ext. 2 Timothy 3:1-9
To help students recognize that we are on a mission that has an end zone.
Student Guides, Bible Quiz Materials.
InteractiveIdea
“Warped”
Ask students to define the word “warped.” Then ask, “Have you
ever seen a piece of wood that has been warped? It is good for
nothing, and is just thrown away or put on the fire. Today’s
lesson is about warped people!
I. WARPED ROLE MODELS
A. Their Times (2 Timothy 3:1)
Examination
In 2 Timothy 3:1-9 Paul gives an advance description of what
things will be like in the last days. He wrote, “But mark this: There
will be terrible times in the last days.” We live in a time in which
many of the prophecies of Scripture are possible in a way that
could not have been possible before our generation.
Illustration
Some people have never been so convinced that the return of Jesus will be
soon. Why? Because:
1. Doctrine: Never before has the Church debated the issue of Apocalypse.
Through the centuries, debates have been discussed between men of great
faith over various doctrinal issues.
1 & 2nd Centuries the debate was over Apologetics (Christ vs. pagans, Gnostics),
3/4th Century debates centered upon theology proper (Trinity-Monarchian,
Arian, Macedonian controversies);
5th Century centered upon a debate over anthropology (doctrine of manAugustinian, Pelagian);
5/6/7th Centuries was about Christology (Nestorian, Eutychian, Monophysite,
Monothelite debates);
The Protestant Reformation centered upon soteriology (redemption) and eccle-
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granted for reproduction only for the study of Global Youth Ministry curriculum by
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siology (priesthood) (Moody, p167);
Only the issue of Eschatology remains, and John F. Walvoord wrote: “It has
been mostly in the last century that eschatology has really come to the fore as
an area for scholarly study and debate.” (p.116, The Interpretation of Prophecy).
In addition to this, never before in the history of the Church have we so
closely paralleled the end times as symbolized in Revelation 2-3. A look at
that passage gives us a distinct picture of the history of the Church.
The Ephesian church parallels the church of the early apostles in AD 30-100.
The Smyrna Church parallels the suffering of the church under the Roman
Caesars, AD 100-300.
The Pergamum Church parallels the time during AD 300-600 in which the
church came under Imperial protection.
The Thyatira Church parallels the early Roman Catholic era in which ecclesiastical heirarchy took root.
The Sardis Church parallels the Reformation Church which began so well with
Luther and Calvin and Zwingli, but now lives off of its past reputation.
The Philadelphia Church parallels the rise of the modern mission movement
which began in the 1750's and continues to the present although weakening.
Notice that God says, in Revelation 3:10 that this church will be spared the
Tribulation that is to come.
The last church, Laodocea, is rich and worldly and thinks that it needs nothing,
but is completely lukewarm. That is the church that will go into the Tribulation as the church which the antichrist overtakes.
2. Destruction: Never before has man actually been capable of causing the
kind of devastation mentioned in the book of Revelation until modern
times. There could not have been armies of the size mentioned in prophecy.
Some arms experts estimate that the weapons of our nuclear arsenals are
able to destroy the earth 150 times over. This was not possible before 1945
when the nuclear era began. Now whole cities can be vaporized as Jeremiah
prophesied in Jeremiah 4:6-7. (See Mal 24:22). Military experts say that
1/3 of the nation would die in the first strike. How interesting that this parallels Scripture in the book of Revelation's second horse. (See Ezekiel 5:12).
Also, never before could the Antichrist have signed a peace treaty with the
nation of Israel. But now this is possible. (See Daniel 9:26). This covenant
could not have been signed prior to the year 1948, when Jews re-gathered
from all over the world to the miraculously recreated state of Israel. When
the treaty is signed, Israel will begin to rebuild the Temple, which will be in
place midway through the Tribulation (See Orlando Sentinel article, October 16, l989, concerning the “Jerusalem Temple stone".)
3. Dissemination of Information: Never before has human communication
been world-wide as presumed in the book of Revelation. (See Matthew
24:14, Revelation 11).
Application
These observations are not meant to assert that the last days will
happen tomorrow; only that they could not have happened yesterday. One thing is clear: those days will be characterized by lukewarm believers within the Church. As unthinkable as it seems, the
Church will become a tool of the antichrist.
