Gospel Loyalty - 2 Timothy 1:15-18

2 Timothy 1 v 15-18 “Gospel Loyalty”

 

Intro: Narnian loyalty

 

         1) When gospel loyalty disappears, it will be because people let go of the gospel (v15)

 

“You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.”

 

• God’s servants are equipped
• God’s servants are saved
• Death is destroyed and immortality brought to light

 

And yet … “everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.”

 

This is not grumbling but instead great gospel concern;

 

• What could possibly cause you to stand with Paul when the result may be the same death sentence?

 

• What could possibly cause anyone to make the decision to desert Paul and not to be counted with him?

 

 

Mark 8 v 38 “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

 

 

             2) When Gospel loyalty remains, it is because of the mercy of God (v16-18)

 

Not everyone …. “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus … he searched hard for me until he found me.”

 

• Would have been so easy to look for a while and then stop with conscience intact

 

• But Onesiphorus ‘searched hard until he found Paul’

 

I want to be like Onesiphorus:

Loving Jesus, committed to gospel work, convicted about the mercy of Jesus

 

I want the blessings that Onesiphorus gets:

 

• Mercy for now

 

• Mercy for later

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

 

 

Application: Take steps in gospel loyalty

 

• Christian friendship and gospel loyalty will mean showing up.

 

• Christian friendship and gospel loyalty will mean giving things up.  

 

• Christian friendship and gospel loyalty will mean speaking up.  

 

 

Questions to think more about:

• What different pressures do we feel to be quiet about the gospel and to distance ourselves from Christians who are outspoken about the gospel?
• Why would Paul be so troubled about the non-appearance of Phygelus and Hermogenes? Read Mark 8v34-38 How serious is this lack of loyalty?
• In verses 16-18 what do you find stirring and inspiring about Onesiphorus? What do you think is the explanation for his loyalty to Paul?
• What blessings does holding onto the gospel bring (both now and later)?
• What steps might you take in gospel loyalty, in terms of showing up, giving things up, and speaking up?