Sermon Audio: 2 Timothy 4.

Click for the sermon on Sunday: SERMON AUDIO: 2 TIMOTHY 4.

(Listen to know why I have a picture of a lion in this post.)

Here is the question I explore:

How can I be uncompromising, and bold on the Gospel of Jesus; while still remaining tender-hearted, personal and generous to all?

I ask, because it is hard to cultivate both.

I know some religious people who are unbending and bold in their beliefs but have the social skills of a cactus. And that’s at best. At worst, of course, there are many who consider these people dangerous fundamentalists. 'There is nothing more dangerous', they say, 'than over-believing, delusional, zealots.'

On the other hand, I know plenty of religious people who are tender hearted, personal and generous to all, but have the theological backbone of a jellyfish. They may be inspiring and likable but they believe nothing concrete. And they stand for nothing concrete.

Each one of us tends to err to one side or the other. Which side are you on?

Read 2 Timothy 4 beforehand (I'm preaching from the NRSV)...

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Pic on Flickr by majamom.

Sermon Audio: From Timothy to New York City.

Thanks for your help last week on 2 Timothy 2. You helped me to work it through. Paul says to Timothy:

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

Click HERE should you wish to listen to the sermon.

And Here is the text. Please don't listen if it takes time away from your work or evangelism. Please don't listen at the expense of your own Bible reading. (And Yes, I know that Paul doesn't call Timothy his 'Father'. Yes. Yes. My wife thinks my brain works in opposites. What are you gonna do, huh?)

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Pic on Flickr by KT Lindsey.

Sermon Help: From Timothy to New York City?

My sermon text for this Sunday is a private correspondence from an older Apostle (Paul) to a Young Pastor (Timothy). Specifically, my text is: 2 Timothy 2. Read it. Lots of great stuff in that text. Here is how it begins:

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

My three main questions are:

• How do you synthesize so many ideas? There is so much in there. So many imperatives. Can you boil it down to a couple of ideas for me?
  

• What are the 'must include' things in the text for a sermon?
  

• How do I apply it to a congregation? I mean, it is a Pastoral Epistle. It is the Apostle Paul to Pastor Timothy, which would make it great at a Pastor's conference; less obvious for church. How do we eavesdrop into a private correspondence and apply it to a church of NON-pastors/elders?

Go ahead, do my work for me...

Justin.

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Pic is probably NOT Timothy, but from wiki instead.