Living the Gospel. 2nd in a series in 2 Timothy. Last week Last Words. READ 2 Timothy 1:8-18

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1 Living the Gospel 2nd in a series in 2 Timothy. Last week Last Words. READ 2 Timothy 1:8-18 This week I showed a school class from Prem. around the church, before they went on the visit a Sikh temple, a Buddhist temple and a Mosque. They asked about the First Church logo with the symbols of the dove and the fish, and looking round this building saw the prominence of the cross as the sign of our Christian faith. Having found a good number of Eaglesheets from a service last Christmas, they filled them in while I told them the story of the birth of Jesus, and the angel s announcement of the birth of a Saviour The angels, appearing to the shepherds with their special announcement, were looking in from timelessness to our time-bound existence. The angels, *seeing the whole story, *aware of the BIG picture, *conscious of the full sweep from the beginning to the end, proclaim the pivotal significance of Jesus birth. They looked BACK to Adam s disobedience in a garden that forfeited eternal life, And looked FORWARD to Christ s obedience in a garden that would regain eternal life. They announce: GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY NEWS OF THE COMING OF THE SAVIOUR! They looked BACK to when the tree of life became the tree of death, And looked forward to when the tree of death would become the tree of life. They announce: GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY NEWS OF THE COMING OF THE SAVIOUR! v. 10 God s grace was revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. What a wonderful gospel!! Did you see the rainbows this week? Rainbows are a sign of the everlasting covenant between God and all the creatures of the earth and similarly, the church is also a sign

2 Some years earlier Paul had written a letter to the church in Ephesus, and in it he wrote: I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. EPHESIANS 3:7-13 God s purpose is centred in the church! v. 9 we have been saved and called to live a holy life. God has saved us and called us for fellowship with each other To belong to each other } To need each other } To grow each other } HOLINESS To bless each other } To challenge each other } On numerous occasions Paul tells his readers to follow his example because Paul knew that there were many things that are more effectively caught than taught! Join with others in following my example PHIL 3:17 You became imitators of us 1 THESS. 1:6 We did this to make ourselves a model for you to follow 2 THESS. 3:9 Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ 1 COR. 11:1 We need role models! As the proverb says, Iron sharpens iron. this living body of believers will be a sign to the world and to the heavens just like a rainbow! v. 9 we have been saved and called to live a holy life not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace

3 We are only saved because of God s grace none of us deserve God s love and mercy, none of us can earn it, but by God s we can freely receive it. Because it is grace for us all salvation is a level playing field we are all equally saved by grace, not by works so that NONE of us can boast. Once again, Paul wrote to the Ephesians: The dividing wall of hostility has been broken down because through Jesus we all have access to the Father by one Spirit. Where would there have been dividing walls of hostility in this church but for the gospel? India / Pakistan } Japan / China } instead of hostilities, Everyone / America } one single community England / Germany in Kohistan. } this living body of believers will be a sign to the world and to the heavens just like a rainbow! v. 10 this grace has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. In living Jesus radiated light and life In dying Jesus destroyed death In living and dying Jesus has brought us LIFE & IMMORTALITY eternal life. celebrating this hope and this life together will be a sign to the world and to the heavens just like a rainbow! In his commentary on 2 Timothy Andrew Sampsom writes: God has not given up on his church and neither should we Today the Church communicates the transforming power of the gospel most effectively to the world through the formation of heterogeneous communities in which people of different races, languages and socio-economic status relate to one other by virtue of their shared experience of salvation!...cmcc!! God s purpose centred in the church! v And of this gospel, says Paul, I was appointed a herald, and an apostle and a teacher. And we could add to that list: Preacher Evangelist Missionary Theologian Apologist Intercessor Author Tent maker!

4 And yet Paul never act like an autonomous unit without the need of anyone else he taught and he modeled that God s salvation is demonstrated through the body of believers the church. If he always recognizes his need of others and worked with others as a team, how can we possibly think otherwise!!?? God s purpose is centred in the church! And Paul s message to Timothy in this letter is: Stand your ground! Be strong and courageous, depending on God for all you stand in need of. Work for the church because the church is the demonstration of saving grace and of healing love to a broken world. Steve Timmis recently did a series of posts on Twitter on living ordinary life with gospel intentionality (see Total Church, and ). Here they are gathered together (adapted by Rupert) Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means buying from local shops & market. Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means frequenting a local coffee shop, club, gym Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means playing for a local sports team. Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means always tipping generously in local restaurants. Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means being the kind of neighbour everyone wants to have as a neighbour. Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means volunteering at Raintree / bringing a Thai friend to a club to improve his/her English Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means doing ordinary things in community. Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means opening your home and sharing with others. Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means we do EVERYTHING for the sake of the gospel! Feel the gospel in what we do / will be doing as a church Prison visiting Hospital visiting Last Saturday of the month outreach what??! Thanksgiving event Christmas pageant / caroling / services Sending Dan on his Tour-de-truth THIS WEEK! Starting SPOTLIGHT English Listening Club Holiday Bible Club Youth Ministry Outreaches including Mission Trips Meeting together on a Sunday Serving the church to be the church & that s despite all the ministries represented! Embracing our world with the heart of God This is what the opportunity to serve form are all about! Fulfilling God s purpose as it is focused and expressed as in CMCC!

5 vv. 11& 12- And of this gospel, says Paul, I was appointed a herald, and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. v. 8 Join me in suffering for the gospel. At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith. Vance Havner. The gospel offends because it is undeserved freeness inescapable indebtedness to the cross. The gospel is a mirror to the heart: It reveals it s wickedness It exposes our need to be saved / rescued It refuses to accept personal merit as the means of acceptance before God It leaves no place for your virtue and pride If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: "O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!" Martin Luther. Paul is suffering, and yet he is not ashamed Paul says to Timothy, and don t you be ashamed either Of testifying about our Lord for he suffered for you Or of me his prisoner because I m suffering for the gospel. v. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Christ Paul Timothy YOU! v. 14 Guard the good deposit the treasure / the gospel guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit. It would seem that, when Paul was rearrested, some people felt that the Christian cause was now lost, and that many responded to his being taken prisoner for the last time, by disowning Paul and rejecting what he had taught. It was a very sad & tragic situation. ACTS: All had heard the gospel & many had believed, but then he writes everyone in the province of Asia deserted me (v.15), Including Phylegus and Hermogenes (the only place we hear of these 2) all except Onesiphorous, that is he was a faithful friend of Paul and a faithful servant of Jesus! Names recorded for posterity what will you be remembered for in God s records?

6 Despite this sad and depressing scenario, Paul is confident that God will preserve the gospel He will preserve the truth that he has committed to the church we know this because we know in whom we have trusted (v. 12) so Guard it faithfully Spread it actively Suffer for it bravely because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. AMEN.