Episodios

  • March 14th - 2 Timothy 4:1-2

    March 14th - 2 Timothy 4:1-2
    Mar 14 2026
    2 Timothy 4:1-2 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. We are all aware that other people are looking at us, and this is particularly true of Christian leaders. Because of the public nature of the role, people are constantly making judgments about us, whether we like it or not. This is challenging for everyone but especially those who, like Timothy, are still relatively inexperienced. It’s easy to become anxious and overly defensive. Paul needed to remind his young friend that the only audience that really mattered was God himself. It was his judgment that was crucial and Timothy needed to live his life with a constant awareness that one day he would have to give a full account of what he had done. Preaching was at the heart of Timothy’s ministry. It was vital that people should clearly understand the faith and be encouraged to live by it. However, preaching has good days and bad days. There are times when it is joyful and easy to preach, and others when it is sheer hard work. Often people are eager to hear what you have to say, and at other times they are asleep! There are times when people congratulate you for your oratory and other times when they point out all your silly errors. Like any task, you need to stick at it through thick and thin, and Paul urged Timothy to realise that this was his God-given responsibility. The thought of being judged by God is a challenging one for all of us, but it shouldn’t fill us with fear because we know that God is perfectly loving, forgiving and gracious. However, it should sharpen and focus our thinking on the importance of doing what God has called us to do, however tough it might be. Question What is God calling you to do for him today? Prayer Loving God, thank you for the privilege of serving you. Give me your strength and grace so that I will serve you well today. Amen
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    3 m
  • March 13th - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

    March 13th - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
    Mar 13 2026
    2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. When we use the term scripture, we are referring to the Old and New Testaments. However, when Paul was writing, much of the New Testament had yet to be written. Indeed, it wasn’t until the year 382 that the Council of Rome made a firm decision as to which books should be included in the Bible. So what did Paul mean when he referred to all scripture? He certainly meant more than just the Old Testament – in his first letter to Timothy, he brought together a verse from Deuteronomy and a saying of Jesus, referring to them both as scripture (1 Timothy 5:18). We can’t be sure in what form Paul had the sayings of Jesus, but he was fully aware of them. We are in the privileged position of having both Testaments neatly bound together in one volume, and we can confidently regard Paul’s words as applying to both. What I find interesting in these verses is that Paul makes it clear that the scriptures shine a light on what is right - but also inform us what is wrong. Nobody enjoys being told that they are wrong, but God loves us so much that he doesn’t hold back from telling us when we need to be corrected. As the writer to the Hebrews put it, “the word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). It always gets to the point. Because it is so precisely powerful, it is able to equip us for every good work. Those who merely see the Bible as beautiful literature have missed the point. The Bible equips us to live our lives to the full. Question What are some of the encouragements and challenges that you have learned from the Bible? Prayer Loving God, I thank you that you speak so clearly to me from the Bible. Help me to listen with care to all that you have to say to me. Amen
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  • March 12th - 2 Timothy 3:12-14

    March 12th - 2 Timothy 3:12-14
    Mar 12 2026
    2 Timothy 3:12-14 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. Paul didn’t want Timothy to have any illusions. Following Christ was the most wonderful life that Paul could imagine, but it wasn’t easy for him, and he felt sure that it wouldn’t be for Timothy either. He would face challenges on all sides and would also have to cope with the sight of his opponents flourishing. It was going to be incredibly tough, but Paul was convinced that he would be fine just so long as he clung on to the things he had been taught. Paul told Timothy that he could be confident of the teaching he had received because he knew the trustworthiness of those who had taught him. Timothy had a Jewish mother who had been largely responsible for his upbringing. The Old Testament has much to say about the teaching of children, and from their earliest days they were introduced to the law. It was claimed that the Jewish law was so firmly imprinted on a child’s mind that they would be more likely to forget their own name than God’s law. Timothy’s life as a Christian drew heavily upon the loving and faithful teaching that he had received from his earliest days. As we thank God for the teaching we have received, it is good for us to reflect on the teachers themselves. I wonder whose influence has blessed you over the years. I think of my parents and of Sunday school and youth leaders who graciously introduced me to the Christian faith, and I think of lecturers and ministers whose love for God has shaped my understanding of Christian teaching. Following Christ is challenging but, strengthened by loving teaching from trustworthy people, we have been given every encouragement to remain faithful. Question Who have been the most influential teachers in your Christian life and why? Prayer Loving Father, thank you for those who have helped me to understand your truth. Help me to remain faithful to what I have learned. Amen
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  • March 11th - 2 Timothy 3:10-11

