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HIGHLIGHT: 2 Timothy 2:14-19 14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This

is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 15Be diligent to present yourself to God

as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of

truth. 16Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even

more godlessness, 17and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus

are among them. 18They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has

already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God’s solid

foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let

everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.

EXPLAIN

Leaders: Feel free to use any of the “Explain” materials to guide discussion as it is needed or to expound on a certain area of the text as it comes up during your Life Group time, but the purpose of this section is to deepen your own personal understanding of the Word. Your members have access to all of this material as well.

Paul knew as well as anyone that the Christian life is full of pitfalls. In light of this, he gave Timothy some practical advice for how to avoid some of them. In this passage, he focuses on two of them: diligently study the Word, and discern false teaching.

v.14 “These things” is a fairly common phrase in 1 and 2 Timothy. It usually refers to two things at once. Most immediately, it refers to the passage just before it, which was him imploring Timothy to pass on the Gospel. But Paul is also likely referring to all of the things he's taught Timothy over the years. In this instance, Paul is taking it a step further: he’s echoing his charge in 2:4 to pass on what he’s learned to others, charging them to do the same.

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The contrast to teaching what he's been taught is quarreling over “words.” Tony Merida wrote, “The teacher who abandons Scripture as the primary source of instruction will end up damaging people and creating division. This is because once a teacher leaves biblical revelation for human speculation the final court of authority has been removed. People will fight over all kinds of issues if they have no common source of authority for evaluating experiences, opinions, and traditions.” Paul informs us that the fruit of such trifling discussions is a bitter one: the ruin of those who listen.

v.15 Though Timothy is dealing with people, Paul urges him to present [himself] to

God. The point of Timothy’s (and Paul’s, and our) labor is not others, but for the Lord. Working for the gospel is not a popularity contest, but rather a call to faithfulness. We are to correctly teach the Word because it is the Word of God that has power—not human words about it.

The word “approved” calls to mind the testing of metals. There are chemical tests that one can do on metals (such as coins) that show their chemical makeup. On the surface, something that is gilded, or painted to look gold, is not the same as something that has been tested and shown to be pure. In the same way, God tests the whole of our lives and is a flawless tester of authenticity. The worker who

doesn’t need to be ashamed is not afraid of failing this test, because they have been remade by Christ into His image, which they demonstrate by bearing fruit consistent with what is expected of someone who has been made new.

v.16-18 The definition of “irreverent and empty speech” is simple: anything that takes the focus off of the God’s Word. Some translations include the word “profane,” which stands in contrast to the holiness of the Word. This type of talk is empty or vain because it holds nothing of lasting value. We can determine those who have departed from the truth by the content of their teaching. Does it hold close to the Word or does it wander into the territory of man’s opinions, man’s teachings, or ungodliness? The outcome is that they either inspire others to godliness or they ruin the faith of some.

v.19 Remember: there will always be dissenters, attackers, and deceivers. This, however, does not change the fact that The Lord knows those who are his, and the Kingdom of God cannot be shaken. God’s plans, purpose, and strategy will not be shaken no matter how many reject the truth or depart from from the truth.

APPLY Your Leader Guide will have material that the member guides do not have. The bolded material is what the people in your group will have, the other material is only for you to help guide discussion.

This guide can be as strict a script or as general a resource as the leader needs it to be.

1. What stuck out to you or challenged you in what you heard in the sermon or read in the text?

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2. What are some issues that believers seem to argue over more than others? How do you think we can lay our differences aside in these areas?

Sometimes Believers find more to argue with each other about than they do the things they have in common. Pastor Robby said, “Praise God for people who seek out the Truth, but if it is not a salvation issue, don't let it break fellowship.” Sometimes discussions about Calvinism vs. Arminianism, Predestination vs. Free Will, contemporary vs. traditional music, or how to best practice certain areas of ministry can become so heated that we we let them divide us rather than uniting us around what is important: the death and resurrection of Jesus.

3. How have you seen the Word of God mishandled before? How can believers make sure they are reading and sharing the Word faithfully?

Here are some common ways Scripture is mishandled: • As a “proof text”: like the preacher who used Revelation 11:10 as a Christmas text: “And

they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts to one another.” The preacher neglected to include the end of the verse: “because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.”

• As a “felt need”: those who use Scripture to explain how to be happy, healthy, and have your “best life now.” John MacArthur said, “The only way you’re living your best life now is if you are going to hell.”

• “Moralizing”: for instance, using Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13 (KJV), “This one thing I do” to emphasize the importance of having goals. This neglects Paul’s true goal: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for when God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (3:13-14).

4. If we are going to stay clear of false teaching, we need to recognize right teaching—teaching that is rooted in Scripture. Some religions use Scripture to support their own beliefs. In your Life Group, discuss how you would respond to the following beliefs using Scripture:

• A Mormon tells you that there is more than one God, citing 1 Corinthians 8:5. Furthermore, he explains that every human being is a god in “embryo” form, or childlike form.

Consider how the following Scriptures address this: Deuteronomy 6:4; Galatians 4:8; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5.

• A Jehovah’s Witness tells you that Jesus was important, but that He wasn’t God—nor did He ever claim to be.

Consider how the following Scriptures address this: John 1:1,14; 8:58; 10:30-34; Revelation 1:17-18

5. What makes Christianity different from other religions? Take a few minutes to talk about why the you believe in Jesus rather than any of the other systems the world has to offer.

The majority of world religions give systems for reaching up to God; Christianity teaches that God reached out to mankind. The world’s religions teach systems to appease God; Christianity teaches how to have a relationship with Him. Christianity teaches that Jesus died as a sacrifice to cover all of humanity and then, after He was truly, legitimately dead, rose back to life just as He said He would.

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R RESPOND Challenge your group to respond either privately or corporately:

• Spend time this week learning about opposing belief systems and how you can interact with them with grace and Scriptural truth.

Encourage one another through email, text messages, or coffee dates throughout the week to build up and encourage each other.