Jesus reveals the heart of the Father who relentlessly pursues the one who is lost. In His grace, God doesn’t settle for ninety-nine found—He goes after the one more, restoring what was broken and rejoicing over every soul brought home. And now, as His redeemed people, we share His heart and join His mission to seek and save the lost.

Paul’s words to Timothy are a locker room speech for the church: remember the gospel, preach it to yourself, and preach it to one another. The way we handle God’s Word matters deeply. If we drift from the truth, even in small ways—through idle talk, quarrels, or making secondary things central—we risk spreading spiritual “gangrene.” Our words, when not aligned with God’s Word, can bring death instead of life. There is a profound contrast between the life-giving spread of God’s Word and the destructive spread of human words untethered from truth. Truth is not something we create; it is something we discover in God, who is Himself the foundation and embodiment of truth. When we unanchor from this foundation, we not only shipwreck our own faith but can also ruin the faith of others. The call is urgent: rightly handle the Word, stay anchored to God’s unshakable foundation, and do not drift. God’s promises are sealed and guaranteed—He knows those who are His, and nothing can unseal what He has sealed. Living as people of faith means both trusting in the security of our belonging to Jesus and actively departing from iniquity. This is not about earning our place with God, but about living out who we already are in Christ. The way to depart from iniquity is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, to study it deeply, to see Jesus in every part of it, and to anchor ourselves to what we find there. We do this best in community, reminding and encouraging one another to hold fast, especially when life’s storms come. Just as a seatbelt keeps us safe in a crash, anchoring ourselves to God’s truth keeps us from spiritual ruin. The alternative is drift, death, and destruction. But if we hold fast together, God’s kingdom will spread like life-giving vines, bringing light and freedom to us and those around us.

In this passage, Paul urges us, within the body of Christ, to keep reminding one another of the gospel truth so that we draw near to Jesus and uphold the Word of truth. He warns us not to get caught up in pointless fights over words, as these disagreements are dangerous and even undermine faith. Instead, we are called to study, learn, and rightly handle God’s Word so that we become a people increasingly united in our awe for Jesus!

2 Timothy 2:11-13 invites us to wrestle honestly with our own imperfection and the certainty of God’s faithfulness. Paul’s words to Timothy, a reluctant and peacekeeping leader thrust into a church riddled with conflict, remind us that God’s call on our lives is not about our natural strengths or comfort zones. Instead, it’s about embracing the calling God gives, even when it feels mismatched or overwhelming. Timothy’s story is a mirror for all who feel unqualified or hesitant, showing that God’s purposes are not thwarted by our weaknesses. The heart of the passage is the repeated word “with.” Our faith is not a solo journey; it is a life lived with Jesus—dying with him, living with him, enduring with him, and ultimately reigning with him. This “withness” is not just theological; it’s deeply relational. Even for those who are introverted or feel alone, the longing to be with God is woven into our very being. Jesus’ promise to be with us always, through his Spirit, is the anchor for our endurance and hope. Paul’s anthem moves from certainty (“if we have died with him, we will live with him”) to warning (“if we deny him, he will deny us”), and then to a shocking reversal of logic: “if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” This is not a license for apathy, but a profound assurance that God’s faithfulness is not contingent on our performance. Our faithfulness is imperfect, fluctuating like Peter’s journey—from boldness to denial and back to restoration. Yet, Jesus meets us in our honesty, not with rejection, but with invitation: “Feed my sheep.” He knows our limits and still calls us forward, promising to finish the work he began in us. The difference between Peter and Judas is not the gravity of their failure, but their response to grace. Peter, though deeply flawed, believed that Jesus’ love was still enough for him. Judas despaired. The invitation for us is to be honest with God about where we are—faithful or faithless, strong or weak, hopeful or bitter—knowing that Jesus comes for us, not with condemnation, but with love and restoration. Our hope is not in our ability to hold on to God, but in his unbreakable hold on us.

In this passage, Paul urges Timothy to remember Jesus Christ and to endure the hardships that come with faithfully proclaiming the gospel. By fixing our minds on Christ—His suffering, resurrection, and faithfulness—we find strength to persevere through every trial. Paul reminds us that our calling is not to achieve results but to remain faithful, trusting that God alone brings the fruit. When we remember Jesus, we are empowered to endure all things and to finish the race set before us.

Following Christ means embracing suffering as part of one’s unique spiritual journey, as we endure challenges with community support. By staying focused on God’s calling, believers can experience a deeper connection with Christ and receive an eternal reward that surpasses temporary trials.

