole to hole all the world sees are the whites of our tails.

2. We are in the world but not living out our identity in Christ. **What is the amazing characteristic of a chameleon? It can blend into any background. There is a danger that we can be Christian chameleons, where we simply blend in; we look no different, either by being the same or by not standing up for what we believe. Staying silent instead of speaking out.

Instead we and Timothy are to live out our calling and identity to be godly in Christ, equipped to do so through our experience of grace and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel is not just caught it is taught. Paul can say to Timothy you know, you saw, you observed in me what true discipleship looks like. You don’t teach a disciple you train a disciple. And as Timothy entrusts the gospel to others who he is discipline they will catch the gospel and his convictions by watching. As we teach others, as we minister will they see these convictions and the gospel both taught and increasingly applied to our lives?

2. The Bible must be Taught
The second contrast Paul makes is in what is taught. Timothy you need to be utterly convinced about the power, ability and applicability of God’s word. (14)Don’t abandon it but maintain your conviction, remember what you have learned and the character of those who taught it to you.

Timothy will only teach the bible if he’s convinced it is both true and powerful. As he is surrounded by false teaching and the church begins to listen to it he will face calls to change what he teaches, to adapt it, to soften it, to make it more culturally relevant and so on. Only is he is utterly convinced that it is God’s word and powerful and effective will he do so and withstand the pressure.

And Paul is utterly convinced that what the church Timothy is in needs is the bible taught, taught and taught again. Look at 1:13 **Paul exhorts Timothy to do what? "Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me...” In 2:2 as he turns to growing gospel leaders he tells Timothy "what you have heard from me... entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." As he exhorts Timothy to remember Jesus (2:8f) he reminds him that God's word is not bound, in 3:15 he exhorts Timothy to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." In other words work hard at understanding and teaching the bible. In (2:24) he says that one of the marks of a gospel servant is the ability to teach, and now he reminds Timothy of the inspiration and effectiveness of teaching the word of God.

Paul doesn’t want Timothy to be distracted or put off teaching the word of God; he wants him to be utterly convinced of its power and its authority so that he continues to teach it even in the face of false teaching, opposition and suffering. So he reminds him of the power of God’s word.

It reveals salvation. (15)The bible, every scripture points us to Jesus as the only way to be saved.

It is God’s word – The bible is the inspired word of God. When we read the Bible we read what God the almighty creator of the universe reveals about himself, the world, us and where we stand before him. We read the very words God has breathed out, that he has spoken, and we read his diagnosis of us, our need and his plan to meet that need.

It is God’s means of changing us – in it God not only saves but changes us making us holy as he straightens out our muddled thinking, confronts us in our wrong living, and shows us what righteous living looks like. It shows us Jesus so that we can live like him, fighting sin and putting it to death.

It equips us to love and serve others – it is productive(17) and purposeful. It changes us so that we love as those who have been loved and serve as those who have been served.

This is what you need to teach Timothy, look at the wonder of God’s word. Be convinced of its power and teach it.  Don’t be deflected or distracted from teaching it or dilute it, preach God’s word convinced of its power.

We need to ask ourselves do I share these convictions? Does this mark out our church? Does this mark out my ministry? Does it mark out our teaching of Gospel Groups and Sunday School?

There are all sorts of ministry, Sunday school, and pastoral care handbooks around, all sorts of programmes to try. But what we need to do as God's servants is use God's chosen method as we play our part in God's mission of building his kingdom for his glory - we are to preach his word.

When we face difficult pastoral situations people need to hear the word of God - contrary to many people’s thoughts they do not need wise words of advice from someone who has been through what they have been through, they need someone who can and will teach and apply the word of God to them.

When a couple start out on married life they need someone to show them what the bible teaches about marriage and how to study the bible together and apply grace to one another daily. When a marriage gets in trouble they need to learn again what God’s word says about them, marriage, his grace and his provision and purpose for them.

When someone faces terrible news they do not need sympathy and comfort alone but they need to know of the loving arms of their Father around them and their security as one of his blood bought children which they will find through hearing the bible taught and lovingly applied.

