“The Church’s Mandate in a Culture of Religious Apostasy” Part 2
2 Timothy 3:1-4:5
INTRODUCTION What is the Meaning of 2 Timothy 3.1-4.5 Part 2
Turn back in your Bibles please to 2 Ti. 3. We’re in the midst of a brief series on the church. Whenever you start a church, it’s usually a good idea to try to figure out what on earth you’re supposed to be doing. That’s the point of this series.
Last time we saw the significance of 2 Tim. 3:1-13. We analyzed our culture and found out how more and more people are moving to the cities and how the number one reason for this is economic, i.e., people have a certain level of commitment to money, they love money.
We compared that to the text, found in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, where we find that in the last days, v.1, the time period of the church age from Pentecost to the Rapture, difficult times will come. And the reason for that as we discovered last time, the reason for the difficult times is “because of” that’s the ‘for’ in v.2, the reason for the difficult times is because of the character of men as they are described in vv. 2-4. And the 3 primary characteristics in that list all have to do with what? With what men “love.” They love themselves and their money, v.2, and they love pleasure, v.4, not God.
We also noted, verse five, that these people, though they are lovers of themselves, money, and pleasure, they use religion for their own purposes. READ v. 5. They have an outward shell of religiosity, but the inward kernel of godliness is completely missing.
So we applied this to modern Christianity. Today, it is very clear, that when the majority of people who name the name of Christ enter into worship services today that they are really loving themselves, loving money, and loving the pleasure that money purchases. And this is evident in people’s lifestyles. What do people spend their money on, spend their time doing? Do we have a generation of Christian people who are spending most of their ‘free’ money for the cause of Christ and do people spend their time trying to figure out how best to serve Christ and then execute those plans?
No, today, the majority of people who name the name of Christ are committed to their own selves. They love their pleasure and they spend their time and energy on themselves. We noted a few weeks ago how a whole theology is geared this way and is the most popular theology today: Word-Faith or Success Theology. This would include anyone from Joel Osteen, to Benny Hinn, to TD Jakes. This theology teaches that God wants you to be rich and if you’re not, something is wrong. These people are without any shame, teaching people to ‘love themselves’ money and the pleasure that it purchases.
So, how is a pastor and his congregation supposed to respond? Paul commands Timothy to, verse one, “realize this.” Timothy is to let this understanding of men in his day to affect him to the point where he, verse five, comes out from under their spiritual influence, Timothy and others in his congregation must “avoid them.”
We also saw last time, verses 8-9, that if you insist on these people paying attention to the truth, you can expect opposition. Just like Jannes and Jambres seemed like they were performing the work of God because they could perform miracles just like Moses, so also do these false teachers and those who ascribe to their doctrine and practice. They seem like they do the work of God, but in fact they oppose the truth.
Now, if you keep on insisting on the truth, what you’ll discover is that not only will you experience opposition, you will also experience persecution, verses 10-13. Paul states, verse 11, that Timothy did indeed follow Paul’s lifestyle, teaching, and conduct. Because of that, Timothy also experienced what Paul experienced, which is persecution, as it’s found in verse 11. Now, everyone who lives like Paul lived, living a godly life in Christ, they will experience persecution, verse 12.
That was the main thrust of the passage last week. So, we dealt with the first big command as we have it in verse one. Verse five is a related command to verse one. If you realize what’s going on in verses 2-4, then you will avoid such men.
Verse 14, then, gives us the second big command of this passage. Again, we have to ask the question, how is Timothy supposed to conduct his ministry in a religious climate as we have it described in this passage? Well, from verse five, Timothy knows to distance himself from the spiritual influence of these false teachers and their adamant followers.
But secondly now, Timothy knows to ‘continue,’ v. 14. READ v. 14.
What Timothy is supposed to continue in is described in various ways. First, as we read, Paul says that Timothy should continue “in the things you have learned and become convinced of.” And when you finish reading that you’re not quite sure what that is. So, secondly, Paul describes it, verse 15, that Timothy should continue in “the sacred writings.” READ v. 15. “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings”
That’s what we were looking for…The rest of verse 15 describes the content of those sacred writings. The content of those writings have a certain kind of wisdom. This is a wisdom that “leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” And Paul’s third description of what Timothy should continue in his found in verses 16-17. Timothy is to continue in “the Scripture.”
