JOIN ME IN SUFFERING * 2 Timothy 2:3-8

1. AS A SOLDIER

• Who is not En________________ in civilian pursuits.

• Who A________ to P__________ the One who enlisted him.

• Who is called to a D________________ed life. (focus)

1. LIKE AN ATHLETE

• Who is not C____________ for cheating.

• Who must C____________ according to the R________.

• Who is called to a D____________ed life. (honor, integrity)

1. LIKE A FARMER

• Who works H______.

• Who enjoys the first-fruits of his L__________.

• Who is called to a D______________ life (industrious)

1. BY R______________ING JESUS

1. He is the C__________ —the Seed of David.

2. He is R________ from the dead!

3. Knowing Him includes power and also S__________ing. (see Phil. 3:10)

2 Timothy 2:3-8 (ESV)

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel.

(NIV) Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. ⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.

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Philippians 3 ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.