CG Discussion Guide
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Text:2 Timothy 3:1-9
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Summary:
The Bible clearly paints a sobering reality: we are living in the last days, a time marked by both spiritual difficulty and incredible hope. In 2 Timothy 3:1-9, we encounter a stark portrait of challenging times characterized by people whose loves are disordered—lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than lovers of God. The passage presents us with an extensive list of troubling characteristics: pride, arrogance, lack of gratitude, heartlessness, and recklessness. Yet here's where the message becomes deeply personal and profoundly hopeful. As we read through this list of 'such people' we're warned to avoid, we're confronted with an uncomfortable truth—sometimes we are such people. This recognition drives us not to despair but to the gospel. The beauty emerges when we flip this negative portrait and see Jesus—the perfect opposite of everything listed. Where we are self-centered, He is self-giving. Where we are proud, He is humble. Where we are heartless, He overflows with compassion. Jesus didn't just model better behavior; He went to the cross taking our place, pouring out His blood to wash us clean. His resurrection proves His power to transform us from the inside out. Faithfulness to the end isn't about perfectly avoiding bad people or being good enough—it's about staying connected to Jesus, knowing Him deeply, and allowing His Spirit to reshape us into His likeness.
Key Takeaways:
Discussion Questions:
Practical Applications:
Text:2 Timothy 3:1-9
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Summary:
The Bible clearly paints a sobering reality: we are living in the last days, a time marked by both spiritual difficulty and incredible hope. In 2 Timothy 3:1-9, we encounter a stark portrait of challenging times characterized by people whose loves are disordered—lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than lovers of God. The passage presents us with an extensive list of troubling characteristics: pride, arrogance, lack of gratitude, heartlessness, and recklessness. Yet here's where the message becomes deeply personal and profoundly hopeful. As we read through this list of 'such people' we're warned to avoid, we're confronted with an uncomfortable truth—sometimes we are such people. This recognition drives us not to despair but to the gospel. The beauty emerges when we flip this negative portrait and see Jesus—the perfect opposite of everything listed. Where we are self-centered, He is self-giving. Where we are proud, He is humble. Where we are heartless, He overflows with compassion. Jesus didn't just model better behavior; He went to the cross taking our place, pouring out His blood to wash us clean. His resurrection proves His power to transform us from the inside out. Faithfulness to the end isn't about perfectly avoiding bad people or being good enough—it's about staying connected to Jesus, knowing Him deeply, and allowing His Spirit to reshape us into His likeness.
Key Takeaways:
- We are living in the last days - The "end times" began when Jesus ascended to heaven
- Faithfulness requires right beliefs AND right relationships - It's not just about doctrine, but also about who we surround ourselves with
- Three realities to navigate:
- Difficult days we live in
- Difficult people we encounter
- Difficulty of discernment we need
- The call to discernment - Not all that appears "godly" actually is godly
- Jesus is our hope - When we see these characteristics in ourselves, Jesus is our hope both for forgiveness and also renewal.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean that we are in the "end times"?
- How can we balance Paul's command to "avoid such people" and other commands in scripture do evangelize and be lights in the world?
- Compare and contrast this list of characteristics with what you know to be true of Jesus. How does this list give you a greater understanding of His character?
- What are some modern examples of "godliness but denying its power"?
- In what ways do you see yourself reflected in Paul's list of difficult characteristics, and how does recognizing this in yourself change your understanding of the gospel?
- In an age of (more or less) Christian influencers, podcasters, and authors, what specific criteria should we use to discern whether someone has genuine godliness or just the appearance of it?
- The sermon covered different views of the millennium (premillennialism, postmillennialism, amillennialism). Which perspective were you most familiar with? Did anything surprise you about the different views?
Practical Applications:
- Look at what content you're consuming (books, podcasts, social media, influencers) and ask yourself: "Does this have the appearance of godliness but deny its power?" Share your findings with your group next week.
- Ask your group to pray for you and hold you accountable for how these characteristics are evident in your life.
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