Bible Study Questions

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Bible Study Questions David H. Horner, Senior Pastor Sermon for the week of January 19, 2014… “Unashamed” 2 Timothy 1:8-18

Unashamed 2 Timothy 1:8-18 INTRODUCTION (GROUP LEADER INSTRUCTIONS/SUGGESTIONS IN ALL-CAPS) Today/tonight we will discuss the Apostle Paul’s challenge to his young friend, Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus, “do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord!” Our discussion will be based on Pastor David Horner’s sermon, “Unashamed,” presented on January 19, 2014. Our reference text is 2 Timothy 1:8-18 (READ): Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but 9 share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave 10 us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to 11 12 light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I 13 am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in 14 Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to 15 you. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are 16 Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, 17 for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in 18 Rome the searched for me earnestly and found me— may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. (2 Timothy 8:8-18) ENGAGE THE GROUP Would anyone be willing to share a time or experience when you were ashamed or tempted to be ashamed of what you believe? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP MEMBERS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES. In the introduction to his sermon, Pastor Horner reminds us of the all too common experience of many parents of middle school children. One day you’re taking them to school, when they ask you to let them out a couple of blocks away. Why? Because they are embarrassed by the parents they love, and are ashamed to be seen with them! As Pastor Horner stated, “This can be hard to bear if you are on the receiving end…you never want your kids to be ashamed of you…of what you drive, wear, say or believe.”

Pastor Horner reminded us: “It is all the more true when the father is the Heavenly Father! Far too many of His children act as if they want to get some distance from Him, not be seen hanging out with Him and those He loves, believing what He wants us to believe, doing what He wants us to do.” How many of us who profess to follow Jesus Christ need to confess that we have experienced times when we were embarrassed or ashamed to be identified with Him? What do you think made you feel that way? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP MEMBERS TO SHARE THOUGHTS. •

SUCH FEELINGS ARE NOT NEW—PAUL ADDRESSED THEM IN HIS SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY 2,000 YEARS AGO (READ): for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

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THERE IS NO SHAME IN SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL, NOR SHOULD WE EVER BE EMBARRASSED BY THE GOSPEL—IT IS THE REASON DEATH NO LONGER SCARES YOU, AND YOUR LIFE HAS COME ALIVE PAUL ENCOURAGES TIMOTHY, AND YOU AND ME, TO REMEMBER THAT THERE IS NO REASON TO FEAR OR BE TIMID, BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT WHEN WE HAVE THE SPIRIT, HE… o CLOTHES US WITH HIS POWER o POURS OUT HIS LOVE o ESTABLISHES SELF-CONTROL (SELF-DISCIPLINE/SOUND JUDGMENT) THIS IS WHY PAUL BOLDLY TELLS TIMOTHY IN VERSE 8 (READ) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (2 Timothy 1:8)

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THE SPIRIT ENABLES US TO STAND FIRM IN THE FACE OF ALL THREATS, ALLOWING US TO KEEP OUR WITS, STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS REAL, AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS

As Pastor Horner proclaims: “Guard your heart against the influences of the world around you, which would lead you to be embarrassed about Jesus and what it means to follow him!” Look again at 2 Timothy 1:8 (READ) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (2 Timothy 1:8) Note where Paul states, “share in the suffering.” If you add the words “join us” in parenthesis after “share,” you have a clearer picture of what Paul is saying. What does Paul’s invitation, “to share (join us) in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” say to you, and why should we accept the invitation? DISCUSS/SHARE

ALLOW GROUP MEMBERS TO SHARE THOUGHTS, AND TO IDENTIFY: • • • •

NO DOUBT INITIAL REACTIONS TO PAUL’S INVITATION VARY MANY CHRISTIANS THINK THAT WHEN WE INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND FOLLOW JESUS, WE NEED TO BELIEVE AND DOWNPLAY THE HARD THINGS HOWEVER, SUFFERING FOR CHRIST IS A HARD THING, WHEN HE CALLS US TO COME, HE CALLS US TO PUT OUR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR HIM PASTOR HORNER OFFERS THIS COMMENT FROM REKNOWNED EVANGELIST AND PASTOR OSWALD CHAMBERS: “To choose to suffer means that there is something wrong; to choose God’s will even if it means suffering is a very different thing. No healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he chooses God’s will as Paul did, whether it means suffering or not.”

