STAY THE COURSE: FOCUSED FAITH IN A DISTRACTED WORLD
The Book of Second Timothy #6
Keith O’Connor
Woodland Church
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
(2 Timothy 4:1-5, NLT) “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you”
1. The Authority of the Charge
(2 Timothy 4:1, NLT) “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom”
2. Preach the Word
a. The Substance of the Charge
(2 Timothy 4:1, NLT) “Preach the word of God”
(1 Corinthians 2:2, NLT) “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified”
(Ephesians 1:7, NLT) “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins”
b. The Urgency of the Charge – Be Prepared
(2 Timothy 4:2, NLT) “Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not”
- Be Prepared In Season and Out of Season
(Mark 14:11, NLT) “They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus”
(1 Peter 2:9, NLT) “We as believers in Christ need to be ready, be on-duty at all times, we are “chosen people, we are a royal priesthood, God’s special possession, that we will declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light”
c. The Manner of the Charge
(2 Timothy 4:2b, NLT) “Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching”
d. The Context of the Charge
(2 Timothy 4:3-4, NLT) “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths”
(Matthew 5:13, NLT) “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
e. The Faithful Servant’s Charge
(2 Timothy 4:5, NLT) “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you”
(Romans 8:38-39, NLT) “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT) “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me”
3. Confidence of a Finished Race
(2 Timothy 4:6-7, NLT) “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful”
(Genesis 35:14, NLT) “Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil”
4. The Promise of Reward
(2 Timothy 4:8, NLT) “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing”
(2 Timothy 4:8b, NLT) “all who eagerly look forward to his appearing”
(1 Corinthians 1:30, ESV) “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption”
GROWTHWORK
- Live with eternal perspective
- Preach the Word and be spiritually ready
- Finish strong and keep the faith