First Steps

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First Steps
2 Timothy 1:1-12 
Today is an landmark day in the story of Resonate Community Church.  Today, we are making a commitment to be a church that starts other churches.  Over the next two years, Chris Auditore will be working with us to prepare to start another church in another community.  The same good that we have been able to bring to Hutto will be brought to other places.  
Multiplication is the key indicator of growth.  My goal has never been to start a mega-church or become a celebrity pastor.  But multiplying churches doesn't start when we send out our first families.  Instead, the process has already started.  A multiplying church can only come out of multiplying people.
Paul knew this.  As you read the book of Acts, you see that everywhere Paul travels, he leaves people capable of teaching and leading.  We find that those who find faith in Corinth end up in Ephesus, and those in Lystra find themselves in Macedonia.  Today, we'll examine a portion of a letter that he wrote to Timothy, one of Paul's protégées.  And we will get a chance to listen to Chris's story, of how he found himself on the path he is on today.
2 Timothy 1:1-12
    1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
    2To Timothy, my dear son: 
    Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
    3I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
    8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Paul is writing to encourage Timothy, and the first thing we notice is that Timothy seems to be new to leadership in the faith, and quite possibly new to the faith as well.  But Paul recognizes that there is an ember of giftedness in Timothy, and encourages him to fan that flame.  And Paul reminds Timothy that we have been given a spirit of love and power and discipline, and that we are not to be timid or fearful about the where the Spirit will lead us.
To go one further, Paul tells Timothy to join in his sufferings for the gospel.  Paul is in prison because of his sharing the gospel, and no doubt Timothy is aware of the "war stories" that Paul has experienced during his travels.  But the reason for this commitment is because of God's own purpose and grace.  
I think it's important to remember that it is nothing that we have done that "qualifies" us for our roles in the kingdom of God.  It's easy to say, "I could never be THAT, I could never do THAT."  Your past doesn't have any bearing on your usefulness within the kingdom.  God's grace has been given to us through Jesus, and through his death and resurrection, he destroyed the death we face and instead brings life!
And it is this story we are charged with sharing.  Paul says he was appointed to be a herald (messenger) an apostle (one who is sent) and a teacher.  And it is for the light of the gospel that breaks through darkness that he suffers.  And even though it should cause him personal shame, he is not ashamed because of his full assurance that God, through Jesus, will guard his sacrifice to withstand eternity.
And so, I thought it would be encouraging for Chris to share some of his story with you.  I hope that, whatever your background, you can be encouraged.  Many of you could never imagine being committed to God to the point of up-ending your life for the sake of sharing this story.  Three years ago, neither did they!

First Steps

2 Timothy 1:1-12 

Today is an landmark day in the story of Resonate Community Church.  Today, we are making a commitment to be a church that starts other churches.  Over the next two years, Chris Auditore will be working with us to prepare to start another church in another community.  The same good that we have been able to bring to Hutto will be brought to other places.  

Multiplication is the key indicator of growth.  My goal has never been to start a mega-church or become a celebrity pastor.  But multiplying churches doesn't start when we send out our first families.  Instead, the process has already started.  A multiplying church can only come out of multiplying people.

Paul knew this.  As you read the book of Acts, you see that everywhere Paul travels, he leaves people capable of teaching and leading.  We find that those who find faith in Corinth end up in Ephesus, and those in Lystra find themselves in Macedonia.  Today, we'll examine a portion of a letter that he wrote to Timothy, one of Paul's protégées.  And we will get a chance to listen to Chris's story, of how he found himself on the path he is on today.

2 Timothy 1:1-12

    1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

    2To Timothy, my dear son: 

    Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

    3I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

    8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Paul is writing to encourage Timothy, and the first thing we notice is that Timothy seems to be new to leadership in the faith, and quite possibly new to the faith as well.  But Paul recognizes that there is an ember of giftedness in Timothy, and encourages him to fan that flame.  And Paul reminds Timothy that we have been given a spirit of love and power and discipline, and that we are not to be timid or fearful about the where the Spirit will lead us.

To go one further, Paul tells Timothy to join in his sufferings for the gospel.  Paul is in prison because of his sharing the gospel, and no doubt Timothy is aware of the "war stories" that Paul has experienced during his travels.  But the reason for this commitment is because of God's own purpose and grace.  

I think it's important to remember that it is nothing that we have done that "qualifies" us for our roles in the kingdom of God.  It's easy to say, "I could never be THAT, I could never do THAT."  Your past doesn't have any bearing on your usefulness within the kingdom.  God's grace has been given to us through Jesus, and through his death and resurrection, he destroyed the death we face and instead brings life!

And it is this story we are charged with sharing.  Paul says he was appointed to be a herald (messenger) an apostle (one who is sent) and a teacher.  And it is for the light of the gospel that breaks through darkness that he suffers.  And even though it should cause him personal shame, he is not ashamed because of his full assurance that God, through Jesus, will guard his sacrifice to withstand eternity.

And so, I thought it would be encouraging for Chris to share some of his story with you.  I hope that, whatever your background, you can be encouraged.  Many of you could never imagine being committed to God to the point of up-ending your life for the sake of sharing this story.  Three years ago, neither did they!

 

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