To learn in prayers, we begin our Sunday school lesson. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your great mercy toward us. We thank you for the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. Thank you for the fellowship we can have one with another in your name. We pray that you would bless our time together. Pray that you would cause our hearts to be stirred, encouraged, and guided, and directed. And we thank you for all the blessings you send our way. We praise thee in Jesus' name. Amen. Okay, we are in 1 Timothy. We're finishing up chapter two and starting chapter three today. 1 Timothy chapter two. Somebody, someone was teasing me Sunday night and talking about losing my place there. But you told us that all the T's were together, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Titus all grouped together and so forth. What happened? They left. All right, let's see. The last verse that we spoke about was verse 22 and we were, I believe, maybe I had alluded to a few things in 23, but let's go on with that. 2 Timothy 2 and verse 23, but foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender stripes. And so he is giving Timothy a warning concerning entertaining questions that are described as foolish and unlearned. In our vernacular, you might say, a question, a stupid question, inappropriate question, a question perhaps not necessary to ask that would cause some kind of strife or discord among the brethren, as it were, but foolish and unlearned questions uneducated or trivial questions, questions of no great significance of doctrine and so forth. But the Greeks and the Hebrews sometimes argued points that could not be settled, either could not be settled or of no importance. So these kind of questions would tend not to edify, as it were, because they gender strife. And of course, in the local church, it's important not to have strife among the brethren. Also, in home situations, it's not good to have strife. Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife. I hope this is not your picture up here. at home, so to speak, and foolish and unlearned questions. Now, the gender suggests to beget, to bear, or to cause, or produce, strifes or fighting, quarrels, disputes, or sharp contention. And maybe as husband and wife, if you're married, you've had various topics that might cause difficulty or things that maybe don't even matter. And I used to talk to my wife over the years and say, well, you know, if I were to die, would you get married again? Or who would you marry if I were to die? And, you know, those kind of questions, you know, and it's kind of become a joke, that little line. It wasn't always a joke, so to speak. but kind of a teasing comment, sort of. But, you know, you think about questions like that, you know, do they, do those things really matter? The if questions. Maybe somebody wants to give a testimony about if questions. Maybe you've played that game sometimes, too. But sometimes we can get into a conflict or a contention with things that are of little significance at that time. are not relative to the moment, so to speak. Or we think about things relative to eternity, how that kind of changes our perspective a little bit. Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they do gender stripes. Can you think of any questions that you think in today's Christian realm that might fit into that category that people might spend a lot of time arguing over? What kind of questions do you think people in our generation might discuss that perhaps little significance? And why are we talking about that? Why would we argue about such and such? Anybody have any thoughts in regard to? What's that? The weather. Yes, you know, I follow the weather forecast and so forth, but, you know, I'll usually click on the 10-day forecast, but, you know, the weather to the next day, you know, it's difficult to predict, never mind 10 days, but, you know, you think about 10 days ahead, you know, how accurate is that? Any other thoughts, the if, the questions of life? of little significance that we might tend to, as human beings, tend to argue over? What's that? I heard a voice. Finances. OK, finances. OK, finances, yes. That can be a contentious subject, right? Yes? Sports and politics. Oh, sports and politics. Sports and politics. Hey, that's right. I understand that the Queen of England came out with a statement saying that she was willing to take the United States back under their control if we wanted to. So there was a little sarcasm there, I guess. And of course, this is Queen Elizabeth, and she's quite old. I'm not sure how old she is now, but she's quite old and so forth. But she made that statement recently. I guess she's following politics in our country a bit. She said to put her name in as a write-in. That was one of the comments she made too. Or if you didn't like her, that maybe one of her son at William or Charles might be able to help us or something. Any other thoughts, things that cause contention and strive? My wife and I used to argue over the green and blue colors. And sometimes I might say, well, that looks more like a green. And no, that's a blue. And we kind of have that little, the fine line colors. It's greenish blue, or is it bluish green? Those kind of things. And does that matter? You think about that. Any other thoughts? Now you're knowing all my secrets here. Okay, let's go on to the next verse. In verse 24, it says, and the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. Okay, talking about God's servant. And of course, Timothy was God's servant. And so we see that Paul's making a strong statement concerning how we would act as God's servants, must not strive or be quarrelsome or to seek to cause contention. among the brethren. So, and