Carmel Baptist Messages

2 Timothy 4:1-5Worship Pastor Justin TaylorIn the 21st century, whenever we say the phrase "word of God", our default thought is the Bible. This is a true statement, but Pastor Justin brought to light some deeper Truths about what Paul meant in this passage.Justin used the illustration of bifocals to help us understand the deeper meanings of this text.Bifocals OFFWhen the Bible uses the phrase "word of God", it seldom uses it to refer to the written word of God.The vast majority of the time it is talking about a spoken word, oracle, or prophecy.Bifocals ON: ZOOMING INSpoken Word:"Follow the pattern of the sound words you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 1:13)"what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men," (2 Tim 2:2)"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of Christ (Rom 10:7)In the biblical mindset, hearing was an active responseWritten Word:The preached word of God is not independent from the written word of God. It must stay tethered to the Scriptures(2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Tim 4:2)Since we have the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Scriptures, He can lead us to say something we don't remember reading.The Word of God is a larger categorythan just those elementsthat were commended to writing.(John 21:25; John 20:31)The preached word must always agree with the written word.God is the same on paper as He is in person.Bifocals ON: ZOOMING OUTThe Scriptures are not the subject of Paul's message. The Bible is the messenger! The gospel is the message, and Jesus is the center of that message. (Heb 1:1-3)"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1-3)"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blodd, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God." (Rev 19:11-13)Jesus is the supreme revelation of the Word of God.Our definition of the gospel: "The gospel is the Good News of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that through faith in Him we can be forgiven and reconciled to God." This message is all through the Bible:We are, right now, "in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus," by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. (Matt 28:20)Everything that is wrong in this world will be made right because He is a righteous Judge. Every injustice will be healed, and every tear will be wiped away.As soon as His Father says so, He will return again in glory to judge the living and the deadHis rule has already begun! "Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)The rule of Jesus is good news for the world! His Kingdom and rule have already begun. He has already celebrated His inaugural banquet in the upper room, already had His coronation with the crown of thorns and purple robe, and the price has already been paid. The decisive battle has already been won, and His Kingdom is spreading!Finally, our lives should be the "work of an evangelist". This doesn't mean we are all Billy Graham. Instead, it means that we are all to live our lives in a way that the world knows there is a God who loves them and wants to have a relationship with them. Too often, we want people to know what the Bible says instead of loving people with who the Bible is pointing them towards.We must:Love our neighborsLove our enemiesFeed the hungryClothe the nakedVisit the sick and in prisonWelcome the immigrant, the sojourner, the stranger

2 Timothy 3:14-17Senior Pastor Alex KennedyThroughout history, the Bible has stood the test of time because it is "breathed out by God". As Paul continues in his letter to Timothy, he reminds him that he learned the Truth from Lois, Eunice, and Paul, and encourages Timothy that he has convictions from what he learned (v 14).Then he shares in verse 15:"which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Biblical faith and saving faith are not interchangeable. You can know the stories of the Bible and still need to trust your life to the Savior of the Bible. (John 5:39-40)Verses 16-17 say, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."These verses show the origin and the purpose of Scripture. (Gal 1, 1 Thess 2:13, 2 Pet 1:20)Teaching - what is rightReproof - what is not rightCorrection - how to get rightTraining - how to stay rightThe origin of Scripture is God-breathed and the purpose of Scripture is to make disciples and to bring them to maturity through teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.Isaiah 55:11 shows us that the Word is effective as it "accomplishes what it was set out to do." The purpose of all of this is "that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." Complete - Our character will be transformed over time into the image of Jesus Christ.Equipped - Our conduct will be completely supplied for every good work.The goal of reading the Bible isn't simply to know more about God. It's to know Him, trust Jesus, and become more like Him. We won't always get it right, but by God's grace, we can keep going. He wants an intimate relationship with you, and His Word is a love letter to you, His beloved.Questions to Consider:Paul tells Timothy to continue in what he has learned. What is one spiritual habit you want to keep going with, even when you don't feel like it?What are some of the things God uses His Word to accomplish in our lives?When is a time when the Bible helped you make a wise decision or encouraged you when you were struggling?If someone watched how you treated people this past week, what would they learn about what you believe? Who is being helped by what you are learning?

