Biden/Palin

Joe Biden


Sarah Palin


Chuck Baldwin


Bob Barr


Cynthia McKinney

Ralph Nader

the end

Philippians 4:2-23

PHILIPPIANS (4:2-23)


Resolving Real Church Conflicts (4:2-9)

1. Stop spotlighting secondary stuff

2. Be too Busy to get Bent out of Shape

 Too busy serving others to get offended
 Too busy being glad to get angry
 Too busy praying to get perturbed
 Too busy thinking of the right to get riled up

3. Keep God’s present presence in perspective


The Keys to Contentment (4:4-20)

1. Keep the need/want distinction in view

2. Think of those who thrived through tough times

3. Don’t depend on certain circumstances

4. Take it one day at a time with the Lord

5. Continue to encourage others

2 Timothy 4:9-22

Paul's Life of Relationships

* This may be the last words we have from St. Paul

1. Timothy- The recipient of the letter, beloved son in the faith
2. Demas- 'loved the world' (did he leave hard ministry, Paul, or the faith?)
* Col. 4:14, Philemon 1:24, John 12:25, 15:19, 1 John 2:15
3. Crescans- Connected with Demas? Or left on good terms? We don't know.
4. Titus- See above (but we know more about earlier Titus elsewhere)
5. Luke- The only one who stuck with Paul at this time (author of Luke-Acts)
6. Mark- Had previously quit missionary journey, now reconciled (Acts 15:36-41)
7. Tychicus- Paul's mailman, so to speak (Acts 20:4, Eph. 6:21, Col. 4:7, Titus 3:12)
8. Carpus- Stored Paul's cloak for him (and parchments?)
9. Alexander- A metal worker and adversary, probably from 1 Timothy 1:20
10. LORD- Always with Paul, defender
11. The "Lion"- Possibly a reference to Nero, or persecution in general
12. Priscilla- A female minister (Acts 18, Romans 16:3, 1 Cor. 16:19)
13. Aquila- See Above (her husband)
14. Onesiphorus- Helped Paul in Ephesus, 2 Timothy 1:16
15. Erastus- Fellow minister, Acts 19:22
16. Trophimus- Left sick in Miletus, fellow minister, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, public official
17. Eubulus- We know nothing about him
18. Pudens- See above
19. Linus- See above
20. Claudia- See above
21. All the brothers- Other believers in Ephesus

Think of all your relationships
Pray for someone tonight....

1. That has backslidden like Demas
2. That has been there for you through thick and thin
3. With whom you've been restored
4. Who has helped you and your ministry
5. Who has opposed you
6. Who has another ministry you support
7. Who is sick/struggling

Philippians 3:1-4:1

PHILIPPIANS (3:1-4:1)

4 Options

1. Rejoice in the Lord (We examine)
2. Rejoice in the world (We exemplify)
3. Miserable in the world (We evangelize)
4. Miserable in the Lord (We encourage)


1. Why should they ‘rejoice in the Lord’? (1)
2. Why was it necessary for him to repeat himself? (1)
3. Why was his writing a ‘safeguard’ for them? (1)
4. Who is Paul referring to here? (2)
5. How are we ‘the circumcision’? (3)
6. What kind of Jew had Paul been? (4-6)
7. Why did Paul give up his privileged position? (7-8)
8. How do we become truly righteous? (9)
9. What is so powerful about His resurrection? (10-11)
10. Did Paul view himself as a finished product? (12-13)
11. Where was Paul’s focus? (13-14)
12. Are you striving for perfection? (15-17)
13. How is it that ‘god is their stomach’? (18-19)
14. Did all Roman citizens live in Rome? (20)
15. Why would Caesar come to a colony? (20)
16. What will Jesus do when He returns? (21)
17. So why stand firm in the Lord amidst suffering? (1)

2 Timothy 3:1 - 4:8

2 Timothy 3:1-4:8

With whom to Associate

1. The CHARACTER Standard

Easy view - This is about the world
True view - This is about the church

How do we know it's about the church? (at least nominal religion)
1. Letter to Timothy/Ephesus
2. Context (false teachers in church)
3. Worldliness in world is unremarkable (3:1)
4. Form of godliness (3:5)
5. They were teachers/learners (3:6-7)
6. Comparison to Jannes and Jambres (3:8, those who replicate spiritual power)
7. Prevented from goal (3:9)

We must surround ourselves with godly people and disassociate with the ungodly

2. The SUFFERING Standard

The 'times of testing' test

A. Do they have a message minus a cross?
- Or is there message about health and wealth and pleasure

B. Do they have a message under attack?
- Or does there message provoke offense among unbelievers

C. Do they have a message that shines through suffering?
- OR do they stick to their beliefs amidst struggle?

3. The BIBLICAL Standard

The Proper Biblical Environment

A. Scripture is learned in relationship (3:14-15)
- Not cold intellectualism

B. Scripture is used in practice (3:16)
- Not weekend observance

C. Scripture is viewed as the standard authority (4:1-2)
- Not a last resort

D. Scripture is dealt with as a whole (4:3-5)
- Not proof text for personal gain

Our Grace Full LIves

Intro
- Not all people are graceful (bike story)
- But God is full of grace

What is grace?
- Mercy vs. Grace (thing)
- God's presence (Spirit)
- Relational (response)

God is present throughout our lives on earth
The question is: Have we responded to God's grace