So, to “continue” is the major command associated with verses 14-17. Beginning in chapter 4, Paul offers his 3rd major command to Timothy concerning how one out to conduct himself and his ministry in a religiously apostate culture. This command, like the last command, relates to the Scripture. At the end of chapter 3, Timothy is commanded to continue in the Scripture and because of the nature of Scripture as we have it in 3:16-17,Timothy is to also preach that very Scripture as Paul puts it in chapter 4:2, “Preach the Word.”
That’s how the passage is put together. Now, we’ll be dealing with the last part of chapter 3, vv.14-17.
Let me just remind us why we’re going over this material. Like I said previously, if you are going to start a church, you should know what you’re supposed to be doing in the sight of God. So this series of messages is designed to help us develop a mission statement for Northlight Baptist Church. We’ll develop the wording once the Bible’s teaching, from this passage and other passages, comes more into view for us.
And once we develop that biblical statement, we’ll develop biblically based ministries in order to help us carry out the scriptural mandate for a ministry.
So, the title of the message and the message of 2 Ti. 3:14-17 is, “Continue in the God-breathed Scripture.”
Now, a note of clarification. Clearly, this passage, like the whole letter, is written to Timothy. And not only that, Paul has Timothy in mind when he mentions, verse 17, the “man of God.” You can see, verse 14, Paul is writing to Timothy when he mentions “you” three times, two times in verse 15, and then the reference to the man of God in verse 17. Paul is writing to a particular pastor in all the pastoral epistles. However, a pastor’s personal devotion and practice naturally carries over and spills over into the congregation. In other words, if a pastor can value the Scripture as it’s stated here in verses 14-17, then his ministry and the people in his ministry will also be shepherded to value the Scripture in the same way. So, even though this is written to Timothy, a pastor, the Lord wants this passage to apply to our ministry as well.
In this passage, we will deal with three major topics. We will discover what it actually means to continue in the Scripture and what that has reference to. Then, we’ll see what Timothy’s scriptural background is, what is past experience with the Bible has been. Lastly, we will likely spend the majority of our time this passages teaching on the Scripture. We’ll make applications throughout as well.
So, first, let’s deal with this word to “continue” since it’s the major command in the passage. We’ll investigate the meaning of this word and then we’ll see how the context helps us understand it better.
MEANING: This word occurs over 100 times the New Testament. Most often, it is used in a mundane way to simply refer to something that “remains.” For example, Matthew 10:11 “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.”
So, the disciples were simply to remain at a worthy person’s home until they left the city. In fact, it is used multiple times to refer to staying over at somebody’s house.
But here, clearly, it has more of a non-concrete understanding. What would it mean, then, for someone to “continue” or “remain” in the Scripture, not someone’s house? The idea is simply that Timothy would not move from the right hand or to the left of the Scripture. It’s the idea that Timothy would not deviate in any way from what the Scripture teaches. Paul’s exhorting Timothy that Timothy would keep progressing in what he has been convinced of. Timothy must not succumb to anti-scriptural teachings.
CONTEXT: now, the context of verse 14 helps us to understand a little bit more about what it means to continue in the Scripture. Notice, Paul when he writes, verse 14, “you however.” The word however clearly has a contrast in mind and the question is, “what is Paul contrasting?”
Paul’s contrasting what’s going on verse 13 with his exhortation to Timothy in verse 14. Notice what he does here. Paul contrasts, as we saw last time, the good guys and bad guys. Paul contrasts, verse 13 these evil men and imposters with Timothy, the man of God. Notice how Paul describes these evil men in verse 13. Paul says they “will proceed from bad to worse.” That is, these evil men, these false teachers and the adherents of false teachings and practices, will continue to get worse. They will get worse as it concerns their doctrine and practice, as they continue to deceive others while they themselves also are being deceived.
Now, verse 14, Paul draws the contrast. You Timothy, however, do not be like that. Timothy, you stay the course!
