April 24, 2016
Sidekicks of the Bible
Timothy (Paul)
Today we are in week 5 of our sermon series called “Sidekicks of the Bible” where we’ll be looking at the supporting characters of the Bible. When you tell a story there is always a main character that you connect with, but often there is a sidekick that does great things also.
There is often a sense of thinking the main character is important and the secondary character is just filler, but without the secondary character, the main character can’t do what he/she was called to do.
When you look at the “main characters” in the Bible, most people know about Jesus, Moses, David, Joshua, and Paul, but not a lot is talked about with their “sidekicks.”
In every other sermon in this series, we’ve looked at the main character for a bit, then we look at his sidekick and what makes him a good sidekick. But, with Timothy and Paul, we see a big shift in the middle of the story where they switch roles. So, we're going to look at them both.
Acts 16:1-5
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Timothy Was COURAGEOUS
Here’s what we KNOW about Timothy:
- His mom and grandmother were faithful Jewish women
who taught Timothy scripture
- He had a good reputation
- He was committed enough to Jesus to
get circumcised and follow Paul
Here’s what we CAN INFER about Timothy:
- He was young
- He was courageous enough to step into leading the church of Ephesus at a young age
- He at least knew about
the first time that Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra
Timothy Was HUMBLE and TEACHABLE
He was always willing to do what Paul asked him to do:
Acts 16 - drops everything he has and follows Paul
Acts 17 - he stays in hostile territory when the Christians evacuate Paul
Acts 18 - travels from Macedonia to Corinth to meet up with Paul
Acts 19 - Paul sends him to Macedonia
Acts 20 - went ahead of Paul to Troas
Philippians 2:19-22
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
Eventually, Paul sends Timothy to the church of Ephesus and two of the last books he writes before dying are 1 and 2 Timothy. Thats when we see a shift in the Hero / Sidekick thing they have going on.
Paul Was Willing to Invest in Timothy
Paul gets under Timothy as the Godly leader he is and invests in him.
1 Timothy 6:11-14
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
What sets apart the 5 sidekicks we have looked at in this series is this:
- they didn't care about what they got out of temporary life
- they cared about what they were able to invest into eternal life
Communication Card
- I am willing to be courageous for the Gospel.
- I will choose humility over my wants and needs
- I’m willing to invest my life in someone else for the sake of their life.
