2 Timothy 3 talk notes.
We are up to chapter 3 this morning and I am hoping you will be able to stay awake.Chapter 3 is full of simple advice that will make a huge impact oÂn the person of God you are and will become if you take it.This is pauls KISS technique so when I say simple advice number… yopu shout Keep it Simple Stupid and I’ll know you are still awake.Read verses 1-9 Have you ever watched faking it? The show where people try and be something they are not and get put to the test as the experts try and spot the fake.A few years ago there was a young man who was employed as a doctor and assistant medical director in a major hospital.Although he performed his duties well and possessed the necessary skills, there was a problem - the 28 year old man had never gone to college or med school.He had forged the official documents to the the job and new enough medical gibberish to fool everyone into thinking he was the real thing.Eventually he was discovered and sent to prison for 7 years for which he was qualified.In the first 9 verses of chapter 3 Paul describes people who oÂn the outside look like Christians, they go through the motions, say the right things and appear to have it all together but they do not have any of His power.What does Paul tell Timothy?Simple advice number 1: Don’t have anything to do with fake Christians.It sounds easy doesn’t it but we are not talking about people you know who are not Christians we are talking about people who come to church but are faking it.After this Paul gives Timothy a massive pat oÂn the back verse 10; For you have followed what I teach, the way I live, my goal, faith, patience and love. You know I never give up.Paul has modelled his faith by example not just by talking about it and this is the next bit of simple advice from Paul but first lets watch a clip from the classic star wars The Empire Strikes Back: Luke Skywalker has gone looking for Yoda and parked a bit badly.Explain clip: Yoda not what he had expected etc…If you want to get better at anything you go to the experts, sport you find a good coach or trainer, music a good teacher etc.The way to get better is by practice, training and learning from the experts and it is no different in your faith.I can’t stress this enough. I got baptised at the age of 13 with 16 other people, today oÂnly 3 of us call ourselves Christians which is incredibly sad. Why are we still going? each of us because we got mature people oÂn fire for God around us, talked with them, watched them prayed with them.Timothy had seen how Paul had lived spent time with him.Paul had made himself vunerable with Timothy and Timothy with Paul.Read Walked and Prayed and Listened by Bob Hartman from Telling the Bible.Who are the people from your church who ooze faith, live the life?When you get back find oÂne (or more) of those people and ask them to be your mentor (you might need to explain it first, and run it by your parents first.Then arrange to meet them regularly to talk, pray and listen.The aim is to be honest with your struggles and good things, if you do this your faith will be strong.We learn more by doing so put what you see being modelled into practice.If you walk 400+ miles with someone you really get to know them.If you are not sure who to ask talk to oÂne of your youth leaders or church leaders and get them to suggest. But get it oÂn your churches agenda.Remember it doesn’t have to be someone trendy as long as they are oÂn Fire for God oÂne of mine was an 80 year old lady.So simple advice number 2 is: Get a mentor. This is how the baton gets passed oÂn.Paul then reminds us that everyone who wants to live as God desires in Christ Jesus will get hurt….Christianity is not a quick fix solution.Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me…not easySimple advice nuber 3 is: Be prepared for tough times with the good oÂnes.Finally about the Bible.Hands up if you read the Bible often!Weekly / love it / hate it?Paul reminds Timothy about the value of scripture.It is useful for teaching, showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults and showing how to live right. verse 16Let it live in you like blood flows through viens.Simple advice number 4 is: get into Gods word, read it, enjoy it, think about it, apply it, memorize it. Zimbabwe church what passages have you learnt this week to congregation.Why verse 17 tells us: because using scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work which goes back to yesterday and your gifts, they compliment each other.Recap here Pauls 4 bits of simple advice are:Don’t have anything to do with fake Christains.Get a mentorBe prepared for it to get tough at times.Get into the Bible.Let me pray for you lot befor eyou get into groups.