2 Timothy 3:10-14Senior Pastor Alex KennedyToday's passage is a continuation from last week where Paul was writing about the darkness of false teachers. He then transitions to Timothy by writing, "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra - which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me."Paul tells Timothy to:Remember the pastLook at the WordIn verses 10-11, all the verbs are past tense. Timothy listened to Paul's sermons, but he also watched his life. Specifically:Teaching - what Paul believedConduct - how he livedAim in life - what he lived forFaith - who he trustedPatience - how he treated difficult peopleLove - how he cared for othersSteadfastness - how he enduredPaul's greatest sermonmay have been the lifeTimothy watched him live.Paul wasn't merely giving Timothy directions. He was showing him the way. In the same way, the Christian life is not simply information transferred from one generation to another. It's a life demonstrated from one generation to another.Paul then goes on to generally mention his sufferings in different cities. What he is referencing is:In Antioch, opponents drove Paul out of the city (Acts 13:50)In Iconium, they tried to stone him (Acts 14:5-6)In Lystra, Timothy's hometown, they stone Paul (Acts 14:19-20)Paul's words reminded Timothyof the certainty of suffering,but they also containeda promise of protection.In verses 12-13, all the verbs are future tense. Paul writes, "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." This is not a "maybe" statement. He writes it as fact. (John 15) We should expect some degree of persecution. It varies in degree and takes different forms in different countries and in different ages.Christians will suffer becausethe world is hostile tothe kingdom of God.Instead of being surprised by opposition, we should be surprised when we don't feel opposition. We must stay the course. For example:When honesty costs you financially, remain honest.When biblical convictions make you unpopular, remain faithful.When others compromise their integrity to get ahead, refuse to follow.When Christianity becomes culturally uncomfortable, don't back down.In verse 13, Paul is highlighting the contrast between the destinies of the persecuted believers and the persecuting false teachers. (Romans 8:28-30) He is also pointing out that those who are deceiving others are being deceived themselves.Having looked to the past and glanced toward the future, Paul now wants Timothy to focus on the present when he says in verse 14, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it." Paul isn't telling Timothy to discover something new. He is telling him to stay faithful to what he already knows.In a culture obsessed with novelty, Paul calls Timothy to stability. He is reminding Timothy where his "anchor in the storm" should be - in the unchanging Truth of God's Word.Questions to Consider:Who is someone whose example has helped you grow in your faith?What is one thing you have learned about following Jesus by watching someone else rather than just listening to what they say?Why do you think following Jesus can sometimes make life harder?Have you ever felt pressure to go along with something you knew wasn't right because you wanted to fit in? What made that difficult?Why is it important to keep following Jesus even when you don't feel motivated or when life gets hard?Take time this week to write down the times God has bee faithful to you in the best of times and the worst of times. Spend some time thanking Him for His faithfulness in all circumstances.

2 Timothy 3:1-9Senior Pastor Alex KennedyIn this passage, Paul describes difficult times in the "last days". The last days began as soon as Jesus returned to the Father, and continue until He returns to make all things new. Paul's explanation takes us deeper than circumstances. He takes us into the human heart and reveals what happens when we love ourselves, our possessions, and our pleasure more than we love God. We all worship something or someone, and our life is an overflow of that love.What we love shapes how we live.When our desires become supreme,others needs become inconvenient.Paul goes on to bookend a long list of negative traits with misplaced "loves". These are:Love of self and money - Christ is not explicitly denied, He's just effectively displaced. This is the subtle deception of narcissism, and the key to the rest of the list. When the love of God is replaced with other loves, all sorts of vices follow.ProudArrogantAbusive - speech that maligns othersDisobedient to their parentsUngrateful - a spirit of entitlementUnholyHeartlessUnappeasable - can not admit wrongdoing, refuses to forgive offensesSlanderousWithout Self-controlBrutalNot loving goodTreacherous - betraying the well-being of another for personal gainReckless - someone who rushes "headlong" into troubleSwollen with conceit - insanely arrogantLovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - someone who elevates the desires for the moment above all else...even God. Jesus said that the Greatest Commandments are to "love God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself".The root of the trouble in these "last days" is that people are utterly self-centered and lovers of self. Thankfully, the gospel is the answer to this problem!Paul goes on to say that there are some "having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." Paul is describing people whose religious appearance is convincing, but whose lives contradict it.Jesus reserved His most intense words for religious leaders. (Matt 23:28) Paul isn't talking about sinners in need of Jesus. He is talking about people within the church.Jesus is merciful to thosewhose lives are a mess andwho admit they need Him,but to those who play the hypocrite,there is nothing but rebuke.Finally Paul says that certain people would also try to win converts to their ungodliness. Paul warns that when unresolved guilt and unbridled desires intersect with smooth-talking teachers, spiritual captivity follows. False teachers can be persuasive, but persuasion does not make a message true (v7).Thankfully, evil has a limited shelf life,and Truth always prevails.In the end, God wins.Questions to Consider:If someone could see behind your public religious life, what would they find? (Remember, struggle does mean you have a fake faith. It's what you do with the struggle.)Where has self-love made you difficult to live with?Where has the desire for money compromised your obedience?Where has pleasure become your master?

