Queen's Road Cell

  11. a) Where are you in the process Paul describes in 2:2?  This cell is one where all who participate are engaged in this great process of passing on a certain culture of discipleship :). Each one of us needs to strive to grow in the skills and knowledge needed to be effective in passing on the gospel, as well as other lessons of Christian life and ministry that we have learned. I would ask what it means to be a 'faithful' man or woman. Are these individuals born or made? Winnie says they receive  faith as a gift - a work of the Spirit, but that they are also 'nurtured' - we must help create what we are trying to find.  'Faith' is 'trust' or 'trusting dependence'. (we remember our brief excursus last week on the Protestant ideas of notitia , assentia and fiducia ). The faithful one is a man or woman whose life is centered around complete trust in the Lord for salvation and all other matters. This is a wholly committed life that trusts in God...

 8. Choose one of Paul's 3 similes in 2:4-6. How does its lesson apply to you in your service to God?  I am unsure which area I am particularly weak in. I think as a leader I face the temptation of working behind the scenes to circumvent the rules, instead of being an example to others in following rules. I think I have less problems with following the rules and working hard than with spiritual focus. It is easy to work hard then to let go and relax fully while staying focused on the Lord. So the idea that I am a soldier who can be 'off duty' at times but still a soldier is an important one for me to keep in mind. Most of us felt that we could grow in being more soldier-like in the focus, being 'set apart' (Selwyn). We could be working harder in our ministry.   9. a)  Paul's own example should also motivate Timothy. How would you describe Paul's attitude toward circumstances in 2:9-10 (c.f. Phil 1:12-18)? He is not bothered by circumstances, even when suffer...

  4. God's grace makes possible the rest of what Paul urges in 2:1-13. Paraphrase the process he describes in 2:2. "Those things I told you in public - the things I stand for and that every follower of Christ needs to know - pass these on to people you can trust, so that they in turn can pass on what I have taught to others too." "in the  presence of many witnesses" = in public = trustworthy, unchallengable, something we will defend, not secret knowledge. "teach trustworthy people to teach others" "teach those who can teach so that others may be taught" "teach reliable people who won't change the message"   What does 2:2 have to do with Paul's purpose in 2:1-13? With the letter's overall purpose?  2:2 sets the goal of being strengthened to suffer for the gospel It is a plan of continuity for Paul and Timothy's faith . Suffering for the gospel is not the ultimate goal. Rather, it is passing on the gospel. The gospel i...