Paul's Final Encouragement to Timothy

TEXT: 1 Timothy 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 4:2-8, 17-18

OBJECTIVE

The students will be able to tell that even as Paul was nearing the end of his life he encouraged the young man, Timothy, to work for the Lord. They will see that the call of the Gospel to each one is to work for the Lord.

BIBLE LESSON OUTLINE

Introduction: Bring to class a number of illustrations showing different types of occupations—doctor, bus driver, teacher, etc. Ask your students what their parents' professions are. Mention that work is an important part of life, but no matter what type of job we do, we can still work for God. As you bring out this thought, lay a transparency, on which you have drawn a cross, over each illustration.

1. Paul exhorted his young fellow-worker Timothy to be an example of the believers.
2. He admonished Timothy to continue in what he had learned in the Scriptures, as God inspired all Scripture.
3. Paul tells him to preach the Word, reprove, rebuke, exhort, etc. Discuss the meaning and importance of each.

Climax: Paul knew that because he had fought a good fight and kept the faith, there was a crown of righteousness waiting for him.

Conclusion: If we are faithful and true in our work for God, we, too, will receive an eternal reward.

Response: The students will be able to summarize Paul's final advice to Timothy.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

We first hear of Timothy when Paul was on his second missionary trip. Paul and Silas had left Antioch with the purpose of visiting the churches where Paul had preached on his first missionary journey. They had gone through Syria and Cilicia and had come to Derbe and Lystra. On Paul's first missionary trip he had caused quite a stir in Lystra when he healed a man who had been lame from birth. The people thought that the gods were come down to visit them and the priest of Jupiter brought a sacrifice to offer to the missionaries. Paul restrained them and told them that they should turn to the living God. However, Jews came from Antioch and lconium and persuaded the people to stone Paul, and they carried him out of the city supposing he was dead. The Lord raised him up and he went on his way. Undoubtedly, the whole city knew of this, and it may have been at this time Timothy and his mother and grandmother accepted the Christian faith.

Timothy's father was a Greek, but his mother and grandmother were both Jewish. Since we hear no more about his father it is thought that he may have died or disappeared during his son's infancy. Timothy was taught the holy Scriptures from the time he was a child and was called a disciple when we first read about him, and was well reported of by the brethren (Acts 16:1-2). Paul chose him to go with him, and he is mentioned being with Paul on his third missionary journey. Paul speaks very highly of Timothy in Philippians 2:19-23. In addressing him in the epistles he calls him "my own son in the faith" and "my dearly beloved son," indicating his love for Timothy.

Tradition tells us that Timothy was the first bishop of the church at Ephesus and that he died a martyr's death under Domitian or Nerva, Roman rulers.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

• For each student, make a heart with Jesus on the front and children inside (see Patterns). Give to children and point out that every child in the world can have Jesus in his heart. We need to pray for them and ask Jesus to help us do our part.
• Cut out a set of Doing God's Word coupons for each child (see Patterns). Read through them together in class and talk about what each one means. Tell the children to put these in different places around their home so they will see them each day. Each time they see them they will be reminded to DO God's Word.
• Talk to the children about different ways to do God's Word: obeying at home, learning Bible verses, helping others, telling friends about Jesus, etc. While Paul was in prison the only way he could encourage Timothy was to write letters. Give each of your children a sheet of missionary stationery on which to write a friend (see Patterns). Help them tell about the good news of Jesus.
• Cut paper-chain boys and girls for each student. Explain to them that as they tell others about Jesus and do kind things for people they are, one by one, witnessing to people for Jesus. As you tell this have the children open their chain of people one by one.
• Let your class play the WORK FOR JESUS memory game (see Patterns). Copy two sets of the pattern page for each game (total 16 faces and 16 messages). Cut out the 16 happy faces and WORK FOR JESUS messages. Glue one message to the back of each face. To play, mix the messages and place them on a table with the happy faces showing. The first player chooses two faces. If the messages match, he reads the message aloud and keeps the pieces. If they don't match, he returns them to their original places on the table. Whether they match or not it is the next player's turn. You may either play the game so each child wins one set of faces or let the children see who can win the most faces. In either case the messages read aloud is the most important part of the game. As an extra treat you might want to make a set for each child in your class to take home and keep.

QUESTIONS

1. Paul didn't want young people to waste their lives.
2. What did he mean?
3. What are some things children can do to help them live for Jesus?
4. Sometimes we may need correction if we do not follow God's Word. Why do you think this is true?
5. How can we earn a crown for Heaven?
6. How can we help spread the Word of God?
7. If we are telling the world about Jesus, why is it important that we be living for Him?
8. If we are not living for Jesus, why will people not listen to what we say?

PRE-SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS

• Make a church from a box and also a jail from a box. Use dolls to represent Timothy and Paul. Tell how Paul had to write letters to Timothy because he couldn't visit him any more. When the letter is delivered to Timothy open it and tell, simply, how Paul encouraged Timothy and how Paul felt about his own life.
• Make a set of stand-up figures for each child (see Patterns). Color them all ahead of time or let the children color their own. Tell the children that Jesus loves all the children of the world and has something special for all of them to do. Help them think of things He might want each of them to do for Him.
• Tell the children that when they do things for others it is like doing them for God. Here is a fingerplay that will help the children know they can be happy as they work and do things for others.
    Little fingers,
    Busy as can be. (Hold hands up and wiggle fingers.)
    We can ______
    As quick as one, two, three. (Act out helping activity.)
  The children may choose any activity that their fingers can do and fill in the blank. For example, dust the furniture, pick up toys, wash the dishes, dry the dishes, fold the towels.

REVIEW IDEAS‍

Bring a small glider that is unassembled. Read the instructions to the group. Have someone come up and put the wings on backward so it can't fly. Bring out the point that if we follow the instructions in the Bible and have Jesus in our heart, we are preparing for Heaven just as Paul was.

Have a brief skit showing a mother teaching a child how to do something, such as washing dishes. The child then washes the dishes but decides they don't need to be rinsed and just shakes the suds off. This leaves a lot of suds on each piece and when they dry they look awful. Each piece must be redone and rinsed so food won't taste like soap. This child listened but didn't do what he was told. We must do what we are taught, not just listen.

Using several key words from the text, make a scrambled word review. Write each letter of the words on a 3" x 5" card and glue or tape a piece of felt to the back so they can be placed on a felt board. Put all the scrambled words on a large felt board (be sure each word is on its own line so the children won't be confused: i.e., DORW—WORD). Help the children unscramble each word and bring out the main point of each one. Some suggested words: Timothy, Paul, Jesus, Read, Word, Hear, Work, Faith, Finish.