The convictions of gospel ministry: The Gospel is Caught and the Bible must be Taught. Because in the gospel alone is the power to change the world one life at a time and that powerful message has been entrusted to the church.

2Timothy 2v8-13

Here are my notes from LightHouse last night looking at 2 Timothy 2v8-13:

Can you come up with a sentence which summarises what Paul has been teaching Timothy?

Paul has been reminding Timothy to continue, to contend, to keep going, to persevere both personally and in gospel ministry. Why does Timothy need this warning, because gospel ministry is hard, it is not easy and given that Timothy may well want to turn and run. Maybe he is feeling tempted to act like a coward, to run away – things are hard, there are those who oppose his ministry, there are those teaching that the resurrection has already happened and therefore Christians shouldn’t face suffering and Timothy wouldn’t be human if he didn’t think the grass might be greener somewhere else, why not just leave.

Or maybe it’s the temptation not to run away but to stay where he is but to compromise, instead of confronting these false teachers, or instead of teaching the challenge of the Gospel and discipleship to stay silent about the hard bits. To teach resurrection but not suffering.

Or maybe it’s the temptation to comfort, to just want an easy life. Paul is in prison because the government have put him there! Why not just settle down and give up not on the gospel but on gospel ministry. Why not just keep his faith private!

I don’t know about you but there are times I feel the temptation of those three; cowardice, compromise, and comfort. If I invite so and so to this, if I give them a question card for 1 big question what will they think? Will I be putting my friendship on the line? ‘Err God, I know the most loving thing I can do is to tell them the gospel and I’d love to but I think the time just isn’t right, I’ll just wait a little bit longer.’ Or we hear someone talking about God as a God of love who would never send anyone to hell, and we know what is coming if we contend for the truth – the compromise of silence, seems so appealing – though it is tacitly agreeing with them. And it can come from the most amazing places – I was doing a question panel day in a secondary school a couple of years ago. And the false teaching was coming not from any of the other members of the panel who I expected to be anti the bible but from the local vicar – who contended the bible wasn’t true, it was not meant to be taken literally.

Or it’s the desire for comfort where we do not interact with the world which is hostile to Christianity but withdraw into the Christian rabbit warren, or we live like the sleeper agent who looks no different from those around us.

Don’t you feel that pull – comfort, compromise, cowardice!

We are no different from Timothy, we need to understand what Paul wants Timothy to grasp. Gospel ministry is hard work, it involves contending for the truth and against error, it means laying out the challenge of the gospel, it means modelling the life of our Saviour. And it means doing so out of amazement and love at the gospel, in the strength God by his Holy Spirit provides and in the grace of Jesus Christ, with our eyes fixed on eternity.

Suffering is the norm of Christian ministry. And when the New Testament speaks about the need for the disciple to endure suffering it is not illness, or natural disasters but persecution caused by witnessing to Jesus. Paul is exhorting Timothy; contend for the gospel, engage in gospel ministry, endure hardship, train others to engage in this ministry with you, a ministry which models the gospel because it is based on Christ: suffering now glory to come.

1. The Pattern of Gospel Ministry seen in Jesus(8)
How does (8)begin? “Remember Jesus Christ”. Timothy don’t forget Jesus.  What specifically does Paul want him to remember? “raised from the dead, descended from David”. I don’t think they are the two phrases we would use to sum up Jesus life and work.

But both phrases speak of Jesus sovereignty and his vindication, they encapsulate his incarnation, his coming as the Son of David who will rule forever, but that in order to reign in glory he came from glory, suffered and died. They remind Timothy that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the one who saves destroying death and bringing life to all who believe in him. Jesus is the good news and it is worth contending for and he is the template for gospel ministry. Humble service enduring suffering but ultimately and eternally vindicated by God.

It is in direct contrast to the false teachers (17-18)who are teaching that the resurrection has happened and therefore believers ought to be experiencing the kingdom rule now! Not suffering but victory, not opposition but rule and reign, not hardship but comfort! And unsurprisingly this is destroying the faith of some. Jesus is the pattern of gospel ministry Timothy – remember Jesus – suffering for the gospel leads to gospel glory.

