2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10
October 6, 2019
First Presbyterian Church, Sterling, IL
Christina Berry
The book of Second Timothy is one of what are known as the Pastoral Epistles, letters to the early church from someone writing in the name of the Apostle Paul. The letters focus on the forming of the new community from its Jewish roots, and pay particular attention to the importance of Christ as the author of our salvation, of faith, and the ethics of daily living. The book of Second Timothy takes the form of a farewell address, with reminders, warnings, a charge, and a benediction. Let’s listen for God’s gracious word to us today in Second Timothy 1:1-14
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God--whom I worship with a clear conscience,
as my ancestors did--when I remember you constantly
in my prayers night and day.
Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
I am reminded of your sincere faith,
a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice
and now, I am sure, lives in you.
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you
through the laying on of my hands;
for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice,
but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord
or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel,
relying on the power of God,
who saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.
This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
but it has now been revealed through the appearing
of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher,
and for this reason I suffer as I do.
But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust,
and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day
what I have entrusted to him.
Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me,
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard the good treasure entrusted to you,
with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Our gospel reading is once again from the gospel of Luke.
It comes from a chapter that is jam-packed with Jesus sayings,
and Jesus’ address goes back and forth between Pharisees and disciples.
It’s worth remembering that in the verses before this reading,
Jesus has prodded the disciples to live fully into their faith,
telling them that should never be a hindrance to others,
that they should rebuke their fellow disciples if they stumble,
but even if those believers sin against them every day all day,
they are to extend forgiveness, all day, every day.
So now, the disciples have a question, which Jesus answers with a parable.
Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed,
you could say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,'
and it would obey you.
Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing
as my ancestors did--when I remember you constantly
in my prayers night and day.
Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
I am reminded of your sincere faith,
a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice
and now, I am sure, lives in you.
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you
through the laying on of my hands;
for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice,
but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord
or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel,
relying on the power of God,
who saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.
This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
but it has now been revealed through the appearing
of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher,
and for this reason I suffer as I do.
But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust,
and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day
what I have entrusted to him.
Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me,
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard the good treasure entrusted to you,
with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Our gospel reading is once again from the gospel of Luke.
It comes from a chapter that is jam-packed with Jesus sayings,
and Jesus’ address goes back and forth between Pharisees and disciples.
It’s worth remembering that in the verses before this reading,
Jesus has prodded the disciples to live fully into their faith,
telling them that should never be a hindrance to others,
that they should rebuke their fellow disciples if they stumble,
but even if those believers sin against them every day all day,
they are to extend forgiveness, all day, every day.
So now, the disciples have a question, which Jesus answers with a parable.
Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed,
you could say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,'
and it would obey you.
Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing
or tending sheep in the field,
'Come here at once and take your place at the table'?
Would you not rather say to him,
'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me
while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'?
Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?
So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say,
'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
'Come here at once and take your place at the table'?
Would you not rather say to him,
'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me
while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'?
Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?
So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say,
'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
“Virtue is its own reward.”
I can’t tell you how many times I heard that proverb from my mother.
“Mom, if I make my bed and clean my room, can you give me fifty cents?”
“I’m not going to pay you for doing what you are supposed to do.”
“Well, shouldn’t I get a reward for that?”
“Virtue is its own reward.”
“Mom, I helped Emily with her spelling. Could you drive me to the mall?”
“Thank you for helping your sister.
But no, I won’t drop what I’m doing to take you to the mall.”
“But I dropped what I was doing to help her!”
“Virtue is its own reward.”
That seems to get at what Jesus is saying in the gospel reading.
It’s no wonder they ask him to increase their faith –
they are going to need it!
The weird mixed metaphor of mustard seeds and mulberry trees aside,
the message Jesus gives is the same as my parents:
you know what to do;
you have the means to do it;
don’t expect to win a prize for it.
