In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4: 1-2 Are you willing to finish the race well? Finishing the race well, We, as God’s servants, must emphasize the Word. Paul commands Timothy to Preach the Word. This powerful statement has echoed through the centuries and is one that should not be taken lightly. Preach the Word, no…
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Finishing The Race: Part 1
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it” 2 Timothy 3:14 In Paul’s day, people like to watch athletes run races. Athletes would train for nine months. Thousands of people would watch the runners. Paul compares our life o earth to a race. The prize at the end of the long race is the race. We don’t have to be the fastest, the quickest, or the first to complete the race. We must please God and remain faithful to the end of the race. If we finish…
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In Hard Times – Part 2
“because I know whom I believed, and am convinced that he can guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” 2 Timothy 1:8-12 Read 2 Timothy 1 Encourage yourself through your relationship with Jesus Christ, our Savior. Paul encouraged Timothy by reminding him of his relationship with Jesus. Paul suffered and faced death because Jesus appointed him. Paul wasn’t ashamed because he knew whom he believed. Paul had head knowledge of the Father; he likewise knew and trusted Jesus Christ, the son. Paul also had a personal relationship with Christ. He had faith Christ was a faith of experience. Salvation begins with a…
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Relating To Elders
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 1 Timothy 5:1 Do you find it hard to lead the elderly? One of the challenges that Timothy faced at Ephesus. Some honored the old and looked down on the younger. Paul gave Timothy and the church instructions about their relationship with each other. Paul told Timothy to make sure that no one despised his young age. Then, in contrast, Paul told Timothy to treat older men (and women) with respect. We have already seen that in God’s household, the leader should treat…
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Truth
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. 1 Timothy 1:8-11 Today reread chapter 1 and Galatians 3:23-29. In your notebook, write down everything that you learn about Jesus Christ. Pay…
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What Is Truth: Part 2
Did you find the purpose of Paul’s letter? If you didn’t, it’s ok. We will continue to look for the answers in a few days. Paul was Timothy’s mentor. They first met in Lystra, in modern Turkey, where Paul healed a disabled person (a cripple). Paul was stoned because he wouldn’t let them worship him as a Greek god, Hermes. Read Acts 14:8-20. Maybe this is where Paul and Timothy first met. It doesn’t really tell us, though. Paul asked Timothy to go with him on his second missionary trip. Read Acts 16: 1-3. Timothy’s father was Greek, and his mother was Jewish. 2 Timothy…
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Reflection Day
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 Today is Reflection Day! I love reflection day. It’s a time for me to go back and reflect on what God has spoken to me about. It gives me time to pray and seek God about what he wants to change in my life. It gives me time to make a game plan of putting action to what God is telling me and asking of me. Reflection Day gives me a slower pace to grasp what God is telling me. It gives me more time to…
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Reflection Day
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 Today is Reflection Day! I love reflection day. It’s a time for me to go back and reflect on what God has spoken to me about. It gives me time to pray and seek God about what he wants to change in my life. It gives me time to make a game plan of putting action to what God is telling me and asking of me. Reflection Day gives me a slower pace to grasp what God is telling me. It gives me more time to…
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The Walls of Jericho
By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days. Hebrews 11:30 Do you know this story about the walls of Jericho falling? It is a wonderful story about how God does the impossible. Let’s start reading Exodus 17: 8-16 and find out a little bit about Joshua. Who was Joshua? What weapon was his specialty? During this time, Joshua did not know what was going on up on the mountain. He didn’t know that Moses was having arm problems. Joshua leads the children of Israel in the battle. Sometimes he knew that they were winning, and other…
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My Maker of Heaven and Earth
By Faith, we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 Why should we believe who God says he is? Let’s look at Hebrews 11:3; by what means can we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command? God doesn’t have to prove to us that He is real or that He made the universe. Hebrews 11:6 is our answer to the question, “why does God not prove Himself or His claims.” What is the answer? God created us to find pleasure in us, and our faith is…