    March 11th - 2 Timothy 3:10-11
    Mar 11 2026
    2 Timothy 3:10-11 You, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love and my endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. On the face of it, this sounds like bragging. Paul appears to have an enormous ego and it all feels rather awkward, but he knew how crucial personal example was. He had just informed Timothy of the challenges he was going to face and of how society was going to become more and more ungodly and destructive. If Timothy was going to survive, let alone thrive, he was going to need to be a very effective teacher but also have a life that backed it up. In these letters, Paul repeatedly pointed to the vital importance of sound teaching, but no Christian teacher will have any impact unless their life reflects it. Paul never claimed to be perfect and indeed was often keen to point out the extent of his sinfulness, but he knew that, amid his failures, he had offered Timothy an example which was well worth copying. Your life is being observed by others whether you know it or not, and indeed whether you like it or not. People are drawing certain conclusions about the Christian life from the way you live. If you were talking to a young Christian and, like Paul, trying to give encouragement to them, what aspects of your life do you think would be worth copying? It would be good for you to write a list of the things that might be helpful about your example. Ideally, it would be good if you could talk this through with a trusted friend. Be clear that this is absolutely the opposite of an exercise in egotism. This is about finding ways in which your life can serve God by giving a good example to others. Challenge Make a list of at least three things about your life which could be a helpful example to others. Prayer Lord God, help me to set a good example for others so that they may be strengthened by my life. Amen
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    3 m
  • March 10th - 2 Timothy 3:1-2

    March 10th - 2 Timothy 3:1-2
    Mar 10 2026
    2 Timothy 3:1-2 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. The last days are often spoken about in the Bible, and they refer to the period in which we now live: the age of the Spirit. In the prophecy of Joel, we hear God saying that in the last days he would pour out his Spirit, and Peter declared that this was being fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17). It is interesting that at the heart of Paul’s description of this challenging period was the destructive effect of money. Jesus often reflected on the significance of money, and it is important to emphasise that there is nothing inherently evil about it. Money is ultimately part of God’s creation and, in common with all his gifts, what matters is how we handle it. When it is used well, it can be an incredible blessing, but when it is abused, it can be a complete curse. Paul’s declaration that people would love only themselves and their money is terrifying because it deliberately pushes God out. When God is removed from life, the most terrible things inevitably result – relationships are torn apart and society is on a certain path to disintegration. The verses that follow give a frightening description of that. Paul declares that people “will be unloving and unforgiving, they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God” (2 Timothy 3: 3-4). The punchline of this passage is the scariest part: Paul says that people will act religiously, “but they will reject the power that could make them godly” (2 Timothy 3:5). Attending church, singing hymns and songs and praying to God will not, by themselves, change us. It is possible to be fully involved in church activities and yet live in a way that is opposed to God. What matters is that we are driven by a love for God before anything else. That needs to the driving force for all that we think, say and do. Question Paul described people in the last days as lovers of themselves and money. Is that an accurate description of people today? Prayer Lord God, help me to always love you before anything else. Amen
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    4 m
  • March 9th - 2 Timothy 2:25-26

