Remembering audio (4MB)
2 Timothy 1:1-7
I've been at St Toms for 5 months now, but to come here I had to hand-over my previous role. I had one morning to hand-over the continuing spiritual care of nearly100 kids. I had thought carefully about what to say...it was emotional because I wasn't sure how the new guy would go with some of the kids I'd worked so hard to build strong relationships with. Also, I myself was in grief at leaving, though excited to come here, and a little scared!
Today we begin Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy, and we've called the series Kingdom Olympics, mainly because there's a hand-over, like in the 4v100m relay...where the baton has to be safely passed from one runner to the next. In our Kingdom Olympics however, the baton is a message, and its content is what must be passed on.
Did you notice that this letter is addressed not to a church, but a church leader...Timothy, 'Timothy, my beloved child or son' v2. There's clearly a father-to-son bond here, and Paul wants Timothy to be assured and held secure in the knowledge of his deep fatherly love... 'Timothy, my beloved son'.
As the child of missionary parents, I went to a boarding school in south India, and believe it or not, you long for letters from your parents! I couldn't wait to read how each letter began and ended..it was the best part! 'Dearest Ruth... much love as ever, mum.' or – 'Our dearest Ruth...with all our love, mum and dad.' or 'Ruth darling... heaps of love, Dad'. These words of love and affection assured me, made me feel secure for whatever they would say in the letter. If they wanted to encourage me, or even tell me off, they had my ear! So it is with the beginning of this very personal letter – Paul's love for Timothy is verbalised, assuring him. This will be especially important because - Paul's race is nearly over.
We know from this letter and other places in the NT, that he's in his second imprisonment in Rome, chained in a cell this time, without personal things like his coat, and precious parchments. He's awaiting trial, friends are ashamed of him being in jail. And if he's found guilty, he'll be executed. We know from history that Emperor Nero had blamed the great fire of Rome in AD 64 on the Christians and executed many. Being known as an apostle of Christ Jesus, had possibly made Paul an easy target. Yet this only seems to have heightened Paul's determination, to hand-over his responsibilities for the message of Jesus, intact. In relays, dropping the baton is utterly devastating...
Have you run in a relay? Or watched them on TV? The change-overs are dramatic moments...where total concentration is required, but at a time when the handing runner is nearly spent. Paul was passing the baton to a younger, fitter, runner, but one who was less experienced, and scared. There are 4 reasons for this letter, which coincide with the chapters: chapter 1 is about guarding the content of the message about Jesus guarding the true gospel. Chapter 2 is about being able to endure suffering, suffering for the gospel. Chapter 3 is about continuing to teach the true message even when people get bored, continuing with the gospel. Chapter 4 is Paul's formal charge to Timothy, making him his appointed leader after his expected death, to preach the gospel. This letter is about the transmission of the good news of Jesus from one generation to the next – from one leader to the next.
And its of great value to us as a church, as we think about transitioning to a new leader. Its of great concern to any christian parent, as they pass the faith on to their kids. Its for youth and children's and home group leaders, and also for you if you're speaking with a friend about faith. So, that's by way of introduction!
The Back story on Paul
But let's look now at the back story on Paul – v1 reads, 'Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus...'
Paul designates himself an apostle of Christ Jesus. Not one of Jesus' 12 disciples, but like a wild card entry, added later when he met the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road. The apostles were sent by Jesus with his authority into the world, to carry the good news about him.
Paul had visited Timothy's home town of Lystra, and he may well have come to faith through Paul. Acts 16:1-3.
But Paul's aware that God had recruited him, v.1 says 'by the will of God'. Remember how he was blinded by the flash of light on the Damascus road, until he met a man named Ananias? God had told Ananias: '..for he (Paul) is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings...and how much he must suffer for the sake of my name' Acts 9:15-16. So Paul was chosen by the divine will, and not even prison could stop him.
Athletes strive to win a prize, so what was Paul's prize? v.1 says, 'for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus'.
Does that sound cryptic? What does he mean?
Well if you think about it..life in the Bible begins with God speaking the first light molecule into existence, followed by an explosion of energy into endless species of plants and animals, including human life, Genesis 1. Yet the fact that we get tired, sick, grow old, and we'll all die, is a result of our failure to trustingly obey God, and so the possibilities of this life are now limited. But Paul is propelled by a message that God has done something about this. He's promised another form of life, but this time, its a life that is in Christ Jesus – that is connected or united to Christ Jesus, to his death for us. And we do know what happens next – a new kind of life... when a dead man comes alive, and is no longer susceptible to decay – in a word - resurrection! The 'promise of life'.