Following Jesus means following Jesus, being his disciples means choosing to go the way of the master. Both in calling and entrusting others to engaging in gospel ministry as Jesus did but also in suffering for gospel ministry.

2. The Pattern of Gospel Ministry continued...(9-10)
It’s a pattern that Paul now shows Timothy is worked out in his life and ministry. Jesus Christ raised from the dead, descended from David is Paul’s gospel, not in terms of he made it, but in terms of he has been entrusted with it, it is his to discharge and make known, he has taken ownership of it and given his life to it. (9)And Paul’s experience is that following Jesus means following Jesus, where is he as he writes “I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal”. Jesus suffers, and Paul suffers, suffering is the norm in gospel ministry.

But as the servants of the gospel suffer and are chained God’s word is not chained. God works even through suffering – have you ever wondered what the Jewish leaders thought would happen when they crucified Jesus? They thought that would be the end of that. But what happened?

Or in Acts 8 as the persecution of believers begins what did Saul and others expect? The church to die out as its leaders and ministers were arrested and stoned.  But what happened? It spread to Samaria and the world.

Or in modern day take China; massive oppression of Christians and the church, yet the church explodes and grows – God’s word is not chained. And in the ultimate irony when the Beijing Olympics were on, wanting to be like everyone else, every other games host, they realised they did not have Gideon’s bibles in the Athletes village like every other Olympic host had. So what did they do? They ordered bibles for every room in the Athletes village. God’s word is not chained.

(10)And God even uses suffering and Paul’s endurance in the gospel to strengthen the believers. If Paul can still contend so can I, if Paul endures this for the gospel it must be true, if he can carry on preaching it in prison I can preach this too.

Don’t despair Timothy, see the pattern of gospel ministry. Suffering is the norm and it does not undermine the gospel but confirms it and increases it because God’s word is not and will not be chained.

Endure Timothy, keep going, contend, guard, stand.

Gospel ministry demands endurance. You share the gospel with a friend and are rebuffed? How will you react, will you endure? You invite someone to a service and get a yes, but they never turn up or make a late excuse how will you react? You speak out in a conversation on sexuality or truth and are called a bigot, how will you react? A friend asks you to help them identify sin in their life, but when you do react angrily, what will you do? Gospel ministry is hard, it calls for endurance because the gospel saves and it is true!

3. The call to endure in Gospel Ministry
Paul now reminds Timothy of a portion of a creed or hymn in the early church, it contains both encouragement to endure in gospel ministry and a warning about the consequences of disowning Jesus.

The first two couplets provide the encouragement and motivation to continue in gospel ministry. To die with Christ means to die to self to comfort to ease, it picks up on Jesus call for disciples to carry the cross to give up their life, and the focus is on the reward for dying to self and living for Christ now, we will live with him for eternity. And if we endure we will reign with him, it’s that picture of the victors crown. Timothy lift your eyes up, get a glory perspective.

But the second pair of sayings provide a solemn warning about consequences of the alternative. If we disown Jesus Christ, he will disown us. Paul has not invented these words, they come direct from Jesus in Matthew 10:33, publically standing for the gospel brings Jesus recognition of us in heaven, but to disown him bring disownment. And the second phrase builds on that; “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, he cannot disown himself.” In other words if we deny him, if we lose our faith in Jesus, if we abandon him Jesus keeps his word. Jesus is faithful to both his promise of reward and recognition of those who stand for him and to his word of warning of judgement for those who disown him.

Jesus faithfulness to his word is a great comfort to us but also gives strength to his warnings. The nature of these warnings is borne out in this letter; Demas, Hermogenes, Phygelus disown gospel ministry and Jesus. Onesimus and others function as examples of those who endure and own Jesus despite suffering.

But we need to see that this disowning is not a temporary lapse, it isn’t a keeping quiet when we know we should speak out, or a momentary hesitation, it is a deliberate and determined decision to disown Jesus, a rejection of Jesus and the gospel. It is a warning against unrepentantly disowning Jesus.

