Unity and Sanctification in the Last Days

Devotional

Day 1: Focus on Core Truths, Not Trivial Disputes

Paul instructs Timothy to remind the church to avoid disputes over trivial matters. Such arguments bring no profit and can lead to division and ungodliness. Instead, believers should focus on the core truths of the gospel and maintain unity within the church. Paul’s advice is particularly relevant in today’s world, where social media and public discourse often lead to unnecessary arguments and division. By focusing on what truly matters, believers can foster a spirit of unity and love within the church, avoiding the pitfalls of strife and contention. [10:00]

2 Timothy 2:14 (ESV): "Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers."

Reflection: Think of a recent disagreement you had over a non-essential matter. How can you shift your focus to the core truths of the gospel in future conversations?

Day 2: Prioritize Personal Sanctification Over Public Arguments

Paul emphasizes the importance of personal sanctification, urging believers to cleanse themselves and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. This personal growth in faith is more valuable than winning public arguments. In a world where public discourse often prioritizes winning over personal integrity, Paul’s message is a reminder that our primary responsibility is to maintain our personal walk with God. By focusing on our own spiritual growth, we can become better equipped to serve others and reflect Christ’s love in our interactions. [27:56]

2 Timothy 2:21 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you need to pursue personal sanctification. What steps can you take today to cleanse yourself and grow in righteousness, faith, love, and peace?

Day 3: Avoid the Temptation of Entertaining Strife

Paul warns that strife and arguments can spread like cancer, causing division and leading people away from the faith. Believers should be cautious of engaging in disputes that entertain rather than edify. In a culture that often finds entertainment in conflict, Paul’s warning is a call to prioritize truth and unity over the fleeting satisfaction of winning an argument. By avoiding unnecessary strife, believers can protect the integrity of their faith and foster a spirit of peace within the church. [20:44]

2 Timothy 2:16-17 (ESV): "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene."

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you were tempted to engage in an entertaining but unproductive argument. How can you choose to prioritize edification and unity in similar situations in the future?

Day 4: Recognize That True Repentance Comes From God

Paul highlights that it is God’s responsibility to bring about repentance and change in individuals. Believers should act in gentleness and humility, recognizing that only the Holy Spirit can bring true transformation. This understanding shifts the focus from human efforts to divine intervention, reminding believers that their role is to be instruments of God’s grace and truth. By approaching others with humility and gentleness, believers can create an environment where the Holy Spirit can work effectively. [40:25]

2 Timothy 2:25 (ESV): "Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs repentance and change. How can you approach them with gentleness and humility, trusting God to bring about true transformation?

Day 5: Be Gracious to the Lost and Gentle to the Brethren

Paul calls for believers to be gracious towards those who are lost and gentle towards fellow Christians who have strayed. This approach reflects Christ’s own gentleness and grace, fostering unity and love within the church. In a world that often responds to failure with harshness, Paul’s message is a reminder to embody the grace and gentleness of Christ in our interactions. By being gracious and gentle, believers can help others experience the love of Christ and encourage them to return to the faith. [50:48]

2 Timothy 2:24 (ESV): "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil."

Reflection: Identify someone in your life who has strayed from the faith. How can you show them grace and gentleness today, reflecting Christ’s love and encouraging them to return to the faith?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into 2 Timothy 2, focusing on Paul's final instructions to Timothy and the church. Paul, aware of his impending martyrdom, emphasizes the importance of preserving the union of truth within the church, especially as the last days approach. He shifts the focus from the Christian's life in the world to their life among the brethren, highlighting the necessity of maintaining unity and avoiding unnecessary strife. Paul instructs Timothy to remind the church to avoid arguing over non-essentials, as such disputes bring no profit and can lead to division and ungodliness. He stresses the importance of personal sanctification over public strife, urging believers to cleanse themselves and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Paul also underscores the importance of humility and gentleness in correcting those who are in opposition, recognizing that true repentance and change come from God, not from human efforts. This message is particularly relevant in today's world, where social media and public discourse often lead to unnecessary arguments and division. Paul’s teachings remind us that our primary responsibility is to maintain our personal walk with God and to be gentle and gracious towards others, especially those who are lost or have strayed from the faith.

