2Timothy
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Fidelity, Preaching Through the New Testament, 2 Timothy
Paul's Final Epistle
Focusing the Message: Members or the Man?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Fidelity, 1 Corinthians, 2 Timothy
I once heard this statement: "We can focus the Message on the Members, or the Man- Jesus Christ!" Without any criticism of the speaker intended, this statement can be taken at least a couple of different ways...
Fighting the Good Fight
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Fidelity, 2 Timothy
Paul acknowledges that the end of his physical life is near in 2Timothy 4:6. But, his statements in 2Timothy 4:7 regarding the "good fight" he had fought, the "course" he had finished, and the "faith" that he had kept, surely were all spiritual pursuits. The aim of this particular lesson is to get us to examine our own spiritual fight, course, and faith. How are you doing at fighting, completing, and keeping?
“Out of Season” Preaching
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Fidelity, Obedience, 2 Timothy
2Timothy 4:2 implies that the preaching of the gospel can be either in season or out of season. Obviously, Paul is urging Timothy (and by implication, all others) to preach with constancy whether it is in or out of season. This lesson examines a couple related questions, such as: When has it been in season and when has it been out of season for gospel preaching? What makes that determination? And, what should we do if it is now out of season to preach the gospel?
Solving Individual and Church Problems
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Matthew, 2 Timothy, 2 Peter
Think about this question: "Shall we meet the inevitable conflicts of Christianity and worldliness with spiritual principles mined from the sacred text, or will we seek to circumnavigate them with psychological or social solutions?" Put another way: "When we have a problem, individually or collectively, to where do we first turn for help and solutions- human or divine reasoning?" The answers we give to such questions determine how successful we will be in solving the problems of life.
Protection from Apostasy
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, 1 Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy
Are you afraid of "apostasy"? I don't necessarily mean some sort of brotherhood variety- I mean your own personal falling away. Is such even on your radar screen of awareness? If not, 1Corinthians 10:12 should be noted, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." But if you are at least aware of the possibility, and concerned about it, what can be done to prevent it? 2Timothy 3:14-17 has some fairly specific steps that we can and should take to protect ourselves.
“Where’s Timothy?”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Faith, Growth, Ezra, Acts, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy
Do you remember the picture puzzle book of several years ago entitled, "Where's Waldo?"? It was a book filled with carefully drawn pictures of enormous crowds on each page. And, somewhere in each mass of people was "Waldo." The object was, of course, to find Waldo. Excuse the pun, but drawing on that illustration, I'd like to ask, "Where's Timothy?" Timothy was a man who, we learn from 2Timothy 2:15, had from his childhood known "the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." What an impressive statement! So, "where's Timothy" today?
“Godly” vs. “Ungodly” Churches
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Commitment, Fidelity, Obedience, 2 Timothy
(This sermon was adapted from an excellent article by Bro. Sewell Hall entitled, "Churches--God-Centered or Man-Centered".)
One way to define "godly" is being "God-centered." If this is how we view "godliness," then being "ungodly" becomes another form of being "man-centered." If a church is comprised of people who are "man-centered" rather than "God-centered," it is therefore ungodly. It may or not be necessarily wicked as well, but it is certainly not godly. Thus, the problem becomes one of identifying a church which is truly godly rather than ungodly with which to worship and work. How is this to be done? One of the quickest ways is to look carefully at those who lead it....
Honoring Your Mother
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Fidelity, Obedience, Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Proverbs, John, Acts, Ephesians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy
The text does not specify whether or not Dorcas / Tabitha was either a wife or a mother. It does indicate the she was greatly loved and mourned at her death because of her attitude and activity in life, Acts 9:36,39. The text says that she, "abounded with deeds of kindness and charity..." Such are surely "motherly" characteristics! Our country sets aside the second Sunday in May to honor "Mothers" with their own special day. While the day is not commanded specifically in the Bible, certainly the concept is encouraged in both the Old and New Testaments. This lesson seeks to highlight the biblically-given characteristics of "Mothers" that cause us to seek to honor them as God commands.
Invictus
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Commitment, Faith, Obedience, 1 Corinthians, Philippians, 2 Timothy, Revelation
In 2008, a book by John Carlin was published about South African President Nelson Mandela's efforts to use the National Rugby team to unite and inspire the nation. The Springbok's (the rugby team) were attempting to qualify for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and Mandela utilized the struggle as an opportunity to bridge the racial divide in the country which had resulted from nearly fifty years of apartheid. Clint Eastwood made the book into the movie, "Invictus". There are several useful parallels, drawn from conversations and a poem in the movie, which can help to inspire us in our spiritual struggle to be united with Christ. But mainly, this lesson is about the meaning, need, and responsibility of inspiration.