Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim
WE NEED F.A.T. MEN
2 Tim 2:1-8
WE NEED F.A.T. MEN
2 Tim 2:1-8
| NASB
1. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, |
KJV
1. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: |
INTRODUCTION
1. We Need . . Faithful Men.
2. We Need . . Available Men.
3. We Need . . Teachable Men.
1. We Need . . Faithful Men. v 1-2 b
EXPLANATION
A. Faithful Men have . . Spiritual Sons. v 1 a
" .You therefore, my son, . . . "
B. Faithful Men have . . Spiritual Strength. v
1 b
". . . be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. "
ATR. {Be strengthened} (). Present passive imperative of #1Ti 1:12; "Keep on being mpowered," "keep in touch with the power."
C. Faithful Men have . . Spiritual Shrewdness.
v 2 b
". . . these entrust to faithful men, . . . "
ILLUSTRATION
W.B. Hinson liked to tell the story of a cobbler who lived in Edinburgh.
One day the newly installed minister of the shoemaker's church made his
first call at the shoe shop. As the pastor talked, he used some lofty theological
language. The cobbler replied with understanding and deep spiritual insight
that left the preacher astonished. "You should not be cobbling shoes,"
he said. "A man with such thoughts and such a manner of expressing those
thoughts should not be doing secular work." The cobbler was quick to reply,
"Sir, take that back!" "Take what back?" asked the preacher. "That I
am doing secular work," responded the shoemaker. "Do you see that pair
of shoes? They belong to widow Smith's son. Her husband died last summer.
She is supported by her boy, who keeps a roof over their heads by working
outdoors
every day. Bad weather is coming. The Lord said to me, `Will you cobble
widow Smith's boy's shoes so he won't catch cold and come down sick this
winter?' And I said, `I will!' Now you preach sermons under God's direction,
I trust. And I will cobble that boy's shoes under God's direction. One
day when the rewards are given out, He will say to you and me the same
sentence, `Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'"
APPLICATION
We Need . . Faithful
Men.
2. We Need . . Available Men.
EXPLANATION
A. Available Men have . . Talent Available for
the Lord. v 2 c
". . . who will be able . . . "
B. Available Men have . . Time Available for the
Lord. v 2 c
". . . who will be able . . . "
ILLUSTRATION
If only he'd say -- just once, "All right, Timmy, let's do it together,
right now."
But it's always, "Wait a little. Can't you see I'm busy? Just a minute,
Timmy. Tomorrow."
Tomorrow I'll be big.
I'm only little now. Now is when I need you, Daddy. Not tomorrow. Or
even in a minute. Now.
May I have some of your time, please? Please, sir? Perhaps I should
schedule an appointment. You always keep appointments. Or maybe I could
go away a while until I'd be a real stranger. Then when I'd come back you
wouldn't keep me waiting.
Wonder if that would work? But why go to all the trouble? I'll try the
other way -- just once more. Daddy, will you -- will you play with me?
Now. Tomorrow I'll be big.
APPLICATION
We Need . . Available Men.
3. We Need . . Teachable Men. v 2 c - 8
EXPLANATION
A. Teachable Men have . . Determination for the
Lord. v 2 c - 3
". . . teach others also. 3. Suffer hardship with
me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
B. Teachable Men have . . Discernment for the Lord.
v 4-7
4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday
life, so that he may
please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also
if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes
according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to
be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I
say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
1. Discernment as a soldier.
v 4
2. Discernment as an athlete.
v 5
3 Discernment as a farmer.
v 6
4. Discernment as Christian.
v 7
C. Teachable Men have . . Deliberation for the
Lord. v 7-8
7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David,
according to my gospel,
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David,
according to my gospel,
ILLUSTRATION Teachableness
Howard Hendrics tell of his days as a student. He would pass a professors
house at 5:30 am in the morning on his way to work and see him with his
desk light on studying. Howard would go to class, then go back to work,
then to the library and home at 10:30 at night. When he passed at 10:30
at night he would often see the same professor studying.
He got an opportunity to ask the professor why he studied so much and he replied son I want to be a fresh stream of truth and not a stagnate pool.
APPLICATION
WE NEED F.A.T. MEN
Faithful Men.
Available Men.
Teachable Men.