Now, what this does not mean is that Timothy should react in any way to the downward progression of the religious culture. Reactions tend to be pendulum swings. Reactions tend to go too far. If a particular false doctrine or practice is emphasized within a particular movement, then another movement comes along and emphasizes the doctrinally correct side of the pendulum swing.
So you have false teaching and, as a reaction, you have the heavily emphasized correct teaching. Now, to further clarify, let’s think of an example.
Let’s say there arose teaching within our geographical location that Jesus was not a man. And then, our ministry as a reaction, began it heavily emphasizes that, no indeed, Jesus is a man. And then, whenever this ministry brought up the person of Christ, 99% of the time we talked about his humanity and only 1% of the time did we talk about his deity.
What would that do to a ministry and people’s perception of our teaching of Jesus? People would say things like, “oh, that’s the church that believes that Jesus is a man.” Now, that is theologically correct. But the deity of Christ is also of the utmost importance. In other words, if is a ministry merely reacts to false teaching and is constantly correcting false teaching, you will have a reactionary ministry and not a ministry that continues in exactly what the Scriptures teach.
Now, that’s not to say that we don’t correct false teaching or that we don’t warn our people about false teachers. No, we need to do that, but we need to keep everything in perspective. We need to, as we have heard it all before, keep everything in its proper scriptural balance.
TRANS: So, Northlight Baptist Church will seek to warn about false teachings and teachers, but we will heavily emphasize the balance we’re presented with in Scripture.
Now, we’ll deal with Timothy’s background with the Scripture. The major point in these next few phrases in our passage is that since Timothy is persuaded of the truth of the Scripture because of his godly upbringing, he should continue in the Scripture. And his upbringing serves as a motivation to continue in the Scripture. In other words, Timothy, “since you are persuaded of the truth of the Scripture because of your godly upbringing, continue in the Scripture.” Paul says to Timothy, “continuing the things that you learned have and become convinced of… Continue in the Scripture.” Timothy asks, “what will motivate me to be balanced myself as well as have a balanced, scriptural ministry that does not deviate from the left hand or to the right? What will help me to have a balanced ministry?”
Paul answers and of verse 14, “let me motivate you. To help you to continue, you should know from whom you have learned the Scripture.” I mean, if you realize who it was who actually taught you the Scripture, that will help you to stay the course, scripturally speaking.
TRANS: And this leads us to consider more of Timothy’s personal background as it relates to the Scripture. And we will be able to use this information about Timothy in order to apply it to our own lives and our families.
-
Since you are persuaded of the Scripture, you must continue in it
Our understanding of Timothy’s knowledge of the Scripture is found in verse 14 and the beginning of verse 15. There are three points concerning Timothy’s knowledge of the Scripture and all three of them serve as motivations for Timothy to continue in the Scripture. Notice, then, first of all,
-
Timothy learned and believed the Scripture
Paul exhorts Timothy, “continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of,” which we already saw, was the Scripture. Now, what does it mean to learn and become convinced of the Scripture, or anything for that matter?
“To learn” something here clearly has the implication that somebody taught him the Scripture. Somebody sat Timothy down and verbally instructed him from the Scripture. In a moment, Paul will elaborate a little bit more on how that exactly happened.
Not only did it Timothy learned intellectually, Timothy “became convinced of it.” This word has reference to belief, faith, and persuasion.
Now, you all are very aware that I am not going to shy away from talking about theology at the pulpit. You are going to learn many theological truths as well as methods of Bible study if you will but pay attention and take some notes over the months and years the Lord has me here to pastor.
One important method of Bible study is called word studies. In order to understand what a word means, you have to observe how it is used. Now, the New Testament is written in ancient Greek, what they call Koine Greek. The Old Testament is written in ancient Hebrew, which is very similar to modern Hebrew. The Hebrew Old Testament was translated into ancient Greek during the last couple of hundred years before Christ, the third through the first centuries before Christ. That Greek translation of the Old Testament is called the Septuagint.