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Key Takeaways

1. Essentials**: Paul instructs Timothy to remind the church to avoid disputes over trivial matters. Such arguments bring no profit and can lead to division and ungodliness. Instead, believers should focus on the core truths of the gospel and maintain unity within the church. [10:00]
2. Pursue Personal Sanctification Over Public Strife: Paul emphasizes the importance of personal sanctification, urging believers to cleanse themselves and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. This personal growth in faith is more valuable than winning public arguments.

3. Strife is More Entertaining Than Truth: Paul warns that strife and arguments can spread like cancer, causing division and leading people away from the faith. Believers should be cautious of engaging in disputes that entertain rather than edify.

4. True Repentance Comes From God: Paul highlights that it is God's responsibility to bring about repentance and change in individuals. Believers should act in gentleness and humility, recognizing that only the Holy Spirit can bring true transformation.

5. Be Gracious to the Lost and Gentle to the Brethren: Paul calls for believers to be gracious towards those who are lost and gentle towards fellow Christians who have strayed. This approach reflects Christ's own gentleness and grace, fostering unity and love within the church.

### [10:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - Introduction to 2 Timothy
[02:51] - Paul's Imprisonment and Final Days
[04:21] - Living Among the Brethren
[05:41] - Prayer for Guidance
[07:11] - Lessons for the Last Days
[08:34] - Avoid Arguing Over Non-Essentials
[10:00] - The Danger of Strife
[12:02] - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
[14:33] - The Realities of Strife
[16:14] - Striving Brings No Profit
[18:25] - The Increase of Ungodliness
[20:44] - Strife is More Entertaining Than Truth
[24:04] - The Spread of False Teachings
[27:27] - Pursue Personal Sanctification
[30:03] - The Solid Foundation of God
[34:03] - The Reality of the Church
[36:32] - Faith Proven by Works
[39:09] - True Repentance Comes From God
[42:35] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[44:44] - Apology for Past Hurts
[47:09] - Invitation to Salvation
[50:48] - Be Gracious and Gentle
[53:29] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul instruct Timothy to remind the church about in 2 Timothy 2:14-16? ([08:34])
According to 2 Timothy 2:22, what should believers pursue instead of engaging in disputes? ([28:57])
How does Paul describe the spread of false teachings and strife in 2 Timothy 2:17? ([20:44])
What qualities does Paul say a servant of the Lord must have in 2 Timothy 2:24-25? ([39:09])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize avoiding arguments over non-essentials in 2 Timothy 2:14-16? How can such arguments lead to division and ungodliness? ([08:34])
In 2 Timothy 2:19-21, Paul uses the analogy of vessels in a great house. What does this analogy teach us about personal sanctification and usefulness to God? ([28:25])
How does Paul’s instruction in 2 Timothy 2:24-25 about correcting others with gentleness and humility reflect the nature of true repentance? ([39:09])
What does Paul mean when he says that strife is more entertaining than truth, and how does this apply to our current social media culture? ([20:44])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent disagreement you had. Was it over a non-essential matter? How could you have handled it differently to avoid unnecessary strife? ([08:34])
Paul urges believers to pursue personal sanctification over public strife. What specific steps can you take this week to focus on your personal growth in righteousness, faith, love, and peace? ([27:56])
Think about a time when you were involved in a public argument, perhaps on social media. How did it affect your witness as a Christian? What can you do to avoid such situations in the future? ([15:38])
How can you practice humility and gentleness when correcting someone who is in opposition? Can you recall a situation where you failed to do this? What would you do differently now? ([39:09])
Paul mentions that true repentance comes from God. How can this understanding change the way you pray for and interact with those who have strayed from the faith? ([40:25])
Are there any relationships in your life where you need to be more gracious and gentle? What specific actions can you take to reflect Christ’s gentleness and grace in those relationships? ([50:48])
How can you contribute to maintaining unity within your church community, especially when faced with potential conflicts or disagreements? ([14:33])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "All of us, especially in the day and age that we live in, we have been, if anything, if your social media feeds or anything like mine, we have just, you know, just been flooded and overpoured with Christians commenting and making stanzas on the topics of today. And so I believe that this will be a great calling for us as Christians to kind of learn where Paul asked for us to be at, and as Christians, what our priorities should be, what we ought to do to preserve the union of the truth and the body of the church." [05:41] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If it's not pertaining to the salvation of Christ, if it's not pertaining to the deity of Christ, if it's not pertaining to the gospel, if it is hindering any, I mean, if it's not pertaining to anything that will hinder our acceptance and admittance to heaven, then avoid arguing over it. It