2 Timothy 3:14-17
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- Paul gives a strong view of the Bible--God's Holy Scriptures. What are some reasons why Paul gives such an important view of knowing the Bible?
- No matter where you are right now in your knowledge of the Bible, could you say that you are growing in knowledge like Timothy was?
- In what concrete ways can you show respect for God's Word this week?
2 Timothy 3:10-13
10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- What can we learn about Paul's "mentoring" of Timothy from 3:10-13? What character qualities did Paul model for his protégé?
- This section shows how Timothy and Paul served together in a mentoring relationship. Whom are you following? What older and wise Christian might serve as a guide to you in the Christian life? In what younger person than you in the faith might you invest your life?
- Pray that God would send someone to mentor you and that you would be able to mentor someone younger in the faith?
2 Timothy 3:8-9
8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
Exodus 7:8-11
8The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a miracle,' then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will become a snake."
10So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts:
- Traditionally, Jannes and Jambres were the magicians who opposed Moses in Exodus.
- For what reasons do people reject or oppose the truth?
- How will this folly be clear to everyone?
2 Timothy 3:6-7
6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
- Observe the way Paul describes people who are easily swayed by false teachers: weak-willed people, loaded down with sins, swayed by all kinds of evil desires.
- How does this "baggage" weaken the desire to live holy and follow God?
- How do you see people today "always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth?"
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
- What are some of the most encouraging things you see taking place in the church? What in your opinion, are some of the more troubling trends within the church?
- How does your list compare with Paul's list of how people will act in the end of times?
- How can people have a form of godliness but deny its power?
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