LISTEN

 This sermon was preached by Tim Simmonds at the CCM Gorton site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 7th February 2021.

SERIES

This message was part of the ‘For Such a Time as This’ series, preached at Christ Church Manchester’s church in Gorton in late 2017. The full series included the following sermons:

• The Man Mordecai (by Andy Armstrong)
• Preparation (by Victoria & Abigail Armstrong)
• The Man Haman (by Graham Harrop)
• The Girl Esther (by Mim Ballard)
• Complete Sacrifice (by Tim McMaster)
• We Are Called (by Graham Harrop)
• God’s Great Adventure (by Victoria Armstrong)

BIBLE VERSES

This sermon was based on 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Godlessness in The Last Days

1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

KEY POINTS

Avoid Shallow Faith

• Paul writes about only one particular issue which he advises Timothy to avoid. “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” He had in his sights people who behaved like believers but allowed their faith to have no affect. 
• A shallow faith means no change fo heart – people living for themselves and not for God.
• This is hard to read because we can see it in our own society, in people around us and even in ourselves.

Follow Good Example

• There is a different way to live, not focused on self worship but living with a “desire to a Godly life in Christ Jesus”.
• Paul is praising Timothy because he is copying Paul. It might seem like he is being a bit big headed, but in reality Paul is in prison! He’s also reminding Paul that if he lives this way it doesn’t mean he will be free from trouble.
• Church community is vital, it requires us to humbly listen and learn, to copy the lives of others. Sometimes the person to copy may not be the person who’s got it together and looks successful.
• It may be the person who’s in difficulty, who doesn’t look up to much but who is running after God! 

Be Influenced by Scripture

• Paul highlights the importance of scripture as well. We should read the bible together, we should be taught together and do our best to apply scripture together. We should be asking each other – what does the bible say?
• Scripture is good for – 1) Teaching – What to believe 2) Reproof – What not to believe 3) Correction – What not to do 4) Training in righteousness – What to do
•  If we read scripture, allow it to inform our actions and our beliefs, then we will be equipped for good work and ready for difficulty.

MORE SERMONS

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