B. Their Traits (2 Timothy 3:2-5)
Examination
In verses 2-5 Paul described for Timothy the markings of the last
days. We cannot help which season we are born into in the world’s
history, but we can help how we respond to it. In 2 Timothy 3:5,
Paul interjected a strong word to Timothy as he continues to describe those who are clearly not role models to follow: “Have
nothing to do with them.” What will “them” be like? Look at the
list!
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Lovers of themselves
Lovers of money
Boastful, proud
Abusive
Disobedient to their parents
Ungrateful
Unholy
Without love
Unforgiving
Slanderous
Without self control
Brutal
Not lovers of the good
Treacherous
Rash
Conceited
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
Having a form of godliness but denying its power.
These behaviors have always existed. What makes them unusual?
The people who espouse them are not pagans, but rather
“religious” people who think nothing of behaving badly. Even
good “Christian” people will display awful character!
Illustration
People will be like vacuum cleaners, sucking the life out of everything
around them. They will go around making a huge sucking noise like a vacuum! (Read the poem "Twas the night Before Jesus Came" —Appendix A).
Application
Only the Lord knows when the end will come. However, we are
observing here that fulfillment of Scripture is much more possible
today than ever before; in fact, previous to this past century it is
hard to conceive that some of the prophecies above could have
been fulfilled at all. On a more positive side, it has never been
more possible for the Gospel to be published throughout the earth,
as Jesus declared it would be in Matthew 24:14. In any event we
are told to be ready and alert.
C. Their Targets (2 Timothy 3:6-9)
Examination
In verses 6-9 Paul described the kind of people whom these unsavory people will prey upon, and the effects of their selfishness
upon unsuspecting people. He wrote, “They are the kind who
worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed
women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all
kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.” It certainly would be good to heed Paul’s advice
in verse 5! These people are the kind who look for weak-willed
people who because of their guilt over their unrepented sin and
their evil desires will be easy targets. They will “wear” truth, yet
not be swayed by it. Paul used the example of Jannes and Jambres,
the sorcerers who opposed Moses before the Pharaoh.
Illustration
Some of our popular role models in politics and the media have a “form of
godliness” but the evidence is lacking. This has always been so. Many years
ago the “rock star” Madonna wore a cross. Yet, Alek Keshishian, director
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granted for reproduction only for the study of Global Youth Ministry curriculum by
a licensed (purchasing) church. No online or other duplication is permitted.
of her Blond Amibition Tour documentary, "Truth or Dare: On the Road,
Behind the Scenes and In Bed with Madonna", said of her in Vanity Fair
"Apparently...all but one of Madonna's dancers are openly gay, and their
sexuality is very much part of the movie. In one scene, two men kiss passionately while Madonna looks on enthusiastically. "That's my favorite
scene in the movie, she says. I love that people are going to watch that and
go home and talk about it all night long. I live for things like that." (USA
Today, 3/11/91 p.2D). Live for that?
D. Their Tragedy (2 Timothy 3:9)
Examination
In verse 9, Paul declares the end result of selfish people. “But they
will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their
folly will be clear to everyone.” Selfishness cannot be masked for
very long. At some point it will be evident to people that this person is acting out of selfish motives.
II. WORTHY ROLE MODELS (2 Timothy 3:10-17)
A. Their Transparency (2 Timothy 3:10-11)
Examination
In 2 Timothy 3:10-13, Paul reminded Timothy to focus his attention on the role model of people who were worthy of emulating.
He reminded Timothy of his own life, a stark contrast to the description of the selfish people in verses 1-9. He wrote in verse 1011, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my
purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium
and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.” Timothy had actually
been present to witness Paul’s lifestyle, and even some of the instances of persecution against him. Timothy had seen how selfless
Paul had been for the sake of Christ. There was absolutely no denying it. Paul was an “open book” to Timothy because he didn’t
try to hide anything from him or be deceitful about who he was.
Application
When we watch people’s behavior over a period of time, up close
and personal, we tend to see where they are strong and where they
are wrong! We learn to discern! It is when we do not know people
well that they are more able to “hoodwink” us into believing that
they are something that they are not. Don’t follow someone too
closely who has not proven themselves over time.
B. Their Tenacity in Trials (2 Timothy 3:11-13)
Examination
Paul had many trials in his life, but yet he persevered through
them, and continued to serve others in the midst of them. That is
the kind of person who has truly proven themselves as worthy role
models. Look at the way he ended verse 11: “Yet the Lord rescued
me from all of them. In fact everyone who wants to live a godly
life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Paul had continued to serve God even when it was very, very difficult. He gave all credit to the Lord; yet the key point here is that he
did persevere! He didn’t quit, thus destroying all that he had stood
for in front of Timothy and others.
