2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 (NIV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

The journey of spiritual growth and the word of God

continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of

1. Wisdom

make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

What is wisdom for salvation? What does the Word tell me about God? The world? Myself?

2. Understanding—Deeper Learning

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Alone: from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures

• Breathe—slow down with deep and steady breaths and/or listen to a song on the series playlist (Romans 12:1, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 27:4)
• Read—Read and reflect on a passage of scripture from the series reading list or establish your own pattern for reading.
• Listen—Spend a few minutes in silence listening to what God may be telling you. What does God want me to know, remember, do? How can I pray for guidance or confession.
• Journal—Be creative. If you are writing, then write as little or as much as you would like, but also feel free to draw, paint or collage. Be honest. As you journal, use that time to be aware of your feelings, while resisting the temptation to declare them good or bad. Share your true thoughts. Embrace freedom and grace. Be free. See God as your heavenly parent who receives your writing and/or art with great joy and delight.

Together: Preach the word;

• Listening with humility
• Taking notes
• Sharing questions and thoughts
• Accountability and vulnerability

3. Equipping

may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What work does the Word of God equip me for?

• Workplace, Ministry Leadership, Family, Neighborhoods

After the service, find someone to share in conversation about the following questions:

• What's your first memory of reading or hearing a story from the bible?

• What scripture verse has been a "Life Verse" for you?

• How did you first come to SBPC?

• How long have you been worshiping here?

• Why have you stayed?

CONNECT WITH GOD (choose from the gratitude practice or remembering practice below)

• Practice of Gratitude: Select and Play a song on the SBPC playlist. https://solanabeach.church/companionsforthejourney
• As the song plays: 
• Listen. Breathe. Attend to the presence of God in your life at this moment.
• You may journal, draw, doodle, or simply close your eyes and breathe deeply. Let gratitude define the next few minutes. 

• Practice of Remembering: Read and Respond. Spend 5-7 minutes connecting to God’s Word. Call to memory a passage or verse that has been impactful for you and meditate on it. If you find it difficult to select a passage, try one of these: Lamentations 3:22-23 or Psalm 91. 
• After you’ve read the passage, journal. You may use the questions below as prompts for your journaling. 

• Where do I have trouble identifying God’s faithfulness? 
• Are there places in my own life where I wonder if God will be faithful to me? 
• What images and memories in my own life witness to the faithfulness of God?

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 

• As a group: read 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5. After you read, reflect together on the passage. You might consider the following questions as a jumping off point: 
• What does this passage tell you about God?
• What does preaching the Word mean for you in your context? 
• What is the challenge of 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 for you? 

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE (Read the passages and review the sermon outline. Then select the best questions or customize the questions for your group.)

• If you haven’t already: Read 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 
• Read the main points from the sermon outline.
• What does 3:14-15 mean for our life together as a church? 
• What might “making you wise for salvation” (v.15) mean? 
• Consider 3:16. What does it mean that “all Scripture is God-breathed”?  
• What is scripture useful for?
• In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul paints a different picture. Have you ever used Scripture as a way to justify your own priorities or opinions? 
• What is the work of an evangelist? 

CONNECT WITH GOD’S MISSION IN THE WORLD (select one question for discussion)

• For what work does the Word of God equip you? 
• What are the good works to which you are called? In your workplace? In your family? In San Diego? In the world? 

PRAYER

Share prayer requests. As you pray, pay special attention to the way the Holy Spirit equips you for every good work. Ask God to continue to equip each one of you to preach the word in every season and to grow together in the Word of God.