    March 9th - 2 Timothy 2:25-26
    Mar 9 2026
    2 Timothy 2:25-26 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. It’s not easy to speak with those who oppose you. Many people in that position are likely to be forceful and strident in their tone. They want to win their arguments and convince their opponents that they are absolutely wrong. However, Paul urged his young friend Timothy to be gentle as he confronted his many opponents, simply because the gentle approach is always the godly way. Trying to batter people down with our arguments might feel good, but it’s not the way of the Spirit. Paul knew that through gentleness the opponents might change their minds and learn the truth. Gentleness is a difficult word to handle because it might sound like weakness and softness, but true gentleness is strong and determined as well as gracious, kind and loving. Reading these verses reminds me of my most effective teachers. They were all very clear about the facts and what they believed, but they shared their learning with such kindness and gentleness that they also taught me about how to live. What impresses me here is that Timothy is being encouraged to engage with his opponents. I fear that we often keep away from people of other religions and philosophies. When was the last time you or your church asked for a meeting with people from your local mosque, Hindu temple or synagogue? It is so important for us to have conversations with people who are totally opposed to Christianity, and, as we do so, we need to remember that our approach should always be gentle. Question Do you regularly meet with people who oppose your Christian faith? If not, how do you think this could be arranged? Prayer Lord Jesus, help me to love those who are opposed to my Christian faith and to always speak to them with grace and gentleness. Amen
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    3 m
  • March 8th - 2 Timothy 2:24

    March 8th - 2 Timothy 2:24
    Mar 8 2026
    2 Timothy 2:24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach and be patient with difficult people. Every Christian is a servant of the Lord, but in this verse Paul is particularly thinking of the responsibilities of church leaders. Clearly, they cannot serve the Lord if they are prone to pick quarrels, but more than that, they need to be kind to everyone. Kindness reflects the nature of Jesus. This doesn’t mean that church leaders should avoid debating with opponents or that they should side-step difficult situations – far from it. Church leaders are called to face the toughest of challenges but to do so with gentleness, warmth and kindness. Being patient with difficult people has always been a fundamental requirement of church leaders. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he referred to them suffering fools gladly (2 Corinthians 11:19). I once heard it said that our calling is not merely to suffer fools gladly but to enjoy them enormously! Every community will include people who are challenging, and in our more honest moments, we might recognise that we ourselves can be awkward and difficult at times. We all approach life differently. Some are eager to keep everything the same as it has always been, and others are uneasy if things stay the same from one week to the next. Some enjoy traditional hymns, and others prefer songs that have been written within the last couple of years. Some are unhappy if things aren’t exactly the way they want them to be, and others are not that bothered. Leading any group of people is challenging, so every church leader must have a huge amount of patience. We all need to be constantly kind and patient, but in church leadership this is tested to the limit. For many years, I have been involved in the selection of ministers and amid the many qualifications and requirements, I believe that kindness and patience are close to the top of the list. Question What would help you to become more patient with difficult people? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the church leaders who serve me. Fill them with your Spirit so that they will teach well and exercise their ministry with kindness and patience to all. Amen
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    3 m
  • March 7th - 2 Timothy 2:20-21

    March 7th - 2 Timothy 2:20-21
    Mar 7 2026
    2 Timothy 2:20-21 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honourable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. Here, Paul is describing the Church. It is made up of very different people who have a wide variety of roles. Paul’s concern was that Timothy should live in a state of constant readiness for whatever the Lord might want him to do, but this would only be possible if he kept himself pure. Paul had his eyes wide open to the challenges that Timothy would face as a young leader in a non-Christian – largely anti-Christian – society. He knew that Timothy would be tempted each day to compromise and to slip back into godless ways. Paul would say exactly the same to leaders today. Our society is driven by a lust for money, sex and power in just the same way as Roman society was. It is expressed in completely different ways, but the challenge to keep pure is as vital today as it was then. The devil does an amazing job at making purity sound dull and joyless, because the truth is the exact opposite. Purity is the route to living life to the full, and Paul was eager that Timothy shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best. Paul’s prime desire for Timothy was that he should always be ready to do what the Lord wanted him to, and I have no doubt that this is our greatest desire too. We want our lives to count for something. We want to do things that will be a lasting blessing. To use Paul’s language, we want to be like a household utensil that is ready to be used. We need to work hard to ensure each day that we stay clean in a polluted society which will try every day to make us mucky. Question What do you do each day to help you to stay clean? Prayer Lord God, help me to live so close to you that I will always be available for you to use. Amen
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