ROUTE 66 EP 061

Introduction: How to Read the Bible

Pastor Mike Blake began by establishing a framework for understanding the Bible. The goal is to see the primary pictures and stories, identify how Jesus is revealed in each book, and understand the practical application for our lives today.

A crucial point was made: Not all of the Bible is written directly to you, but all of the Bible is for you.
This distinction is vital. We must be careful not to misapply passages that were written for a specific people (like the apostles or the nation of Israel) in a specific time. The Bible is simpler than we often make it.

The Structure of the New Testament

The Gospels and the Transition

The Gospels: The New Testament begins with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These four books chronicle the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Silent Years: It's important to remember the context. There was a 400-year period of silence between the Old and New Testaments where God was not speaking prophetically to Israel, a time of rebellion.
God's Response to Humans: This silence was broken not by a message to the rich or religious elite, but by a heavenly announcement to common shepherds. God chose to reveal the arrival of Jesus Christ to ordinary people.

The Bridge: The Book of Acts

A Transitional Book: The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and especially Acts serve as a "bridge" between the Old Testament covenant (the Law) and the New Testament covenant (grace).
Context of the Gospels: Much of what Jesus says in the Gospels is spoken under the context of the Law to the people of Israel. We must be cautious about building church doctrine solely from these books without understanding this transition. The "Red Letter" words of Jesus were often directed specifically to His Jewish audience at that time.
The Acts of the Apostles: This book chronicles the transition from the Old Covenant to the New. It details the shift from a ministry focused on the nation of Israel to one focused on individuals, and from being exclusively for the Jew to including the Gentile (non-Jewish people, which includes us).

The Foundation of Church Doctrine: The Epistles

The Gateway: The Book of Romans

After the narrative-heavy Gospels and Acts, the Book of Romans marks a shift. The stories largely end, and theological doctrine begins.
Romans is the gateway into the New Testament church age. It lays the foundational doctrines for the Christian faith.
Who God Is: God has not forgotten or replaced His people, Israel. The pastor warned against the false teaching of "replacement theology" (the idea that the church has replaced Israel). Israel is currently far from God, but God will use future events, like the Tribulation, to draw them back to Himself.
How God Responds to Humans & How I Am to Live: Sometimes, the difficulties and "manure" in our lives are not punishment but "fertilizer" from God. He is not trying to hurt us; He is trying to make us grow and bear fruit by providing nutrients through hardship. We should look for the growth God intends rather than assuming He is punishing us.

The Pauline Epistles: Instructions for the Church

The Apostle Paul was saved in the middle of the Book of Acts and became God’s primary instrument for communicating truth to the church.
He authored 13 books of the New Testament, known as the Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and the personal letters 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
How I Am to Live: For believers living after the resurrection, the Pauline Epistles are the primary source of instruction and doctrine for the church. While the words of Jesus in the Gospels are essential, the letters from Paul are the post-resurrection revelation given specifically for how the church is to function and how we are to live as believers in this age.
The pastor noted that Hebrews functions as a transitional book leading into the General Epistles (James, First and Second Peter), which collectively feature themes of suffering and dispersion. He suggests Hebrews and Second Timothy were written close in time.

Second Timothy: A Call to Endure and Leave a Legacy

The sermon then focused on the book of Second Timothy, framed as Paul’s final letter emphasizing endurance.

Introduction: Preparing for the End and Leaving a Legacy

The pastor began with a personal reflection on the importance of preparing for the end of life and leaving a meaningful legacy.

A "Dad's Story" Journal: He spent a year filling out a journal with his life story, faith, marriage, and personal history. He has gifted this book to his daughters with the instruction that they can only read it after he is gone. This is an intentional gift to pass on his story and values.
A Wide-Margin Bible: He keeps a wide-margin Bible filled with 20 years of notes to gift to a future son-in-law in ministry—an investment in discipling the next generation.
Financial and End-of-Life Planning: He and his wife have recently hired a financial planner to get their affairs in order. His motivation is to spare his daughters the stress and uncertainty of figuring out these details (e.g., burial, estate) after he's gone.
The Goal: The pastor's desire is to "die a hero, not a zero," leaving a legacy of intention and care. This is the same heart he sees in the Apostle Paul as he writes to Timothy.

A Call to Mature, Eternal Thinking

The pastor exhorts the congregation to "grow up" in their thinking. Instead of only focusing on the week ahead, mature Christians should think about the long-term future and, most importantly, the eternal.
He notes that the Christian life is not always about having fun; it is often tough.

Last Words: The Weight of a Final Legacy

The pastor emphasized the importance of last words, referencing several examples:

Jesus’ Final Discourse: In John 13–17, Jesus forewarns his disciples of coming persecution and prepares them for mission.
Paul’s Farewell: In Acts 20, Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders serves as a model of “last words” and shepherding courage.
Personal Family Story: The pastor recounted his father’s quiet life and final words: “Don’t cry for me, I’ll be okay.” He reflected on the weight of last words and the regret many face at the end.
Hospital Room Regret: He shared a sobering story of an older congregant who, near death, asked the pastor to clear the room to avoid emotional exposure, a picture of pride and unresolved apologies.
Challenge: Consider who would be in your hospital room and who will carry your casket—prepare well and live without end-of-life regret.

Enduring Hardness: Lessons from 2 Timothy

The central theme of the sermon is endurance, drawn from Paul's charge to Timothy.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-4

Paul is writing from a cold prison cell to his "son" in the faith, Timothy.

