Series: Be Strong – 2 Timothy
VBC
Pastor John Johnson
2 Timothy 2:3-7
May 5-6, 2012
“From Discipline to Greatness”
Jim Collins, author of the bestselling book Good to Great, tells of a defining moment
when he was just beginning his teaching at Stanford University
-he had sought out one of the professors he highly respected for guidance on
becoming a better teacher
-and he was stung by the professor’s reply—
“It occurs to me, Jim, that you spend too much time trying to be interesting. Why
don’t you invest more time being interested?”
The words leveled Collins—and changed his life
-his book, Good to Great, is the evidence of a man who decided to be interested
-interested in what makes certain organizations (and lives)—not just good—but
GREAT
-so like a curious investigator—he researched 1435 different organizations
-searching for the great ones and asking—what is the common trait that leads to
greatness?
-and this was his conclusion—a culture of discipline is a principle of greatness
-mediocrity rarely displays the relentless culture of strictness
The Apostle Paul was writing the same thing 2000 years earlier
-he committed himself to a highly ordered life
-and exhorted his readers to live out a disciplined faith
-go after a spiritual life that is not good—but GREAT
-as he does here in Timothy—read 2:3-7
As we have noted—
-Timothy was given a daunting task—to be a formative leader in Ephesus
-leading a community that had become both confused and conflicted
-congregants who had devolved into an undisciplined people who were talkative,
argumentative, engaged in silly speculations, meaningless talk and profane
myths
-some had even turned away to follow Satan
-others had a morbid craving for controversy
-a church Paul likened to an arena where one must contend with “wild animals”—
I Cor 15:32
But then—every church is a bit like Ephesus
-Peterson, after nearly 30 years as a pastor, described his church in Maryland
as—
“a mixed bag of humanity—broken, hobbled, crippled, sexually abused and
spiritually abused, emotionally unstable, passive and passive—aggressive,
neurotic men and women. Men at fifty who have failed a dozen times and know
that things will not come together. Women who have been ignored and scorned
and abused in a marriage in which they have been faithful. People living with
spouses and children deep in addictions…
-as well as fresh converts, excited to be in on this new life. Spirited young people,
energetic and eager to be guided into a life of love and compassion, mission and
evangelism. A few seasoned saints who know how to pray and listen and endure.
And a considerable number of people who just show up.
There they are—the hot, the cold, and the lukewarm, Christians, half Christians,
almost Christians…angry ex-Catholics, sweet new converts. I didn’t choose
them. I don’t get to choose them.”—Eugene Peterson, Practice Resurrection
Neither did Timothy—but he now had a choice—as to how he would handle his
challenge, his faith
(as we do—how will we handle our challenges, our calling?)
-we can run from them
-we can go through the motions—log in time and hope Jesus comes soon
-aim mainly to be liked (seek to be interesting)
-or step up—engage in God’s purpose—and choose a certain greatness
-but it will take certain core disciplines—which Paul identifies, illustrating each
with a metaphor—
1. IT WILL REQUIRE THE DISCIPLINE OF DEVOTION
-Paul was acquainted with this metaphor of a soldier—he was chained to one
-and such a metaphor became a teaching object for Timothy—as well as us—to
stress two things—
a. there is a WAR ON
-we can become so relentlessly materialistic that we miss what is
happening on the spiritual plane
-miss this—that we are engaged in a spiritual war
-that anyone who attempts to lead a life centered on God and His kingdom
will discover they have a battle on their hands
-for most everything in this world resists the rulership of God
-hence—the world, the flesh, the devil gang up—are on the prowl and
menace us at every turn
-it may be hard for some of us to get our hands around this because we
have been treated so nicely that we’ve forgotten we are in enemy territory
-forgotten that if the world hated Jesus—it will hate us
-but we forget this to our peril—Paul was warning Timothy
-you can’t avoid nor remain neutral and sit out this war
-it will be hand to hand, heart to heart conflict—a struggle that has its
wounds, its victories and its defeats 24/7
-a struggle that is deadly for in this battle the prize is the souls of men
b. Life is NO LONGER OUR OWN