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Application
What a temptation we sometimes have to just give up because we
look around and see bad people who are seemingly having a successful life...of sin. We wonder why we are getting the short end of
the stick, being persecuted for doing good while evil triumphs. But
Paul just encourages Timothy to look a little further down the road
at the increasing depravity of that kind of lifestyle. It will become
a vicious cycle in which they not only deceive but are also deceived by others like them. It will be a dog-eat-dog world for such
people. They will attempt to outwit one another, but they will all
lose in the end.
C. Their Trustworthiness (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Examination
In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Paul wrote, “But as for you, continue in
what you have learned and have become convinced of, because
you know those from whom you learned it….” Paul reminded
Timothy that there were people in his life, like his grandmother
and his mother, not to mention Paul himself, who had actually
lived out the truth of God’s Word before him. They were trustworthy sources of truth!
Application
Who is a trustworthy source of truth in your life? Someone who
has been there and has lived according to a set of principles day in
and day out that keep eternal principles in mind? And what about
your trustworthiness? Is your life teaching appropriate lessons for
your friends to follow? Can you say this to the younger believers
around you: “Do as I do”? When your family and friends closely
observe your life, your actions don’t lie. Will your words match
your talk, or will there be an observable gulf between the two?
Will your actions make a liar of you?
D. Their Truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Examination
Look at the advice Paul gives to young Timothy in verses 16-17.
He points him to something beyond himself as the ultimate authority for living, the Word of God. Paul knows that people must look
to God’s Word as the final authority for life rather than the opinions or platitudes of any human. Ah, there are many good people,
and many who seem to be good. How do we know who is telling
us the truth? We must judge not according to appearances but according to a timeless standard! In verse 16, Paul reminded Timothy that he had been raised according to Scripture. Timothy had
been raised “by the book.” When other students look at us and see
Scripture come alive, the “living word” lived out through us, and
then desire to emulate what they see of the Word through us, we
can take great satisfaction in that!
Application
Even though we admire the leaders among us, we should not accept their values at face value. Even the best of leaders is not wise
or competent enough to encompass all truth. We are broken people; even believers are broken people who are being empowered
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a licensed (purchasing) church. No online or other duplication is permitted.
and encouraged by the Spirit to strive to become like Christ. We
are far from perfect.
Illustration
A man used a large rock as a doorstop in his North Carolina cabin. One
day it broke open revealing the largest gold nugget found east of the Rockies. The outside seemed common, but the inside was precious.
Application
Every year, we wonder, "who will God raise up to lead this youth
group?" We may look around and say, "well, probably so and so."
But we can only look at the outside and see natural ability. God
looks on the inside, and sees an apathetic heart, or a heart bent on
self, and rejects that person, as He rejected David’s oldest brother
(I Samuel 16:7), who had all the right moves, but not the right motives. When God looks throughout your youth group and there is
not even one leader worthy to stand in the gap, He pulls a complete surprise, raising up a wall flower or a converted pagan to fill
the gap as a spiritual leader of the group overnight. Why? Because
God looked inside and saw a pure vessel. Are you full of yourself?
God won’t use you--you're history!
Illustration
I used to think that I could please Christ and please myself too, despite
what I read in Matthew 6:24. How? By living for God on Sunday and with
my Christian friends and living for myself during the week. But in so doing
I was robbing myself at both ends. For on the one hand my conscience kept
me from going hog wild on sin, while on the other hand my selfishness kept
me from living 100 percent for Christ. I was hanging right in the middle.
Living to please God and avoid sin is like two sides of a coin: One side faces
Christ, while the other faces Satan. Only question is, which side has heads?
Application
What if you decided this week, once for all? What if you made a
hard and firm, never-to-be-made-again decision to live for Christ
or for Satan, no holds barred? Please, do one or the other. See
Revelation 3:15. Even God hates uncertainty, lukewarmness! Either go hog-wild for the world, and get whatever reward you can
while you live on this earth and face the consequences whatever
they may be. Or else get sold out for God.
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granted for reproduction only for the study of Global Youth Ministry curriculum by
a licensed (purchasing) church. No online or other duplication is permitted.