2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 REFLECTION - "Inspired" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 81: We are a part of what God is doing to instruct people for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
This week’s passage is loaded with opportunities for discussion.
Paul is specifically referring to the Old Testament passages in his instruction to Timothy. The only scripture that existed when he wrote this was the Old Testament — and although Jesus had renewed and redeemed everything, Paul wants his good Jewish Christian protege Timothy to know that the Scriptures have a great deal of use in helping people be instructed for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Scripture instructs, but it’s faith in Jesus Christ that brings salvation.
Inspired is also a great source of conversation.
Inspired means “God-breathed.”
The Scriptures are God-breathed.
The word for breath is the same word for spirit.
You know what else is God-breathed and blessed with the work of the Holy Spirit?
You and I, friend.
All human beings receive the breath of God—the life that goes beyond our physical breath.
So…what exactly is Paul saying here?
Well…like every single act God does in all of the Bible (except the very first acts), it involves human beings.
It was Moses who had to physically say and do things as the way God instructed him so that miracles and liberation could occur…
It was prophets bringing physical voice to the people to bring the Word of God to light for them.
It was through rulers and judges like David, Gideon, and Deborah that God acted.
God came to us as Word revealed through physical flesh in Jesus.
So…it should’t surprise us that God uses physical writings by physical people to instruct us in faith in Jesus Christ.
God takes the physical…and gives it divine spirit and breath to bring an entirely new and powerful life to it.
And…here you are
Physical…
Devoted…
Called…
Empowered…
Inspired…
You are the ones God has called to do something new and faithful in the lives of those to whom you minister.
You are an active, living, breathing, thinking, embodied source of God-spirited, God-breathed life which instructs people for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
It’s a high and holy calling, my friends.
Don’t take it lightly…
We are to be attentive to the work of the Spirit through the inked words on the pages of our Scripture.
We are to continue our training every single day trusting that we have what we need for today knowing full well that we will learn more tomorrow and the next day…
In a year from now we’ll know so much more.
In 5 years…even more.
This is exciting!! and it is ongoing.
This life of ministry is a living thing which breathes and continues to be inspired.
Take it seriously, but also take it joyfully.
God has called YOU.
Trust that God will work all things for good through you—you God-breathed inspired source of goodness, you!
Message brought to you by Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum (Student ministry resources available on The Sunday School Store written by he and Lauren Sanford).
https://sundayschool.store/collections/free-downloads
Music by The Muse Maker