Paul is mentioning this 'promise of life' at the start of the letter because there's some rubbish teaching circulating about it, among other things. So he's writing this letter to help Timothy lead the church in such a way that the truth about resurrection is upheld.
So the back story on Paul is that he's Jesus' apostle, chosen by God, for the promise of life, but as he's nearing death, he's transitioning Timothy into his big shoes...not that Timothy becomes an apostle, but he's taking up the next stage of leadership in the early church.
Timothy – remembering with intent
We're now going to look at Timothy through Paul's eyes as he reminisces in prayer about his 'son'...thanking God for Timothy. Its a review of Timothy's own story! Paul of course was his 'father', but Paul describes himself as a recipient in a long line of worshippers of God. (Read v 3). Perhaps he's thinking of OT heroes like Daniel, who kept his faith, ready to face the lions, rather than stop worshipping God, even if it was breaking the law of the day. Paul too had a clear conscience before God's throne, even if he was found guilty under Nero's.
As we aimed to pass on the message of Jesus to our kids, we read and re-read the Bible stories, as they grew up, aiming to make the stories come alive, so the kids interacted with them – that's how I got into children's ministry!
Verse 3 also says that Paul's first remembering about Timothy, is in prayer to God for him.
I'm the eldest of 6 kids, and I was prayed for by my parents on Mondays!..my sister on Tuesdays etc. I didn't know this until I was a young adult. From the day I was born they prayed I'd come to trust in Jesus, they prayed for my potential husband, a little boy somewhere in the world! – that he'd come to trust in Jesus. We now do the same with our 4 boys – its a weekly cycle of prayer, one son per day, god-children on Friday, our own marriage on Saturday, and our wider family and friends on Sunday. This routine keeps prayer happening. We've copied our forebears, who saw a model in Paul's diligence in prayer.
Paul's second remembering is in v4, 'recalling your tears'. Memory's a powerful thing – we can capture 'footage' of events that matter to us, which we store without thinking. So when Paul says he recalls Timothy's tears, he's affirming the depth of their relationship. As a boarding school girl I well remember the sobs on the first day back after the holidays as we parted from our parents. So it is with Paul and Timothy – the memory of Timothy's tears tell us how deep their relationship was.
Did this father-son relationship perhaps make up for the relationship Timothy didn't have with his own father? In Acts 16:1-3, we discover that Timothy was half Greek and half Jewish, but we're told nothing more about his dad. Relationships with our parents may not be wonderful all the time, even in churches relationships may not work out, but I believe that we're seeing something of a model here, where 'in Christ' we are a big family, and loving, restorative relationships are meant to happen. Friendships among peers and between generations can genuinely grow our faith and encourage us, even through suffering. Good, strong relationships are part of running the race.
But memory enables another powerful human faculty – the imagination! Paul longed to see Timothy again, to be filled with joy...and he imagines himself enjoying the reunion! We don't know if they ever met again in the flesh, but they could both hold on to the ultimate prize ...the promise of life in Christ Jesus!
And this truth, the truth of the resurrection is what I'm holding onto with my own mum who died 5 years ago, because it was she who taught me at a young age about heaven, in song. This was one way my parents handed on the faith to me – they sang to us at bedtime, and often they sang old songs about heaven:
'There's a home for little children above the bright blue sky,
where Jesus' reigns in glory and love will never die,
no home on earth is like it, nor can with it compare,
for everyone is happy, nor could be happier there'.
So, as my mum breathed her last breathes in this world, and as tears fell from my eyes, guess what I did? I sang her into heaven with this song about heaven! Of resurrection.
Paul's third remembering is of Timothy's sincere faith which was passed from his grandma Lois to his mum Eunice and then to him, v.5
Timothy's sincere faith had also been passed onto him by his biological family, like mine, and some of you, and memories must have flashed into Timothy's head. Were some of them personal stories from his mum and grandma's own faith?
We often told our kids stories about their grandparents faith – the story of how grand-dad had been shot three times in the Burma campaign in WW2, as he led a company of soldiers, and was awarded a Military Cross for bravery...but the bit my dad high-lighted, which was why he told the story, was that when he took his helmet off after the battle, and saw the bullet holes – yes two had penetrated the helmet, one was still lodged in the lining and the other had gouged a trail in the metal as it spun in one ear and out the other...but as the reality of what he saw sank in, it was as if he heard God saying: 'Joe, you have no right to be alive, the only thing you can do is give your life back to me'. My dad's faith was not strong at this time, but he'd been given another chance. This moment would change his life and take him to India, where he met my mum. This story is why I'm alive and my children...so we told them, so they too would follow the Lord Jesus of their parents and grandparents.
