Talk: 2 Tim 1:1-14, HTF, 3rd October 2004
David Heath-Whyte
NB: This is what I intended to say...
4x100m relay
Four years ago, the British Olympic 4 by 100m relay team was a disaster. In the first round they came last after disastrous baton handovers, and then they were disqualified for one handover which was illegal.
But in the Olympics this August, the new team were brilliant.
"We have gone and proved everyone wrong, all the people who were talking negative about us," said Mark Lewis-Francis... "This is the greatest thing that has happened to me in my life. I knew I had won it as soon as I got the baton."
Three beautifully smooth baton changes gave the Brits a one meter lead, and the Gold medal.
And a smooth baton change is what the Apostle Paul wanted as he handed over his task to the leaders of the next generation. With a good changeover, the message would spread, the church would grow, and a new generation would hear the good news of Jesus, the Gospel. But if the baton was dropped, or there was something dodgy about the handover, then the church would falter or go astray. So he wrote a second letter to Timothy - the next generation leader.
Let's turn to it now - 2 Timothy, page....
Gospel relay
We're still a part of this handing on of the Gospel-task today.
Here at Holy Trinity, and all Gospel-believing, Bible-teaching churches, we want to hand on the gospel.
We want to proclaim it to people, so that they can hear of Jesus, believe in him, and be saved from Hell.
And we want to hand on the Gospel to the next generation of believers, unchanged, so that they can continue the task.You and me - we're part of the relay race that is "proclaiming Jesus to the World".
But are we going to be like the year 2000 relay team, or the 2004 relay team?
We've got the baton of the Gospel in our hands: are we passing it on? or have we stuck it our pocket and forgotten about it? or have we dropped it, even?
2 Tim
This whole letter will help us - and this morning we're looking at the introduction, with three tasks that Paul & Timothy share - and that Timothy must do to take the baton safely.
Gospel Workers, 1-7
First of all, they are both Gospel Workers, v.1-7; Gospel Workers
They've both responded to the Gospel, got abilities from God to do the work, and have to put personal effort into doing it.
It's a bit like starting a new job with a major company - you apply for it and get it, you get training for it, and then you get on and do it, with the big company's backing all the way.
Paul
First we meet Paul - Have a look at v.1: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
We're eavesdropping on a private letter, from the Apostle Paul to his younger colleague and friend Timothy.
Paul is "an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God" - that is, God has chosen Paul to be his messenger.
Paul had persecuting Christians, but he met the Risen Jesus face to face, became a Christian, and was given the job of spreading the truth of Jesus around the Roman Empire, which he did with all his energy.
His did everything for (v.1) "the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus" - that was his message - "the Gospel" which means "the proclamation of good news"
Each of the books Matthew Mark Luke and John is "a Gospel" - because it proclaims the good news about Jesus and his death and resurrection. But when Paul talks about "the Gospel", he's talking about the simple message that, because of Jesus' death and resurrection, there is "the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus" - we can have - v.2 - Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." - sins forgiven, guilt removed, fear taken away, lives changed and restored - reconciliation with God. He's a Gospel Worker.
Timothy
And he wants to encourage Timothy -
v.3: I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears (presumably when they last said goodbye), I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Paul visited the town of Lystra with the Gospel message, Acts 14, and a small church began. So a few years later, when Paul visited again, in Acts 16, we read about him meeting a disciple named Timothy. And from then on they're close colleagues and friends.
Paul trusted Timothy, and sent him as his messenger to various churches: Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica and Ephesus. Paul named Timothy as co-author of some of his letters (Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thess, and Philemon).
And now, Timothy is probably in Ephesus (mentioned in 1 Timothy) to lead the church there. It's a mammoth task for a man in his thirties - and his mentor and role model Paul is in trouble - in prison again, probably in Rome, and facing the death penalty.
So Paul encourages Timothy: he is a genuine Gospel Worker - v.5 Paul is persuaded that he's responded to the Gospel, and v.6 that he has received the gift of Gospel ministry (with Paul's involvement) - and now Paul is calling him to get up on his feet and put the effort in that his job requires.
Not in his own strength, v.6, but with the kind of spirit that God the Holy Spirit works in the Gospel Worker: power - God's working as he works; love - for those who need Jesus so much or will go to Hell; and self-discipline - the ability to get out of bed in the morning, pray, read the Scriptures, and carefully teach them to others.
Will Timothy do it? It's vital that he does, that he fans this gift into flame - otherwise, clunk - the baton will get dropped.
Paul and Timothy are Gospel workers - they believe, they're gifted by God, and they're putting their backs into it.
Church...
So who do we need in the church today?
Who do we need as the leaders of churches? What kind of people should we have running church groups?
Gospel Workers.
If we're going to pass the Baton of the Gospel on - we need Gospel Workers.
Wouldn't it be great if we as a local church could send out some Gospel workers? If through our "Disciple" courses and the other things we do together, we lost some church members, because they'd realised they could become full-time Gospel workers, whether that's here in the UK, or in France maybe, or Kenya, or Indonesia, or wherever.
Wouldn't it be great if we just had more Gospel Workers here anyway. What about "fanning into flame" what God has given you?
Gospel Teachers
The next few verses help us see what Gospel Workers do.
v.8-12, Paul and Timothy are "Gospel Teachers", Gospel Teachers.
Their work is to testify about Jesus, whatever happens - because they're confident in the message, and in the God behind the message.
v.8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life
But Gospel Teachers suffer - Paul is back in prison because of it - so what should Timothy do? Keep his head down and his mouth shut?
