Opposition Corrected 2 Timothy 2:20-26

DISCUSSION GUIDE 1.What kinds of things can be found in a large house? (2 Timothy 2:20) Articles of gold, silver, wood and clay. Some for noble purposes and some for ignoble.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 2.How can a person become an instrument that is useful for noble purposes? (2 Timothy 2:21)? That person can cleanse himself/herself from things dishonorable.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 3.What are some things from which you need to cleanse yourself? How can you do that?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 4.What will this kind of cleansing accomplish in a person’s life? (2 Timothy 2:21) The person will be holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 5.What does “holy” mean? Do you think that it is possible for you to become a holy person? Support your answer.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 6.What did Paul encourage Timothy to flee? What did he say Timothy should pursue? Paul said that Timothy should flee the evil desires of youth and should pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 7.What might be some examples of “the evil desires of youth?” Do only young people experience “the evil desires of youth?” Explain your answer.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 8.What are some of “the evil desires of youth” that continually tempt us?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 9.What produces quarrels? (2 Timothy 2:23) Foolish and stupid arguments.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 10.Is there a “wise” or “intelligent” argument? If there is, how can one tell the difference between a foolish argument and a wise argument?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 11.About what sorts of things do we get into “foolish arguments” with other believers?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 12.According to Paul, what must the Lord’s servant do and avoid? (2 Timothy 2:24) The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but instead should be kind to everyone, able to teach and not resentful.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 13.How should the Lord’s servant react to those who oppose him? (2 Timothy 2:25) The Lord’s servant should gently instruct those who oppose him.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 14.Paul says that the Lord’s servant will desire to see two results of his “gentle instruction.” What are they? (2 Timothy 2:25-26) Of those who oppose him, the Lord’s servant hopes: (1) that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and (2) that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 15.What is our standard approach in dealing with people who oppose us?

1.A believer can cleanse himself in order to be useful to God for noble, holy purposes. (2 Timothy 2:21) 2.Flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. (2 Timothy 2:22) 3.Avoid foolish and stupid arguments. (2 Timothy 2:23) 4.Do not be resentful, but gently instruct those who oppose you. (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

People do not drift toward Holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated. D. A. Carson, For the Love of God, Volume Two (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 1999), 23.

D. A. Carson

Michael Redd