Warnings about the last days Warnings about the last days permeate the entire Bible. In this permeate the entire Bible. In this post-modern global village, Bible post-modern global village, Bible teaching and values of godliness teaching and values of godliness are dismissed as irrelevant. The are dismissed as irrelevant. The antidote: keep preaching, antidote: keep preaching, evangelizing and promoting evangelizing and promoting orderliness with godliness in the orderliness with godliness in the church.church.

OutlineOutline

(2 Tim. 3:1-5) Traits of the ungodly(2 Tim. 3:1-5) Traits of the ungodly

(2 Tim. 3:6-9) Tricks of the ungodly(2 Tim. 3:6-9) Tricks of the ungodly

(2 Tim. 3:10-4:8) Trust of the godly(2 Tim. 3:10-4:8) Trust of the godly

Example to follow (3:10-13)Example to follow (3:10-13)

Encounter to cherish (3:14-17)Encounter to cherish (3:14-17)

Expectation to fulfill (4:1-8)Expectation to fulfill (4:1-8)

How do we make sure we last in How do we make sure we last in the last days? In other words, how the last days? In other words, how do we make sure we remain do we make sure we remain faithful to Jesus in the last days?faithful to Jesus in the last days?

Last days = Last days = Days between the first Days between the first and the second coming and the second coming

of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:2; 2 Tim 3:5)(Heb. 1:2; 2 Tim 3:5)

Recognize that Recognize that Wickedness will Wickedness will

PersistPersist(2 Tim. 3:1-5)(2 Tim. 3:1-5)

a.a. There will be terrible times in There will be terrible times in the last days.the last days.

1.1. Recognize that wickedness will persist Recognize that wickedness will persist (2 Tim. 3:1-5)(2 Tim. 3:1-5)

““But mark this: There will be But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.”terrible times in the last days.”

(2 Tim. 3:1)(2 Tim. 3:1)

b.b. People will be lovers of People will be lovers of themselves rather than themselves rather than lovers of God.lovers of God.

1.1. Recognize that wickedness will persist Recognize that wickedness will persist (2 Tim. 3:1-5)(2 Tim. 3:1-5)

People will be People will be lovers of themselveslovers of themselves, , lovers of money, boastful, proud, lovers of money, boastful, proud,

abusive, disobedient to their parents, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, ungrateful, unholy, without love,

unforgiving, slanderous, without self-unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than pleasure rather than lovers of Godlovers of God— —

having a form of godliness but denying having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with its power. Have nothing to do with

them. them. (2 Tim. 3:2-5, NIV)(2 Tim. 3:2-5, NIV)

For people will love only themselves For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will be unloving and unforgiving; they will

slander others and have no self-control. slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

They will betray their friends, be They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and reckless, be puffed up with pride, and

love pleasure rather than God. They will love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the act religious, but they will reject the

power that could make them godly. Stay power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!away from people like that!

(2 Tim. 3:2-5, NLT)(2 Tim. 3:2-5, NLT)

ApplicationApplication

Have nothing to do with them!Have nothing to do with them!Do not listen to them!Do not listen to them!

1.1. Recognize that wickedness will persist Recognize that wickedness will persist (2 Tim. 3:1-5)(2 Tim. 3:1-5)

Recognize that Recognize that Truth will be Truth will be

OpposedOpposed(2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

a.a. False teachers will take False teachers will take advantage of the weak.advantage of the weak.

2.2. Recognize that truth will be opposed Recognize that truth will be opposed (2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

““They are the kind who worm their way They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-into homes and gain control over weak-

willed women, who are loaded down willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never evil desires, always learning but never

able to acknowledge the truth.”able to acknowledge the truth.”(2 Tim. 3:6-7, NIV)(2 Tim. 3:6-7, NIV)

b.b. False teachers’ folly will be False teachers’ folly will be exposed to everyone.exposed to everyone.

2.2. Recognize that truth will be opposed Recognize that truth will be opposed (2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

““Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the Moses, so also these men oppose the

truth—men of depraved minds, who, as truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are far as the faith is concerned, are

rejected. But they will not get very far rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. ”their folly will be clear to everyone. ”

(2 Tim. 3:6-7, NIV)(2 Tim. 3:6-7, NIV)

2.2. Recognize that truth will be opposed Recognize that truth will be opposed (2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

ApplicationApplication

Do not become one of them!Do not become one of them!

Do not be discouraged by them!Do not be discouraged by them!

Recognize that Recognize that Diligence and Diligence and

Perseverance will Perseverance will be Neededbe Needed

(2 Tim. 4:1-5)(2 Tim. 4:1-5)

a.a. Preach the Word!Preach the Word!

3.3. Recognize that diligence and perseverance will be Recognize that diligence and perseverance will be needed needed (2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

b.b. Be prepared at all times!Be prepared at all times!

c.c. Correct wisely!Correct wisely!

d.d. Rebuke lovingly!Rebuke lovingly!

e.e. Exhort patiently!Exhort patiently!

f.f. Instruct carefully!Instruct carefully!

3.3. Recognize that diligence and perseverance will be Recognize that diligence and perseverance will be needed needed (2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

g.g. Be sober-minded!Be sober-minded!

h.h. Endure hardship!Endure hardship!

i.i. Evangelize!Evangelize!

j.j. Fulfill your ministry!Fulfill your ministry!

Job or Ministry?Job or Ministry?

A job is one you choose;A job is one you choose;A ministry is one Christ chooses for A ministry is one Christ chooses for

you.you.A job depends on your abilities;A job depends on your abilities;

A ministry depends on your A ministry depends on your availability availability to God.to God.In a job you expect to receive;In a job you expect to receive;

In a ministry you expect to give.In a ministry you expect to give.A job done well brings you self esteem;A job done well brings you self esteem;

A ministry done well brings honor A ministry done well brings honor to to Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

3.3. Recognize that diligence and perseverance will be Recognize that diligence and perseverance will be needed needed (2 Tim. 3:6-9)(2 Tim. 3:6-9)

ApplicationApplication

Know the truth!Know the truth!

Teach the truth!Teach the truth!

Live the truth!Live the truth!