No - don't drop the Baton, Timothy: keep on being a Gospel teacher, testifying about Jesus the Lord - we've got a wonderful Gospel, and we've got a wonderful God.
wonderful Gospel
v.9 & 10 tell us about the wonderful Gospel: here is the testimony they have about Jesus:
Jesus has done something for us that is absolutely brilliant, he has "saved us and called us to a holy life"(9) - and we haven't earnt it - it's "not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus..."
Imagine you're in a raft, floating down a river, towards a fearsome waterfall. It won't be long before you're sucked over the edge to certain death, and there's nothing you can do.
That's like our situation before God - we've lived in his world as if we can make all the rules, decide what's right and what's wrong, and choose what God is like. But God is God, and he makes the rules - and so we face his judgement for this rebellion. Even when we try to go his way, we find we can't, and we're helpless - like being sucked towards the edge of the waterfall, and death.
But suddenly a helicopter appears in the sky, and a dangling man grabs you and plucks you from danger. You're lowered onto the bank of the river, and he says to you: you're safe with me - don't go rafting there again!
This is like what Jesus has done: our "Saviour, Christ Jesus" has "appeared"
When Jesus died on the cross, his death took the place of our death, so that we can share his resurrection life: he has (10) "destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light".
It's brilliant, isn't it? And how do we hear about that and receive it? It's brought to light - "through the Gospel"
Don't stop testifying about Jesus, Timothy! Be a Gospel Teacher - because of the Wonderful Gospel.
wonderful God
And the wonderful God that's behind it, v.11-12.
v.11 "And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.."
God appointed Paul to the task - so don't be ashamed of Paul - and Paul is not ashamed, because God is trustworthy: v.12 "Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."
Paul's eternal destiny is safe in God's hands, whatever happens to his life - the wonderful God of the Gospel is faithful. So Timothy: Stand up and be counted - testify about Jesus - be the Gospel Teacher that you are, whatever happens.
it's hard, but
It's sometimes hard for us to testify about Jesus, isn't it?
We're not sure if we'll be able to say the right thing, to answer the arguments, to convince our friends / our family.
We know God has saved us, and our friends need saving too, but... what if they laugh at me? what if they ridicule me?
And we never seem to find the right moment, do we? "Oh I would tell them, if only the opportunity would arise!"
Brothers & Sisters, the message we have is wonderful, and people need it, they need Jesus.
The God we speak about is so faithful: he will keep you however much people may laugh or not.
So let's use what God gives: back to v.8:
power - the simple message of Jesus has God's power to change people's hearts;
love - letting someone's need for Jesus overcomes our feeble excuses;
self-discipline - making the effort to invite someone to eXplore, or whatever.Paul calls Timothy, his fellow Gospel Worker, to be the Gospel Teacher that he is.
Gospel Guard
And then in v.13-14 comes his big appeal: Timothy must also be a Gospel Guard.
This is the baton passing moment. It's the reason for the letter. Paul's going to die - will the next generation of leaders, who he has trained, communicate the same message faithfully, unchanged, so that people will keep on hearing the Gospel of Jesus?
And this is such a vital question for us today.
The Church of England is, in parts, seriously fumbling the baton. If certain bishops have their way, we'll drop it completely.
But here's what Paul asks of Timothy - no, demands of Timothy - and of anyone who would call himself a Gospel Worker, any church that would say they were a Gospel church:
v.13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you -- guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."
some things don't change...
As time goes on, some things change.
Telephones have changed hugely over the last 30 years - where have those dials gone? and the wires?
Pasta is quite a new thing: when I was a kid, the odd bit of spaghetti was a novelty. Today it's a staple part of my kids diet - in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
The wheel, it used to be round, but now they've found that it works much better if - oh no - the wheel still works best when it's round.
Water still boils at the same temperature (given the same pressure)
Some things don't change, and they shouldn't. And the message of the Gospel is one of these things.
We always have to find appropriate ways to communicate it, but the message must stay the same. I can speak today of a helicopter rescuing someone - but 150 years ago they would have had to use other ways of explaining the same thing - God's rescue.
Timothy must keep what he has learnt from Paul as the pattern of sound teaching - the apostolic Bible message.
It's a good deposit - like a bar of solid gold put in a vault. He's got to guard it, so no-one adds to it, or takes away from it - he's got to guard it with God's help.
today, still under attack
This church, Holy Trinity, has challenged the Bishop of St Albans on the teaching he endorses within this diocese.
Should we have done that?
If we want to pass on the baton, then yes, we were right to, and we must continue to do so - graciously and lovingly - with the help of the Holy Spirit - we've got to keep the apostolic - that is, the Biblical - pattern of sound teaching. We've got to guard the Gospel.
Conclusion
Gospel Workers, Gospel Teachers, Gospel Guards.
The Gospel is the message that death has been destroyed by our Saviour Jesus, and that as Lord he makes life and immortality available to us. We need to hear that, so that we can believe it, and turn ourselves around to trust ourselves to it.
Paul urged Timothy to be a Gospel Worker - to use the gift he'd been given. It's vital that we have Gospel workers, and we equip and send people to be Gospel Workers.
Paul urged Timothy to be a Gospel Teacher - even if that brought suffering, because the Gospel is something to be proud of. It's great that we have the same Gospel and same God - and he gives us power, love and self-discipline so that we can teach the Gospel to others.
Paul urged Timothy to be a Gospel Guard - to take that baton firmly, and pass it on unchanged to the next generation in the race. What are we going to be like - the year 2000 men's 4 by 100 team, or this years Gold medal winners?