Psalm 66:1–12 • Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7 • 2 Timothy 2:8–15 • Luke 17:11–19

This week’s theme is God’s faithfulness amidst adversity. In our call to worship psalm, the psalmist recounts God’s mighty deeds and his deliverance. In Jeremiah, God is instructing the Israelites on how to flourish even in their exiled state. In 2 Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy through a line in a hymn that even if we are faithless, God is still faithful. And in Luke, we see Jesus demonstrating God’s mercy and healing power towards the outcasts of society.

Reminder: This introductory paragraph is intended to show how the four RCL selections for this week are connected and to assist the preacher prepare the sermon. It is not intended to be included in the sermon.

How to use this sermon resource.

---

Unchained: Having Enduring Faith

2 Timothy 2:8–15 NIV

Corrie Ten Boom became famous as the humble Dutch woman who helped rescue and hide more than 800 Jewish people during World War II. Her faith would be tested as she was eventually betrayed and arrested. She would go on to endure brutal treatment at the hands of her captors in the concentration camp where she was sent. She endured starvation, deplorable conditions, and the deaths of her father and sister Betsie. Yet in that hell, Corrie encouraged other inmates with her enduring faith. Quoting her sister Betsie, Corrie was known to say: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Today, we look at 2 Timothy 2:8–15.

In this passage, Paul writes to Timothy who he is mentoring and teaching. Paul appeals to Timothy to “do his best” as a worker for God’s kingdom and he will endure because his life is in the risen Jesus Christ who is faithful. That same encouragement is for us today! (Read the passage.)

Although Paul is in prison at the time of this writing, he declares that the truth cannot be chained! Let’s begin by focusing on verses 8 and 9.

The Cornerstone

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 2 Timothy 2:8–9 NIV

In verse 8, Paul establishes the fact that Jesus is a real person. Some disputed this, suggesting that he was merely a Spirit, or an angel.² Jesus, in fact, was of the direct lineage of King David. Jesus is the rightful, ruling, eternal heir that was promised long ago by the prophets. His kingdom will no know end.

Not only did Jesus live as fully God and fully man, in an actual human body, but he died in a human body. Death could not hold him. He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father. He is the One who is recognized as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The resurrection mentioned here is not just one among many doctrines in the church. It is the key foundation of all our hope. The good news is that we have been included in Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus has taken humanity with him through this entire journey. Because of this, we fix our eyes upon our true King and risen Savior in the face of opposition, suffering, grief, and all our doubts. His victory supersedes our circumstances.

And so, Paul declares that he is willing to suffer for this gospel and its glorious truth. Anything less than this wouldn’t be worth the effort. Jesus is the cornerstone upon which everything else is built. Believing this foundational truth helps us to endure the things that happen to us that challenge our faith. There are no chains that can hold back God’s active work in our lives.

The Call

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10 NIV

Paul was imprisoned mainly because of Jewish opposition. And yet, we see him willing to suffer at their hands in the hopes that it might result in their coming to faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

Elsewhere, we see Paul writing to the Romans about how he would choose to be estranged from Christ if it would mean their salvation (Romans 9:3).

Paul writes of the strong calling that we have towards endurance. And there is a reason for this endurance. Not that our salvation is dependent on it, but through our endurance others might come to faith themselves. Suffering carries within it a redemptive pathway.³ Our endurance can serve to advance the kingdom of God in ways that our own comforts cannot.

The message of the gospel is truly countercultural. We see just how countercultural it is when others challenge our faith. Others may be inspired when they see how we suffer for our faith. They can see that God’s word is not chained at all by our circumstances. As Paul asserts in Romans 14:4, God is able to make us stand. Endurance then is not a passive resignation, but an active faithfulness. Our trials can become platforms that testify to the One who remains ever faithful to us. Paul writes “a trustworthy saying”:

Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11–13 NIV

In several of Paul’s epistles, he quotes passages from early Christological hymns or confessions. These were either songs, poems, or canticles. (A canticle is scripture put to music.) They served as powerful and important ways to teach and unite diverse congregations around shared truths about Christ, and our lives in him.

Paul uses one of these hymns to encourage believers to endure in their faith. He includes the benefits. Also verse 12 includes this warning, “If we disown him, he will also disown us.” It is most likely a poetic device meant to shock, not meant to be taken literally. Otherwise, it could sound like God’s actions toward us are conditional or based on what we do. This is not true; we are saved by God’s favor alone. It’s a warning that was probably meant to be understood that disowning Christ would make no sense for us since we have already been taken in by his faithfulness.⁴

Whether it’s in the quoting of Scripture, reciting or singing of hymns, let’s not lose out on the importance of these practices within the church. These resources help to stabilize the faith of the church amidst uncertainty and pressures to conform to society. This is not suggesting that we hide ourselves away from the world, but rather, live actively within it to transform it with the love we have received by the Spirit of Christ. We live as unchained people from a different kingdom, a kingdom that will not be overthrown but will endure for eternity. And we can endure because our suffering is seen through the truth of Christ’s crucifixion.

The Charge

Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:14–15 NIV

This is the way to remember the essential truths about our faith. We are to acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and King. We are to look at all that he has accomplished and not to be moved from those things. As we are living with this in mind, we are to be aware that there are those who will oppose or even persecute us for this faith of ours. Again, we are not to be moved, but to endure with patience, knowing that Christ is at work through our ministry in people’s lives. Some are just waiting to see the hope come out of us in our times of stress and trial.

We are to remind each other of God’s faithfulness to us in all situations. He will walk with us through difficult times as only a loving heavenly parent can do.

Lastly, we are not to be spending our time in futile divisive arguments. Paul goes as far as to suggest that this will ruin those who listen or give in to this behavior. And yet, there are ministries out there today whose sole focus is not to lift up the name of Jesus. Their ministry is not to equip the saints through discipleship or even to spread the good news. Their focus is on pointing out all the flaws and faults of everyone who doesn’t perfectly line up with them theologically.

Paul finishes with the importance of crafting one’s life on the truth of the gospel. We can stand firm under pressure because we are convinced of the truth regarding the One who loves us and saves us.

So, carry this charge: Fix your eyes on the risen King. Let every step you take, every trial you endure, shout to the world, “The gospel is not chained, and it cannot be silenced!” For in Christ, your endurance is never wasted — it’s etched into eternity, a testament to the unchained God who makes us stand.

For reference:

1. A war story: “There is no pit so deep God’s love is not deeper still” Christian History Magazine
2. Early Christian History / Heresies: Docetism
3. 10 Christian Missionaries Every Christian Should Know – Theology For the Rest of Us
4. How Faith in Redemptive Suffering Can Keep Us Sane – EWTN Global Catholic Television Network
5. God has saved you, therefore respond (salvation and sanctification in Torrance theology)

---

Small Group Discussion Questions