October 20 - 2 Timothy 1:1-2:2 - "Faith Family Tree"

MPC 20th October 2019.

Phil Campbell

Hey, as you've heard we're in a new series from the second letter to Timothy called NEXTGEN, and if you're in a growth group that met through the week I hope you had fun creating your own faith family tree.

I was chatting to some of the women after the WoW women's groups on Wednesday and it was fun to see the way faith has been passed on in so many different ways. All different. Some complex. Some simple. Think back on yours. The people and the pathway that's brought you to where you are spiritually today. Where ever that might be.

My own faith family tree was kind of complicated.

Partly, in a way, a line through my physical family. I can't trace it too far back. But on my mum's side. Grandma and Grandpa Cecil and Lala Collis Rose were Christians, my mum's younger sister, she was a missionary. And she used to pray for mum. And I'm pretty sure for my sister and me.

And as a result when we were very young, Mum, who'd been the rebel girl in the family. Thought she maybe should start going to church. Dad. Not so willing. Although he'd grown up a Presbyterian. And so kind of once a month I think. Off they'd go. Presbyterians on the census. But not much more.

They figured they should send me to Sunday school regularly. I guess so they could sleep in. On the other three Sundays.

And so Mrs Thelma Mcdonald used to pick me up in her green EJ Holden. Every Sunday morning. I'd wait outside on the footpath. And every Sunday morning, she'd turn up right on time. And pick me up. In my shorts and white shirt and bow tie.

But you know, she was nice. Sometimes she'd make a little pack of coconut ice. And Sunday school was good. And the stuff I was hearing kind of made sense. Thelma Mcdonald. Is very much. In my faith family tree.

And Sunday School: I made friends there. In that hall. Including one in particular; his name's Greg. Still one of my best mates. For those of you who know Verity Fraser. He's her dad.

Greg. And his older brother Murray. And the thing about Murray particular. Just a few years older. Was that he was serious about following Jesus; in a way that even back then... really showed. And so was Greg.

But I think it was especially that big brother thing. That made a mark. Someone just a bit older. Who was serious about following Jesus.

But hey, in high school there was Bernie Morgan as well. Our PE Teacher. Coolest teacher in the school. Who was serious and public about his faith.

And people like Rex Saunders. Who'd come over to Inverell from Armidale Uni where he was a student. And help run our church youth camp. And taught me to play guitar. And was serious. About following Jesus.

I think it all came together though when our minister, Donald Campbell, no relation of mine, but grandfather of Daniel if you've met Dan here at church; when Donald sat me down as a teenager and talked thought the gospel with me from the ground up. And made double sure I'd understood it. And owned it for myself. Which at that point I decisively did. A story with lots of players.

So let me ask you for a moment. Whether you've thought about it through the week in a growth group or not. What brings you here. To this point. Today.

Maybe you think we live in such a sceptical secular age that nobody is interested in Christianity any more. I gotta say, when I was growing up in my family, it wasn't that different. Nor at school. I mean, I know for most of you I'm an old guy, but most of my mates at school were more into smoking weed behind the weather shed.

It's always been tough. So I'm here. You're here. How did you get here?

You might not even say you're a Christian at this point. Maybe you're just looking into it and haven't crossed that invisible line in your own mind; to say to God I'm just a sinner who needs saving by grace; and then live under the Lordship of Jesus. For real.

You could actually cross that line right now if you like. And then this will be a key point on your faith family tree.

But if you've already done that at some point. As so many of us have. Look back. And ask yourself who you have to thank for it. And say a quiet prayer of thanksgiving. For your Thelma McDonald. Or Bernie Morgan. Or your grandmother. Or whoever it was for you. Though I guess just to spoil the surprise this morning, by the end we actually want to ask you and challenge you; to actually be that person. For someone else.

Just to pick up the threads, we've been talking a lot this year about our four key words as a church. Invite. Grow. Love. And Send.

And this is the launch of our Send series. To pick up on the idea that we as a church want to be sending and supporting ambassadors of Jesus. New Generations. Out into our neighbourhoods. Out into our workplaces. Out into leadership in other churches. To see more and more lives changed. Like yours and mine. Because if you're a Christian already, I don't know about you. But I reckon it's been great.

We're here in Paul's second letter to his offsider Timothy.