Now I say all that in order that we might have a better understanding of what Paul says about Timothy that Timothy “became convinced of” the Scripture. What does it mean to become convinced of something? Well, like I said, it has the idea of faith, belief, and persuasion. But we learned a little bit more about the word if we can discover what Hebrew word this Greek word translated. This Greek word translated a common Hebrew word, a word you hear every single day… which is… are you ready for this, “Amen.” In other words, the two words “become convinced of” in the Greek and “Amen” and the Hebrew are very similar.
So let me ask you, what do you mean when you put “Amen” at the end of a prayer? Is it just some formality to you? This is just kind of what we say after we pray? Or do we read in the Bible and so we go ahead and so we just mimic what we read?
Well, some of those may be true, but the point here is that “Amen” has the idea of something being reliable, faithful, and stable. It’s when something is assured; it’s truth! “In Jesus name, may it be…may it be that what I just prayed, what I asked for, happen… to the extent that it is in keeping with the name of Jesus.”
At the dedication of the temple, and the 1 Kings 8, Solomon prayed 1 Kings 8:26 “Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David.”
And when David wanted to build God a house, God sent Nathan the prophet to David to tell him about his yet future son who would be the one to build him a house. Nathan, quoting God, said to David, 1 Chronicles 17:14, “But I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”‘”
David responds, 1 Chronicles 17:23 “Now, O LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as You have spoken.”
So, David is praying that God’s promises to David would be established for ever, that it would be settled forever and that God would certainly make what he has spoken come to pass. This is the “Amen” of David as he responds to the Lord’s promises to him. These promises are certain; there is no way they could ever fail.
So, in our text in 2 Timothy 3:14, when Paul writes that Timothy “became convinced of” the Scripture, Paul is giving a wonderful testimony of Timothy that Timothy “gave his ‘amen’” to what the Scriptures taught. Whatever the Bible said, for Timothy his thinking was, that the Bible is true! So not only did Timothy learn the Scripture, but he was persuaded that what the Bible said was certainly true.
So, Paul exhorts Timothy, because Timothy has learned the Scripture and because Timothy has become persuaded of the truth of the Scripture, Paul commands Timothy to continue in those things.
-
Timothy became persuaded of the Scripture during childhood
Paul exhorts Timothy to continue in the Scripture and now Paul elaborates further on his motivation for Timothy to do just that. Timothy should continue in the Scripture and the thought that’s going to help him do that is if he recalls, end of verse 14, if he knows and brings to remembrance who it was who actually taught him.
After reading the last phrase of verse 14, “knowing from whom you have learned them” it kind of makes you wonder who that was…who was it that Paul learned the Scriptures from? But then when you read the beginning of verse 15, you understand that it was somebody important to Timothy during his childhood. “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings”
And naturally, when we think of somebody who was important to somebody else during their childhood, we naturally think of their parents. So, what do we know about Timothy’s parents? Acts 16:1 clarifies for us that Timothy’s mother was a believing Jew, but his father was a Greek. You say, “Well, was Timothy’s father a believer?…” The answer there would be ‘no’ because it says his father was a Greek, “an unbeliever” is the point from the author in Acts 16. Oh, so we know then that his father didn’t have that scriptural influence on his son, Timothy. Then who did exactly?
Turn back with me if you will to 2 Timothy 1. 2 Timothy 1:5 tells us a little bit more about who it was that had influence on him, scriptural influence. 2 Ti. 1:5, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” You can see the progression: Timothy’s grandmother was first, then his mother, then, Paul says, he is sure the faith is also in him as well.
So, for Timothy, the two main spiritual emphases in his life were his mother and his grandmother. You can kind of picture Timothy at the feet of either his mother or his grandmother, learning the Scripture from an early age. And Paul’s point in mentioning this tender picture is, as it says now back in 2 Ti. 3, is so that Timothy be motivated to continue in what he learned and became convinced of. There is something about learning the Bible from your parents and grandparents that is divinely designed to motivate children to continue living out what they learn.
Notice again, 2 Ti. 3:14-15
2 Timothy 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, [ok Paul, but what will Timothy need to keep in mind in his heart in order to continue in the Scripture? Paul’s answer, “the motivation to keep on going is to know something, keep reading, Timothy should know from whom you have learned them” In order to be motivated to continue the Word, Timothy should keep in mind that it was his own mother and grandmother who taught him!
