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Correcting truth opponents

November 13, 2016 Speaker: Gary Series: Discipleship in the church

Topic: Discipleship Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22–26

Discipleship in the church
Correcting truth opponents-outline
2 Timothy 2:22-26
The Lord’s servant corrects truth opponents gently, hoping God grants repentance

1) So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, 2:22.
How does “so” (as in “therefore”) connect with what Paul has just written? What are the “youthful passions” Timothy is (and we are) to flee? In the context of the state of the church in Ephesus, why does Paul say Timothy should pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace? Why does Paul say these things should be pursued with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart?

2) Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels, 2:23.
Why does Paul say Timothy should have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies? How does Proverbs 18:2 shed light on such controversies?

3) And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness, 2:24-25a.
Why does Paul call the person who is to correct truth opponents “the Lord’s servant”? Explain the importance of each of the elements of the way the Lord’s servant is to correct truth opponents. What do you find challenging about the ways we are to correct truth opponents.

4) God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 2:25b.
What is repentance? What are the implications of repentance being a gift that God grants? The many Scriptures that contain the word “repent” or “repentance” assume that people are responsible to repent and that there are no excuses for not repenting. Why is it important that repentance is both something we are responsible to do and a gift that God gives?
See Romans 2:4. How can we be patient in helping people come to repentance? What is the significance of the fact that repentance leads to a knowledge of the truth?

5) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will, 2:26.
How does the sobriety language of “coming to their senses” describe the intoxicating effect of falsehood and the effects of coming to a knowledge of the truth? How does the devil ensnare us and capture us to do his will? How does this whole passage help us in our growth in Christ and in making disciples?

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