Last evening, I had the privilege of speaking to 13 participants in the Pastoral Residents program hosted by Emanuel Community Church in Elmira NY. This is under the leadership of Matt and Mitch Bedzyk and the other elders at ECC.

My assignment was to spend time unpacking 2 Timothy 3. Others had already addressed the earlier chapters.

Below are the contents of my notes. I pray they may be of some use to others.

By this time, you’ve already been steeped in the material of 2 Tim. And hopefully, you’ve seen how important and informative it is for those in ministry.

‌Over the years, this letter has been my most cherished go-to when challenges, discouragement and and other “fainting fits” as Spurgeon called them – troubled me.

‌I could come back here to resharpen my focus, and get back to the grounding in what pastoral ministry is all about from God’s perspective, rather than models imposed upon me by the outside – by the Church gurus, growth experts and current trends.

‌What does God want me to be about in seeking to minister to men’s souls in the context of the local assembly?

‌Then, no matter what else may be happening, growth, decline, overwhelming cultural moments, trends, etc., I can make sure I have solid footing for maintaining and moving forward.

‌So in turning your attention to Paul’s 2nd letter, and to this 3rd chapter particularly, I am well aware I’m covering well trodden – tho still hallowed ground.

‌At the same time, I am reminded that one of the severest of the noetic effects of the Fall is how leaky our memories are when it comes to Spiritual and Biblical truth.

‌I once penned in the flyleaf of my Bible, that “it is in the aftermath of God’s manifested grace in a trial, that I craft a more accurate theology, which I promptly forget the next time I’m in trouble.”

‌Someone may have mentioned it already in this study, I am aware that some today argue that Timothy was not actually a pastor, but instead, an apostolic representative when this was written to him.

‌So be it.

‌But if the key directions we see here cannot be absolutely applied to those in pastoral ministry, then I am at a loss as to what instruction in the Scripture would be more finely useful than these powerful chapters.

‌That is not to say they do not have broader application to all in Christ – but in my estimation, they have a unique force of argument on pastors as we function as sheep leading other sheep.

‌As your handout shows, I once arranged a study of the whole letter around 20 imperatives contained in the text. Obviously, the list is not exhaustive. It grew out of times when I was questioning how I was to frame all of my pastoral ministry, and served as a useful organizing principle.

‌Perhaps you’ll find it so as well.

‌I might recommend for your own study, John R. W. Stott’s arrangement in his commentary “The Message of 2nd Timothy” as exceedingly useful:

‌Chapter 1: The charge to guard the gospel.

‌Chapter 2: The charge to suffer for the gospel.

‌Chapter 3: The charge to continue in the gospel.

‌Chapter 4: The charge to proclaim the gospel.

‌Tonight, even though chapter 3 neatly divides itself into two sections – 1-9 and 10-17, I am going to add a 3rd subsection.

In the process, hoping to point out some things which have stood out to me, and refreshed, clarified and reinforced my own soul in times when my pastoral focus grew fuzzy, my heart grew faint, and when putting out fires claimed more of my attention than bringing the light of God’s glory to bear for those under my care.

‌Section 1: Recognize the Times – 2 Timothy 3:1–9‌‌ – Recognize the Times / “understand this” so you don’t get disheartened or discouraged.

‌The simple truth is, that in ministry, difficult, or “dangerous” times will come. They are to be expected.‌

I would imagine that most of you here agree that the “end times” began with Jesus crucifixion and ascension, and stretch until His return. At least that is my understanding of Matt. 24 and other places. So we should neither be surprised, nor disheartened by what is cataloged here.

What is the chief characteristic of these difficult times of concern to Paul?

The Economy? ‌The Culture? Ecology? Geo-political upheaval? Politics Pandemics?‌

None of the above. ‌PEOPLE! Perhaps, all of the above can be rolled into that one word – people.

When men are lovers of self – and especially affluent so as to indulge self – they will be proud & self-congratulatory at every turn – just watch the preoccupation with selfies;

arrogant – If you are at all active on social media, you know in reading the comments, that no one can possibly be wrong about, anything – especially political pundits. We arrogantly imagine we can discern everyone else’s motives.

‌abusive – the same word as slanderous below – but more likely toward God here, blasphemous and arrogant toward God. Judging Him.