APP: So, now, how can we naturally apply this? We have before us scriptural example of a mother and a grandmother instructing their child/grandchild in the Bible. We must apply this to our families!
So, to the parents, I would encourage you to actively teach your children what the Bible teaches. You may already have a plan set up to do that; that’s great! Now, if not, we are going to, as a church, have a “family night.” We’ll do this each month, and we will go over material together that will encourage us as parents to instruct our children.
We’ll do this so that your children, your sons and your daughters, will grow up and seek to be men and women of God, just like Timothy. And then by the design of the Holy Spirit in this passage, in future days, we’ll have an argument with them just like Paul did with Timothy. The argument that we bring before them will be to the children, “Children, continue in the things you have learned from the Bible from your parents…you should realize who it actually is who taught you these blessed things!”
Children, this is one of the blessings of growing up in a Christian home! That you actually have a godly father, and a godly mother, perhaps even grandparents, who actively teach you the truths of Scripture! It will be more likely to stick in you if you learn it first, from your own parents.
Now, what the children learn must be from those who have what is described in 2 Timothy chapter 1:5. Parents and grandparents must have this “sincere faith.” Because we all know that when children begin to be more perceptive, especially in their teenage years, they begin to observe when a faith is sincere when it’s not. When a parent of a child is able to teach their children a sincere faith, the children will be more likely to pick that faith up and believe it themselves. And, of course, when we are speaking of the Scripture, we’re talking about the truth! We need to be sincere about the truth!
Also, to the children, I would say learn and seek to know the reasonings behind why, what your parents teach you, are so convincing to them. If you can understand why it is that what your parents are teaching you are so persuasive to them, you will begin to see the Holy Spirit doing a work in your life as well. So, children of parents in this assembly, learn the Scripture from them!
So, even if you grew up hearing the Scripture, you still need exhortations to continue in it. Everyone does. And even if you didn’t receive that teaching when you were young, you still must receive exhortations to keep on keeping on with what the Scripture teaches.
So, parents…teach your children. Timothy’s dad wasn’t around to teach him the Scripture. You say, “Well, Timothy turned out ok…we’ll just leave that to the mom’s and grandmom’s.” Ok, I see how you could think that, but Timothy was a very timid young man.
And the truth is, we need MEN! Where are the men today? My father-in-law’s church doesn’t have actual committed men. Pastor Tim mentioned last night that he struggled as a church planter with just a sheer lack of men.
Men, be in the church and be with your families. Teach your children the Bible!
TRANS: Now, what is it about the Scripture that Paul emphasizes in this passage? Paul exhorts Timothy to continue in what the Scripture teaches v. 14, not veering too far to the right or too far to the left, …but what is the major teaching, or the actual content in Scripture that Timothy should be careful to continue in?
The answer that question is found at the end of verse 15 through to the end of verse 17. Timothy should continue in the Scripture, and Paul highlights two doctrines in Scripture that Timothy should continue in.
-
Continue in the Scriptures teaching on salvation and sanctification
Timothy, end of verse 15, should continue in the Scripture and this Scripture read it…is, “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” This is clearly the Bible’s teaching on salvation.
The second doctrine that Paul has in mind is found in verses 16-17. Paul here describes the source of the Scripture and how it is profitable. This profit has a result, an effect, found in verse 17. At the end of the day when the Scripture is taught to people and they are convinced of the Scripture, just like Timothy, they will, end of v.17, “be adequate, equipped for every good work.” This is clearly than the Bible’s teaching concerning sanctification, or our progress in godliness, our becoming more and more like Jesus Christ in our character.
-
Continue in the Bible’s teaching on salvation
So, let’s deal with that first one, that the Bible gives the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Bible alone contains this teaching concerning eternal salvation. Now, when Paul was writing to Timothy, keep in mind that Timothy did not yet have the completed New Testament, like we do today. Clearly, Paul here therefore, is clearly referring to the Old Testament, Genesis-Malachi. Verse 15,
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings, the OT, which is able to give you the wisdom ….It is this Old Testament that is able to give wisdom. And this wisdom that the Old Testament teaches is able to, notice what it says, “lead.” Old Testament wisdom then leads to what? It leads to salvation. And this salvation is, notice how Paul puts it, is only through what….? Faith. And this faith has content. The content of this saving faith is in Christ Jesus.
