Letters
2 Timothy 3 - Living in the Last Days
- Details
- Written by: George Hemmings
Living in the Last Days audio (6MB)
Living in the Last Days - Youth Service Sermon audio (6MB)
2 Timothy 3
2 Timothy 2:1-13 - Share in Suffering
- Details
- Written by: George Hemmings
Remembering audio (6MB)
2 Timothy 2:1-13
It’s great to be with you again and great to be sharing as we continue looking at 2 Timothy. Speaking of sharing, I’ve got something I’d like to share with you today. I'm sorry there’s not enough for everybody, but I wonder who’d like to share one of these with me? In our house it feels like we’re spending a lot of time talking about sharing at the moment! In today’s passage Paul has something he wants Timothy to share in. But it’s not as nice as a packet of Tim Tams. Instead he wants Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel. In fact, Paul wants all of us to know that we have to share in suffering for the gospel. I wonder how that makes you feel? I wonder if I invited you to share in suffering with me, if you would’ve come up as eagerly?
2 Timothy 1:1-7 Remembering
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- Written by: Ruth Newmarch
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.
1 Tim 6:11-21
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Focus on What Counts. audio (6.4MB)
1 Timothy 6:11-21
I wonder what you think the greatest threat facing the church is? Secularism and the push to privatize religion? The rise of militant atheism that’s always ready to attack Christianity? Perhaps it’s young people with their lack of respect? Or old people stuck in their ways? Globally, we’re regularly reminded of the bombing of churches, such as took place in Pakistan recently. We’re reminded of the threat of persecution from those outside the church.
As we’ve read through 1 Timothy, we’ve seen other threats facing the church. Paul constantly charges Timothy to confront the threat posed by false teaching. Flowing from this is the threat posed by poor leadership. There’s also the threat of disunity, and of the community failing to care for itself. Three times in the letter, Paul refers to the threat posed by the enemy, by Satan, who prowls around looking for an opportunity to destroy the church. Surely this is the greatest threat, the greatest danger facing the church?
But, the truth is, the greatest danger comes from within. The greatest danger is that we allow any of these other things to distract us from the truth. The greatest danger facing the church is that we lose our focus on what counts, that we fail to keep a firm grip on our faith.
1 Tim 6:1-10
- Details
- Written by: Ian Thomason
Putting a public face to a person's faith. audio
1 Timothy 6:1-10
Let's pray.
Father we thank you for sending your Son to save us, and for providing the perfect example of a life lived fully for you. This morning as we reflect on your Holy Word please encourage us, challenge us, shape us, and transform us. May Paul's teaching us today 'sing and sting', 'wound and heal'. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Who thinks being a Christian is easy? I'm open to hearing hints because I'll be honest I don't find it comes naturally at all!
The biggest problem I find is that my faith isn't strictly my own personal affair, and it can't be. Because my faith's not just about me and it's not just for me. And this is really crappy because the 'me' bit is dead easy; ask Louise, and I reckon she'll tell you I've had it down pat for years!
