2 Timothy 3:1-14 | Who Are You Becoming?

In 2 Timothy 3:1-14, Paul warns his young pastor Timothy about the dangerous days he's living in. Not to scare him - to prepare him. And the biggest danger isn't the culture outside the church. It's disordered love inside the hearts of people who look religious.Paul identifies three disordered loves that mark difficult times:→ Love of self (narcissism) - the desire to BE somebody→ Love of money (materialism) - the desire to HAVE something→ Love of pleasure (hedonism) - the desire to FEEL somethingEvery moral failure of a leader. Every moral failure in your own life. Trace it back - it's one of these three.Then Paul says: "You, however…" Two of the most beautiful words in the passage. While everyone else is going that direction - you, follow my example. Follow my teaching, my conduct, my aim, my faith, my patience, my love.This is Christianity. "Follow me as I follow Christ." Not a set of rules. An invitation into a way of life.THREE THINGS PAUL CALLS TIMOTHY TO DO:1. Understand the times - the last days are marked by disordered love (v. 1-5)2. Discern false ungodly influences - they infiltrate, imitate, and are eventually exposed (v. 6-9)3. Follow godly faithful examples - the Christian life is often caught before it's taught (v. 10-14)KEY VERSE:"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." - 2 Timothy 3:1-4 THE THREE LOVES:Every commercial you see is appealing to one of three things:→ To BE somebody (self, pride, fame, recognition)→ To HAVE something (money, possessions, stuff)→ To FEEL something (pleasure, escape, comfort)Ask your kids: which of these three loves is this commercial trying to sell you?REFLECTION QUESTIONS:- What do you love most right now - if you're honest?- Which of the three disordered loves (self, money, pleasure) do you find most tempting?- Who are you following? And what kind of example are you becoming for those around you?- Is your faith something others can see and follow, or is it just a form without power?Connect with us - fbcoi.org