"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
- Context & Application: Paul commands Timothy to pass on the teachings he has received. This is a call to discipleship and multiplication. We are not meant to keep the faith to ourselves but to ensure it is passed down. The strength to do this comes from "the grace that is in Christ."
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3)
- Context & Application: Life as a Christian is hard, and we are called to endure, not give up. The word "endure" is key and appears again in 2 Timothy 4:5. It presumes hardship.
- Pastor's Example (Marriage): He shared a raw story from his own marriage when things were "on the rocks." He and his wife had difficult, honest conversations. Though their feelings were hurt, they reaffirmed their commitment of love, choosing to "endure hardness" together rather than quit.
- Pastor's Example (Deer Stand): He illustrated endurance with a story of sitting in a deer stand in the freezing cold. He forced himself to sit still and "toughen up." This simple act of enduring discomfort is a form of training for greater things.
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)
- Context & Application: As soldiers of Christ, our primary goal is to please our commanding officer—the Lord. We cannot please everyone.
- Order of Priority:
  1. Please God: A pastor’s first responsibility is to preach the Word of God faithfully.
  2. Please Your Spouse: The next priority is the respect of your spouse.
  3. Please Your Family: The respect of one's immediate family is more valuable than the opinions of others.

The Call to Be Faithful to the Word

The pastor provided a structural outline of 2 Timothy, framing it around the central theme of faithfulness to the Word of God.

Chapter 1: Be Faithful to Hold Fast to Sound Words.
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:13 - "Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ."
- Application: We are called to cling to sound words from God, not from worldly influences.
Chapter 2: Be Faithful to Teach and Study the Word.
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 and 2 Timothy 2:15 ("Study to shew thyself approved unto God...").
- Application: Our faithfulness extends to diligently studying and teaching God’s Word to others.
Chapter 3: Be Faithful to Suffer for the Word.
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12 - "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
- Application: A godly life will inevitably involve persecution. Everyone suffers; Christians can suffer for Christ with purpose and dignity, wearing it as a badge of honor.
Chapter 4: Be Faithful to Preach the Word.
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2 - "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season..."
- Application: The ultimate expression of our faithfulness is to actively proclaim God's Word, whether people are receptive or not. The pastor used the analogy of a "paper boy" whose job is simply to deliver the news, trusting God with the results.

Metaphors for the Christian Life: Soldier, Athlete, Farmer

Soldier (2 Timothy 2:3): Trains constantly with unseen, daily discipline.
Athlete (2 Timothy 2:5): Strives according to the rules, maintaining strict habits for peak performance. The pastor humorously noted that while there are exceptions (Marshawn Lynch's Skittles), athletes generally avoid junk food.
Farmer (2 Timothy 2:6): Labors persistently through every season—planting in the wet, harvesting in the cold—to see a harvest.

Who God Is, Who We Are, and How We Are to Live

Who God Is

He is the Source of Grace and Strength: 2 Timothy 2:1 shows that our endurance is empowered by God's grace, not human grit.
He is Our Commander and Judge: 2 Timothy 4:1 identifies Jesus as the one "who shall judge the quick and the dead." This judgment is a biblical reality. The Bible describes two final judgments:
1. The Great White Throne Judgment: For those who do not know Jesus Christ.
2. The Judgment Seat of Christ: For Christians, to account for what we did with our lives for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:9-11 calls this the "terror of the Lord").
He is Faithful and Present: Even when "no man stood with me," Paul declared, "the Lord stood with me" (2 Timothy 4:16-18). God is present in our suffering, strengthens us, and preserves us for His kingdom.

Who We Are in Christ

Soldiers of Christ: Called to endure hardness, discipline, and spiritual warfare, not comfort-seeking.
Stewards of the Gospel: Tasked with faithfully transmitting sound doctrine to the next generation.
A People Called to Be Faithful: Godly people do what is right consistently. Struggling people do what is right sometimes. We must be faithful to God and His Word.
Students of Scripture: We are called to "study to show thyself approved unto God" (2 Timothy 2:15), seeking His approval through diligent study.

How We Are to Live

Do Hard Things: The core message is summarized by the phrase, "Just do hard things." The right thing is often the hard thing. We must stop making excuses and choose endurance over ease.
Stir Up the Gift: Paul tells Timothy to "stir up the gift of God, which is in thee" (2 Timothy 1:6). Like oil separating in natural peanut butter, the gift of God within us can become dormant. We are called to stir it up for His purposes.
Flee and Follow: We must "flee youthful lusts; follow righteousness" (2 Timothy 2:22). This is a two-part strategy: not just abstaining from sin but actively replacing sinful patterns with righteous practices (prayer, service, Scripture).
Be a Lifelong Learner: At the end of his life, Paul asked for his cloak and books, "especially the parchments" (2 Timothy 4:13). We should have an ongoing hunger to learn from Scripture and other wise resources.
Fight the Good Fight: Paul's final declaration was, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). Living rightly is a fight that requires endurance.

Cultural Critique and Application

Endurance over Entertainment: The pastor contrasted biblical disciple-making with modern church culture, which can become cluttered with comfort activities (coffee, cookouts, crafts) that distract from the hard work of being a "soldier." Church life should support the mission, not replace it.
Excuses vs. Endurance: We make excuses to avoid hard things—the weather is too bad for the gym, we are too "busy" for the Bible. The pastor challenged the congregation to audit their time to see how much is wasted.
Sacrificial Service: The pastor highlighted the Albania Bible Project, where members sacrificed time and took off work to assemble Bibles. Older saints labored "morning till night," praying over each Bible. This is an example of suffering for good things and enduring for the sake of the Gospel.

Closing Encouragement and Gospel Invitation

The pastor challenged the congregation to find someone who is struggling and offer encouragement: "Stay after it; you’re going to make it."
He closed with a Gospel invitation, explaining that the key to being a Christian is not perfect behavior but meeting Jesus by faith. He offered to speak with anyone unsure of their salvation, emphasizing, “Today is the day of salvation.”