It’s a kind of playbook for Christians –
as God has forgiven you, forgive others;
as Christ loves you, love others;
as you have freely received, freely give.
Thanks be to God.
“Virtue is its own reward.”
I can’t tell you how many times I heard that proverb from my mother.
“Mom, if I make my bed and clean my room, can you give me fifty cents?”
“I’m not going to pay you for doing what you are supposed to do.”
“Well, shouldn’t I get a reward for that?”
“Virtue is its own reward.”
“Mom, I helped Emily with her spelling. Could you drive me to the mall?”
“Thank you for helping your sister.
But no, I won’t drop what I’m doing to take you to the mall.”
“But I dropped what I was doing to help her!”
“Virtue is its own reward.”
That seems to get at what Jesus is saying in the gospel reading.
It’s no wonder they ask him to increase their faith –
they are going to need it!
The weird mixed metaphor of mustard seeds and mulberry trees aside,
the message Jesus gives is the same as my parents:
you know what to do;
you have the means to do it;
don’t expect to win a prize for it.
It’s a kind of playbook for Christians –
as God has forgiven you, forgive others;
as Christ loves you, love others;
as you have freely received, freely give.
The reading in Second Timothy echoes the teaching:
you know what to do: live with faith and courage,
with a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline..
You have the means to do it because you have a holy calling
by the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ.
Hold to the sound teaching and hope you have received.
Don’t expect to win a prize for it –
to the contrary, it may involve some suffering.
But, like the old hymn says,
“I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
It is not always easy – to forgive when we’d rather not,
to encourage those with whom we may disagree,
to work and serve without expectation of reward.
As we come to the table, and as we live the way disciples are called to live,
we remember that we are servants – slaves – and God owes us nothing!
you know what to do: live with faith and courage,
with a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline..
You have the means to do it because you have a holy calling
by the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ.
Hold to the sound teaching and hope you have received.
Don’t expect to win a prize for it –
to the contrary, it may involve some suffering.
But, like the old hymn says,
“I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
It is not always easy – to forgive when we’d rather not,
to encourage those with whom we may disagree,
to work and serve without expectation of reward.
As we come to the table, and as we live the way disciples are called to live,
we remember that we are servants – slaves – and God owes us nothing!
On this World Communion Sunday,
when we gather our offering for Global Peace and Witness
we are joined at Christ’s table by Christians from far and wide.
At this table we share our holy calling with those across the globe.
It’s a day when we come to the table as servants of the one who invites us,
fully aware that he is serving us in the way we are to serve others.
Whether we are Presbyterian or Catholic, Methodist or Lutheran,
Baptist or Orthodox, Congregational or Mennonite,
we share the same holy calling and the challenge of living faithfully
in a world that seems to have come unmoored
from basic empathy, compassion, and love of God and neighbor.
Still, we know what to do;
we have the means to do it;
don’t expect to win a prize for it.
Instead, know that the one who calls you will guard that treasure for you,
and for all of the faithful in every time and place.
We know whom we have believed, and are persuaded that he is able
to keep that which we’ve committed unto him against that day.
That is a holy calling.
Amen.
when we gather our offering for Global Peace and Witness
we are joined at Christ’s table by Christians from far and wide.
At this table we share our holy calling with those across the globe.
It’s a day when we come to the table as servants of the one who invites us,
fully aware that he is serving us in the way we are to serve others.
Whether we are Presbyterian or Catholic, Methodist or Lutheran,
Baptist or Orthodox, Congregational or Mennonite,
we share the same holy calling and the challenge of living faithfully
in a world that seems to have come unmoored
from basic empathy, compassion, and love of God and neighbor.
Still, we know what to do;
we have the means to do it;
don’t expect to win a prize for it.
Instead, know that the one who calls you will guard that treasure for you,
and for all of the faithful in every time and place.
We know whom we have believed, and are persuaded that he is able
to keep that which we’ve committed unto him against that day.
That is a holy calling.
Amen.
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