-each day must be approached with the discipline of one on assignment—
living with intentional and conscious availability—with its risks and dangers
-living as one belonging to someone else—obligated to His agenda—
devoted to His cause
Point—I HAVE GIVEN UP THE RIGHT TO LIVE LIFE ON MY TERMS
-this is not to mean that we are to ignore ordinary duties and responsibilities at
home or community
-but we are to be careful not to get “entangled”, distracted, side-tracked, moved
off course—chasing after other pursuits at the expense of following God
-endeavors that shift one’s affection—like Demas who deserted Paul because he
loved this present world—4:10
Illustration—like the Dallas Prof I mentioned—entanglement has gotten him terribly off
course
-stepping up to our call—stepping into spiritual greatness—requires a second
discipline—
2. IT WILL REQUIRE THE DISCIPLINE OF DENIAL
-that Paul often referred to the sports world tells us Paul was drawn to athletics—
well acquainted with what was required
-he compared denial to the life of an athlete—for those who were elite in GrecoRoman culture were not given over to their appetites, their own schedules
-they submitted themselves to the highest form of rigor and discipline
-did everything to avoid the possibility of disqualification
-they did what great athletes do today—give up something lesser for something
greater
a. they trained hard according to the rules—submitting their bodies to a
punishing regimen, holding to a strict routine, rigid diets, torturous
workouts—denying self, passions that compromise in order to qualify and
compete
b. they ran hard according to the rules—world class athletes don’t go through
the motions
-they refuse to bend, circumvent the boundaries
-put bounties on other players; use performance enhancing drugs to get
an edge
-their focus was ever on the prize—avoiding anything that would disqualify
-in his book Outliers, Gladwell notes that while innate talent plays a role in great
endeavors—preparation is everything
-Michael Phelps swam 80,000 meters a week—50 miles
-Pete Sampras played against two for 4-6 hours a day
-LeBron James (who is having a year few if any NBA greats can match)
determined to watch every workout on video, practice with two basketballs at a
time
-they all bought into the adage—the greats always stay uncomfortable—they are
always intent on getting better
-the difference comes down to who denies themselves
-what’s amazing is that Paul viewed the spiritual life as just as rigorous
-he exhorted the believers in Corinth to run to win—9:24
-to not be aimless—to settle for nothing less than going all out
Point—there’s no place for meandering, sandbagging—Timothy!
-you have to learn to say no
-it’s the difference between good and great
3. IT WILL REQUIRE THE DISCIPLINE OF DILIGENCE
-Paul’s final metaphor of discipline is a farmer
-who epitomized sweat—a life without glamor or applause
-giving painstaking devotion to clearing weeds, breaking ground, planting and
harvesting in timely patterns—whether they are convenient or not
-submitting to the seasons—extended, intentional, faithful hard work
-prepared to work at any hour—for there are unpredictable elements, risks
-sudden storms, droughts or intruders, hailstorms or locusts, freezes and
mildews
-so we must till the ground of hardened hearts, plant seeds, keep out the weeds
that prevent a harvest, and wait (there are no quick results)
-pray to the Lord of harvest for workers
-be willing to sweat
APP
But what does all of this exactly mean for me?
-how do I apply this to my life?
-Paul’s exhortation in vs 7 suggests no one else can really answer this for us
-Timothy will have to sort this through—and so will you, me
-drawing out conclusions and applications the Spirit is calling us to come to
-it will require a certain courage to ask God—what does this actually mean for my
life?
-what entanglements are you asking me to get out of?
-what rules do I need to start following? What do I need to say no to?
-what work am I being called to do?
-what suffering are you asking me to enter into with others?
-for this was Paul’s command to Timothy
-align yourself with the gospel; identify yourself with Jesus; stand side by side
with me—and all who suffer for the gospel—and share in the cost
CONCLUSION
“Ultimately, all lives end with a bang. It will either be the roaring joy and exultation
of a good fight fought and a race well run, rewarded by God with a crown of life,
or it will be the crashing grief and failure of a life wasted”—Patterson, Muscular
Faith