The HCOS Weekly Vol. 2 Edition 15
A Good Soldier Of Jesus Christ A Bible Study Excerpt By Deanna Burmatoff 2 Timothy 2:1-14 (NLT) Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 3Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. 8Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in
Christ Jesus to those God has cho- teach the truths to other people sen. without adding or taking away from what Paul had taught him. 11This is a trustworthy saying: And by instructing Timothy to teach others, Paul was ensuring If we die with him, that his teaching, which was most we will also live with him. probably the Gospel, was spread 12 If we endure hardship, around to all people. He made sure we will reign with him. that only trustworthy people told If we deny him, others of the Gospel, because they he will deny us. would not change what Timothy 13 If we are unfaithful, had taught them, and what Paul he remains faithful, had first taught Timothy. This way for he cannot deny who he is. the people who heard the message would get the true meaning. 14Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God's "3 Endure suffering along with me, presence to stop fighting over as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 words. Such arguments are useless, Soldiers don't get tied up in the afand they can ruin those who hear fairs of civilian life, for then they them. cannot please the officer who enlisted them." "Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives This is an analogy, comparing the you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have work of Christ (spreading the Good heard me teach things that have News), to the work of a soldier. been confirmed by many reliable Paul made a quick but true comwitnesses. Now teach these truths parison of the two. What these to other trustworthy people who verses speak to me is that we will be able to pass them on to oth- Christians are Jesus' soldiers. We ers." are to do Christ's work here on earth. When Paul says, "soldiers In these verses, we see that Paul don't get tied up in the affairs of had taught Timothy many things civilian life," I immediately thought about God, and he now wanted of the world. We live in the world, Timothy to teach those truths to yes, but that doesn't mean we are other people who would be also of the world. When we get tied up able and trustworthy to pass on with the things of the world, the those same things to others. Paul worries of the world, the affairs of had obviously trusted Timothy to everyday civilian life, we lose our
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focus on Christ. Once we lose our focus, we can no longer please the officer who enlisted us: Christ. If we take our eyes off our commanding officer, we don't know what He wants us to do. 5And athletes cannot win the prize
unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things."
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and to the very best of our ability, we will get our well-deserved reward.
he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
Amen to that! Even when we are "8 Always remember that Jesus unfaithful to Him, Christ is always Christ, a descendant of King David, faithful to us. He will never let us was raised from the dead. This is go. the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am 14Remind everyone about these suffering and have been chained things, and command them in God's like a criminal. But the word of God presence to stop fighting over cannot be chained. 10 So I am will- words. Such arguments are useless, ing to endure anything if it will and they can ruin those who hear bring salvation and eternal glory in them. Christ Jesus to those God has chosen." Paul is right. How many times have you witnessed or been a part of an By reminding Timothy of Christ's argument about words? Maybe it resurrection, Paul comforts and was about the wording of a particencourages Timothy that Jesus is ular passage, or the meaning of all-powerful, even over death. This certain words. Whatever the reameans that Timothy will also be son, Paul says these arguments are raised to be with Christ, so not to useless. They only ruin those who worry about death but to continue hear them. People nearby overto do the will of Christ. Paul him- hearing the argument, your oppoself was in prison for preaching the nent, yourself. Your argument Good News as he was writing this could hurt someone, or negatively letter to Timothy. He reminded change how they read or think Timothy that suffering anything about a certain passage in the and everything is worth it for the Bible, or the entire Bible for that sake of "bringing salvation and matter. It is not worth ruining aneternal glory in Christ Jesus to other person, or their salvation, or those God has chosen." their relationship with Christ over arguments like these. Avoid such 11This is a trustworthy saying: arguments, and instead, pray. Pray for the other person, pray for yourIf we die with him, self, and pray together. Pray that we will also live with him. God will open your eyes and the other person's eyes to the truths (Resurrection, right?) and hidden meanings behind the words you are arguing over. Prayer 12 If we endure hardship, is a much better solution than arwe will reign with him. guing.
These are also true comparisons. Think about it: if an athlete cheats, or doesn't follow the rules, he is disqualified and cannot win the prize. The prize will instead go to someone who followed the rules properly and did his very best. This athlete deserves the prize. Farmers are always working, maintaining their crops, taking care of their animals, fixing whatever needs fixing. (I am beginning to find out just how much work it takes to run a farm!) Farmers don't take a break until all their work is done, usually ater harvest or in the winter. By then, don't you think the farmer should deserve the very best of his (In heaven!) crops? "Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you under- If we deny him, stand all these things." Paul is say- he will deny us. ing that suffering for Christ's sake, doing the will of Jesus, is hard but (Sad, but true…) it will have its reward. When we do it properly, according to the rules, 13 If we are unfaithful,
So let's pray. Dear God, I thank You for Your word that was opened to us today. I pray that You would constantly remind us of these things. Comfort us and encourage us to endure the suffering here on this earth for Your sake. Help us to live for You, to do Your will instead
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of ours. Help us to focus on You, and not the things of the world. Help us to be more like You, Jesus. Strengthen us, and be with us every day. Thank You, Lord. I pray this in Your name, amen.
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Photo taken by Jazzannah Green, Grade 8
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"Super Who" by Joshua Wlodarczyk
Photo taken by Deanna Burmato, Grade 11
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Photo taken by Deanna Burmatoff, Grade 11
Photo taken by Jennica Wlodarczyk, Grade 11
Photo taken by Deanna Burmatoff, Grade 11
Photo taken by Jennica Wlodarczyk, Grade 11
Photo taken by Jennica Wlodarczyk, Grade 11
Photo taken by Deanna Burmatoff, Grade 11