As Paul hands over the task. Because he knows his time is short.

Which makes him, I guess, reflective. About family trees. And most especially family trees of faith.

Which you'll notice right from the start.

Paul's thinking about the way the faith of his own Jewish forefathers is so perfectly completed in the gospel of Jesus. Even though he's the guy who had that famous conversion on the road, as he looks back he can see a direct continuity. Because in Jesus, he's found the fulfilment of everything that came before.

And so after opening the letter in verse 2 addressing Timothy as his dear son... because he's Paul's son in the Lord Paul goes on to talk about his own ancestors. Who he says served God with a clear conscience just as he does.

His ancestors; who prepared him through his family line. For the faith he's now preaching.

Even more so with Timothy.

He says, verse 5, "I'm reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice... and, I'm persuaded, now lives in you also."

His grandma. His mum. Lois. Eunice. Now look, dads, this by no means gets you off the hook. But mums. And grandmas. Don't underestimate your influence.

George Washington said,

All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.

Brilliant general; first president of the United States. Mary Washington just had no idea, as a single widowed mum, how her investment was going to pay off.

Now I put it to you that that's nothing. Compared to world changing effect of Grandma Lois. Who passed on her faith to her daughter Eunice. Who passed on her faith to her son Timothy.

Because for the apostle Paul that's a matter for thanksgiving.

As it is today. Every time the same thing happens. Your name might not go up in lights. Or be included for ever in the pages of the Bible like these two. But you can be part of that same chain. That started back then. Whether you've got your own kids or not.

But let's hold that thought. Because the reality is, that's hard, isn't it? If you have got kids, you'll know how hard it can be. To grow them in the faith. And I know there are plenty of us who get tears in our eyes thinking about one kid or another who's given up. And turned away.

Which is actually Paul's fear for Timothy as his spiritual son too.

You might think the pressure of today's world makes it really tough to stay a Christian.

I mean, people don't actually like us very much. Faith: stupid. Jesus: stupid. Putting limits around your sexual behaviour: stupid. Staying sober: stupid.

And who'd ever think that a 25 year old could somehow just say no to taking pills at a music festival. Even if the pills are going to kill them. So the way our world works, we want to legalise the pills and test them so everyone can just get stoned in safety. It's so old fashioned to expect self control.

And so anyone who wants to be different to that and live for Jesus is just automatically going to get a very hard time.

Which was exactly the same for Timothy. And exactly the same for Paul.

It's always been tough.

Which is why Paul has to encourage Timothy not to be timid. Not to be ashamed. And not, most of all, to shrink back from suffering for the gospel. As he sees Paul; locked away in a jail cell.

Lou and I have been watching a documentary on SBS. Seven volunteers. Locked up in an American jail for 60 days. To help spot corruption. It's called 60 Days In.

And look, I reckon looking at it, it's not fun. I'd survive about one day in. I'd rather stay out.

Somehow I think we can read about guys like Paul being whipped and thrown in jail and we're insulated by maybe time and distance and it's kind of remote. I reckon Timothy's actually terrified. That the same thing might happen to him.

Pick up and read from verse 6.

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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Timothy, don't be timid. By the spirit of God. Be powerful. Be loving. Be self disciplined.

And don't, verse 8, be ashamed.

Ashamed, you'll see in verse 8, of the gospel message. The testimony about our Lord. Or ashamed, says Paul, of me his prisoner.

Instead, step up and join me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Which is the last thing Timothy wants to do. Or you want to do. Or I want to do. To risk everything. To rely on the power of God like that.

You know, we so much want to see the power of God first hand when we're maybe praying for a parking spot. Or praying for recovery. Or praying for a quick financial fix. A way out of a tight spot. But Paul says the power of God's at work; that the spirit will really be at work in Timothy, first and foremost in giving the ability to stand firm under pressure. For the sake of the gospel of Jesus.

Have you ever tried that? The tough times when you might open your mouth in spite of the fact you know you're going to be laughed down. The day as a Chinese Christian you're arrested just for going to church. The day for my friend Pastor Cam fears in H A N O I when the guy up the back in church taking such careful notes is actually reporting what you're saying to the police. When that stuff does happen, Paul says, that's when the Spirit sustains. When the power of God. Gives you everything you need.

Don't be ashamed. But rather join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God.

Because the gospel. Is worth it.