Now, of course, the Old Testament did not have in its content Jesus of Nazareth, particularly. However, it does give a lot of teaching concerning the Messiah, where he would be born, what he would do, who he was, as well as many other facts about his first and second comings.
So, by the time the last book of the Old Testament was written, it can be said of all those books that now everyone has the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in the Messiah.
Salvation therefore has always been by faith. The old covenant believers were not saved by their works. They were saved by faith. In fact, all the way back in Genesis chapter 3:15, God himself preaches the gospel in the presence of Adam and Eve when God says to the serpent who deceived them, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” This is likely a prediction of the seed of the woman, the Messiah, coming and crushing the head of the serpent and the serpent crushing the Messiah’s heal.
It worked the same way with Abraham, when God spoke to Abraham concerning his promises. God promised him that he would have many descendants, like the stars in the sky. Abraham doubted and one day God had Abraham look up at the night sky to look at all those stars… And then it says that Abraham believed God and that God accredited that belief to Abraham for righteousness. God gave Abraham righteousness that was not his own.
So you can see, that salvation has always been by faith. How did Abraham get that righteousness? He believed God. Regarding how this leads us to the Messiah, we can say that there are many, many prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
One in particular is very interesting, because it concerns the very year that the Messiah would die. In Daniel 9:24-26, the Angel Gabriel, speaking to Daniel, predicts that someone would command that Jerusalem be rebuilt and that it would be 483 years after that command that the Messiah would die. That prophecy of Daniel’s was fulfilled when King Artaxerxes in Nehemiah chapter 2 made that very command exactly 483 years before the death of Jesus.
The point of prophecies like this is that the unbeliever would be given the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
APP: So, Paul is exhorting Timothy to continue in the doctrine of salvation. Therefore, by the grace of God, we who are Northlight Baptist Church will continue in the Bible’s teaching on salvation. And salvation is by faith alone, not as a result of works, lest someone could boast.
So, perhaps you’re hear today and you need help concerning eternal life and you want to be assured of your everlasting salvation from God’s wrath. Come and talk with me! But the short answer is, “Repent, and believe what God has said concerning His Son, the Lord Jesus and what he has done for you.”
TRANS: Paul commands Timothy, not just to continue in the doctrine of salvation, but continue in the Scripture’s teaching regarding sanctification, our progress and growth in godliness.
-
Continue in the Bible’s teaching on sanctification
First, before Paul elaborates on how the Scripture is profitable, he comments on the nature of Scripture. Notice what he says, beginning in verse 16, that all Scripture is inspired by God. And then, he goes on to help us understand that, because it is inspired by God it is therefore profitable for four things: It is profitable, v. 16, for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. And these four things as they relate to the Scripture have a particular purpose in mind, as it’s found in verse 17. The purpose for these four things for which the Scripture is profitable is so that v. 17…that the man of God, that is, the pastor of assembly and through him, the assembly itself, may be adequate, that is, equipped for every good work. The idea there is that, verse 16 internally, his character and spirit, are taught, reproved, corrected, and trained in righteousness for the purpose that, verse 17, he be complete and adequate for the external works, all the good works that should come about after having been internally and spiritually instructed.
I think we’ll leave it there. We’ll pick back up with v. 16 next week and really give some hearty attention to these verses and perhaps work our way into chapter 4 as well.
Let me conclude this way. Pray for me…pray that I, as the man of God in this assembly, immerse myself in the Scripture, so that I may be adequate for the good works that I’m supposed to be an example of.
CONCLUSION What is the Meaning of 2 Timothy 3.1-4.5 Part 2
Charles Spurgeon was a famed preacher of the late 19th century in London. He wrote many books; his sermons widely read and he would regularly preach to massive crowds of over 5,000. When people asked the secret of his ministerial success, Spurgeon replied, “My people pray for me.” Pray for me! That’d I’d know the Scripture and that I’d be able to give it my all. Numbers do matter! We want more people saved and more people grow in godliness.
Let’s pray.