Who are your parents and grandparents in the faith? They may not even be older than you – but their story has encouraged you, perhaps led you to faith...but the Bible is full of our ancestors, whose stories of faith we can learn from and be encouraged by.
Faith is passed on. God uses people in its transmission. Perhaps we feel some pressure here? How should you speak to someone close to you about the faith? Its really challenging. Don't give up on you kids either. During the high school years, we learned to shut up about faith, as they figured things out for themselves. We spoke when they brought things up. We prayed a lot! And we also loved and supported them...but we didn't give up. We just kept on worshipping God and serving him. Have you been encouraging someone who's struggling, by thanking God for them in prayer?
Now Paul's 4th remembering gets Timothy involved - he asks Timothy to remember something. Something Timothy seems to have forgotten or neglected – 'I remind you to re-kindle the gift of God that is within you', through the laying on of Paul's hands v 6. We're not told exactly what it was – spiritual leadership of some kind.
God has given his people gifts to grow the church, just as God had chosen Paul. Notice that Timothy's gift is 'within him' indicating that God had planted it in him – a spiritual achievement. But God had used the laying on of hands by Paul and others, perhaps at his baptism or at a commissioning of some sort - like an early ordination service perhaps. But all gifts, whether given by God naturally through our genes, or spiritually, need to be developed and used. We have to take them up.
As a new christian Timothy was 'well-spoken of' - he showed promise, and that was enough for Paul to bring him onto his team, discover what he was good at and get him exercising his gifts.
I was picked as a house captain, then a prefect at school, but unlike most of my friends I also went to a christian club called Crusaders – not very cool, but these two things shaped my early sense of being a leader. Moving to Australia was a challenge at 17, but I learned this culture too, and now part of my leadership is to people on the edge, like children, and with new arrivals – that's why I love working with the Chinese. At my baptism, as a baby, a lady had encouraged my parents that I would grow up to bring many children to love Jesus. They never told me this until a few years ago, when I'd already become a children's minister! That's a snap-shot of my story.
Here at St Toms I've noticed very few people who are not using some gift or another. Chris expects you to become a worker and use your gifts. You might need to try something out if you're new, or do you sense you're ready to serve in a new capacity? Perhaps your gift is to pray each morning and evening for this church, and family members who don't know God.
Timothy for now
Paul's letter to Timothy comes at a time when Timothy isn't feeling positive – Look what Paul says in verse 7 (read it) – cowardice does not come from the Spirit of God! But Timothy's been hiding his gift in the background out of cowardly fear. Now cowardice is not the same as burn-out, or sickness, or taking a well-earned rest...but when it presents, cowardly fear needs an antidote.
So, to combat cowardice, Paul reminds Timothy and himself, (did you see the 'us' in v7?) and its very relevant to us today as well, Paul reminds Timothy of the Spirit that they/we have received: of power, love and a self-discipline. God's power isn't a distressing version of what we see in our surrounding culture...you know – meet the trouble-makers head-on! Its the strength to keep going, trusting that God will use us...like Moses lifting his stick and watching the waters part...like a runner putting one step in front of the other. God's power is given one day at a time! I often pray. 'Lord, I can't do this day, give me your strength, I can't do it on my own.'
And what is the spirit of love? Well, its easy to love each other when all's going well, but what about when we ruffle each other's feathers? When we're not loveable? When we go astray? God's given us the Spirit of love to forgive each other, to bring each other back when we stray, for love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things, it never ends. We haven't got love like this, but through his Spirit, God gives it to us, day by day, as we ask. And self-discipline, or sound-mindedness really – keeping a wise and level head on your shoulders...which isn't easily perturbed and swayed. This last one is the I need most each day. The Spirit of God gives this as we ask...day by day as we ask! What are you in need of most right now?
There is much for us to learn in this letter. We're in a race, and its all connected to the true message about Jesus. We're heading for the the promise of life in Christ Jesus. We've got forebears in the faith to look to, whether in the Bible itself, in books, online, or through people who love us now. We've been given gifts by God to take up and use. Cowardice melts away, when we rely on God's Spirit of power, love and sound-mindedness, which is available day after day. Will we keep running?