And there's a reminder of that. In verses 9 to 12.

If you've ever wondered if it's worth it to keep trusting Jesus. If you've ever wondered if it's worth it being distinctive or faithful in your marriage or sexually pure. If you've ever wondered if it's worth it being patient or generous or sacrificially loving.

Paul says it's worth it because of the gospel. That in the midst of a world with a death wish, we've got the offer of life.

I was sitting on our deck in the morning sunshine last Saturday. Beautiful spring weather. I think that was the one spring day in between the winter day and the blistering summer day last week. But just thinking this is fantastic.

The warmth of life-giving light. The gospel. Is like that. Or a fresh stream of sparkling water.

And yet every day in the news our culture wants to legislate new ways of killing.

The gospel says life is good. death is evil. Seems like the world says death is good. Life. Is evil. Best avoided. Best to kill unborn kids, best to assist the dying - kill me now.

And again in the face of that it sounds ridiculous just to say life is good.

Our gospel message is a message of death overturned. And life brought to light. It's the message of the resurrection of Jesus. And the hope that we have. Of enduring life ourselves.

Back in verse 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life that's in Christ Jesus.

He says it again in verse 10. God's generosity, he says, "now revealed in the appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

That's the message. That Jesus. Through dying and then getting up again as if death by crucifixion was just a nap; destroys the grip of death; and so life wins.

That's our gospel. In our death absorbed euthanasing aborting world we're the ones saying death's been defeated. Not by science. Not by an anti ageing diet. I read the other day people who walk faster when they're exercising live longer. Well, I love living. So now I'm trying harder to keep up with Lou on our afternoon walks.

We're people who celebrate. life. But our real hope is in the resurrection of Jesus.

Our message is the sunshine of life. To the world. That's our gospel.

Life wins. Because of Jesus. And it's free.

That's the gospel message that Paul's heralding. That's what he's teaching. That's why he's suffering. As death-world tries to shut him down. That's why he's not ashamed. Because he knows that the Jesus he's trusting can guard the treasure of life for him; whatever happens. Until the last day.

And so. He says to Timothy. Keep going. guard the gospel. And pass it on.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Keep going. Because Phygelus and Hermogenes haven't. They gave up, verse 15. Deserted me. Just like everyone else in the province of Asia. Except Onesiphorus. Who kept looking for me in prison in Rome until he found me; and then kept visiting with food and drink and encouragement.

He wasn't ashamed of my chains. So Timothy, why should you be? Keep the gospel. Guard the gospel. And most important, pass it on.

Which brings us back to the faith family tree. And your part in it. Not just in your natural family. Not just passing it on to your kids and grandkids. But to everyone you can.

Which brings us to the key verse I think for our series. One worth remembering. One that if it hadn't happened back then, wouldn't have started the faith family tree that leads all the way down to you. Here. Now.

Watch how it works.

Paul says to Timothy, you then my son, be strong in the grace that's in Christ Jesus.

And what you've heard me say... entrust to the next generation.

Who'll pass it on to the people after that.

In the kind of faith family tree that's going to spread far and wide. And down through the generations.

There's an article in the latest Eternity newspaper you can pick up at the door that asks the question, are we... in the last generation of Christians? It says in 2017 the writer Damian Thompson predicted that Christianity in Britain will end in the year 2067. Fifty more years. Until they bury the last living Christian pom. So what about Australia. That's only ever been vaguely Christian anyway.

The article is actually optimistic. If we're going to keep following Paul's game plan. And keep adding links to the faith family tree. Sure. First and foremost with your kids and grandkids if you've got them. But further than that. To a friend. To a neighbour. To a kids' church class. To someone in your growth group.

Because here's the question. If you did draw up your own faith family tree in growth group during the week, does it stop with you?

Were you. And are you going to be. The last one in the line? Because if you are, then we are going to be the last generations of Christians, aren't we? Why on earth would you expect that to happen? After such a long line down to you?

Here's how it worked for Leanne. Not the last in the line at all. Arrows flowing in. Then arrows flow out... all over the place. And who knows where they'll lead next.

Be encouraged! And as you think back on how someone shared the sunshine of life with you. Consciously. Prayerfully. Through the power of God's Spirit... Look for ways to be that person to someone next in line.

And pass it on. To the next generation of your own faith family tree.