‌disobedient to their parents and all authorities;

‌ungrateful because spoiled;

‌unholy because self is god;

heartless, more literally unfeeling – toward all who are not them;

‌impossible to make happy – utterly unappeasable if offended in any way; Hence the rise of the ubiquitous Kevins and Karens –

‌quick on the draw to slander anyone and everyone – especially behind the anonymity of a keyboard;

‌slanderous of others. They cannot just disagree, they must paint all others as evil.

‌utterly given over to their lusts and desires;

‌utterly brutal to any who oppose them – savage. ‌Look at the rise in blood-sports and the proliferation of even Christians joining venues like mixed martial arts competitions. And note how many women are now engaged in that as well.

‌Look at the riotous responses to real or imagined social injustices.

‌having no natural affection for good – probably the public good is meant here;

‌treacherous – devoid of genuine loyalty;

‌reckless – impetuous, thoughtless, rash;

‌swollen with conceit – distorted by their own self-image;

‌seeing pleasure apart from any reference to God as the chief good above all other things;

‌(v19) And all this – even in people who proclaim themselves to be spiritual or even Christians – but utterly without the Spirit of God within them.

‌The $64,000 question is – what are we to do with such people who will in time bring trouble upon the Church?

‌And in short, Paul’s answer is – AVOID THEM!

‌Avoid them.

‌This is a favorite admonition of Paul’s in no less than 6 places: Rom.; 1 & 2 Tim.; Titus. ‌

Do not spend hours and hours engaging them, avoid them.

‌I really would have expected some tactic to combat them. But no.

‌The chief tactics if any are – prayer and the preaching of the Gospel and thereby demonstrating that we do not have truck with those attitudes and traits.

‌Look at what Paul says in 8 – in citing the account of Jannes and Jambres – ‌2 Timothy 3:8–9 / “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”

‌We glean 3 things from this –

‌1 – This is nothing new. As long as people are people, we’ll be facing this.

‌2 – These are not the traits of Christians, so do not align yourself with them in the Church. They are disqualified regarding the Faith.‌ Right now, the rise of the pugnacious preacher is much in vogue. Don’t get sucked in.

‌3 – They won’t get very far. They will be exposed in due time.

‌Summarizing this portion might look something like this in 5 statements regarding those he’s referring to –

‌1 – Note Their CHARACTER: (1-5) ‌ 19 Traits – culminating in: “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power = Void of the Spirit’s influence. ‌The Last one: They are even Religious! Or “Spiritual” as many have it today.

‌Verse 13: calls them “Imposters”

‌‌2 – Note Their TACTICS:(6) 2 ‌Insidious methods.

‌a. “Creep” Slyly, not openly. ‌b. “Capture” Take captive, not deliver.

‌‌3 – Note Their PREY: (6-7) 4 Descriptive terms.

‌a. “Weak women” – Weak WILLED. His point is not that they are weak willed BECAUSE they are women, but merely that women who are weak-willed are easy prey.

‌b. “Burdened with sins”. ‌

Either: Loaded with them and wanting relief, but not content with the Gospel – or: Loaded with them and wanting an excuse not to abandon them.‌

Either way – Looking for something other or more than – the Gospel.

‌c. “Led astray by various passions” Making decisions by feeling rather than truth. “Sensual” in Peter and Jude as well.

‌d. “Ever learning – never arriving”. ‌ The pursuit is the constant titillation of one new thing after another. No satisfaction – No constancy / Just like the Athenians of Acts 17:21.

This COULD be the source of the worst kind of discouragement:‌

a. Pretended brothers.‌

b. Doing damage to others.‌

c. Others being so gullible (Gal. 1:6)‌

BUT!‌

4 – Note this EXAMPLE: Jannes & Jambres (8) ‌

Who? – Irrelevant. We get their names from a pseudipigraphal document.

‌What? – ‌a. Opposed the truth. ‌ b. Corrupt minds. c. Disqualified regarding the faith.

‌‌They OPPOSE the TRUTH because they have CORRUPT (MINDS which then DISQUALIFIES them from THE FAITH.

‌‌5 – Note Their FATE: (9)

‌a. They will not win the day.

‌b. They WILL be exposed.

‌‌No one explains the consternation of this dynamic better than Asaph in Ps. 73.

Understand that times of difficulty will come due to people.