Endure Timothy – fix your eyes on Jesus and your heart on his gospel and his word which is faithful both in its promised warnings and its rewards.

Gospel ministry is hard but it is worth it. Glory follows suffering.

Don’t give in to comfort, cowardice or compromise, but remember Jesus what he has done for you, the wonderful salvation he has secured for you by grace, and the pattern of living he calls you to. Don’t abandon Gospel ministry because of suffering because it is the norm, and he keeps his people and his word. Don’t abandon it because you have his Spirit who empowers and enables you in gospel ministry to feed on his grace and minister through grace. Don’t give up because your reward is glorious.

Endure!

2 Timothy 1:8-18 – The Call of Gospel Ministry

Here are the notes from last nights LightHouse.

1. Why does Paul write to Timothy?

2. Why might we give up speaking the gospel to non believers?

3. Why might we give up speaking the gospel to believers?

Paul has reminded Timothy (6-7)of his faith, his gifting and his empowering by God for ministry, Paul doesn’t want Timothy to give up or throw in the towel, or even to retreat in fear. But he writes to encourage him to be bold because he has been given God’s Spirit to empower him to proclaim, to enable him to love and to equip him to act wisely keeping the big picture in mind. Now Paul encourages and exhorts Timothy not to be ashamed, but to press.
(8)There are two things which Timothy might be ashamed of, **what are they? His testimony about our Lord and Paul. Don’t, says Paul, don’t be ashamed of telling people who Jesus is and what it means, and don’t be ashamed of my imprisonment and suffering. The danger is real, this is a real warning Timothy may well be ashamed of the gospel because it brings conflict with the false teachers and those inside the church who accept their teaching. And it seems that those false teachers are maligning Paul because of his suffering as if suffering somehow discounted his message. And Paul wants Timothy to come to him, something he will not do if he is ashamed of him.

Paul reminds Timothy of the wonder of the gospel and the nature of gospel ministry.

1. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel because...
(9)God has saved us. The gospel is the message of salvation, something Timothy has known and believed from a young age. God always intended to save a people for himself from the nations through faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel because it saves, it is the message of salvation, of deliverance, of reconciliation with God.

(9)God calls us to a holy life. The call of the gospel is not just to be saved and hold on to a golden ticket, it is a call not be saved but to live saved, to be different, to be being transformed into the likeness of Jesus in what we love, what we take a stand for, how we think, act and react. The message of the gospel is not just of our need and God’s rescue but it is of a growing vibrant discipleship which treasures God above all. **And what is our salvation and holiness down to? it is all of grace(9), we don’t deserve it, but God in grace by his power and for his purposes saves us and call us to live as his people living to the beat of his drum.

(10)it is our hope of life. Jesus has destroyed death, the wages of sin are paid and therefore death has no claim over those who have trusted in Jesus, in its place we are given life and immortality. We don’t get what we do deserve but are given what we don’t deserve because of Jesus.

Timothy don’t be ashamed of the gospel but be amazed at it. In Christ God provides rescue for the lost, deliverance for the defeated, and life for the dead. Testify to Jesus through whom God saves us by grace, empowers us for holy living as he sets us apart and guarantees out hope so that we begin living eternally now. Don’t be ashamed but praise God!

Do we ever feel ashamed of the gospel, we need to look again and be amazed at what God has done for us, at his love and grace. So that we are not ashamed but amazed.

2. Don’t be ashamed of me because...
(8)My suffering is part of God’s plan. Paul is in prison in Rome but **how does he describe himself? “the [Lords] prisoner”. He is not there because of Nero’s power, he is not there because somehow he has screwed up. His suffering and imprisonment are not an aberration or a mistake. God is sovereign over his imprisonment and he is in prison for the gospel. Don’t be ashamed of me Timothy but (8)join with me in suffering for the gospel. **How can Timothy do that? “by the power of God.” Suffering does not nullify the gospel but verifies the gospel because God works through it empowering his people to testify to the wonder of his grace and to entrust themselves to him in certain hope of his well done.

