August 23, 2009: Timothy Is Taught
Reminder
This week, we change to our new format. The podcast is an interview hosted by the Rev. Todd Wilken of Issues, Etc. Because of this change, the publishing schedule for the podcast will also be different. Podcasts will now normally be posted the Wednesday before each respective Sunday.
The text for this lesson is 2 Timothy 1:1–7.
Key Points
- Though Paul could speak of himself as Timothy’s spiritual father, God had actually raised Timothy in faith through instruction in the sacred Scriptures by his grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice.
- Law: When children disobey or disrespect their parents, they are not only sinning against God, who gave them parents, but are also ignoring God’s primary means of bringing children to Himself.
- Gospel: Children receive the very gift of heaven when parents bring them to infant Baptism (Acts 2:38–39) and then nurture them in faith by telling them about Jesus and bringing them to His house (Proverbs 22:6).
Context
Paul and the other apostles chosen by Jesus trained and ordained pastors to carry on the ministry of Word and Sacrament in Christian congregations (Titus 1:5). The purpose of the apostolic ministry was and is to deliver “the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:1) to sinners in need of salvation.
Discussion Points and Questions
- Who first taught you about Jesus?
- What do we know about Timothy’s religious background? (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15)
- Who are Lois and Eunice? Why were they important enough for Paul to mention to Timothy?
- What truth had Timothy learned from Scripture (2 Timothy 3:14-17)? According to these verses, how does Scripture offer practical instruction?
- Why is it so important that all of Scripture be inspired, or “God-breathed,” as Paul reminds Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16)? As a parent or friend speaking to another about his/her wrongdoing, how does the inspiration of Scripture help you?
- When Timothy was a child, mothers and grandmothers stayed home to raise children, and they lived in their vocation as a wife and mother. How are mothers today similar to and different from mothers of long ago?
- What do you think is the most important job a mom could have? Why is it so important for mothers (and fathers) to teach their children about Jesus?
- What is the most important thing for us to learn in our life?
- How do we get faith?
- In Ephesians 6:2, God promises well-being to children who respect their parents and other authorities. How can obeying authorities give well-being?
For next week, think about the vocation of pastor and read Titus 1:1–2:1; 1 Timothy 1:3–7; 3:1–7; and 4:11–16.