‌Section 2: Remember My Example. 2 Tim. 3:10-13

‌​“HOWEVER” – ‌Paul lays out a powerful and clarifying portrait doesn’t he?

‌Keep these focii in mind – you know:

‌1 – What I believed and taught (doctrine – Biblical truth)

‌2 – Was the basis for how I lived (conduct)

‌3 – It informed my goal(s) (aim)

‌4 – Fueled my faith (faith)

‌5 – Gives me (patience)

‌6 – Gives me (love)

‌7 – Gives me (steadfastness)

‌8 – Even in persecutions and sufferings.

‌And we’re right back to something Paul has raised several times already – you’ve seen how I suffered.

‌6 times Paul brings up suffering in this connection, and we need to learn it well. Back in Ch. 2 he admonished Timothy to “share in suffering”. To not become soft.

‌And if you are anything like me, sometimes, we grow weary in our work even if we are not weary of it.

‌Spurgeon remarks: “a minister, wherever he is, is a minister, and should recollect that he is on duty. A policeman or a soldier may be off duty, but a minister never is. Even in our recreations we should still pursue the great object of our lives; for we are called to be diligent “in season and out of season.” There is no position in which we may be placed but the Lord may come with the question, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” and we ought to be able at once to answer, “I have something to do for thee even here, and I am trying to do it.” The bow, of course, must be at times unstrung, or else it will lose its elasticity; but there is no need to cut the string. I am speaking at this time of the minister in times of relaxation; and I say that even then he should conduct himself as the ambassador of God, and seize opportunities of doing good: this will not mar his rest, but sanctify it.” Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to My Students: A Selection from Addresses Delivered to the Students of the Pastors’ College, Metropolitan Tabernacle. Passmore and Alabaster, 1875, pp. 181–82.

‌And just as it pertains to spiritual growth for all God’s children, that there is no such thing as stagnancy – it is like climbing up the down escalator; the moment we stop, we actually go backward – so it is especially for we in ministry.

‌I know you’ve already covered it, but let me remind of that section in Ch. 2 again.

‌Paul draws on 3 similes there.

‌vs. 3: “Share in suffering”: a. As a good soldier.

‌No solider is in the army by him or herself, we serve together. Both with fellow ministers, AND with our people.

So the unique word he uses here emphasizes suffering WITH others, not just suffering generically.

‌Not only is suffering to be expected, we need to remember that we do not suffer alone, nor do those we minister to.

‌And part of our suffering, is entering into the suffering of others, the way Jesus entered into ours.

‌Additionally, it takes much to remain a single-minded soldier, set on serving the commander and prosecuting His battle amid all the distractions that come our way.

‌But that’s the point.

‌Our people are fighting those battles too and must strive against the World, the Flesh and the Devil the same as us. And we, the same as them.

‌Being in ministry offers no exemptions. Just the opposite, it opens us up to even more.

‌I have a dear pastor friend (who shall remain nameless) – who in a moment of passive-aggressive weakness, frustrated with some in his congregation who didn’t show up at services regularly because too much of life got in the way – did the following.

‌He stepped into the pulpit, dressed in greasy work clothes and announced: “There will be no sermon today. This week our washer broke down, and I’m still waiting on the part to fix it; I needed to put new brakes on my wife’s car; we needed to take one of the kids to emergency when he fell off his bike – so you’ll just have to do without.”

‌Maybe you’ll be tempted to do something similar too. I know I have. Obviously I recommend this to no one.

‌I wonder what would have happened if he had stepped in the pulpit and commiserated with his people in that moment – told them he knows how they struggle because he struggles too, and comforted them with the comfort the Lord comforted him with in those difficult times?

Could he instead have pointed to the exhausted Jesus in Mark 4? That our great Redeemer knows just how whipped we can be at times?

‌And then turned their attention to the God of Ps. 121 who never sleeps nor slumbers and who will not break the bruised reed nor snuff out the faintly burning wick?

‌Are there times for rebuke? Sure.

‌But it is helpful to remember that we are ALL serving our commander, from the greatest to the least of us – and to suffer WITH one another – even as Christ in His incarnation suffered with us.

‌Of course, Paul’s solider metaphor is aimed at this ultimate point: If we are going to really serve well, we will have to willingly give up those extraneous things which might hinder us from single-mindedness.

‌The Enemy deploys one of his most potent weapons by means of simple distraction. ‌Distraction especially from remembering that we are in a perpetual war.