2 Timothy 2:20-26Senior Pastor Alex KennedyPaul gives a great illustration that there are some vessels in a house for honorable use and other vessels for dishonorable use. An example would be that the honorable vessels of gold and silver would be used for serving food, while the dishonorable vessels of wood and clay would be used for taking out the trash.These two types of vessels represented two types of teachers present in the first-century church at Ephesus (and also in the church today). These dishonorable vessels are the false teachers that the Christian needs to distance themselves from.Paul says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel:for honorable purposesmade holyuseful to the master of the houseready for every good work.This doesn't mean that we have the ability to save ourselves apart from grace. Paul is talking about our responsibility to separate ourselves from the corrupting influences he has just described. This is about service...not salvation.The consistent command and expectationof God is for His people to be holy asHe is holy. (Lev 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16)Paul goes on to tell us how to purify ourselves when he writes, "so flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."Paul says to flee youthful passions. "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels." Instead, we should be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patiently endure evil.Paul tells Timothy to correct error with gentleness (v25). The goal isn't simply winning an argument, but instead seeing someone restored to Truth. Pride is about being right, winning, and showing the opponent how they are wrong. Gentleness can help them "come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil."Gentleness does not mean timidity.It is strength under control.What kind of people does God use? People who are holy, who run in the right direction, who run with others, and who are gentle.Questions to Consider:What's the difference between standing up for what is right and being argumentative?Why can the way we correct someone (gentleness) be just as important as what we say?What do you need to run from? What do you need to pursue?Who are you running with?

2 Timothy 2:14-19Senior Pastor Alex KennedyTruth is Paul's concern in this passage as he writes to Timothy. There has always been and always will be false teachers, so Paul "reminds" Timothy in verse 14 to tell and retell what he received from Paul, who himself learned from Jesus.Timothy is urged to "do your best". This is a call to act immediately and make sure to give your best to the eternal things that will last. If you give everything you have only to the temporary things, then you have your priorities off.Paul writes, "a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth". The best description of this term is a road-maker cutting a straight path. The road builder's responsibility isn't to invent the destination. His job is to cut a straight path to it. That is the same for one who preaches or teaches Scripture. We don't decide where the road goes. God has already determined the destination. Our responsibility is to cut the path straight as parents, grandparents, small-group leaders, etc.Every Christian who says,"Here's what the Bible says"...is cutting a path.Be aware that you can know correct doctrine and still cut a crooked path through inconsistent living. Truth isn't just something we are supposed to explain correctly. It is something we are supposed to walk consistently.A crooked path rarely affects only the person who made it. Someone else walks down it. In verses 16-18, Paul moves from the responsibility of the worker to the consequences of the worker's words.Ideas don't stay in our heads.Ideas travel, influence, and reproduce.Paul says, "avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness and their talk will spread like gangrene". Error has an appetite, and it wants to spread.Truth nourishes, but error infects.Truth builds, but error destroys.Truth stabilizes, but error spreads instability.Paul goes on to use Hymenaeus and Philetus as examples because they spoke heresy that the resurrection had already happened. Christians can differ on things like baptism, church government, spiritual gifts, and other things while remaining within historic Christian orthodoxy. That said, there are doctrines that must be agreed upon like the deity and humanity of Christ, the Trinity, Christ's resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith.Some Christians have made everything a hill to die on, while other Christians have decided there aren't any hills worth dying on. Biblical maturity is knowing the difference.Remember, your theology never belongsonly to you. What you believe affectshow you live, and how you live affects the people around you.Paul then gives us great hope when he says, "BUT God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:" In other words, People may move away from Truth, but Truth doesn't move.This "seal" is two-sided:God knows the heart of His people, so there is assurance. God's people must depart from iniquity, so there is obedience.Handle the Truth carefully becausesomebody is following your path.Questions to Consider:What king of Bible are people reading when they read your life?Are you handling God's Word accurately? Are you letting Scripture determine what you believe and how you live?Are you guarding what influences you? What voices are you allowing to shape your understanding of God more than Scripture?Does your life confirm what your mouth confesses?

