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Approved workmen are unashamed

October 30, 2016 Speaker: Matt Series: Discipleship in the church

Topic: Discipleship Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14–21

Discipleship in the church
Approved workers are unashamed-outline
2 Timothy 2:14-21
God approves of those who rightly handle the word and depart from sin

1) Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers, 2:14.
What things is Paul telling Timothy to remind the church of? In 2:17, Paul will mention a specific area of false teaching that is impacting the church. But here he says to charge the church not to quarrel about words. It is a serious warning “before God.” What is the difference between legitimate discussions about biblical & theological words and arguing over words that ruins the hearers?

2) 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, 2:15.
What does Paul say is the way one will be approved by God, with no need to be ashamed?

3) But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene, 2:16-17a.
What are examples of irreverent babble (godless chatter) that produces increasing ungodliness that eats away at the health of the church like gangrene?

4) Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some, 2:17b-18.
These false teachers are probably spiritualizing the resurrection, saying that rather than a hope in a future bodily resurrection, believers have already experienced the entire promise of the resurrection. Why is this wrong?

5) But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity,” 2:19.
With the threat of false teaching/teachers, how will the church continue to stand? By being built on God’s firm foundation. Explain what Paul means by his description of the authenticating seal on God’s foundation of the church.

6) Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 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, 2:20-21.
Paul uses the imagery of a large house with special/valuable vessels and common vessels for everyday and dirty tasks as a picture of the church. How does Paul say anyone becomes “a vessel for honorable use” (by God)? How does a person cleanse himself from what is dishonorable? What are the three ways Paul says a believer is for God’s honorable use?

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