Study

20 Days in 2 Timothy

Ben Stuart
20 Days
Introduction
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20

Composed in the Chaotic

Day 11

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Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:23-36

Summary

It’s time to get down to brass tacks, as they say. In today’s day and age, how do we enter into spiritual conversations when people are all over the map in their views and Christians are increasingly questioned and maligned? The advice Paul gave to Timothy two thousand years ago in the face of a struggle not unlike our own may shock you.

The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

This is perhaps the most counter-cultural step we’ve been taught by Paul so far in our study. Look around, and you’ll find that the predominant language of our day is antagonistic and argumentative. We find ourselves alive in a time where conversations have been replaced with competitions, and comment sections are filled to the brim with condemnation and criticism. Against such a tide it would be easy to lose heart, to give up, or even to give in, but God knew that this would be the very time in which we would live, and He has placed us in it for a reason.

So if we are willing to sacrifice the counterfeit pleasures offered to us by the world around us and to act differently in order to live out our calling as ambassadors of King Jesus, then we are going to have to follow the same steps that the Apostle Paul gave to Timothy all those years ago:

  • Do not be quarrelsome. We are not fighters who are insensitive debaters willing to win the argument no matter the feelings of others.

    • We are kind to everyone. We're gentle even if people disagree with us.

    • We are able to teach. We are well-informed, equipped, and able to explain. We know our scripture really well. We've studied it, and the truths are deep within us.

    • We are patient. We endure the evil in the world, even when we've been wronged.

Why do we act like this? Because our Lord acted like this. People could oppose Jesus’ ideas, yet He still wanted to save them. He didn't attack when provoked; in fact, He didn’t even lash out at those who crucified Him at his most desperate moment. If Jesus didn’t condemn those whose Sin he paid for on the Cross, then what right do we have to curse anyone?

Christian, you have a higher calling, and so you must live like it, with composure and grace so that when you engage in conversation with gentleness, your careful correction may find fertile ground. As you do, keep in mind the words of Paul, that maybe God will grant even the people who are against you the gift of repentance, turning their lives to Jesus. Pray that they might come to know the truth and escape the snare of the Devil. That is the posture of a Jesus-follower, willing to extend grace instead of condemnation and hold forth the word of life in the hope that God would rescue many through our work.

What's next?

Asking God what we are about to ask Him today might be difficult for you to do. Take a few minutes and allow God to prepare your heart and give you the courage to loosen your grip on how the world has taught you to respond.

The Lord is ready to make you a good picture of Himself to the world. Ask Him for help as you go out into it.

  1. When you are in a disagreement with someone, do you see them as your enemy? Ask God to soften your heart for the people you are currently holding a grudge against, even ones you aren’t immediately aware of.
  2. Ask God to help you enter into conversations with gentleness, patience, a willingness to listen, and, if appropriate, correct in kindness.
  3. Is there anyone you need to apologize to for the way you have spoken to them in the past? If God brings someone to mind, ask Him for the courage to set your pride aside and ask them for forgiveness. We won’t always be perfect in our effort to live with grace and humility, but we can still display the heart of a Christian by taking responsibility for our grievances and seeking to make amends.

Scripture References

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
5I am 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.
6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
9He has saved us and called us to a holy life—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,
10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
17On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
18May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
18Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

3Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
5Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.
6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
11Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

12if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

13if we are faithless,

he remains faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
14Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.
21Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
23Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
25Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.