"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY" What Kind Of Men God Needs (2:2) INTRODUCTION 1. Earlier in 2nd Timothy, we saw "What Kind Of Men God Makes" (2 Ti 1:7)... a. Fearless men b. Strong men c. Loving men d. Sound men 2. In 2Ti 2:2, we now find Paul giving a charge to Timothy... a. To teach others what Paul had taught him b. Who in turn would be able to teach others 3. In this charge we learn how the Lord's church was to propagate itself... a. Those who are taught teaching others b. A continuous cycle of learning and teaching [A very effective and quite adequate method, but it works only when the right kind of men are to be found. From our text (2Ti 2:2) , consider "What Kind Of Men God Needs"; e.g., He needs...] I. GOD NEEDS FAITHFUL MEN A. FAITHFUL TO THE LORD... 1. Just as the Lord Himself was faithful, as was Moses - He 3:2 2. Just as Paul himself was counted faithful - 1Ti 1:12 -- Men whom the Lord can trust, depend B. FAITHFUL TO THE WORD... 1. Holding fast the pattern of sound words, in love and faith - 2Ti 1:13 2. Continuing in the things one has learned - 2Ti 3:14 -- Men who preach the truth of God, and practice what they preach C. FAITHFUL TO THE CHURCH... 1. Their own brothers and sisters among whom they will serve the Lord on their behalf 2. Serving their brethren like Epaphras did the church at Colosse - Col 1:7 -- Men whom the local church can trust, depend [In other words, men "...who not only have received the grace of God, and are true believers in Christ, but are men of great uprightness and integrity; who having the word of God, will speak it out boldly, and faithfully, and keep back nothing that is profitable, but declare the whole counsel of God, without any mixture or adulteration; for the Gospel being committed to their trust, they would become stewards, and of such it is required that they be faithful; and therefore this is mentioned as a necessary and requisite qualification in them..." (Gill). From our text we note that God also needs...] II. GOD NEEDS TEACHABLE MEN A. WILLING TO BE TAUGHT BY OTHERS... 1. Unless men are willing to be taught, God's method won't work! 2. Timothy himself provides a good example: a. Willing first to be taught by his mother and grandmother - cf. 2Ti 1:5; 3:14-15 b. Willing to go with Paul and be taught by him - cf. Ac 16:1-3 -- Men who willing to be students first, then teachers B. WILLING TO BE TAUGHT BY THEMSELVES... 1. Self-study is an important part of preparing to teach - cf. 2Ti 2:15; 1Ti 4:13,15-16 2. As illustrated by Ezra the priest - Ezr 7:10 -- Men who do not wait for others to teach them, but study on their own! [In other words, men who take advantage of every opportunity to learn; whether it be at the feet of someone else, or in the privacy of their own study. They love the truth that much! Then notice that God needs...] III. GOD NEEDS TEACHING MEN A. WILLING TO TEACH OTHER MEN... 1. Unless men are willing to teach others, God's method won't work! 2. Again, Timothy provides a good example: a. What he learned from Paul, he was willing to tell others - cf. 1Co 4:17 b. Paul could depend upon him to teach others - cf. 1Ti 1:3 3. Teaching others makes one a faithful minister of Christ - 1 Ti 4:6 -- Men who do not keep the truth they love to themselves, but share it with others! B. WILLING TO TEACH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES... 1. Not everyone serves as a teacher in a formal sense - cf. 1Co 12:29; Jm 3:1; Ep 4:11 2. But everyone should be able to teach others something - cf. He 5:12 a. Men have different abilities - cf. 1Pe 4:10-11; Ro 12:3-8 b. Even those who serve with their hands can teach others how to do so -- Men who teach whatever skills and abilities they may have! CONCLUSION 1. For the gospel to spread and the Lord's church to grow, God needs the right kind of men... a. Men who are faithful b. Men who are teachable c. Men who will teach -- I.e., men willing to serve the Lord! 2. This need is not limited to those of the male gender, the Lord also needs... a. Older women who are willing to teach younger women - cf. Tit 2:3 b. Young women who are willing to learn from them - cf. Tit 2:4-5 -- I.e., women willing to serve the Lord! In whatever way that is keeping with our abilities and God's will, everyone should be both student and teacher. Remember the words of the Psalmist... "A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this." - Ps 22:30-31 "Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come." - Ps 71:18 "We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children," - Ps 78:4-6 "One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts." - Ps 145:4 If everyone was a student and teacher like yourself, would the Lord's church be in existence in the next generation...?Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
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