Skip to main content

A Pattern to Follow


              Over the years, the church has spent a lot of time searching the New Testament for patterns.  This search has influenced everything from the way we conduct the Lord’s Supper to the way we baptise people.   Oddly, though, there is one clearly stated pattern that has not garnered that much attention. 
                At the start of Second Timothy, Paul recounts the highpoints of the gospel message.  In fact, he bookends his comments with the word “gospel” (verses 8 and 11) and in-between he lists several important aspects of what that gospel entails. 
                “Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher” (2 Timothy 1:8-11).
                Did you catch the tone and focus of that summary?  The gospel is about what God has done.  It is preached by his power.  He saved us.  Jesus is our hope both now and in eternity.  We can start again and live a holy life, but (underline this) none of these blessings come about because of anything we have done.
                Is that what you believe?  Is that what you teach?  If you had a chance to explain your faith to someone, is that where you would start?  It better be, because this is the “pattern of sound teaching” (verse 13) that Timothy is supposed to use and that every New Testament sermon follows.
                When we focus on ourselves rather than on God, sermons and classes devolve into self-help sessions that encourage people to try harder, be better and do more. 
                However, as Tullian Tchividjian observed, “If people walk away from a sermon thinking more about what they need to do than what Jesus has already done, the Gospel has not been preached”.
                We must keep our focus on the attractive, hopeful, life-giving message of God’s grace and goodness. 
                That pattern is clear! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

 What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly.  https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s    
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: A Path Worth Following

  Jehoram was a terrible king.  He reigned in Judah around the year 850 B.C. and he did not care about God or his people.  His first act as king was to assassinate his six brothers so that no one could challenge his authority.  He was brutal and selfish.   Therefore, when the Bible sums up his life, it says, “Jehoram… passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David” (2 Chronicles 21:20).  Did you catch that?  “To no one’s regret!”  What a terrible phrase for your tombstone. On the other hand, consider a lady named Tabitha.  She lived in the city of Joppa in the first century A.D. and we are told, “… she was always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36).  She became sick and died.  This caused the community so much grief that they called Peter, who was in the nearby town of Lydda, to come and help them.  When Peter arrived, a crowd gathered, bringing all the robes and other clothing that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

   When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for.  Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task.  In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut.  It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why.  Ben became stuck on the glacier.  He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below.   That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice.  He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety.  Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....
Post a Comment
Read more