Heroes: Timothy

Speaker: Paul Brown

Notes

Timothy's family: Greek father; faithful, believing, Jewish mother and grandmother (Acts 16:1, 2 Tim 1:5). Brought up with the Bible (2 Tim 3:15). Remember and honour those who have brought you up with or brought you into the faith. Endeavour to bring your own children up with the Bible.

His conversion: probably became a Christian when Paul first passed through Lystra preaching the gospel. By the time Paul came back he was highly regarded in the church. He joined Paul's party and was willing to be circumcised - a hefty price to pay for serving Jesus!

He became Paul's personal assistant and special envoy and his "dear son". It is thought that he became an elder of the church in Ephesus for 15 years until he was martyred in the year 80 AD. He remained faithful to Paul and to the gospel until the very end.

He was youthful, timid and under-confident (1 Tim 4:12, 2 Tim 1:7); he needed reminding to stir up God's gift in him (1 Tim 4:14, 2 Tim 1:6).

Application

Who are your spiritual parents, those who have brought you up in the faith? What do you most appreciate about them? How has your spiritual parenting changed over time? How can we be most effective as parents to young Christians today?

If you have children, to what extent and in what ways have you been able to bring them up with the Bible?

Think about Timothy's willingness to give up the easy life for the sake of the gospel. How willing are we to do the same?

Timothy needed to stir up his gift. We don't know what that gift was, but it didn't just happen to him - he had to consciously fan it into flame. Do you know what gift(s) God has given you? What could you do to make better use of it. Paul says we can all prophesy - how about stirring that gift up and all prophesying over one another?

Posted: 17 May 2009