2 Timothy 3

Paul wrote that in the last days, people would turn from God and do all sorts of evil things. Righteous men will be persecuted, but through it all, we must remain true to the word of God because it is what teaches us and guides us to the path of righteousness.

The word of God is powerful. It has been preserved through the years so that God's message could be communicated to people around the world. By loving and studying and knowing God's word, we equip ourselves with the knowledge we need to stand against anything or anyone that stands against us.

2 Timothy 2

Paul instructed Timothy to teach what he knew to others. They in turn would teach these same to truths to others still.

The gospel message of Christ has spread for nearly 2,000 years by people teaching others what they know. If you have accepted Christ, it's because someone shared what they knew with you. That person had someone who shared with them, and so on, all the way back to the apostles. Don't let the message stop with you - share it!

2 Timothy 1

Paul reminded Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel and the work he was doing, but to keep the passion he first received when he accepted the gift of God.

Sometimes we can get so busy or overwhelmed with life that we forget what it was like when we first believed. When these times come, we need to stop and think back to when we first accepted Christ into our lives. This exercise helps us to refocus our efforts on what matters most - loving God and loving others.

1 Timothy 6

Paul said that whoever disagrees with sound doctrine is conceited. People who stir up controversy do so for their own self-interest. The love of money and earthly things can lead to great sin and should be avoided. Instead, our focus should be on the things of God so that we remain pure.

We cannot focus on God and ourselves at the same time. When we focus on our own self-importance or the acquisition of money or material things, we miss out on all the good things God has in store for us. Allow God to guide you in all things so that you don't go astray. Find wise counsel to help you to understand what God is saying to you.

1 Timothy 5

Paul taught Timothy to deal with each person according to their age, respecting his elders and relating as an equal to the younger men and women. He also stressed the importance of taking care of family - especially widows.

We must remember that our elders always deserve respect. If we must confront them about some wrongdoing, we need to be sure that we have the information correct and approach them with humility instead of an attitude of arrogance or superiority. Likewise, with those of our own age or younger, we must not adopt a feeling of superiority, but go as a friend or a sibling and be compassionate in our actions. Taking care of family is very important. When our loved ones lose the ability to care for themselves, we should step in to provide for and care for them. The family was conceived by God as the way by which people would be taken care of. The church should only take care of those who have no earthly family left who can care for them.

1 Timothy 4

Paul encouraged Timothy to stay strong in the doctrines he had been taught and to continue teaching the same. He also told him not to let anyone look down on him because of his young age.

We all need to focus on the doctrines we have been taught and make sure they are true to the Bible. No matter who teaches us - young or old - we must be receptive to hearing God's word and learning as much as we can. The important thing to focus on is the message, not the messenger.

1 Timothy 3

Paul listed the qualifications for those who wish to serve in the church as having good moral character and being in control of their actions and their families.

Some people like to think that one's home life shouldn't be considered when determining qualifications for a leadership position. This is ridiculous, as people do not have a switch where they turn off bad behavior when they are operating in an official capacity as a leader and then switch it back when they get home. How we act with our biological families affects how we serve our church family. Those who lead our congregations should be the best possible models of the behaviors God wants to see in all of us.