(11-12)Suffering is the norm in gospel ministry. (11-12)make even clearer this link between gospel ministry and suffering. **Why does Paul say he is suffering? Because of his appointment, his calling to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(12)I am convinced and trust God. (12)His imprisonment and impending death has not shattered Paul’s faith, it has not caused Paul to be ashamed because he is utterly confident in the character and faithfulness of the one he has entrusted his ministry and life to. God will guard the gospel and him until Christ returns.

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel or of me, the gospel is glorious and true and suffering is all part of the ministry of God’s gospel which he calls us to. Knowing the gospel and knowing the God of the gospel are the key to not being ashamed.

When we feel ashamed, when we feel the temptation to flee, or just keep quiet we don’t need to redouble our efforts, we don’t need emotional manipulation or blackmail we need to refresh ourselves in the gospel and the God of the gospel.

3. Don’t be ashamed but...
Now Paul turns to what it will mean, what it will look like for Timothy not to be ashamed. **What does he tell him to do(13)? Keep on teaching what you heard from me. Don’t compromise on what you teach, don’t adapt it to fit in with the false teachers, even if what they teach seems to be what some in the church members want to hear, hold to and teach the truth. The pattern means the model or standard of the gospel which he has learned from Paul and which is testified to by the other apostles.

Timothy you know what you ought to preach, you know the truth, don’t be pressured into accommodating false teachers, or cowed into silence. Be unashamed and teach the truth. And it is not just the words of his ministry that matter but the mode of his ministry, his teaching and life are to be marked by sincere belief and love as modelled in Christ.

Guard the gospel is his next instruction. **Why do you need to guard something? Because it is under threat, it will be attacked, or stolen or vandalised or damaged. Timothy the gospel is under threat, it is gospel will be under attack, and just as you would something precious guard the gospel entrusted to you, that is both in you, that I passed down to you and that you teach others. That might seem a bit of an overwhelming task, but he is not alone, "with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

4. Don’t be ashamed like...instead...
Paul ends this call to Timothy not to be ashamed but to stand and faithfully declare the gospel and join Paul in suffering by giving him examples of some who have been ashamed and one who has not.

To be ashamed means to desert and that (15)is what happened in Asia, Paul’s imprisonment has led some to desert him, don’t be like them. Don’t hide away but come to me.

But Onesiphorus stands out as one who is not ashamed. **What did that look like? He goes to Rome – into the lion’s den – he searches for Paul, hard, and when he finds him encourages and refreshes him. He is not ashamed of Paul or of the gospel which has led to Paul’s imprisonment, be identifies with him and encourages him.

Paul wants Timothy to see the real danger – it is being ashamed of the gospel and of Paul. Instead of being ashamed and deserting he wants him to proclaim, to stand, to guard, to fight, to come to him.

Gospel ministry is hard; it is a calling to testify to Jesus and to suffer for that calling. It comes with the temptation to be ashamed whether that is by keeping quiet, or by compromising on the gospel, or by not identifying with those who suffer for the gospel.

What is the antidote it is to refresh yourself in the wonder of the gospel and the character and provision of God. To stand because you know the one who has saved you and are confident in the one who keeps you and who provides his spirit to enable you to stand!

These are the questions we then discussed in small groups afterwards as we sought to apply the passage to one another:
1. What parts of the gospel are we tempted to be ashamed of?

2. What parts of the gospel do we need to guard today?

3. What does it look like for us to follow Pauls’ instructions not to be ashamed?

4. What encouragement is there here to enable us to stand?

2 Timothy 1v1-7 - Welcome to Gospel Ministry

Here are my notes from last nights LightHouse.

1. What is Gospel Ministry?

2. What is false ministry and how would you spot it?

3. Who engages in gospel ministry?

2 Timothy is Paul’s farewell letter to Timothy, it is a very personal letter from an older gospel minister to the young gospel minister he has mentored and discipled. Paul warns, exhorts and encourages Timothy not to give up but to continue in gospel ministry despite its hardships because of the resources at his disposal and the prize he has in view.