it kind of goes, it fits with the concept of the foolish and unlearned questions to avoid, instead of being argumentative, so to speak, in our ministry or life, must not strive, but to be gentle unto all men, apt to teach. So, to be gentle suggests to be to be meek and mild toward other people. And striving suggests being quarrelsome or trying to make war or contention with other people. So that should be the character of God's servant, and also apt to teach, qualified or gifted in that area, qualified to impart instruction according to the doctrines of the word of God, and then to be patient, bearing evil without resentment, forbearing others. And to be patient under attacks by other people, under evils and injuries. And the true character of a person comes out when they are insulted or attacked in some way. That's a revealing of the character, so to speak. And it's kind of interesting, many years ago, I graduated from high school back in 1975. And one of the things that we had locally was a rivalry between Palmer High and Ware High and their football teams, particularly. And, you know, that rivalry really used to go very strong. The Palmer guys used to go up and do things like paint the bridge on the way to Ware and sort of, you know, beat Ware and this and that. And, you know, sometimes they would get carried away with some... real deeds that were, you know, some of them got in trouble for. But that rivalry goes way back, and it was kind of interesting. I went to a Palmer Ware football game yesterday, and it was in Ware, and I was sitting in the bleachers, and it's kind of like the Ware side of the field. I know there were some Palmer fans in the bleachers perhaps, but I was sitting there, And I was thinking about, you know, how much I changed in spirit since I was in high school. You know, I can remember, I didn't play football at the time. I mean, I didn't play football on a team, I should say. And even back then, you know, I just felt that strong, you know, that, like an animosity, yeah, these were people. But it was just so different as a 59-year-old sitting up in the bleachers. I mean, I'm cheering for Palmer and so forth, but it was just a different feeling. It wasn't like these wear fans behind me. I just didn't feel that strong heated animosity that you would feel as a high school student. So it was just a whole different perspective. the deep contention of heart, you know, or even, you know, those strong rivalries, you know, it's almost a hatred that develops over the, when you're in high school and so forth. But anyways, now you know my inner confessions. But anyways, that strong animosity is gone. Even though I wanted my team to win, but it was just so different. I even talked to some of the Ware fans. Can you believe that? You know, imagine that. so to speak, but the spirit of the, or the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach patience. Any comments as we've gone up through verse 24? Yes. Who won the football game? Ware won 26 to 6. Both Palmer had a 7-0 record before that game and Ware had a 5-1 record before that game, so to speak. All right. Was anybody there? I was the only one. Okay. All right. Yes. I didn't think about telling the score. Anyways, any other thoughts up through verse 24? After class, I'll tell you some stories from the game, but I won't. Any other thoughts up through verse 24? And in the human pride, sometimes we as people insist on being right about something. And we can't allow our pride or our spirit of being correct or wanting to be right about something to cause us to have an attitude or spirit that would strive with other people. So we need to be careful about those kind of things. Any other thoughts? Here's your chance to express yourself. As long as you don't have tomatoes in here. That's not what I mean by express yourself, but any other thoughts? All right, let's continue on. And verse 25, it says, in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves, if gone peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Okay, now, it says, in meekness, meekness, a form of humility, or to have courtesy toward others, and as you have that spirit of courtesy or meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves. So this phrase opposing themselves, if you said they set themselves in opposition, it might be a little easier for you to understand the concept. They're setting themselves in opposition. Opposition to perhaps particular Bible doctrines or just the spirit of opposition. Embracing error, arrayed against the truth. Instructing those that oppose themselves, if gone peradventure, or less perhaps peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Suggesting a change of direction. So, you know, in terms of having a difference of opinion with someone, you know, how we approach them makes all the difference in the world. If we have the spirit of pride and I'm right, you're wrong, that sometimes doesn't go over too well, but rather perhaps seeking to teacher instruct with a spirit of humility or discuss certain things may have make a big difference in our manner of our approach and you know we've alluded to politics already this morning but in the political realm we have some There's some strong feelings right now going on in our country, and who knows what'll happen after the election, whether things will settle down or not. But there's spirit of contention that has arisen in our land. But that kind of spirit of contention, we have to be careful doesn't creep into our churches, so to speak. I don't mean in discussion of politics, but just generally speaking. Give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. So we have to set ourselves in a spirit of meekness in teaching others, so to speak, that may have swayed from