means nothing. It's trivial. Because one day you and I will go before the Lord and we're going to realize that probably for both of us having so staunch stanzas on whatever argument that we're so passionate about, we're going to go before the Lord one day and the reality and the truth of the matter is that we're both wrong about something in our argument." [14:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Striving brings no profit. Look back at verse number 14. Remind them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit. Certain arguments bring no profit to you or to them. In fact, all it really does is cause unnecessary division. In fact, even more dangerous, the last part of verse 14, striving the strife, not necessary strife, because we'll talk about that in just a second, but unnecessary strife will bring about the ruin of the hearers. The ruin of the hearers." [16:14] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "A spirit-filled Christian, a spirit-matured Christian, must act in gentleness and in humility toward those who are lost especially and to those who have drifted from the faith even more so, perhaps, and are incorrect in their position of truth. Why? It's a very important lesson. I hope you don't miss it, church. Why must we be graceful? Why must we be gentle? Why must we be humble? For it is God's responsibility to bring repentance. Not man." [41:17] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Be gracious to the lost. Be gentle to the brethren. Let's close in a word of prayer. With heads bowed and eyes closed. Perhaps there's someone here today that is searching for that truth. They've been blindsided. They've been drifted away. Led falsely. They are seeking answers today. They are searching for the truth. They are like that centurion in Acts. What must I do to be saved, Cody? I've heard. I've heard it 20 different ways. I heard I had to act like this. I heard I had to dress like this. I heard I have to be this type of person. Cody, just give it to me straight. What must I do to be saved? Cast your faith in Christ. Know him as the Savior and Son of God. Ask him into your life. Go before him in humble repentance." [47:09] (88 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Paul says, if you want to honor the faith, you want to grow in God, and you want to make sure you make God look good, do it personally. Do it personally. Pursue personal sanctification. Your responsibility as a Christian is to draw nigh to God and be able to grow in the faith and grace of Christ and be able to be spirit filled with the fruits of the Spirit and become more Christ-like through your personal sanctification. You're not going to win any brownie points over an argument that you won in the public arena, is what Paul's saying. Ignore those things. Ignore those people who strive for those things. And if you want to please God, do it in your personal walk." [29:30] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The church is held together by the seal of God. Paul says, not the seal of Paul. We don't have to worry about the integrity and the longevity of the church. That's God's problem, not his. What Paul is reminding. It's not our job to validate the membership, but rather to focus on our own journey. Because he says right after the foundation, he said, look, let everyone who names the name of Christ apart from iniquity. The Lord knows those who are his." [31:04] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The reality of the church that Christ has, she is not perfect. I love one of the oldest Charles Spurgeon's quotes. He said, you know, Charles Spurgeon, one of the great preachers, said to preach to over 10 million people in all of England, around the world, with his sermons that got passed around. And even in Charles Spurgeon's day, he had people that left his church, joined his church, moved around churches. And he said, no. No. People always try to come up to him and said, Mr. Spurgeon, Dr. Spurgeon, I live in such and such. What is the perfect church for me? Can you give me a recommendation for the perfect church? And the quote that he kind of says, my dear brother, my dear sister, I can't give you a perfect church because if you do find a perfect church, you will make that church imperfect the day that you walked into that church. No church is perfect. She is not perfect." [34:45] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Faith is not given to us by words, but we do grow in faith by words. Do you understand that? You don't earn faith by your words. But you grow in your faith. You grow in your faith by your words. That's the process of sanctification. God will not force himself upon you. He never has, never will. He will not command and demand for you to accept him. Dave, Adam and Eve a choice. David, you and I a choice. Even in your Christian walk, he will not force you to live right. You have a daily walk, a daily job to either live for him or not. And your relationship. Your relationship with him will grow or it will drift. It's entirely up to you." [37:17] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So many people get discouraged. So many people get stressed and depressed because, oh, that person isn't acting the way I wish they would. That's because you cast an expectation on that person and you thought they would change. You did not say, you know what, that person belongs to God and I will pray that God will be able to change them in however he wants, not me, his agenda, not mine." [43:37] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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