‌Battle, nearly constant battle, is to be expected.

‌b. As an athlete.

‌The self-disciplined athlete Doesn’t just want to participate or run, he looks to win. He sets his mind wholly on it. Frames his entire life, including his personal habits around being ready to compete. He has a goal.

‌And here, the lack of ministerial metrics rises to the surface once more – We suffer with some ambiguity in measuring our ministries.

‌So our goals have to be clear. Goals I would advance as chiefly 2: ‌Personal growth in the character and image of Christ and assisting others in the same.

‌It’s what I hear Paul alluding to when he says self-referentially later: He has kept the faith. Faithful to follow, faithful to press on.

‌c. As a hard working farmer.

‌The picture is of one who is hands-on in the dirt (if I can say it that way) but who also looks for a reward based upon what he grows – i.e. spiritual rewards for spiritual labors.

‌In all three there are these things:

‌Give up thoughts of “career” – Even in ministry

‌Give up thoughts of “civilian life” where you don’t have to be on the forefront of defending Scripture truth, being an apologist for Christ, pouring over Scripture, not worrying about having a great private life filled with recreations and lots of pass-times and fringes. Give yourself to this work.

‌This triad emerges:

‌The soldier battles the enemy – The Devil and his minions.

‌The athlete battles himself – The flesh.

‌The farmer battles the environment which threatens the crop. And he does so rigorously on every front.

‌Ministry is WAR!

‌And might I add one side note here in terms of a debate about whether or not as preachers, we should ever be self-referential in our sermons.

‌Without wading into those waters too deeply – I think one application of suffering together with our people is to let them know from time to time how it is we suffer too – not for sympathy’s sake – but so that we can more directly comfort them with the comfort wherewith we have been comforted. To let them know how He has met us in our sorrows and trials.

‌I am reminded of how Spurgeon closed one of his sermons: “I wish I could have spoken worthily on such a topic as this, but a dull, heavy headache sits upon me, and I feel that a thick gloom overshadows my words, out of which I look with longing, but cannot rise. For this I may well grieve, but nevertheless God the Holy Ghost can work the better through our weakness, and if you will try and preach the sermon to yourselves, my brethren, you will do it vastly better than I can; if you will meditate upon this text this afternoon, “Of him, through him, and to him are all things,” I am sure you will be led to fall on your knees with the apostle, and say, “To him be glory for ever;” and then you will rise up, and practically in your life, give him honour, putting the “Amen” to this doxology by your own individual service of your great and gracious Lord.” Spurgeon, C. H. “Laus Deo.” The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 10, Passmore & Alabaster, 1864, p. 312.

‌Personally, I am stunned every time I read the account of Jesus in Gethsemane in Matt. 26:37-38 “And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.””

‌What self-disclosure! And from the very Son of God!

‌And yet we sometimes feel the need to put on a front that makes people think we are impervious to the same things they face. ‌No, we do not want to set ourselves forward as shining examples as though we never flag or have some sort of spiritual superiority. Nor do we want to give the impression that we have become hopeless.

‌But rather, let them see how we personally and truly depend upon grace in our own lives, the way we ask them to.

‌Think of 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 “we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

‌Paul personally wants them to be very aware of what he had faced. He did not fain invincibility.

‌Stott also advances that in today’s parlance, Timothy might well have been classified as an introvert.

‌Sharing that trait with Timothy, I also know how that leads me to flee confrontation, and at times even to cave into cowardice.

‌

“Preachers are tempted to moral cowardice more almost than to any sin. Too many ministers, says Bernard, are “men pleasers, not the servants of Christ…he that fears his people’s faces is the man that is most likely to murder their souls.” Cook, Paul. “The Life and Work of a Minister according to the Puritans.” Puritan Papers: 1956–1959, edited by J. I. Packer, vol. 1, P&R Publishing, 2000, p. 185.

‌

So I feel the prick of this particular admonition quite keenly, and have had to revisit this place at times when I have been quite tempted to shrink back from necessary confrontation.

‌All this given, it’s no wonder then that Paul immediately moves to calling us to really think these things over – AND, so quickly injects the next section:

‌You’ve known my –

‌a. Teaching / It was consistent, plain and always in accord w/extant Biblical truth.