Bible doctrine and so forth. In verse 26, in verse 26 it tells us, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will." So Paul is speaking of some things here, not on the lighter side, but rather on the more serious level to recover themselves or to come to their senses and perhaps even suggest as if one would awake from a deep sleep, and perhaps you've taken a nap in the afternoon, and sometimes when we, I know I've had some occasions when taking a nap and you wake up, and just for a couple minutes, like, What time of day is it? Is it morning? Where am I, maybe? You know, just some strange thoughts go through you. You're just trying to come out of that sleep, that deep sleep. And so recovering themselves, that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil. and a snare suggesting a type of trap. And it often has reference to trapping of birds. One of the tricks, an artifice of fowlers, those who would catch birds, to scatter seeds impregnated with some intoxicating drugs intending to lay birds asleep. that they may draw the snare over them more securely, was one particular method of the past to be able to trap or to snare. So this snare that's used in reference to the devil, So we're not just talking about little petty arguments, talking about what color is best, but some very serious things in terms of the snare of the devil. Of course, some of the trivial things of life that people argue over could lead to might say Satan's influence in causing contention in the local church setting. Now here's a particular trap that maybe some of you are more familiar with. And in my strange imagination this morning, I was thinking about these traps. Can you imagine if you were going to your dinner table to eat and you were just ready to eat all this luscious food and put it in your mouth and all of a sudden a trap that was about the size of your body perhaps came down on you, a big trap like that. boom, and just squished your leg and you couldn't get out. I'm just being a little bit sarcastic here, but I'm not for a mouse rights activist group or anything like that. Something like that, a big trap like that, we would be fearful of and afraid of. And yet in the spiritual realm, maybe we should be more afraid, so to speak, not to be trapped into the devil's trap. Our mindset is often thinking in the physical. We wouldn't want to be caught on one of these. Maybe some of you get a little nervous about setting these kind of traps. I don't know, have you ever set a rat trap? Same type of thing, only it's a larger trap. It has more spring power to it. You set that thing and you kind of gently put it down, and if it goes off by mistake, Boom! You know, it makes a big noise. So basically, the conclusion is we need to keep our traps shut, I suppose, at certain times. Okay. So that you can come out the victor, as it were. All right. Just those thoughts. Now, So out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. So it would be the devil's will to cause contention or even people straying from the true doctrine of God's word. Blinded under the influence of error. That's the concept here, influence of error. Any thoughts concerning this up through as we finish this chapter? Yes. I think it's interesting to note that it says that God will give them repentance. That repentance is a gift from God, and that he allows us the opportunity to turn around and head in a different direction. Most of the time, I think in my mind is that repentance is an act of my will, but it's really a gift of God. At any time, God can shut the door of opportunity that we would turn around. And that through repentance, that's how we get out of this trap. If we come to our right mind and agree with God, then we can escape the trap of the devil. All right. OK. Good thoughts. Anything else? I mean, think about some of the other kind of traps, some of them even more fearful. It might be a horrible thing to step in a bear trap. I don't know if you've ever seen the bear trap with the big teeth, so to speak, and stepping on one of those. I'm not sure if they're still legal anymore. They've changed things around as far as trapping and so forth. But some traps are more fearful than others, but we need to have a spiritual alertness to Satan's traps and snares and the devices that he would seek to use. All right, let's see now. That brings us into a brand new chapter. We'll be able to start into this morning. Chapter three, 2 Timothy chapter three. And verse one, and perhaps you're very familiar with this passage. It's been alluded to by preachers over the years. In verse one it says, this know also that in the last days perilous times shall How many people, does this verse ring a bell with you? You've heard the verse before, maybe a message on it and so forth. Perilous times shall come. This know also. Perilous times. The word that is used here in the last, it's kind of interesting, is the word eschatice, which we get the word what? Okay, eschatology, last days or last times toward the close of the, the last days toward the close of the church age and end times. In the last days, perilous times will come. Perilous suggests dangerous times or hard to deal with, thinking about. things ahead or we're presently living in the last days. Verse number two, it says, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Wow, so these are characteristics of the last days. And when we look at this list, we think, wow, if that's not today, wow, that's something else. We're living in the last days. For men shall be lovers of their own selves. We can see this in society in general, a selfishness. And I can remember even being, when I was a teenager, there was a little cliche that used to be said, you know, let's say that a teenager's playing basketball