To fully realize the impact of this week’s verse in light of our relationships, we must put it into the context of all that Paul is saying. Look at the verse just prior to verse 6. Timothy’s faith and gifting was tied to his “faith family”. In his case, it was his mother and grandmother. Who was your “faith family” that brought you to Christ? Who is your “faith family” now? Are you pouring your life into someone, as Lois and Eunice did?

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6

The Body of Christ is a beautiful, unique organism that is living and active across the boundaries of time and location. Jesus looked into the future and saw the Church as His body, functioning to care for itself and to reach out into the lost world serving as His hands and feet. He prayed that we would be unified just as He and the Father are one. He also promised that His Spirit would come to indwell His believers. With the giving of His Spirit would also come the endowment of spiritual gifts, which would equip us to fulfill our mission in the body. Our engagement of these gifts is essential to be the Church...to do the work of ministry.

A 24/7 faith is the only faith that is authentic. It is unselfish and God-centered. This type of faith is personal and real. It is not produced by community, but community enhances it. This section is for the individual believer.

Relationships define who we are. God has placed us in community with others with whom we must relate. Whether it is marriage, employment, social, civic, worship, etc., we must learn to relate to others as Christ.

God expects us to pass on our faith to the next generation. Scripture is full of commands to leave a legacy of faith. However, it is not for the faint of heart. This section will provide fodder for you to talk about faith at home...

ENGAGEDVOLUME 2 ISSUE # 6

WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT: 2.6.11 2 TIMOTHY 1:6

...In Favor

Luke 19:13

24/7 faith Relational Faith Generational Faith

Day 1

Relational

Let’s run back to the beginning of the chapter.  As we get to verse 5, we see the legacy of faith that is being passed along. This is a legacy that begins with Timothy’s grandmother and then to his mother and now ultimately to Timothy himself. Paul testifies that he is persuaded Timothy is in the faith as well.  What could give Paul this persuasion?  Can a man be convinced of another’s spiritual state?  We only have clues…  Based upon proper clues, Paul was convinced Tim had genuine faith. Based upon the clues, how would Paul characterize your faith?  Sincere or an act?

Pastors are the same as any other person. There is nothing special about any pastor. But they do feel called to ministry, and to the responsibility of the spiritual care of all who are in the church. How do you think that pastors feel the call?

Personal

Generational

What does responsibility feel like? Talk about what responsibilities exists in your family, and how does it feel to know that you are responsible for something.

The word “therefore” is an important part of this week’s verse. It means that Timothy should stir up his gift in light of what verse five says. Read verse five again, putting it into the context of your own life. Can you see in your own life how you hold the torch for the next generation?

Day 2

Relational

What are the proper clues?  Well, first I think we look at a confession of Who Jesus is.   That confession leads to an acceptance of what He has done for us. Once we personally accept Jesus’ Supremacy and His finished work for us, our last response is partnership with Him.   So the clear evidence/clues of our sincere faith are found in our partnership with Jesus, His Word and His Will.   We accomplish this by our words, deeds and our exercise of Spiritual Gifts.  As the church looks at the clues of your life, is there persuasion that your faith is sincere? What are those clues in your life that would tip them off?

Personal

What was Paul’s role in Timothy’s gifting? Involvement with other believers is vital to our spir i tua l development and maturity. Who has been involved in your life? Whose life are you involved in?

Day 3

Paul tells us where this kind of sincere faith comes from in verse 5.   “IN” you.   It also dwelt ‘in' his grandmother and mother. ‘Dwelt’ means to take up residence in, to inhabit.   In other words, sincere faith becomes a part of us and not a compartment of us. One delusion of our Christian day is that the spiritual life and physical life are separated . We l i ve w i th in the parameters o f one at a t ime .  Therefore, because our sincere faith is not dwelling in us at all times, we miss many opportunities to partner with God through using our personal spiritual giftedness.  Think about ways you may be able to use your precious gift in your ‘regular’ physical life this week. Begin using it and putting it into action.   I want to hear about how it goes…

PersonalSo Paul begins in verse 6 with, ‘Therefore’.   In other words, ‘because I am sure of your sincere faith that lives inside you at all times, ‘I remind you to stir up the gift of God.’  Paul’s assurance of Tim’s faith gave him full assurance that Tim had God’s Gift (spiritual giftedness) that needed churning.     Timothy struggled with a couple of things; his leadership at such a young age and the acceptance of his leadership among the churches.   So we find Paul earnestly encouraging Timothy often concerning such things as being strong, enduring hardness, and soaring above ridicule over his age.  Here Paul challenges Timothy to continually remember, to rekindle the fire that was stoked in him.  Sometimes we forget the fire.  When we forget the fire, we forget our response.  When our response is forgotten, so are the clues to our sincere faith. (See Elliot & McCheyne quotes below)

Day 4Personal

Relational

Generational

NEXT WEEK: 1 Cor. 12:7

Vance Havnor once wrote, “We must stir up the gift of God within us, that we may be burning and shining lights. But it is the dynamic of the Spirit, not human enthusiasm – old Adam worked up to a high pitch. ‘Stir’ carries the idea of kindling the flame – doctrine that we may believe, discipline that we may behave and dynamic that we may burn! That is the true New Testament Timothy, believing, behaving, burning!”  What are we to stir?  Our ‘charisma = grace’, God rewards and bestows these gifts upon His people to use for the edifying of the Body.  May we not neglect to keep aflame the gifts in us that God uses, so that our faith is

clear to the world in order for others to see His reflection through us…  Are you being faithful to your clues?

Day 5

Today, look at verse 7 in the context. Do you think Paul sensed some hesitation in Timothy to exercise his gifts? Do you have hesitation in exercising yours? Who would lose (besides yourself), if you hold back?

Relational

Pray for Joel Lauckner, Allen Pointer and Adrian Holland today. How can your family pray for these pastors who minister to those from the cradle to college?

There is a gift in you, if you are a believer. But as Paul urged Timothy, we must stir it up, or pursue and develop it. Challenge yourself this week to see yourself as gifted, as vital to someone’s spiritual growth and development. See yourself as linked to other believers in spiritual life and community. Today, ask God to help you “stir up” your gift in our community of believers.

As a family, pray for Randy Kinnick, Dick Martin and Billy Ellis today. As the pastors who deal primarily with adults, what are some things that your family can pray about for them today?

Pray today for our Lead Pastor, Blaine, as he recovers from his surgery. Do something as a family to let him know that you are praying for them.

GenerationalGenerational

Jim Elliot once asked... ‘Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of 'other things'. Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame.’

Robert Murray M'Cheyne (who died at age 30) said that, ’The oil of the lamp in the temple burnt away in giving light; so should we.’