All for the Kingdom

Sermon Podcast

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2 Timothy, Endurance Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Endurance Ben Smith

To God be the Glory, 2 Timothy 4:9-22

When death is near and your days are coming to an end, trivial concerns will prove to be of no importance. However, for faithful Christians, the gospel hope and the glory of God will be the singular hope and concern. Reflecting on his present trials and the fullness of his ministry, Paul points those who will now carry on the ministry to God's power, provision, and glory. His life has been lived as a drink offering for God's glory. Likewise, all believers must live lives for God's glory.

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2 Timothy, Endurance Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Endurance Ben Smith

Pursue a Worthy Goal, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

As Paul concludes his letter, he reflects on his ministry and the cost he has endured. His recounting of these things is not to brag but to pass the baton on to Timothy and those who will continue to preach the word.  

The gospel requires total sacrifice and faithful endurance, knowing that whatever the cost, the hope of heaven is worth it all. Those who have given their lives for Christ desire to see the work continue in succeeding generations.

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2 Timothy, Preaching Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Preaching Ben Smith

Preach the Word, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

TPreach the word. Three simple words. One powerful command.

The message of the passage is straightforward. You must faithfully proclaim God's word and sound teaching regardless of the world's acceptance or hostility. So, how can you faithfully obey this command to preach the word?

This passage teaches three things that are required of you to be faithful to preach the word.

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2 Timothy, Scripture Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Scripture Ben Smith

Sufficiency of Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:10-17

To endure the hostilities of this world, you must remain faithful to the word of God, even if it requires you to stand apart from the world and unfaithful Christians.

Paul had known persecution and great suffering for the gospel. He knew that Timothy and the faithful church would likewise experience the world's hostility and the abuse of false teachers. He knew that under these pressures, there would be a great temptation to abandon the foundation of the faith.

Faced with the ever-growing threat of worldly hostility and spiritual imposters, how can you remain faithful to the Lord and mature in the faith? The Bible's answer is plain and simple: Hold firm to your faith and God's word.

This passage contains two commands that, when obeyed, provide for believers to remain faithful in a hostile world.

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2 Timothy, Endurance Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Endurance Ben Smith

Enduring Difficult Times, 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Knowledge and understanding give perspective and hope in the midst of difficult times. 2 Timothy chapter 3 begins with the description of difficult days that the church will endure. Paul writes these words to inform Timothy that he might have knowledge and understanding to help him endure. These words are for the church today, so you also will have knowledge and understanding to help you endure.

This passage teaches three things that enable you to endure these difficult days.

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2 Timothy, Elders Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Elders Ben Smith

Ready for every Good Work, 2 Timothy 2:20-26

To be useful to God, you must be set apart from sin and the world. And if you are to be used by God to rescue those who have swerved from the truth, you must reject the temptation to be quarrelsome and instead teach the truth with the gentleness and patience of Christ.

This passage has two commands required of those who desire to be ready for every good work and a good servant of the Lord.

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2 Timothy, God's word, Preaching Ben Smith 2 Timothy, God's word, Preaching Ben Smith

Approved and Unashamed Workman, 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Competence and skill are not declared but demonstrated. The evidence of a workman’s competence and skill is proved over time when their work proves to be able to endure the test of time.

The primary task of every ministry of the gospel is to rightly and faithfully make God’s word known. There are temptations that work against this, but Paul warns Timothy not to swerve from the truth.

In this passage, the Bible gives two commands to keep you from swerving from the truth so that you might be an approved and unashamed workman. It also gives a test that testifies to the genuineness of your faith and approval before God.

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Remember Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:8-13

When the difficulties of this world seem too great, the cost of following Jesus too high, and your strength and ability too weak, remember Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, rose victoriously over death, and is coming again. Remember that the glory of salvation in Jesus makes all the costs and burdens of ministry worth it.

How can you keep Jesus at the forefront of your mind and heart when difficult moments come? How can you avoid the temptation to quit when you are suffering, when the costs of following Jesus are great, or when you find yourself discouraged? From this passage, Pastor Ben Smith encourages you to endure by remembering Jesus in moments of suffering, when you are counting the cost of following Jesus, and when you are discouraged.

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2 Timothy, Gospel, Suffering Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Gospel, Suffering Ben Smith

Soldiers for Christ, 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Work, labor, and suffering are not words well received today. Wealth and modern conveniences have created a world where ease and comfort are celebrated as the ultimate goal. This unhealthy celebration of ease and comfort has also infected the church. Many Christians today see their relationship with the church and gospel work not in terms of sacrifice and service but in terms of consumer choice and comfort.

God calls every Christian to labor in the gospel work. And God equips faithful Christians for the work. No Christian is called to be only a consumer. Ease and comfort are not the ultimate goals of followers of Christ. Christians are called to be about gospel work regardless of cost or difficulty. 2 Timothy 2:1-7 teaches three fundamental truths that must be understood by those who desire to be faithful to the gospel work.

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2 Timothy, Gospel, Encouragement Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Gospel, Encouragement Ben Smith

Ministry of Faithfulness, 2 Timothy 1:15-18

When hard times come, many who once professed the gospel will fall away. In 2 Timothy 1:15-18, Paul speaks frankly with Timothy, not to be surprised when some fall away but to receive the good blessing of the ministry of those who are faithful.

Like Timothy, you may be discouraged today as you observe many people falling away from the faith. How can you guard your heart against discouragement when it seems many are falling away from the gospel? This passage teaches three truths that encourage the church in days of great unfaithfulness.

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2 Timothy, Calling, Wittness, Gospel, Testimony Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Calling, Wittness, Gospel, Testimony Ben Smith

I Am Not Ashamed, 2 Timothy 1:8-14

What are you ashamed of?

In a broken and sinful world, what is shameful is often celebrated, and what should be celebrated is shamed. To be ashamed of something is to feel shame or disgrace because you are embarrassed, guilty, or humiliated to be associated with it.

Insecurities and fears tempt you to be ashamed of Jesus and the gospel, but Christians must confidently identify with Jesus and boldly proclaim the gospel truth. That is easily said, but how can you resist the temptation to be ashamed of the gospel? This passage teaches us three ways to fight against the temptation to be ashamed of the gospel.

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2 Timothy, Calling, Family of God, Witness Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Calling, Family of God, Witness Ben Smith

Fan the Flame, 2 Timothy 1:3-7

The faith of your parents is a blessing, but you must also actively stir up your faith by remembering what God has done for you, in you, and is doing through you.

Fanning the flames of your faith does not begin with the actions you take; it starts with turning your attention to what God has done and is doing. 1 Timothy 1:3-7 calls you to three ways you can fan the flame of faith in your life.

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2 Timothy, Church, Calling, Prayer, Family of God Ben Smith 2 Timothy, Church, Calling, Prayer, Family of God Ben Smith

Seeing with God’s Perspective, 2 Timothy 1:1-2

As Paul writes these opening words of this final letter to the young pastor Timothy, he is not writing as a failure, in defeat, or even depressed by his circumstances. Paul writes with expectation and authority, knowing that his life is not his own and the kingdom of God is not dependent on his circumstances.

This is not an effort to put a positive spin on a bad situation. This is Paul writing and living according to God's perspective, not man's. To live faithfully and obediently to the Lord, you must live according to God's perspective, not man's.

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