1. Prevenient grace (universal)
- Prevent defense (keeps disaster from happening, common grace, annuls original guilt)
- Prevent offense (prepares, makes ready, creation, conscience)
- Age of Responsibility

2. Convicting grace (universal at one point or another it seems)
- Convict (you realize your guilt, HS makes you aware, John 16:8, 13)
- Response is repentance instead of other methods of dealing with sin

3. Justifying grace (many)
- Pardon by faith in Jesus' blood
- Romans 5:1-2 "this grace"
- Response of peace (5:1) and security (5:9)

4. Sanctifying grace (a process toward perfection)
- 1 John 1:9 (forgiveness AND purification)
- Romans 6:19-23 (now go on to holiness/sanctification)
- 1 Thes. 4:3 (God's will that you be sanctified)
- Fruit of the Spirit

5. Empowering grace (ready for service)
- Gifts of the Spirit
- Service in the Spirit
- You become prevenient grace to others

Conclusion
- When we try to do it ourself, we end up like my bike story
- But when we respond to grace, we can reach the summit

John McCain @ Saddleback w/Rick Warren

b







b

Barack Obama @ Saddleback w/Rick Warren

a









a

2 Timothy 2:14-26

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"

True or False?

Proverbs 12:18

Matthew 12:36 (and context)

1. Are we careless with the Word of God?
2. Are we careless with our own words?
3. What will we do about careless words in our midst?

1. God's Word
3 Errors
a. Use the right words for the wrong reasons (to quarrel, not edifying)
b. Use the right words in the wrong way (mis-defined, ie 'resurrection')
c. Use the wrong words for the right reasons (overly verbose)

2. Our words
a. Godless chatter
b. Foolish and stupid arguments

3. Others' words
a. God's house is filled with many people (matthew 13)
b. God know those who are His
c. Our job is to turn away from wickedness
- avoid (16)
- turn away (19)
- cleanse himself from (21)
- flee (22)
- don't have anything to do with (23)

We can either be trapped by the adversary or by God, no middle ground

2 Timothy 1:13 - 2:13

Instructions on how to deal with the word of God

1. Keep the Gospel plain and simple (13)
- Bad news = look around
- Good news = There is a God who sent His son, who lived and died and rose again

2. Guard the Gospel from distortion (14)
- The message is only as strong as the evidence of its implementers
- A game plan is only as strong as its athletes
- Some were falling away, we need the Holy Spirit

3. Hear the Gospel with understanding (2)
-Faith comes from hearing, and the message is heard through the word of God

4. Entrust the Gospel to the next generation (2)
-Educate the young, Identify the gifts, exemplify the life
-Live like an obedient soldier, a winning athlete, a hardworking farmer

5. Reflect on the Gospel to gain insight (7)
-Take time to be holy

6. Remember the Gospel is centered on Jesus (8)
- Not about origins, Jesus wants to create in us a new heart
- Not about soteriology, Jesus loves and saves His people
- Not about social programs, Jesus has a kingdom
- Not about eschatology, Jesus is coming back

7. Say/declare the Gospel in various forms (11)
-Early hymn, full of paradox
-Death leads to life, suffering leads to reigning, fleeing for safety leads to danger
-Verse 13 a re-statement of 12, not a verse of supposed 'eternal security'

8. Handle the Gospel in a workman-like manner (15)
-Get straight to the point --> impact
-Study with a purpose

1:1-12 (Invitation to Suffering)

What happened between 1st and 2nd Timothy?
1. Nero's persecution began
2. Some abandoned faith and Paul (4:9-10)
3. Paul re-imprisoned in much harsher conditions (4:13, 21)
4. Paul knows he's close to death (4:6)
--Citizens were de-capitated
--Non-citizens were crucified

Paul's greeting is fairly typical, but given his context, he stresses the promise of life. He is very thankful to be able to remember Timothy, a faithful son, especially considering the lack of faithfulness in some of the others. He longs to see Timothy. It is here that we learn the names of Timothy's natural family. Lois (his grandmother) and Eunice (his mother) had trained him up in sincere faith. He encourages Timothy to 'fan into flame' (add fuel to the fire) the gift of God. Instead of referring to a particular spiritual gift, this almost certainly refers to the Holy Spirit Himself. Timothy is to, daily, grant the Holy Spirit His consuming role. It may be that Timothy was a timid individual, and Paul was reminding him of the authority underlying his ministry.

Given the nature of the alternative 'kingdoms,' the Gospel's message was considered embarrassing to some. It wasn't a kingdom of military might, but of self-sacrifice and suffering. Paul encouraged Timothy not to be ashamed of this fact, but to glory in it. All the other kingdoms, ultimately, lose in their race to be first. Those in the Kingdom of God, ultimately, win by making themselves last. Timothy should be energized by his salvation and go on to holy living, which is prompted by the grace of God. He can have confident in the Gospel's message since Jesus, Himself, had illustrated this life and immortality through his righteous life, death, and resurrection. Paul knew that, because of Jesus example, his future was taken care of. Timothy could have the same assurance.

2 Timothy

Below you will find the notes from a series through Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy

1:1-12 (Invitation to Suffering)
1:13-2:13 (What to do with the Word)
2:14-26 (But words forever haunt me)
3:1-4:8 (With Whom to Associate)
4:9-22 (A Life of Relationships)

Banquet08