Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 4:1-8.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 4:1a (NIV)
1  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead…

On verse 1a:  Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead.  In the end, all of us will give an account to Him.  So let’s fear people and circumstances.  Let’s not be too concerned about how we look in front of others.  Instead, let’s live in the fear of the Lord.  For in the end, it’s Jesus’ opinion of us that matters far more than anyone else’s opinion.

On verses 1b-8:  In a very formal way where he even calls on God the Father and Jesus Christ as his witnesses (v1), Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word (v2) — that is, to preach Jesus.  He tells Timothy to preach the Word in season and out of season.  Just as the Scriptures are useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training people in righteousness (see 3:16), Paul tells Timothy to “correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction” (v2).

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:14-26.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:14-18 (NIV)
14  Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18  who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

On verses 14-18:  The background behind these verses is that Timothy is still dealing with the threat of false teaching influencing his church.  Individuals like Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that “the resurrection has already taken place” (v18).  In so doing their teaching, like gangrene (v17), had already started to spread and affect some in Timothy’s church, leading them astray (v18b).

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:1-13.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) 
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

On verse 1:  No matter how difficult your situation is today, praise God that there is grace in Jesus Christ so that you can be strong.  Regardless of the trial you’re facing, God’s grace is always sufficient for you.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) 
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 

On verse 2:  Paul had spent so much of his life preaching and teaching others.  Now that his life was nearing an end, he tells Timothy to entrust what he has previously preached and taught to trustworthy men who can teach others.   Paul was concerned about the next generation. 

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of 2 Timothy, a letter written by Paul to his disciple and fellow pastor Timothy.  2 Timothy is very likely the last letter that Paul wrote before he was executed (beheaded by Caesar Nero).  When you read 2 Timothy, you’ll notice clues that Paul himself knew that his days on earth were coming to a close.  As such, this letter is very tender and heartfelt, like a last letter from a father to his son.

2 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) 
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

On verse 1:  Paul would often begin his letters by identifying himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”.  But this time he adds an extra phrase: “according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”.   It’s because Paul knows that his days on earth are nearing an end.  Rather than complaining or feeling sorry for himself, he focuses on the promise of eternal life that is in Christ Jesus.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 6:1-10.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 6:1-2 (NIV) 
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 
2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

On verses 1-2:  These verses apply to working relationships, how employees should treat their employers.  Earlier in 1 Timothy we learned that how you treat your own family is a measure of your spiritual maturity.  In these verses we learn that how you treat people at work is also a measure of your spiritual maturity.

When you as a Christian treat your unbelieving boss/co-worker/client, as flawed and imperfect as he/she may be, with “full respect” (v1), you make the Gospel attractive.  On the other hand, if you’re a Christian and you treat your unbelieving boss/co-worker/client disrespectfully, you only give them one more reason to slander Christians and to not believe (v1).