August 26, 2012 | John Bayles | Securing the Good Deposit (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

Paul begins and ends this encouragement to Timothy with statements about the nature of the Gospel. The seriousness of the apostle's charge is a compelling lesson for us today. If the true message of the Gospel is lost, then no matter how noble the replacement, it will not burn with the power of God, the souls of the elect will not be awakened by new birth, and the kingdom of God will not advance.

August 19, 2012 | John Bayles | Going On When You’re All Alone (2 Timothy 1:12b-18)

The nature of this second letter is quite unique from Paul's first one to Timothy. It is riddled with the personal reflections of a man who has languished in prison for perhaps seven years, and now the effects of isolation are beginning to take their toll. In addition to this stretch, Paul reflects that he has been abandoned by all those in Asia (Ephesus) who for one reason or another have given up on the faith in Paul's long absence from the church there.

August 12, 2012 | John Bayles | Courage in Weakness (2 Timothy 1:6-14)

Though the general tone of 2 Timothy differs from his first letter, the apostle continues to build up his young assistant in his task of confronting the false teachers in Ephesus. Paul turns from the four reminders of the opening verses and sets before Timothy four imperatives: fan the flame of your calling, be courageous, don't be afraid to suffer for the Gospel, and guard the deposit within you.

August 5, 2012 | John Bayles | The Last Time (2 Timothy 1:1-5)

This is not only the last letter Paul will write to Timothy, but also the last letter that the Apostle Paul will ever write (that has survived). The letters to Titus and Philemon follow the writing of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. The tone is changed dramatically.