The Attributes of God:

Following the Right Compass 2 Timothy 3:1-12. “Now you followed my teaching conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance.”                   We live in confusing times when it seems there are many views regarding moral truth.  We live in a world where Alice’s  (i.e., Alice in Wonderland) dream has become a reality. Alice describes her world in the story: “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.  Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t.  And contrary-wise, what it is wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would.”  We live in a world where what used to be wrong has become right, and what formerly was right is not condemned as wrong.  How do we determine direction and perspective in a confused world?               ...

Reading Scripture Rightly 2 Timothy 1:14-19 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”                   Just as important as reading the Bible is interpreting and reading it correctly. From the original words penned by the authors under the inspiration of God to our modern translations, there are very few errors or distortions, so when we read our English Bible, we can have absolute confidence that it remains the word of God.  Most error comes in not from the process of transmitting the text from the hand of Paul to our hands today.  Where the gregarious errors enter is in our handling and reading of the Bible, when we change the meaning of the words to fit our own bias and to justify our actions and opinions.  In this passage, Paul reminds Timothy that his most important task ...

Advancing the Gospel even in Suffering 2 Timothy 2:1-13 “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.”                   As Paul was writing his final letter to Timothy, he was writing when the church faced severe persecution and opposition. Nero had already descended into madness and brutality.  He would become known for his cruelty and his persecution of Christians, whom he would use as human torches in his gardens to provide light for his parties.  It was a time when Christians would face intense persecution throughout the Roman Empire.  Paul himself likely became a victim of Nero’s persecution and hatred of Christians.                  ...

Gaining Perspective 2 Timothy 1:8-14 “For this reason, I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”                   The sage in Ecclesiastes 7:2  writes words that seem strange and out of place.  As he examines all the struggles and challenges in life, he states, “It is better to go to the house of mourning  than to go to the house of feasting because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart.” We like to avoid talking about death and the sense of finality it brings. No one ever goes to a funeral because they want to.  We go because we want to be a support to the family and express our respect and appreciation for the person who passed away.   When we confront death, we gain a whole new perspective on...

The Lost Art of Contentment 1 Timothy 6:6-10 “But godliness actually is a means of great gain which is accompanied by contentment.”                   The most challenging quality to possess is contentment.  We can obtain and extol many excellent qualities, but the ability to be genuinely content is perhaps the most difficult virtue to discover. We can demonstrate love, find joy, and have patience towards others, but to be genuinely content with all that we have in the present is elusive and fleeting.  When we think we have attained it, our eyes fasten upon something we want, and we become discontent until we obtain it.                    As Paul closes out his instructions with Timothy, he reminds Timothy of a vital lesson everyone must learn, including pastors and those in ministry....

Maintaining Our Spiritual Health 1 Timothy 4:6-10 “For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”                   The global fitness industry continues to grow at an incredible rate.  It is estimated that in  2022, the fitness industry generated a market value of 104 billion dollars and that by 2030, it is projected to grow to $202 billion.  In the United States, the fitness industry has a value of 40 billion dollars in 2023.  The millennials are specifically known as the “wellness generation” as they place health as one of their top priorities. Indeed, there is value in taking care of our physical health and well-being.  Paul himself affirms the value of physical discipline when he states that bodily discipline has some profit....

The Wonder of Extravagant Grace 1 Timothy 1:12-17 “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”                   It is easy to become ensnared by the past. Past mistakes and sins can become our proverbial ball and chain, dragging us down into the pit of guilt and shame. However, Scripture teaches that no sin is beyond the grace of God's forgiveness, no matter how horrific in our eyes.                   In our mental picture of Paul, we see him as the stalwart of faith. Paul remains the champion of theologians for his ability to capture into words the complexity of our understanding of God and His salvation.  Whether Paul was sharing the gospel with rough sailors or confronting intellectual giants on...