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PASTOR HORNER SAYS PAUL OFFERS THREE REASONS FOR US TO JOIN THOSE WHO HAVE WILLINGLY SUFFERED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE: 1. THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD—FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST MUST BE FAITHFUL AS THOSE WHO GIVE THEMSELVES TO MAKE KNOWN THE “TESTIMONY ABOUT THE LORD,” THAT IS THE ESSENTIALS OF GOSPEL TRUTH: HIS LIFE AND WORK, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS ASCENSION AND PROMISED RETURN—ALL SPEAK TO SUCH A GREAT SALVATION THAT WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED OF SUCH AN AWESOME GOD 2. THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL—WE MUST NEVER HOLD BACK MAKING THAT DECLARATION, SPEAKING FORTH THE “TESTIMONY OF THE LORD,” BECAUSE THE POWER OF GOD BRINGS SALVATION TO ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS AND TRUSTS HIM ALONE AS SAVIOR. THIS POINT IS ALSO MADE IN ROMANS 1:16 (READ): For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) 1. THE CERTAINTY OF THE CALLING (READ): who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages 10 began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (2 Timothy 1:9-10) • •

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IN REALITY, THE LORD FOUND YOU THROUGH THE GOSPEL AT WORK IN YOU “ACCORDING TO THE POWER OF GOD,” HE SAVES AND CALLS YOU TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE WORTHY OF THOSE WHO WOULD BECOME HIS PEOPLE HE SAVED AND CALLED US—NOT FOR ANYTHING WE EVER DID TO DESERVE IT (“NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS”), AS PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY’S CONGREGATION IN HIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS (READ) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; 9 it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

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SALVATION AND HOLY LIVING DEPEND ENTIRELY ON THE GOD WHO GRACIOUSLY PROVIDES THE MEANS FOR BOTH

Pastor Horner emphasizes the need for us to clearly understand God’s purpose and grace, in our calling: “The God who saved you and called you to a holy life through Jesus Christ has empowered you to be saved and live that holy life. Therefore, He deserves better than to have followers who are too ashamed to admit it and too embarrassed to tell others this life-changing truth!” Let’s review these important principles, as found in Scripture: Christ saved us; He called us. We did not work our way into His favor, nor can we work our way into a sustained state of His favor. Christ is Savior from “all eternity” (READ): even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and 5 blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, 6 according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:4-6) This passage reinforces the truth that our salvation does not depend upon us. God made a way for our salvation “before the foundation of the world” so that nothing about our place with the Lord could possibly depend upon our own goodness and works. When Christ appeared in the flesh, He came to: Abolish death (READ): The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26) Bring life and immortality to light (READ): To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the 9 Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, (Ephesians 3:8-9) As Pastor Horner points out, these verses should reinforce why we should never be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. There should never be anything that forces you to make a choice between living for Christ and caving into your fears; there is every reason to endure suffering rather than seek safety. Look at 2 Timothy 1:12 (READ): ...which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:12) In what ways does this verse help you with your faith walk with the Lord? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP MEMBERS TO SHARE THOUGHTS, AND TO RECOGNIZE:

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PAUL IS CONVINCED AND COMMITTED, AS WE ALSO SHOULD BE—THERE IS NO FAITH CRISIS WITH PAUL! WHEN THINGS TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE, PAUL’S FOUNDATION DOES NOT SHIFT OR FAIL BECAUSE IT IS BUILT UPON THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD—JESUS CHIRST, THE LIVING WORD OF TRUTH BECAUSE OF CHRIST, PAUL IS ABLE TO BE BOLD AND STEADFAST HE TELLS TIMOTHY THAT HE WAS APPOINTED “A PREACHER AND AN APOSTLE AND A TEACHER” AND FOR THIS REASON HIS SITUATION HAS LED TO MUCH SUFFERING. IN FACT, THIS IS HIS LAST EPISTLE, AS HE WILL SOON DIE FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST

Returning to 2 Timothy 1, look at verses 13-14 (READ): Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that 14 are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:13-14) What do Paul’s words reveal to you about following and serving Jesus Christ? DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW THE GROUP MEMBERS TO SHARE THOUGHTS, AND TO RECOGNIZE: •

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THERE IS NO SHAME IN GUARDING YOUR GREATEST TREASURE—JESUS CHRIST. NEVER BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT JESUS OR WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW HIM NEVER BACK DOWN FROM GOD’S STANDARDS OF HOLY LIVING (READ): Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13)

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DO NOT BE DECEIVED OR SETTLE FOR UNSOUND WORDS, IDEOLOGIES AND STANDARDS THAT FALL SHORT OF WHAT PLEASES THE LORD ALWAYS GUARD YOUR HEART AND THREASURE GOD HAS PLACED IN IT (READ): By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14)

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NOTICE IN THE FINAL VERSES, 15-18, HOW PAUL REMINDS TIMOTHY OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN PREY TO THEIR FEARS, EXCEPT FOR ONE, WHO STAYED TRUE.

As we prepare to close, let’s take a moment to share what you plan to take away from our discussion. DISCUSS/SHARE ALLOW GROUP TO SHARE TAKEAWAYS Pastor Horner offers three takeaways for us to consider: 1) Whenever you sense that you might begin to feel embarrassed about being a follower of Christ, remember that your life depends on His power and love.

2) Go ahead and put all our faith in Christ, knowing that He will guard what you entrust to Him and keep you strong enough to withstand anything. 3) Guard your heart against any influence that would make you think more of anything than you do of Jesus, because that is when you begin to be embarrassed, ashamed, of what you believe and look for a way out. As Pastor Horner concluded his sermon, we are invited to join the “fellowship of the unashamed.” Any comments or final thoughts? CLOSE WITH PRAYER