‌b. Conduct / Public, not sneaking into houses – Synagogues, Mars Hill, Market Place, Public Prayer (Lydia)

‌c. Aim / Announced, never covert – anchored in The Great Commission – Remember him before Agrippa? Acts 26:29 “And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.””

‌Even there he was clear about his aim.

‌d. Faith / Whom I believe – WHO it is I’ve trusted all along.

‌e. Patience / Forbearance w/others.

‌f. Love / How I consider my ministry to have been betrothing other to Christ and not myself – 2 Cor. 11:2.

‌g. Steadfastness / No deviation. I’ve stuck to the main things.

‌h. Persecutions / No compromise.

‌Remember how in Antioch – I was driven out by the Jews?

‌Then in Iconium – how I was driven out by the Jews & Gentiles together?

‌And then in Lystra – How I refused to be worshiped AND as a result was stoned?

‌i. Remember the example of my own endurance / How? No sinful response to any who mistreated me.

‌‌Paul has certainly served up a full plate of counsel thus far, but he’s not quite done yet.

‌The Holy Spirit does not just spin out maxims, platitudes and raw data. Our Great Shepherd Jesus, through His Spirit in Paul is ever about supporting us to the full.

‌So we move to our last 5 considerations in this text.

‌To me they are so encouraging and refreshing because they are so focused and concise.

‌These are the true metrics by which we can measure ourselves in ministry.

‌Are we faithful to our Master in these? Then we will be fulfilling our call no matter what anyone else may think.

‌And rightly we can look at this last portion as some keys to remaining faithful in the face of all.

‌‌Section 3 – Retain the Essentials: 2 Tim 3:14-17.‌

Retain the essentials / “continue in what you have heard” – Don’t move from the Scriptures!

‌As we just noted – Paul reminds Timothy of how he has seen this lived out in his mentor.

‌AS FOR YOU Timothy as for US brethren – Continue in what you’ve learned FROM THE WORD: Which then is all founded in…

‌Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:16-17

‌‌Scripture alone:

‌1. Teaches us what we OUGHT to believe and live out.

‌2. It offers Reproof – telling us what we ought NOT to believe and not to live out.

‌3. It corrects us – Fixing what we believe WRONGLY and live out wrongly.

‌4. And all this so that we might live RIGHTEOUSLY. How it prepares us to meet our God.

‌SO:

‌1 – DON’T GET DISCOURAGED / Leadership needs to be aware that there will ALWAYS (until Christ comes) be such dangerous seasons.

‌They may come and go – but they will not cease to come and go.

‌2 – DON’T BE DECEIVED / Profession & Character must always go hand in hand.

‌No matter how righteous some may appear, if they do not teach rightly – do not regard them.

‌Isa. 8:20 “To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.”

‌And no matter how orthodox they may appear, if they do not walk in holiness, they have disqualified themselves from the faith. 2:8.

‌Christ came to save us FROM our sins, not to leave us IN them.

‌Where Christian character does not accompany a profession of faith – something is wrong: 2 Cor. 11:4 provides a wonderful 3 fold test of who we receive as teachers, leaders, etc.

‌‌A – Do they bring us the Jesus of Scripture? Son of David? Born of a Virgin Sinless? Crucified – Dead – Risen? Coming again? God in human flesh?

‌B – Do they come in the Spirit of Christ? Is the pursuit of the character of Christ evident both in how they live, and what they teach? He is not called the HOLY Spirit for nothing. It is His chief characteristic, and it is the chief characteristic of those under His influence.

‌C – Do they bring the Gospel of Christ? Grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone?

‌3 – SO – DON’T GET DISTRACTED

‌Fighting and correcting these types will be a never ending temptation.

‌Stick to the Word.

‌Aim at betrothing men to Christ.

‌Help the Saints grow in grace – in Christ’s character.

‌Help men become Heavenly minded.

