This church: committed to accurate Bible study
Daily Scripture
2 Timothy 2:14-15, 23-25
DID YOU KNOW?
“As a young person, I loved that in Methodism you were not expected to check your brain at the door of the church, that it was okay to ask questions. Methodism encourages critical thinking about scripture, theology and spirituality.” *
14 Remind them of these things and warn them in the sight of God not to engage in battles over words that aren’t helpful and only destroy those who hear them. 15 Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.
23 Avoid foolish and thoughtless discussions, since you know that they produce conflicts. 24 God’s slave shouldn’t be argumentative but should be kind toward all people, able to teach, patient, 25 and should correct opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will change their mind and give them a knowledge of the truth.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
On this Thanksgiving Day, we are grateful for each one of you who reads the GPS and joins the Resurrection family in the holy habit of reading the Bible to guide our lives. We pray God’s presence will be very close to you on this special day.
Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of studying and teaching God’s word accurately. In Ephesus, where Timothy served, arguments about religious words and ideas had created division, not spiritual growth. Paul urged Timothy to focus on what really mattered—correctly understanding and applying God’s truth. This remains crucial today. That’s why Church of the Resurrection stresses thoughtful Bible study that helps people understand Scripture’s meaning and connect it to their daily lives.
- “Paul offers a portrait of the Christian ‘workman’, the one who knows how to study scripture and how to preach and teach God’s word…. figure out what standards of knowledge, expository skill, historical and literary judgment, and above all spiritual understanding, are required for the job, and make sure you possess them.” ** What does Resurrection offer to help you understand the Bible more clearly? (If you don’t know, click here.) How can informed, Christ-centered Bible study help you discern truth from falsehood?
- Paul told Timothy to avoid meaningless arguments that only lead to quarrels. Instead, he should gently teach truth to help people grow. When you encounter different views about faith or the Bible, how can you focus on understanding and learning together rather than winning arguments? What are the benefits of learning from genuine dialogue with other believers, rather than just studying by yourself?
Prayer
Lord of my life, help me to keep growing into a “tried and true worker” for your kingdom. Make me accurate, kind and gentle in sharing what I learn from you. Amen.
GPS Insights
Mikiala Tennie
Mikiala Tennie, who serves as the Student Discipleship Program Director with Resurrection Students, wrote today’s Insight. She has nearly 20 years of ministry experience and loves encouraging others in their spiritual journey. Mikiala is blessed to be an adoptive aunt and godmother to many kiddos and lives with her 10-pound Yorkie, KiKi Okoye Tennie.
The holidays are upon us. We will be sitting down to many tables with many different folks. So, as we engage in important conversations, it will be important for us not to major on the minors. What do I mean by that?
When I was around 17 or 18, I remember leading a summer Bible study for some of the middle school girls in our student ministry. The youth leader at the time handed me a Bible study curriculum in a three-ring binder and when I flipped it open, I realized we would be studying 2 Timothy. The author, Paul, is a prolific writer in scripture, but isn’t always the easiest author to wrestle with when reading his words.
I find that were Paul and I to sit down at a dinner table and discuss the things of God, we wouldn’t necessarily agree on every point of conversation. Sitting down with those middle schoolers around a table full of snacks, we found ourselves wrestling with what God would have us learn from Paul’s words to Timothy. I don’t remember all that we discussed or what our main takeaways were each week at that table, but I do remember homing in on 2 Timothy 2:14… and verse 23 does a good job of echoing it:
14 Remind them of these things and warn them in the sight of God not to engage in battles over words that aren’t helpful and only destroy those who hear them.
23 Avoid foolish and thoughtless discussions, since you know that they produce conflicts.
Paul gives a warning here. The life application I settled on at the table with the girls was, “Don’t major on the minors.”
In our faith, in our world, in our discussions, we’re all going to have battles with our words. We’re going to engage in important conversation about extremely important topics. But what Paul urges us to do is use our discretion to make sure that these conversations are useful and helpful to those involved.
That’s why these holidays (and, actually, all days) it will be important for us not to major on the minors—to refuse sow discord, avoid harmful word usage, and refrain from destroying someone else’s spirit or the environment around you. We must ask ourselves if diving into a conversation will produce conflict rather than just conversation. There is always a time and a place to debate theological concepts and our carefully honed thoughts and opinions. But maybe, just maybe, the tables at the upcoming Thanksgiving, holiday, and New Year’s parties are not the most useful and productive spaces. I hope and pray that every table at which you get to gather this season, you will be a sower of kindness to each person you encounter.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Adam Hamilton, notes in preparation for November 24, 2024 sermon.
** Wright, N. T., Paul for Everyone: The Pastoral Letters: 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 107). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
