Community Group Discussion Guide

2 Timothy 3:1-4:8 (I Have Fought the Good Fight) – March 8, 2020

I. Starter Question:

What were the nicknames you had as a kid? Were they because of positive things or negative things? Were any of them embarrassing or rude? Did you choose them or did someone else choose them for you?

II. Discussion of Scripture:

Background & Context: As Paul approaches the end of his own life, he writes his last letter to Timothy, his son in the faith, from prison in Rome to have bold perseverance in the gospel in the midst of suffering. Paul calls Timothy to guard the gospel with bold endurance in ministry (1:3-2:1-13). He draws parameters between Christian living and false teachers (2:14-3:9). And he then exhorts Timothy to be different than the false teachers like he himself was, and to hold the gospel and God’s word central (3:10-4:8).

Teaching Points and Questions for Discussion:

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-9 (ESV)

At the beginning of ch. 3, Paul shifts his letter from specific personal instruction to Timothy and the church in Ephesus to zooming way out to the global church and the end of times.

1. Why do you think Paul’s letter focuses on the actions of people in the ‘end of times’?2. Why do you think he emphasizes ‘false teachers’ particularly?

Read: John 16:7-11 (ESV)

3. What connections do you see between the 2 Tim. and John passages?4. What does godlessness have to do with persecution?

Persecution is the reaction of darkness to light. When believers are “in” the world but not “of” the world, it has two reactions: 1) people see it for goodness and they turn towards Christ or 2) they are convicted, and it results in persecution, whether minor or major.

5. In light of that, what makes false teaching so dangerous?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (ESV)

Paul then zooms back to the present with Timothy, and especially emphasizes the discipleship relationship that Paul has with him—what Paul has learned from Christ, he has taught Timothy, both in word and in deed.

6. Who are the people in your life who have discipled you? 7. How did they exemplify Christ to you?

Read: John 15:18-20 (ESV)

8. What connections do you see between the 2 Tim. and John passages?9. What can we expect if we live a life like Jesus and Paul and Timothy? 10. Have you ever experienced persecution because of your faith? 11. If suffering is normal for the Christian who follows Christ, why do you think we don’t experience

persecution in the same way that we see in the scriptures?

There are many reasons why we don’t, such as our Christian culture, but be careful not to skip over this. Have we truly examined ourselves? Do we as Christians look different than the lost world around us? If we didn’t tell them we go to church, would our co-workers, our family, our neighbors even know by how we exemplify Christ? Don’t you think if we were living radically different lives we would experience persecution? The bible is clear that when light exposes darkness, when godliness exposes sin, persecution often follows.

12. Why does Paul emphasize the scripture so strongly to Timothy?

The scriptures have the power to save and the power to help endure suffering.

Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 (ESV)

Paul charges Timothy to preach the word, in seasons and out of season, and to rebuke with patience, in spite of the people finding false teachers to tell them what they want to hear.

13. Why do these people go looking for teaching that ‘tickles their ears’? 14. In the mist of persecution of the church and individual believers, why is Paul pressing so hard on

the centrality of the gospel?

Finally, Paul gives his last joyous speech. “I have fought the good fight.”

15. Why does Paul connect perseverance with salvation?

Read 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)

We are not saved if we persevere, but rather those who are saved by God’s grace, they persevere. If we are like Christ to a sinful world, they will respond in persecution, and if we are in Christ, we will persevere. If we are in Christ, we will know the word in such a way we will be

able to discern false teachers, but if we are not in Christ, we will find false teachers that justify our sinful desires.

Paul and Peter do not fear persecution because one, they expect it, and two, sharing in suffering means sharing in glory. The Gospel is central to Christian endurance. The Son of God left heaven, came to earth, suffered, and on the third day was raised again, likewise, when we are saved and we strive to be like Christ, we will suffer, and in our suffering, we can rejoice because we will one day share in his glory.

III. Responding in Prayer: Praise Christ for his suffering, bearing our sin on himself, and not only raising from the dead,

but offering us his righteousness to share in his glory on that final day. Examine your heart and your life—are you living any different than the lost world around you? Pray for the elders, deacons, staff, CG leaders, and other leaders in the church that they would

protect our church from false teachings that justifies our sins, but rather, true teachings that convict us.

Pray for our missionaries sent out from HHBC that may be facing persecution around the world in countries that are openly against the gospel.

Pray for our church to be distinct from the world so that we can be a light to the world.