and he shoots a, they didn't have three-pointers back in my day, but shoots a long basket and, you know, goes in. Teenager might say, oh, yes, I love myself. That was a saying that was popular during my day. I loved myself. And even though maybe teens don't say it as much today or adults, but that mindset is still there. It's a selfishness or a loving of self. Now, think of all the things that we do as human beings that perhaps are on the selfish category or an emphasis upon self. you know, how long we spend in the mirror, in front of the mirror. And I'm so glad I don't have to carry a comb anymore. Boy, that's nice. I know, you're jealous, jealous, jealous. What things do we do as human beings that show or demonstrate in general that we are selfish, a selfish society? What do we do? Let's say, as Americans, people... Okay, I want it my way. Okay, I want it my way. Okay, expecting to get something in return. Doing things for people or giving to people so that you will get back something. Or maybe gain some kind of an influence on someone. Help the elderly lady across the street because maybe she's wealthy and she's going to give you money. Of course, that used to be the Boy Scout thing, you know, to help the elderly ladies across the street, right? The good deed for the day. Any other things? Selfish. Not talking about the fish salesman, the selfish. Yes? Okay. Expectant. All right. Okay. The expectant society. Yes. A lack of commitment. People who don't want to commit to anything because they want to have their freedom and their time to do whatever they want to do without any obligations to anything else. All right. OK. And that can relate to local church ministry. My schedule. I wonder if you were to take a grand total of how many selfies are taken in our country every year now that you have these phones with a camera, so to speak. Selfies, selfie this, selfie that. They have polls for taking selfies. Any other thoughts? And we think about people that in the sports realm in relation to pride and putting forth self, to become famous, some famous athlete, and to draw all kinds of media attention and so forth. What a self-motivated society we live in and losing the concept of helping others, so to speak. Okay, any other, I was going to say selfish thoughts, no. Any other self-motivated things that we have today? Even the cars that people drive, you know, you have your Lamborghini, you know, you're going to look good out there in your Lamborghini. Yes. The results of selfishness, look at all the divorces and even the abortions, that's because people are selfish. That's right. That's a good point. Alright, anything else? Don't forget what I mentioned, oh, maybe last time I was teaching, what Jimmy Corey used to say concerning arguments, husband and wife, there's his side of the story, her side of the story, and then there's the truth. So, you know, we have a selfish society. All right, let's see, next category. And so, perilous times, lovers of their own self, and then covetous. And this perhaps suggesting a lovers of silver or money or things desiring for self. And we kind of stepped into that category somewhat already. But we live in a very wealthy society and love of money. The Bible speaks of the love of money being the root of all evil. So to seek to build up monetary wealth just for the purpose of selfishness is obviously wrong. If you want to earn money to help in God's work and so forth and be a supporter of God's ministry, that God can use money and has and will for his own purposes and glory. But to have money for selfishness or covetous reasons is not the proper way, okay, desiring for self. And then the next category, boasters. Boasters. suggest a vaunting of self, pride that's tied in with this. And we already alluded to the sports realm in terms of athlete, the athlete. And there are those that you might say worship their favorite athlete in a sports type situation. becomes their hero, and I can remember as a kid having certain heroes, and I don't think I got to the point of worshiping them, you know, in 1967, and I liked the Boston Red Sox, and Karl Yastrzemski was my hero, and so forth. But, you know, people get carried away with such things, and get absorbed with their heroes in terms of athletics, but it goes along with the concept of boasters and pride and my team is better than your team and next year Palmer's going to beat Ware and so forth. You know, those referees, they just didn't have it together. You know, we can become absorbed in those kind of things. Any thoughts concerning that particular issue, the boaster? The boaster, the bragger, vaunting of self. My candidate is worse than your candidate in the political realm or boasting. All right, let's go on. Let's see, we'll do one more this morning. So we have the boasters and then the proud. It's kind of in the same realm or vein. Two different words are used here in the original language, but it's perhaps speaking of a type of arrogance, haughtiness. And, you know, the wealthy, and of course James talks about, in James chapter four, in terms of the wealthy and what the proper attitude should be towards that. Let's stop right there. It's a good place to stop, as any. Any thoughts that you have before we draw this to a close? Any other thoughts? Can I keep my baseball that's signed by Rico Petroselli? The 67 Red Sox? Okay, he won't make me give it up. Good idea, Bob. All right, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for who you are. Thank you for your blessings to us. Pray that you guide and direct us through this day. We pray for a pastor as he speaks to us this morning. Pray that you would open our hearts to your word, help us to be submissive and willing to serve you. And we thank you in Jesus' name, amen.