Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Today, we begin looking at the Book of 2nd Timothy. 2 Timothy, Paul’s final letter, was written from his prison cell to Timothy, who is in Ephesus. Paul met Timothy on one of his missionary journeys, and Timothy had been serving in ministry with him since that time. Paul senses the end is near for him, and he writes this letter to Timothy to encourage him to continue telling others about the good news of Jesus. He asks him to visit so he can pass along what he has seen and heard so that others can experience faith in Jesus.

A few verses stood out to me in these chapters:

2 Timothy 1:1 - “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 2:1-2 - “Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”

Paul was called to tell others about Jesus, and through his missionary journeys, he met Timothy and others who joined him in spreading that message. In his letter, Paul reminds Timothy that he has heard these teachings, he has seen them confirmed, and now he is called to continue telling others about Jesus. Paul knows he will not be there to continue the work, and he wants to ensure that the message of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection, will live on beyond him.

Because Paul discipled Timothy and others, because Timothy took those teachings and continued to lead people to know, love, and follow Jesus, we can experience the love of God and all He has for us when we place our faith in Him. Paul and Timothy lived out the Great Commission!

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Wow! I am so thankful that Paul and Timothy were faithful to what they were called to do, and because they were, we get to experience that same faith in Jesus. And as we become followers of Jesus, we also take on the responsibility of sharing about Him with others. So, invite someone to come with you on Sunday or to House Church on Wednesday night so that we continue the work of Paul, Timothy, and so many others!

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

FALL AT VENTURE

KXP, MVMNT, The Gathering, House Church, and Care Groups are all starting back this fall! Check the Fall at Venture webpage for launch dates and events happening this fall at Venture.