Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth. Verse 14, “Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. There’s a passage of Scripture that I think directs our attention to this that begins in verse 14 of 2 Timothy 2, and I want to read the text to you and then we’ll hear from the Lord with regard to its significance. We’re simply lifting the standard of leadership so that leadership can lead people to the very standard which is their standard. Whatever a pastor is to be in his own sanctification, whatever a pastor is to be in his own commitment to the Word of God, whatever a pastor is to be in his own behavior is so that he can be the model for what everybody else is to be.
So, when we talk about the standard that God has established for the pastor, we are establishing that so that he can be the model for the people to follow. Paul said to Timothy, “Be an example to the believers in word and conduct.” The apostle Paul said that, “You are to follow me as I follow Christ.” And in so doing, you in no way ignore the congregation, because whatever standard the Lord sets for the pastor is set so that the pastor can be an example to the flock. I always feel, when we come to the end of the Shepherds’ Conference, on this particular Sunday, that there’s a burden on my heart to speak to the pastors - even though the whole congregation of our church is here - to direct the message to them.
It would almost be a serious oversight if we were to have a conference of pastors and church leaders and elders and not deal with portions of Scripture in 1 and 2 Timothy because they are, after all, the Pastoral Epistles, and they speak directly to the responsibility that we have in serving the Lord in His church. I want you to open your Bible this morning, as we wrap up our Shepherds’ Conference, to 2 Timothy chapter 2.
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