Sermon Tone Analysis

WESTSIDE ALLIANCE CHURCH

NOVEMBER 4, 2007

AN APPROVED WORKER

2 TIMOTHY 2:14-15

DR.

FRED BRAUN

 

AN APPROVED WORKER    2  TIMOTHY 2:14-15

Paul has portrayed several pictures of what Christian life and service is all about

Soldier 2:3-  endure hardship

Athlete- 2:5—avoid worldly entanglements

Farmer 2:6- be patient

And now a worker, an  approved worker

“Keep reminding them of these things.

Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:14-15

A.       AN APPROVED WORKER FOCUSES ON THE ESSENTIALS

B.      AN APPROVED WORKER IS DILIGENT IN HIS LIFE AND WITNESS

C.      AN APPROVED WORKER SEEKS GOD’S APPROVAL

D.      AN APPROVED WORKER PRESERVES THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD

WHAT IS AN APPROVED WORKER?

1.       THE APPROVED WORKER WILL FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS 2:14

“Keep reminding them- need for review and repetition

For example- no one sits down to memorize nursery rhyme- learned by repetition

These things,- what has been presented before-

 about Christ, about the trustworthy words

The lessons learned from soldier, athlete, farmer

“quarrelling about words” --Doesn’t get caught up in trivialities

Foolish arguments, debating about family tree, or about favourite leader- Peter, Paul, etc.

Getting caught up in debates about eschatology

Talks about the things that have lasting value—

When you meet with people, what is the most common topic of discussion?

Weather, politics,

As John Stott puts it, “they invariably breed quarrels, because when people forsake revelation for speculation, they have no agreed authority and no impartial court of appeal”

Paul had given Timothy the sound teachings of the Gospel.

And Paul  had been diligent to convey the message of God’s love and salvation to all his converts.

As we read Paul’s letters, we notice how clearly Paul delineates the basic tenets of the gospel.

He focuses on who Christ is and what He has done.

He focuses on the greatness of God’s grace and salvation.

The approved worker will follow this example of Paul, and focus on the essentials.

2.       THE APPROVED WORKER WILL BE DILIGENT-DO  YOUR BEST, study, strive, exert, not slothful,

Authorized version translates it “study to show yourself approved”

Yes, we need to study the word, read, memorize, analyze, discuss

But the key meaning here is to devote yourself to the task

*Study - *The Greek word is */"spoudazo"/.*

The meaning of this word is not to simply read and memorize.

The word carries a strong connotation.

It's meaning is to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, to strive and endeavor.

The picture here is not a person who is simply reading but, of someone who is devoting their entire heart, soul, energies and intellect to something.

Paul says in Romans 12:11, “not slothful in business, serving the Lord”

Hebrews 6:11-12  “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish (slothful, lazy), but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

As we read the Proverbs, we notice that so many verses warn against slothfulness, laziness.

As those approved of God, we will strive, we will exert ourselves, we will be diligent in our efforts to exalt the Lord Jesus and to make Him known.

3.

THE APPROVED WORKER WILL SEEK GOD’S APPROVAL- we like to please men and make a good impression, but we want to strive for that commendation of the Lord “well done, good and faithful servant”

*Approved - *The Greek word is */"dokimos".

/*Looking at the earliest uses of this word, it is used when speaking of metals that have gone through the test of fire in a forge to check their purity.

When you wanted to check the purity of gold or silver you would have it melted down to see if any impurities would float to the top or separate.

After this the gold or silver would be */"dokimos" /*approved.

The word is also used to describe on who is having his faith tried and character tried and examined.

Give diligence to present yourself to God approved –dokimon-= one who can stand, or has actually stood the test appointed by God and come forth stamped with his approval.

To realize himself as a servant of God and to guide his course through the trying and perilous circumstances around him so as to be able to appear before the Divine Majesty as one that had proved faithful to the trust reposed in him.

How to prepare to be approved of God

1.       Walk in unity with other believers- ph 4:3-6

2.       Share Christ with those outside the church

3.       Develop an effective prayer life

4.       Receive personal mentoring

 

The approved worker diligently studies the word and seeks to apply it to his own life.

An ashamed worker wastes his time with other religious duties.

The approved worker does not waste his time arguing about words of no profit (2 Tim 2:14) because that undermines God’s work (1 Tim 6:4; Tit 3:9)

The approved worker will shun godless chatter (2 Tim 2:16; 1 Tim 6:20) because it leads to more ungodliness

Wiersbe remarks:

“The approved worker knows that false doctrine is dangerous, and he will oppose it.

Paul compares it to gangrene (2 Tim 2:17).

As gangrene spreads, infects other tissue, so false doctrine spreads and infects the body of believers.

They must be removed and exposed.

The sound teaching keeps the church healthy and growing”

   Paul warns that false doctrine eats like a cancer, or ulcer, and the only remedy is healthy doctrine - A sloppy worker will handle the word deceitfully in order to make it say what he wants it to say (2 Cor 4:2).

When God tests our ministry, will it become ashes?

(1 Cor 3:10ff)

The approved worker is one whose life and work are such as to honor Christ and the gospel.

This requires a pure life as well as judicious work.

When a builder wants to construct a building, he first has the plans drawn up and taken in for approval.

When the plans are acceptable, a stamp of approval is applied to the plans, marked APPROVED.

As Christians, we want to serve the Lord in such a manner, that His stamp of approval rests on us.

Then we can with anticipation receive His “well done, good and faithful servant.

Enter the joy of the Lord.”

No need for shame- parable of talents- slothful servant came with shame

Not ashamed- having no occasion to blush (Phil 1:20)- “ I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life of by death.”----our

behaviour should be such as to afford no occasion for such feeling of shame.

4.PRESERVE THE TRUTH- let the Bible say what it says.

Handle correctly, cut straight, rightly dividing --"Handling aright."

The Greek word means, literally, "cutting straight."

This term is used in various situations.

By looking at these various usages, we can get an understanding of what Paul is conveying with this phrase

~*used for cutting off a board-  straight cut

~*sewing a straight seam in cloth or leather

~* Cut leather to fit exactly- Paul was a tent-maker.

In his profession it would be important to cut the pieces of leather carefully, so they would fit together perfectly.

~* Plow a straight furrow

~*Chop a clear straight path through a wooded area to make a highway.