ENDURING FAITH
The Book of Second Timothy #2
Keith O’Connor
Woodland Church
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
(2 Timothy 1:15-18, NLT) “As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus”
(1 Corinthians 1:18, NLT) “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God”
1. Negative Example
(2 Timothy 1:15, NLT) “As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes”
2. Positive Example
(2 Timothy 1:16-18, NLT) “May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains. When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me. May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus”
a. Onesiphorus:
- Searches for and finds Paul in Rome
- He is not ashamed of Paul’s chains
- He refreshes Paul
- He was a faithful help to the Church in Ephesus
(2 Timothy 2:1-2, NLT) “Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
3. Strengthened by Grace
a. God is always there to give us strength
(Isaiah 40:29, 31, NLT) “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless… But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint”
(Ephesians 6:10-11, NLT) “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil”
(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”
4. Teach the Gospel
(2 Timothy 2:2, NLT) “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others”
(Luke 1:1-4, NLT) “Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught”
Four Ways the authoritative teachings of the apostles were transmitted to future generations:
a. It originated with Jesus Christ and was entrusted to Paul/Apostles
(Galatians 1:11-12, NLT) “Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ”
b. Paul then communicated the Gospel to Timothy
(2 Timothy 1:13-14, NLT) “Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you”
c. Timothy is called to teach these truths to faithful men
d. They, those who Timothy teaches, are to pass the truths on to others
5. Prepared for Hardship
(2 Timothy 2:3-6, NLT) “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor”
Three Examples:
a. A Good Soldier
(2 Timothy 2:3-4, NLT) “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them”
“Paul does not exhort Timothy to be a common, or ordinary soldier, but to be a ‘good soldier of Jesus Christ;’ for all soldiers, and all true soldiers, may not be good soldiers. There are men who are but just soldiers and nothing more; they only need sufficient temptation and they readily become cowardly, idle, useless and worthless; but he is the good soldier who is bravest of the brave, courageous at all times, who is zealous, does his duty with heart and earnestness.” -C.H. Spurgeon
b. An Athlete
(2 Timothy 2:5, NLT) “And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules”
c. A Hardworking Farmer
(2 Timothy 2:6, NLT) “And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor”
6. Meditate on God’s Word
(2 Timothy 2:7, NLT) “Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things”
(John 16:13-15) “When the Spirit of Truth comes He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. he will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is Mine, therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you”
7. Remember the Gospel Message
(2 Timothy 2:8, NLT) “Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach”
a. The bodily resurrection of Jesus was the Gospel message Paul preached:
- Paul preached it
- Paul believed it
8. Remember the Power of the Gospel
(2 Timothy 2:9, NLT) “And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained”
(Isaiah 40:8) “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever”
a. The messenger may be bound, but the message is unstoppable
9. Remember to Endure for the Gospel
(2 Timothy 2:10, NLT) “So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen”
10. Trustworthy
(2 Timothy 2:11-13, NLT) “This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is”
(2 Timothy 2:13, NLT) “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful”
(Psalm 100:5, NLT) “For the Lord is good, and His faithful love continues (endures) forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations”
Growthwork
1. Be Strong
2. Be Diligent
3. Be Bold and Stand Firm in the Faith