As we study this letter we will see the nature of Gospel ministry, its realities, battles and hardships but also how it is not down to us but rather is facilitated enabled and dependent on God who is able. It’s tempting to think this is a letter for pastors and elders, and there is an application on that level, though it also helps us as a church see what we ought to be looking for, encouraging and praying for our leaders and in new leaders. But there is another sense in which this is Paul writing to someone he has discipled, and it helps us see how relational following Jesus is and the priorities and goals such relationships have.
1. Gospel Ministry is hard but full of hopeHow does Paul start his letter? (1)“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God...” He is chosen and appointed by God to be a witness to the life of Jesus. Paul, as he writes, is at the end of his life, we might expect him to write from a nice cosy home for retired ministers, but he is in prison. What’s worse is this isn’t like his imprisonment at the end of Acts. He was released from there and then engaged in more missionary work before being rearrested, but now he is not being held under house arrest and he is not free to move around.

(1:16)He is in chains and he feels isolated (4:9-13)and lonely, he has experienced opposition(4:14) and having had his preliminary hearing(4:16) death appears inevitable(4:6-8). In fact church history tells us that this second imprisonment was in the time of Nero and not long after writing this letter Paul is beheaded in Rome.

Gospel ministry is hard; it doesn’t bring earthly reward or comfort but opposition, hardship and struggle. But Paul isn’t down.  How else does he describe himself? “in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul isn’t just given a task to do but the gospel that compels him to tell people about Jesus is the gospel that has won his heart and captured his vision with its hope. Even as he faces his death for the gospel his hope is secure; 4:8 “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day...” Paul isn’t facing death he is awaiting life, he longs to go and meet the righteous Judge having faced the corrupt judge.

Gospel ministry is hard but it is full of hope. Paul doesn’t hide either of those facets of gospel ministry in his letters. We need to know that gospel ministry is going to be hard or we will give up on it when it gets hard, when we face opposition. But we also need to know the hope we have so we see why we persevere, why enduring opposition is worth it.

2. Gospel ministry is people ministryI’m sure you’ve heard phrases like ‘My job would great if it wasn’t for the pupils/customers/clients.’ We may even have thought it ourselves. We even sometimes think it of church; ‘I love the church it’s just people I struggle with.’ A friend of mine once put it like this ‘It’s hard to soar like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys.’ All those phrases get at the same thing – people are hard work. Life would be easier if it wasn’t for everyone else.

As we work through 2 Timothy its surprising in some ways that Paul doesn’t say something similar. (1:15)Phygelus and Hermogenes deserted him as did everyone else in Asia, (2:14-3:9)there are false teachers being accepted by people in the church, (4:9)Demas has deserted him, and Alexander has done him much harm. You could forgive Paul for saying Timothy don’t trust people, just get your head down in the office study the bible, teach it, but don’t invest too much in people they will only let you down and hurt you. But nowhere in his letter does Paul say that!

In fact he says the opposite; it is impossible to do gospel ministry without engaging with, committing to and loving people because gospel ministry is people ministry.

I wonder what struck you as we read these opening 7 verses, here’s what struck me, it’s the deeply committed relationship between Paul and Timothy. How does he described Timothy(2) “my dear son” and look how he continues “night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers... I long to see you...” You get a real sense of the deep relationship forged by their shared gospel ministry. Paul is Timothy’s spiritual mentor, he has disciple him in the faith for years, they have ministered alongside each other, Timothy is his child in the faith. And even as his ministry is about to end in glory Paul is concerned for Timothy; his endurance, struggles and the need for him to keep fighting the fight.

I wonder what you picture in your mind when you think about the ministry of the Apostle Paul? Is it big events, thousands packing venues to hear the gospel preached, is it of him as a big name speaker? But as you read Acts you see him in conversation with and discipling, Timothy, Lydia and the jailor in Philippi, Jason and others in Thesslaonica where he lives alongside them and so on. As we read Paul’s letters to Titus, Timothy, Philemon and the churches we see loads of discipling relationships – Aquila, Priscilla, Appollos, Luke, Mark, Onesimus, Crescus, Tychicus, Erastus, Trophimus and so on.

