2 Timothy

I'm beginning a study of 2 Timothy. This is a method of study I learned from an Anne Graham Lotz Bible study. I wanted to share this for a while because I have found it very meaningful and powerful in my personal study. When I learned this method at a group study we were able to share the outcome of each step. It was incredible how each person pulled a different lesson and application to their life and how intimate and meaningful the scriptures become. No longer are the words just facts or flat stories that I struggle to apply to my life. And I don't need another book about the Bible to make it meaningful (although I still read those too).

Here I've applied the steps to the section titles because they caught my eye and I thought the titles of the sections held a lesson in and of themselves. Next I'll go through small portions of the text and repeat the steps. The key is to work with small sections of text (maybe 5 or so verses); to chew and slowly digest small bits (like a cow with its cud) rather than gulp large portions. I like to include memorization of the text with my study to help it take root in my life.

The text (write it or print it out word for word):

1. Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust
2. Be Strong
3. An Unashamed Workman
4. Difficult Times Will Come
5. Preach the Word

Re-write the text, stating only the facts (take out the adjectives, adverbs, etc. Do not add words). Here I focused on key verses from each section heading, but usually I would do this for each verse in the section I am studying:

1. Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust: Guard the treasure that is entrusted to you. (1:14)
2. Be Strong: Be strong in the grace that is yours in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2:1, 2)
3. An Unashamed Workman: Present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2:15)
4. Difficult Times Will Come: In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self . . . holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power.(3:1,2-5)
5. Preach the Word: Preach the word, in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (4:2)

And the lessons from the sections (There is no right or wrong answer here. Lessons will vary with the individual.):

1. Guard the gospel.
2. Entrust it to faithful men.
3. Accurately handle the Word and do not be ashamed of it.
4. A time will come when men will hold to a form of godliness.
5. Even so, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, preach the Word.

And the application for my life (again, no wrong or right answers). Take the lesson and put it in question form:

1. Do I guard the word in my heart by protecting myself from wordly influences? Is the voice of the culture louder than that of the Bible? Am I faithful in memorizing and meditating on the word?
2. Am I faithful in teaching it to my children?
   
3. Do I misuse the word? Am I constant in prayer and faithful to ask for wisdom in study and understanding? Do I allow wordly influences shade its true meaning? Do I try to make it over in my own image to suit my own purposes?
   
4. and 5. Am I ashamed of speaking Christ, proclaiming the gospel, even when it's hard? Where in my life am I clinging to the desires of the flesh, holding to a mere "form of godliness" yet denying its power? Do I teach the word with patience to my children? When I speak the word to others, do I do so with great patience or am I judgmental or condescending?
   

My Prayer:

Pray according to the lessons and applications you pulled from the text. I usually write these down, but not always.

These steps are taken from a group Bible study called Pursuing More of Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz. I share it hoping that maybe the method of study will bless you as it has me.