In the closing years of the New Testament era, as persecution and cultural pressure mounted, Paul wrote to Timothy not just as a mentor, but as a spiritual father to his beloved son. The heart of this relationship is seen in Paul’s charge: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” This is not a call to draw strength from some abstract idea of grace, but from the living reality of the gospel—who Jesus is, what He has done, and who we are because of Him. The call to “entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” is not limited to pastors or leaders. It is for all who follow Jesus. The gospel is to be passed from person to person, generation to generation, not as a cold transfer of doctrine, but as a living, nourishing reality. This requires community. We need each other to remember the gospel, because the world and our own hearts are constantly “dismembering” what we know to be true. Regular gathering, honest sharing, and mutual encouragement are essential. We preach the gospel to ourselves and to one another, so that we are strengthened to endure suffering, resist false teaching, and live out our calling in a world that opposes the truth. Ultimately, the strength to endure, to teach, and to pass on the faith comes from continually encountering the grace that is in Christ. Only then are we equipped to carry the gospel to the world, not as a duty, but as a delight.

As followers of Jesus, we are not called to shrink back when others turn away, but to remain steadfast in loyalty to Christ and His people. Paul reminds Timothy of those who deserted him in hardship, yet he lifts up Onesiphorus as an example of faithfulness—one who was not ashamed of Paul’s chains but sought him out with courage and compassion. In the same way, Jesus calls us to stand firm in love and loyalty, even when it is costly, so that we might reflect the steadfast mercy of our God.

As followers of Jesus, we are not simply called to follow words, but to follow a person—Jesus Himself. Paul reminds Timothy that it is possible to mistake a relationship with the Bible for a relationship with Christ. Instead, Jesus calls us to embrace the pattern of His words so that we might truly learn what it means to walk closely with our God.

Paul’s final letter to Timothy is written from a place of deep love, urgency, and personal sacrifice. He writes as a spiritual father to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, who is pastoring a church in Ephesus that is struggling under the weight of cultural pressure and internal compromise. The city of Ephesus, prosperous and influential, is pressing its values of individualism and self-determination onto the church, causing many to drift from the distinctiveness of the gospel and even to distance themselves from Paul, now imprisoned and considered shameful by Roman standards. Timothy is caught in the crossfire—rejected by the culture, misunderstood by his own church, and tempted to shrink back from his calling. Paul’s encouragement is not a call to mere duty, but a reminder of identity. He affirms Timothy’s calling, rooted in the faith passed down from his grandmother and mother, and reminds him that to follow Jesus is to be appointed—called, assigned—to the gospel. This appointment is not reserved for apostles or preachers alone, but is the shared identity of every believer: to proclaim, represent, and instruct others in the gospel. Paul unpacks these roles, showing that to “preach” is to herald the message of the King, to be an “apostle” is to serve as a delegate or ambassador with the authority of Christ, and to “teach” is to instruct others in the way of Jesus. Every follower of Christ is called to live out these aspects, not as a separate task from their identity, but as the very expression of it. Yet, Paul is honest about the cost. To live out this calling is to invite suffering, shame, and opposition from a world whose values often stand in stark contrast to God’s. Paul himself is in prison because he has refused to distance himself from Jesus and the gospel. But he declares, “I am not ashamed,” not because he is immune to fear or embarrassment, but because he knows the One in whom he has believed. Paul’s confidence is not in his own strength, but in the character and faithfulness of Jesus. He knows that Jesus is able to guard everything entrusted to him—his calling, his suffering, his future—until the very end. This deep, personal knowledge of Christ is the foundation for perseverance. Paul’s life and writings reveal a Savior who is present in our past, present, and future; who holds all things together; who loves us completely, knowing every failure and every victory. Because of this, we can live boldly, unashamed, and faithful to our calling, trusting that God is already waiting for us in every tomorrow.

When facing suffering or difficult circumstances, we can find strength by remembering that Jesus has both saved us from spiritual death and called us to a way of life that leads to true freedom. This salvation and calling are based entirely on God’s grace, not our performance, giving us confidence to live by faith even when it’s costly. Jesus’ way is the path of life itself, extending His freedom into our everyday experiences.

Paul writes to Timothy, urging him not to shrink back from Christ, the gospel, or from Paul’s own suffering. Instead, Timothy is called to embrace gospel living—even when it brings hardship. For it is often through suffering that we learn to cling most tightly to Jesus and depend most fully on Him. And as we trust His promise, we can endure with hope, knowing that every trial will one day be redeemed and transformed in the glory of His resurrection.

