Sermon Application Questions
Read 2 Timothy 2:24-3:12 and have someone review the message from their notes.

1. In light of the painful description of people in the last days (3:1-9), what surprises you about how “the Lord’s servant” is to respond to opposition? (2:24-26).
In what ways have you been challenged by this?

2. The list of vices begins with a description of things people love (instead of God). In the middle of this section there is one sentence of instruction about how we are to respond to such (3:5). What is it? How is this to be applied? How do you reconcile this verse with 2:24-26? (We talked about this on Sunday morning, but it is a good point of discussion and application).

3. There is a particular contrast between those who have “the appearance of godliness but deny its power” (3:5) and those “who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus” (3:12)
(Remember the juxtaposition of the piece of cheap veneer in contrast to the cross). What are the most obvious differences between these two types of people? (see also 3:10-11)

4. a. How do you respond to v.12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”?
b. When you read Acts 13-14, what do you make of Paul’s saying that the Lord rescued him from all his persecutions? What does he mean by being rescued? Does that affect how you think of the Lord’s rescue?


It might be difficult to talk with our children about these kinds of things, but it also might also prepare them as disciples much better. (Consider that Timothy’s 1st encounter with Paul was probably at his stoning in Lystra, since that is the town Tim was from. I wonder how that impacted him).