Fleeing and Following
2 Timothy 2:22-28
Main idea: The Lord's servant will know what to flee and what to follow.
I. In personal character (22):
A. Flee youthful lusts (22a).
--Fleeing means removing ourselves from the temptation.
B. Follow after godly character (22b).
--Faith, love, and peace
C. Follow along with like-minded Christians (22c).
--The Lord has called us into community
--Pure hearts are open to other people
II. In inter-personal relationships (23-26):
A. Flee quarrelsome arguments (23).
--While we stand firmly for the truth, we must not be argumentative,
especially about matters that are less than clear.
B. Follow after loving interaction (24).
--The Lord's servant must not quarrel.
--The Lord's servant must be kind to everyone.
--The Lord's servant must be able to teach.
--The Lord's servant must not be resentful.
C. Follow through lovingly with opponents (25-26).
--Opposition will inevitably arise. How will we handle it?
--We must gently instruct our opponents.
--We must trust God to do his work in his children.
--We should realize that those who disrupt God's work are themselves caught
in the devil's trap.
Conclusion: What have you been fleeing lately? What have you been following?
