2 Timothy 2:14-15

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Danger of Wrangling with Words; The Model of a Workman

According to reliable tradition, how, by whom and why was Paul martyred?
List the five models given to us by Paul so far.
Explain, “Like a workman, the faithful Christian is skilled in the use of his tools.”
What does it mean, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God”?
What does it mean, “Let’s not wrangle about words?”

He was beheaded by the Roman authorities for the crime of being a Christian.
The teacher, the soldier, the athlete, the farmer, and the workman.
A workman must know how to use the tools of his trade skillfully, or he should be ashamed. Likewise, the Christian should be skilled in using the Bible, “rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The command to be diligent (or to study) to present yourself approved unto God, means to make every effort to become a skilled workman. This includes budgeting and managing your time and being disciplined in the things that will make you a skilled Christian. It also means that you are to seek God’s approval, not man’s.
Wrangling is when you ignore the clear teaching of Scripture to build up your case by arguing about words. Word wrangling was characteristic of false teachers then and today.

Have you ever been in a situation where wrangling about words was tearing down the church?
How skilled a workman are you with your tool, the Bible? How could you become more skilled?

Are you diligent in the use of your time for the Lord? Could you be more so? How?

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15