I was 20 years old in September of 1991 when Grace Community Church (that’s what it was called in the beginning) first opened its doors. I had grown up at Faith Missionary Church (the church Grace came from) and had been very involved with the youth group at Faith. Dave Rodriguez was the youth pastor at Faith and had been very influential in my life. When Faith decided to launch/plant – whatever you want to call it – a church in Hamilton county and named Dave as the lead pastor – I was all in. And so were a lot of other people – there were 600 people that first Sunday in 1991 meeting in this kind of funky little warehouse over where best buy and Michaels are now. We kind of had no idea what we were doing, and it was scary and exciting and crazy and fun. And I was along for the ride. I grew up at Grace Church. My entire adult life has been here. I got married, had 4 children – watched them grow – welcomed people into my life – watched people go – lost loved ones (including my own dad) – so much of who I am today is because of the people in this place. And when I came on staff in 1996 at the age of 25, I had no idea where it would take me. And now here I am – here we are 30 years later. Moving into the next phase of Grace Church – the next 30 years – kind of the next chapter – a new lead pastor – a different staff structure – back to one location - and it feels very much the same way it did 30 years ago – a little bit like we don’t know what we’re doing – so a little scary but at the same time - exciting, crazy, and fun.
Fun fact: When Grace first started in 1991, I was a junior at Ball State, and I would drive down from Muncie every weekend to go to church.
We are still Grace Church – the DNA of who we have been runs deep and strong and we carry all of that with us as we move into the future. But I also believe God will challenge us and mold us in new ways too. And in 30 years when I’m 80 – my plan Lord willing is to still be doing kingdom work with the people of Grace Church in some form or another.
And this whole month we will celebrate what God has done and look forward to what He is going to do.
Taking who we’ve been and what we’ve learned in the past and listen to the Spirit in the present and take all of that with us as we carry on into the future.
And the sermon series we will be in for the month – Carry On – will take us to the books of 1 and 2 Timothy – as we see what the Apostle Paul had to say in the letters he sent to Timothy – as Timothy got ready to lead the church in Ephesus on his own.
But before we do that – I want to welcome you all here this morning – both in person and online. And to the kids and students in the room. Raise your hands – we’re so glad you’re here. And this is a great message for you because you will be the leaders of Grace Church in the next 30 years. Did you realize that? You heard me say – I’ll be 80 in 30 years – I’m old – I’m counting on you to move us into the future. Are you ready to do that with us? I hope so. Because we need you. As a matter of fact, as we dig into to today’s message – you will see and hear that we need ALL of you – every single person – in this room – online – we need all of you to help us carry Grace on into the future.
Let’s begin our anniversary month be looking at 2 Timothy
Do any of you have a mentor in your life – someone that is older than you – more life experience?
That’s basically what we are looking at today – Paul is a spiritual mentor to Timothy and 1 and 2 Timothy are letters Paul has written to Timothy.
Fun fact: My mother and grandmother, Judy and Liz, were huge influences on my spiritual journey. I love that Timothy was shaped by strong women in his life.
Time is running out and the work is too important – the mission is too great – Paul wants to make sure this young guy has all the tools and confidence he needs to carry on the torch.
There are two sections of challenge in this book
The first section – the section we’re looking at today - is encouraging Timothy to accept his calling as a leader.
2 Timothy 1:3-14
3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day, I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him[a] until the day of his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
I think this first section of 2 Timothy is pretty simple – it’s not meant to be difficult to understand
So grateful for you.
Don’t forget you are a man of strong faith.
Don’t be ashamed of the gospel.
Don’t forget what I’ve taught you and continue to spread the Good News through your gifts
And finally, the key verses in the passage for me is verses 6 and 7
6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Use your gifts – don’t let them sit idly by – you can do this – don’t be scared – don’t be timid or meek – no be bold – use your gifts in the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
We should be calling out each other’s gifts and encouraging each other to use those gifts.
And these gifts are to be used –
Spirit of power, love and self-discipline…
God has given us a spirit of love: This tells us a lot about the power He has given us. He humbly washed His disciples’ feet
God has given us a sound mind: the idea of a calm, self-controlled mind, in contrast to the panic and confusion
We don’t need to accept what God has not given us (a spirit of fear), and we do need to humbly receive and walk in what He has given us
All 3 must go together. It’s the calling trifecta.
Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 4,
12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
And to those of you that are in this room or online and you are young – I say the same thing to you.
12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
Because it’s not about you – it’s about a broken world that needs the power of Jesus in their lives.
9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
You will burn with a desire to heal the brokenness in the world because of the brokenness that has been healed in you.
You’ve heard the phrase hurt people hurt people – let’s turn it on its head – how about: Healed people heal people.
Transformed people transform the world.
Because it’s not about us.
Use your gifts to serve one another.
Fun fact: These are just a few names of the wonderful people that are doing amazing kingdom work at Grace and beyond? Wouldn’t you like to join them?
Through serving community is built, life is found, people find purpose and generations are transformed!
Use your gifts to serve one another.
Fun fact: Want to find out what your spiritual gifts are – simply google spiritual gifts and about 1000 different assessments will pop up.
You will burn with a desire to heal the brokenness in the world because of the brokenness that has been healed in you.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21