‌These are the AIMS of Scripture

‌DON’T GET DISCOURAGED

‌DON’T BE DECEIVED

‌DON’T GET DISTRACTED

‌This is what RETAINING THE ESSENTIALS does – They will keep us on solid ground

‌We might take a page from The history of the English Reformation in regard to Retaining the Essentials, while also maintaining a goodly breadth of fellowship with other men of God. ^{From D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ 1969 Lecture on the Puritans – The Puritans, Their Origins and Successors, pages 234-235.}

‌“In 1654 Oliver Cromwell – with his idea of Toleration – and the Parliament called upon the divines to define what should be tolerated or indulged among those who profess the fundamentals of Christianity. If effect they said, we have all these division and sects and groups; what are the fundamental of Christianity on which we can have fellowship together? So a committee was set up and the members of the committee were these: Mr. Richard Baxter, Dr. John Owen, Dr. Thomas Goodwin, Dr. Cheynel, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Reyner, Mr. Nye, Mr. Sydrach Simpson, Mr. Vines, Mr. Manton, Mr. Jacomb. As I said earlier, Baxter tried to short-circuit the whole proposal at the beginning by saying that nothing was necessary but the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Commandments. But that was rejected. Then they proceeded to work, and they produced 16 Articles which they felt stated the fundamentals on which, and on which alone, true fellowship is possible between Protestant Evangelical people. Here they are –

‌1 – That the Holy Scripture is that rule of knowing God and living unto Him which whoso does not believe cannot be saved.

‌2 – That there is a God who is the Creator, Governor and Judge of the world, which is to be received by faith, and every other way of knowledge of Him is insufficient.

‌3 – That this God who is the blessed Creator is eternally distinct from all creatures in His Being and Blessedness.

‌4 – That this God is One in Three Persons or subsistences.

‌5 – That Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and Man without the knowledge of whom there is no salvation.

‌6 – That this Jesus Christ is the true God.

‌7 – That this Jesus Christ is also true man.

‌8 – That this Jesus Christ is God and Man in one Person.

‌9 – That this Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, who by paying a ransom and bearing our sins has made satisfaction for them.

‌10 – That this same Lord Jesus Christ is He that was Crucified at Jerusalem, and rose again and ascended into Heaven.

‌11 – That this same Jesus Christ being the only God and Man in One Person remains forever a distinct Person from all saints and angels notwithstanding their union and communion with Him.

‌12 – That all men by nature were dead in sins and trespasses, and no man can be saved unless he be born again, repent and believe.

‌13 – That we are justified and saved by grace and faith in Jesus Christ and not by works.

‌14 – That to continue in any known sin upon what pretence or principle soever is damnable.

‌15 – That God is to be worshipped according to His own will, and whosoever shall forsake and despise all the duties of His worship cannot be saved.

‌16 – That the dead shall rise, and that there is a day of judgement wherein all shall appear, some to go into everlasting life and some into everlasting condemnation.

‌”They were the 16 points. We have the authority of Richard Baxter for saying that it was Dr. John Owen who worded those Articles, that Dr. Reynolds was the scribe and that Mr. Marshall, a sober, worthy man did something, but the rest were little better than passive.”

‌”Now these Articles were designed and intended to exclude not only Deists, Socinians and Papists, but also Arians, Antinomians, Quakers and others. What I am asking is this: Cannot we accept those as fundamentals? Are those not sufficient? We remember, of course, that bishops, deans, etc., etc., had been abolished at hat time, and therefore did not need to be mentioned; and also that they did not have to contend with a ‘higher critical’ attitude to the Scriptures. They were agreed also in their attitude toward ‘tradition’, Their object was to define the irreducible minimum on which evangelical people could work together. We, today, need to elaborate some of these statements in view of our peculiar circumstances; but, still, I suggest, we should seek the minimum definition and not the maximum. Then, united on that basis, we can as brethren work together, and meet together for discussion of the matters on which we differ, and for our mutual edification.”

‌Section 1: Recognize the Times

‌Section 2: Remember My Example

‌Section 3: Retain the Essentials / “continue in what you have heard” – Don’t move from the Scriptures!

‌‌(Out of Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible, Based upon Deut. 33:25)

‌Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near Thy Savior’s gracious promise hear, His faithful Word declares to thee, That as thy days thy strength shall be.

‌Let not thy heart despond and say “How shall I stand the trying day?” He has engaged by firm decree, That as thy days thy strength shall be.

‌Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong, And if the conflict should be long, The Lord will make the tempter flee, For as thy days thy strength shall be.

‌Should persecution rage and flame, Still trust in thy Redeemer’s Name; In fiery trials thou shalt see, That as thy days thy strength shall be.

‌When called to bear thy weighty cross, Or sore affliction, pain, or loss, Or deep distress or poverty, Still as thy days thy strength shall be.