Gospel ministry for Paul is not impersonal, it is not hit and run, it is intensely relational, it is disciples discipling disciples. It is brothers and sisters in Christ committed to one another and working the gospel into the lives of one another.

As we go through this letter you can’t avoid it – Gospel ministry is relational ministry. You see it here in his longing to see Timothy, in his concerns and fears for Timothy, in his desire to see him not just come to sincere faith, but go on and grow, to use his gifts to their full potential to glorify God.

This is so counter cultural, not just in the world but in the church. We live in an age when bigger is better, when being too personal, too committed, too involved are all viewed negatively. We live in an age that highlights individualism at the expense of community, that encourages communication at the expense of conversation, that prizes detachment at the expense of commitment. We need to remind ourselves that the gospel is a message about a restored relationship which also restores relationships. That we don’t decide to become Christians but begin to live life alongside and committed to other disciples.

Gospel ministry is relational; that is what makes it hard but it is also what makes it joyful.

Paul’s life is overflowing with relationships, with disciples he is discipling, or others whose ministry he partners in or who partner in his. How about us?

Lifelong committed loving gospel centred relational discipleship is gospel ministry.

3. God calls and God enablesI think one of our big fears about engaging in gospel ministry through these relationships is getting burnt out. The statistics on ministry burnout are quite frightening... And maybe you have felt it yourself. I don’t thing gospel ministry is the problem, I think so often we do ministry not gospel ministry

The pressures of gospel ministry are not new – Paul writes to Timothy because Timothy feels them, and he is worried about Timothy giving up. He is worried about Timothy becoming just another statistic, another gospel minister who gives up his ministry.

What is his remedy? (6-7)He says recognise you are gifted by God, maximise the potential of your gift but do it in God’s power don’t rely on yourself! Its brilliant isn’t it – why would we burn out? Because we rely on ourselves, we minister to others out of our own strength not out of God’s strength, we minister to others thinking we have to save them rather than trusting God’s word to point them to Christ who saves them! We engage in ministry but not in gospel ministry!

Don’t think that this is let go and let God though because notice the reminder he gives Timothy; “I remind you fan into flame the gift of God...” Timothy God has given you a gift and your job is to keep it burning brightly, to utilise it, develop it, glorify God as much as you possibly can with it.

But (7)not because you can do it in your own strength but because of him who gives you his Spirit to enable you to do that. God gives his Spirit so that Timothy does not retreat like a coward from ministry – that is how that word timid was used, of someone who ran away from battle. Timothy, the Spirit God has given us isn’t a spirit of cowardice. Gospel ministry is hard, it’s relational, it’s a war but God gives his Spirit so that you don’t run away but glorify God. The Spirit is the one who enables ministry in three crucial areas.

Power – Luke 24:49 Jesus promises his disciples they will be clothed with power from on high, a promise reiterated in Acts 1:8 and fulfilled at Pentecost. The disciples who before cowered in a locked room are emboldened and empowered to proclaim the gospel and preach it from the rooftops in the middle of Jerusalem. It’s the power to proclaim Christ, demolish strongholds, fight sin, pursue godliness, endure suffering and run the race.

But for gospel ministry Timothy doesn’t just need power he needs love. Why? Because power alone leads to manipulative leadership, that is not the way of gospel ministry, so that Spirit will enable Timothy to love. Agape – active love modelled on God’s active love for his people. Gospel ministry is loving ministry, a love not based on feelings but grounded in the gospel.

And lastly Timothy is empowered with the Spirit who gives self-control – a discipline which gives wisdom in any and every situation, so that when everything around you is coming unglued, when chaos is everywhere you keep your focus on the gospel.

Gospel ministry whatever that looks like for us is destined to fail if we rely on our strength and our abilities. We do not have the capacity to serve in our own strength and why would we when God has given us his spirit so that we serve in his power, in his love and with his self discipline.