2 Timothy 2:8-13Student Teaching Pastor Jason SalyerRemember Jesus Christ Paul writes that we are to keep Jesus always at the front of our minds and constantly in our daily moments. In v.8, Paul commands us to "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel." It is easy to become so consumed with what we are supposed to be doing for God that we forget what He has done for us. True endurance requires a theology that embraces both Christ’s identification with human suffering and royal reign from His Davidic lineage, and His victory through the resurrection. The gospel serves as glasses to see reality clearly, reminding us that the scepter of the universe is held by a nail-scarred hand. We must be in a state of consistently remembering the person and work of Jesus. If you only remember Jesus when it is convenient, you will likely forget Him when it is costly. We must each take personal stewardship of truth as “my gospel” because it is true, intentionally passing it down to each generation. The Word is Not BoundEven after Nero’s Rome burned (A.D. 64) and Christians were branded as criminals, Paul penned these words with no hint of self-pity. In verse 9, he acknowledges his physical bondage, yet he confidently declares that "the word of God is not bound!" As the cultural and political landscapes shift around us, we can rest knowing that the advancement of the Kingdom does not depend on any human institution and share that same confidence in declaring the gospel and trusting God to use it as He sees fit. God frequently uses the struggles and suffering of His people to spread the gospel and embolden others. Just as we are to remember Jesus in all things, we should keep our confidence in the gospel regardless of what happens in our lives or the world around us.Trust God's FaithfulnessThe creedal language in v.11–13 serves as an anchor for our souls, providing truth and clarity against the false narratives of both ancient Rome and our modern age. This "trustworthy saying" guarantees that because we are united to Christ, our personal stories will follow His exact pattern: "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him" (v. 11-12). However, the passage also carries a sober warning: "if we deny him, he also will deny us" (v. 12). Whether verse 13 brings warning or comfort entirely depends on your heart's response, but the ultimate reality remains: "if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." Ultimately, the security of your life and our future depend entirely on the faithfulness of God, not the strength of your own grip. Because God is faithful, you know exactly how the story ends and can walk in faith each day.Reflection & Discussion QuestionsIn v.8, Paul tells Timothy to "remember" things he clearly already knew. In what areas of your life are you most at risk to not live in a constant awareness of the person and presence of Jesus? Paul states that the word of God cannot be chained (v. 9), even when his own freedom was taken away. How does this truth change the way you view what may be challenging cultural shifts or personal limitations? If you were asked the question, “Why are you a Christian?” How would you respond? Is it just because it benefits you, because your parents are, or because you believe the gospel is true personally? Verses 11–12 promise that if we endure, we will also reign with Him. How does keeping the "end of your story" in mind help you to endure current or future hardships? How does it help us to focus on sharing the gospel now? 

2 Timothy 2:1-7Senior Pastor Alex KennedyThis section of Paul's letter includes several commands to Timothy. These commands are: to be strengthened, to entrust, to share in suffering, to think over and to remember.Be StrengthenedIn verse 1, Paul says, "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul does NOT tell Timothy to "be strong", but instead to receive something from outside himself. He needs to abide in Christ and find his strength in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we abide, our strength grows. God does the empowering, so our responsibility is to submit to His work and to cooperate with it. (2 Cor 10:10) (Rom 16:25)Our strength is in the gracethat is in Christ Jesus.EntrustVerse 2 says, "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." The two qualifications listed are people that are:faithful menable to teachIt is our responsibility as stewards of God's Word to guard the deposit entrusted to us and then invest it in others. This is discipleship. It is more personal and intimate than preaching from a pulpit. One purpose of our salvation is to make disciples.Faith happens "to us"but also "through us".Share in sufferingAs Paul invited Timothy to follow him, he warned that the journey would not be easy through three examples.A good soldier of Christ Jesus - Soldiers on active duty do not expect a safe or easy time. They take hardship, risk, and suffering as a matter of fact. The soldier must be careful not to get "entangled" by civilian affairs. This means that the solider must stay focused on the task at hand, and "his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." In this case, Jesus Christ.The best athletes have millions of admirers, but very few imitators. Everybody wants the medals, the fame, and to be first, but few have the discipline to see it become a reality. In the same way, everyone wants to be spiritually mature, but few want the discipline that produces the good fruit...Scripture, prayer, worship, giving, serving, community, confession...The hardworking farmer - The Farmer works hard and puts something into the ground and then waits. Farmers understand that the absence of visible growth doesn't mean absence of activity. Paul told Timothy (and us) to keep plowing. (Gal 6:9) When we can't see the fruit or growth, we must persevere.We can do this by living an ABLE life:Abide in Christ - this is where it all starts and where our strength comes from.Build Relationships - getting close enough to people to invest in them.Living the Gospel - this is faithful Christianity lived out over time.Everything - be mature enough to realize everything in our lives are gifts from God's that we steward for the Kingdom.Think OverAs we listen to Scripture, read it, memorize it, study it, meditate on it, and apply it, "the Lord will give you understanding in everything."Remember Jesus ChristWhen you're tempted to quit, remember Jesus ChristWhen you're tired of fighting the batter, remember Jesus ChristWhen you're tired of running the race, remember Jesus ChristJesus knows something about suffering. Jesus knows something about endurance. Jesus knows something about finishing what the Father gave Him to do. And the Jesus who suffered is the Jesus who rose from the dead.