Do not follow the trend of the world

Do not follow the trend of the world

2 Timothy 4:1-8

□ Praise and Sharing

New Hymn Chapter 459 Who Follows the Lord

How did you spend last week?

 

We live in an age that has a greater desire to achieve self-realization than any other time before. If you look closely at the self-realization that modern people want, you will see that most of them achieve their desires. In the end, modern society can be said to be an age in which one's desires have become a guide and teacher of life. In a world like this, you need the strength to go against the times to follow your mission rather than your own selfish desires. This is because in order to become a good worker who pursues the truth, you must go against the world's trend of worshiping desire. There will certainly be hardships in living a life that goes against the times, but the crown of righteousness will be waiting at the end of the race of hardships.

□ The Word and Sharing

1. We are evangelists who spread the Word to the world (verses 1-6)

1) What is your attitude toward spreading the word (verse 2)?

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

We must spread the word of God. Whether we have the right time or not, we must always work hard. In all things, we must rebuke, warn, and exhort with long-suffering and teaching.

 

2) What kind of climate will people live in during the end times (verses 3-4)?

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

People will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

 

3) Unlike people in the world, how should God’s workers live (verse 5)?

5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

We must be prudent in everything, suffer hardships, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill our duties.

<Sharing 1> The Lord's servants must strive to spread the word of God, whether the time comes or not. Let’s share who our target of evangelism is and what efforts we are making to lead them to Jesus.

We must preach the gospel, pray, and be patient and spread the word of God to our family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and people from all over the world who have not yet believed in Jesus as their Savior.

<Sharing 2> In the last days, people will only listen to sweet words that encourage their greed. Let’s share what sweet false teachings are destroying faith and holiness today.

We must be careful not to fall into false teachings such as secularization and fortune-telling that lead us to love ourselves and money.

 

2. Paul looks back on his past life and looks ahead to the future (verses 6-8).

1) What does Paul confess as he looks back on his life (verse 7)?

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2) What does Paul say is in store for those who, like him, long for the Lord’s appearing? (verse 8)

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul says that the crown of righteousness has been prepared for those who, like him, long for the Lord's appearing.

 

<Sharing 3> If death were just around the corner, let’s think about and share what we would say about our life so far, comparing it to Paul’s confession today.

 

Like Paul, I have fought the good fight, finished my course, kept the faith, and from now on, let us do our best to fulfill the mission given by the Lord so that we can confess that the crown of righteousness has been prepared for us.

 

□ Let's Pray Together

 

Lord, may we be faithful to the Lord to the end, looking toward the crown of righteousness.

Let us preach the gospel, pray, be patient, and teach the Word of God to our family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and people all over the world who do not yet believe in Jesus as their Savior!

Please do not let us fall into the secularization and euphoria that makes us love ourselves and money!

 

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