The Treasure Entrusted

2 Timothy 2:1-13

Tiger Woods

Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab and Kevin Lin

1. Train to be a marathoner – Run everyday, not once in a while. Stay in touch with Christ daily.

2. Anticipate the stages – There are various stages in a race: •The beginning stage, when adrenaline and excitement prevail.•The routine stage, in which body and mind are functioning smoothly and the race is going as planned. •The struggling stage, when many marathoners hit the wall.•The finishing stage, when the finish line comes clearly into view and there is a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.

3. Build endurance – Endurance only happens when you persist through the discipline, pain, joy and tears that training requires. In the spiritual life, endurance takes daily discipline.

4. Develop the focus of a finisher – It’s easy to quit. Focus on the purpose, keep your eyes on Jesus, hear His words, and run as He ran.

5. Shed everything that could hold you back – There are things that can hold you back: unproductive habits, poor discipline,

ineffective relational styles, poor work habits, etc. All of these things can harm your growth.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

1. Paul establishes who is the center of everything in (2

Timothy 2:1), Christ Jesus. How can you keep Him in the center of your life for the long haul?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

2. How does Paul emphasize mentoring and multiplication in (2 Timothy 2:2)?

Paul mentored Timothy, now Timothy should mentor others so the Gospel can

be multiplied.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

3. Who is your spiritual mentor?

Who is your spiritual apprentice?

Who can you ask?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

4. How does Paul teach that the Christian life is not a life where everything is always health and wealth with no

adversity? (v. 3)

He encourages Timothy to suffer hardship with him. It will happen.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

5. Why do people doubt their faith and blame God when hardships occur?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

6. Paul uses analogies, comparing the Christian life to other roles in society. Complete the following chart to record his comparisons.

Verse Role in Society

Comparison to the Christian Life

(4) Soldier Do not get entangled in everyday life, please God

(5) Athlete No victory in the end without a true commitment to Christ

(6) Farmer Doing good in Christ’s name brings rewards

DISCUSSION GUIDE

7. What are things that can entangle a person, rendering his/her ineffective as a Christian?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

8. How much time do you spend accumulating earthly rewards vs. heavenly rewards in a

given week?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

9. How can you devote more time to eternal endeavors?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

10. How can Paul endure trials? (vs. 7-10)

a. The Lord provides understanding to endure

b. Christ endured death and defeated it

c. You cannot stifle the power of God’s Word

d. Paul was focused on the end result of souls being saved

DISCUSSION GUIDE

11a. How have you died with Christ? b. How are you living with Christ?

c. How are you enduring through Christ?

d. Have you ever denied Christ? How?

e. God is always faithful. How does He come through for you?

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DISCUSSION GUIDE

12. What do the following passages teach about perseverance?

a. (Romans 5:3-5) Tribulations will come, but if we endure we come out better

b. (2 Cor. 4:16-17) Stay focused, even though we age physically we can strive spiritually

c. (Hebrews 10:36) Endurance is needed to receive eternal rewards

E mbrace God’s loveN o doubtsD isciplined lifeU nderstand trialsR esolve to persevereA sk in faithN ever stop trustingC onsider it all joyE ndure for the prize