God’s disposition toward believers is one of secure love, not shame. When faith feels weak, we can participate in rekindling it through spiritual practices and supportive community that remind us of our true identity in Christ; people empowered by love rather than fear.

Drawing from Paul’s opening words in 2 Timothy, we see a man at the end of his life, passing the baton of faith to Timothy, his beloved spiritual son. Paul’s gratitude is not rooted in Timothy’s achievements, but in their relationship and shared journey. He thanks God for the privilege of serving, for the legacy of faith handed down by his ancestors, and for the opportunity to pour into Timothy, who will in turn pour into others. Paul’s perspective orients us away from self-importance and toward humble gratitude. We are not the main characters in God’s story, but we are invited to play a meaningful part. Our faithfulness is not about striving to be significant, but about recognizing the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and the generations who will follow. We are called to serve with a clear conscience, not out of obligation or anxiety, but out of joy and thankfulness for the grace that allows us to participate. The cost of mission is real, but so is the reward: seeing the ripple effects of our faithfulness in the lives of others. Ultimately, our stories are woven into the grand narrative authored by Jesus, the King who delights in every small act of faith. Our task is to be grateful, relational, and faithful, trusting that God is the one who brings the story to its glorious completion.

As Paul opens his second letter to Timothy, he writes not just as an apostle, but as a spiritual father to his beloved child in the faith. In what may seem like a typical greeting, Paul reveals the foundation for Christian endurance: the promise of life in Christ Jesus. This hope is not abstract—it’s what sustained Paul through suffering, and it’s what he urges Timothy to cling to as well. Endurance is possible, not through strength of will, but through the unshakable promise of life found in Christ.

Our calling is both to declare and to demonstrate the gospel. The New Testament and prophets like Micah remind us that to belong to God is to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. We are to seek out the vulnerable, the suffering, and the oppressed, and bring stability and hope, even when it costs us. James 1:27 echoes this, urging us to care for orphans and widows, to engage with the world’s brokenness, and to keep ourselves unstained by its corruption. This is not just an individual calling, but a collective one—the church is meant to pool its resources, talents, and time to make a tangible difference both locally and globally. Our journey as a church has been marked by this commitment from the very beginning, even when we had nothing but faith and a willingness to give. Over the years, we have invested in local and global partners, focusing deeply on places like Ethiopia, Guatemala, and South Africa. The story of our partnership in Ethiopia is a testament to the power of long-term, relational investment: from bringing fresh water to a city, to supporting care centers for vulnerable children, to witnessing the fruit of lives transformed and communities changed. This mission is not without risk or cost. The stories from our recent trip to Ethiopia—navigating dangerous mountain roads, sheltering from lightning storms, and facing near-death experiences—are reminders that love compels us to go where it is hard, to endure discomfort and danger for the sake of others. In these moments, God’s presence and provision are unmistakable, and we are reminded that this is what love looks like: a willingness to pay any price for the sake of those we are called to serve. Ultimately, the beauty and wonder of this mission is captured in the prayers and reflections of those who have gone, who have seen the faces and heard the stories, who have been changed by the love they have both given and received. We are called not to build kingdoms for ourselves, but to pour out our lives for the vulnerable, trusting that the fruit of this labor will echo into eternity. May we continue to say, “Here I am, use me,” and press forward together into the story God is writing through us.

God uses the weak, not the strong, to carry the power of His name. Like Timothy, we lead not in confidence of self, but in the Spirit of power, love, and self-control. We embrace our limitations, not as liabilities, but as invitations for grace to abound. This is the way of the Kingdom—strength in surrender, glory in weakness, and faithfulness forged through fire.

As we close out the book of Hebrews, we’re reminded that the path to peace isn’t always easy—it’s often marked by challenge, sacrifice, and perseverance. But even in the midst of difficulty, we move forward with confidence, knowing we are not alone. We have a Great Shepherd—Jesus—who has gone before us, conquered death, and is leading us into the fullness of life in His Kingdom. Our hope is secure, not because the road is smooth, but because the One who walks with us is faithful.

As followers of Jesus, we go after Him, not making a means of our own righteousness. Going after Him means going outside the camp to bring light where there is darkness, freedom where there is bondage, and life where there is death. This is our sacrifice of praise as we make much of Jesus in word and works.

The path of faith involves trusting godly leaders who demonstrate Christ’s character, while ultimately keeping our deepest trust in God, who can redeem and work through any situation. Followers are called to imitate the faith of leaders who love God’s Word, display spiritual fruit, and genuinely care for people’s souls, submitting to their guidance while recognizing that God is the ultimate source of guidance and redemption.