2 TImothy 1:1-14 Questions 7-9

 7. Paul tells Timothy to guard a treasure/deposit (1:14) and to rekindle God's gift (1:6). what deposit would we be entrusted with?

• Our spiritual heritage: those who have invested into our lives. This would be our families and spiritual mentors. We value them and pass on their investment.
• Our faith, a gift of God, should be responded to with gratitude.We try to pass on that faith.
  
• Our spiritual gifts we certainly would possess.
  
• Our knowledge of the truth taught and self-learned. The gospel
  

8a) Why might a modern Christian be tempted to be timid toward testifying about Jesus?

• We are a minority.
• We are in a culture where relativism prevails in the religious sphere.
• We are in a culture where scientism prevails in the physical sphere.
  
• We don't want to be seen as an extremist or especially enthusiastic about/committed to/trust fully in anything "Fanatic"
  
• We are not fully convinced of the truth of the gospel: we have doubts.
  
• We struggle to experience spiritual victory in our own lives. We ourselves are afraid that we are bad witnesses.
• We know 'Christians' who disgrace the gospel and hypocrites in church.
• The gospel doesn't make sense - the world is not receptive. (1 Cor 1:15)
• Legal restrictions, which can be circumvented by a good relationship.
• Hard to share a story of grace.
• We feel we need a certain level of relationship before we can share effectively. Many of us feel that this is a major reason, although we know that God can certainly work through us even to strangers.
  

8b)  How might the gift named in 1:7 enable a timid Christian to join in testifying and suffering (1:8)

The gift of God for ministry as well as the more general gift of the Holy Spirit is characterized by supernatural boldness, not fear. We appropriate the gift and the power of the Spirit by prayer by others or by ourselves.

9. Of all Paul says in 1:1-14 does anything encourage you to fan the flame of your faith into greater exercise? If not, what encourages you?

 We gave various answers: the power of gospel truth, the 'deposit' given to us. We are called to be unashamed of the gospel. Knowing that we have been given a 'spirit' of power and love and self-control. A sense of God at work in us. For me, it is the people I minister to and the testimonies of Christians who have experienced the power of God.

What do the following passages teach about the function of  each Christian in the Church?

• Eph 4:7  "But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."
• Rom  12:4-6 "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them"

Each one of us has an active role to play in the church. The gifts can differ in degree and nature. So each one's role is different. We must not feel useless or inferior, nor should we feel proud. All the gifts are gifts of grace - undeserved/unmerited. Any differences are solely at God's discretion.

What are some implications of  1:7 for your response to the challenge of testifying and suffering? How can you act on those implications during the next few weeks?

I should step out boldly to testify to Christ - the default should be "Why shouldn't I speak up?", not "Why should I speak up?" in a given situation.

 If God has called us to do something, then what can we assume regarding the ability and resources we need to do it?

• Jn 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
• 2 Cor 3:4-6  "⁴ Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
• Phil 2:12-13 "¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
•  2 Tim 1:6-8, 14 "⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.... By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."

 We have sufficiency in Christ through the Spirit. We work out our salvation because God is already working in us and will bring His work to completion (Phil 1:6)

My take-home message is that I should be bold to share my faith because God has made His power and sufficiency available to me.

Winnie had a story about a former student going through a difficult time who contacted her and how God was working wonderfully in that situation :)