Why 2 Timothy?
Two reasons this series is so important for you, for the church, and for America
The first reason is this. We're at a critical moment in the American church and even in our own church. Currently in America, 59% of churches are led by baby boomers, but they will transition their leadership into the next generation over the next 5 to 10 years. And that's not just happening at the highest level, that's happening all throughout the church. These new leaders currently in their 30s and 40s and 20s, are going to shape the church for the next 50 years. We have the opportunity to either shape it well or shape it poorly.
Second, 2 Timothy hits all of us exactly where we are and has something necessary and powerful to say to us, regardless of whatever generation we're in.
Paul charges those older like him. He gives them an example of how to finish well. So if you're in a later generation, we're going to spend a bunch of weeks looking at Paul's example.
If you're in sort of the middle generation, around 40, we're going to see Paul charging Timothy to guard the gospel deposit, and to carry the work of the gospel faithfully forward.
And if you're younger, maybe you've just been watching your parents or others lead. You’re entering your part of the story. Timothy is charged to pass on to others, to those in the next generations, the work of gospel ministry.
So regardless of what generation you find yourself in, 2 Timothy has something powerful and vital to say to you.
Join us in praying that God would meet us, our church and America as we seek to meet this crucial moment
For our founding generation, that built our church - Pray the Lord help them finish well. Pray the Lord gives them grace, strength, and endurance to run the race until the very end.
For our middle generation, those around 40 who are leading groups and ministries in our church right now - As they fully assume the leadership of our church and of the Church in America, pray that the Lord help them to receive this well. May He help them to grip tightly the gospel and guard the deposit and to fan into flame the gifts that God has given them.
For the younger generation - Pray the the Lord will help them to see their place in the story and enter into it. In 2 Timothy, Paul charges Timothy to entrust to others what Paul has entrusted to him. And in a similar way, we are meant to entrust not just to the middle generation, but those after us with the truth of the gospel. And so pray that our kids, teens, and people in that age group would see that they're a part of this story. This isn't something they're watching others do. This is something that they are part of. Pray that God would help them see that and take hold of it.