CONFRONTING REALITY                            2 TIMOTHY 3:1-17

I.  Stressful Times                                                                             3:1

Assess the times you live in with an honest perspective and discerning mind                                   Jn. 16:33                              

The phrase “last days” refers to the entire period of time following Christ’s death and resurrection
                                                                                                                                                                                             Isa. 2:2; Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:1, 2

The need for moral clarity, consistency and charity

The sky is not falling:  Don’t be myopic; understand history and trust God


II.  Sinful Traits                                                                             3:2-9

19 immoral characteristics  you be aware of, watch out for and remove from your life                  Col. 3:5-10

Empty religion and moral relativism leads to stressful times                                                                    Prov. 30:12; 2 Cor. 10:12; 2 Pet. 2:9-13

Misplaced love leads to broken relationships
                                                                                                                                                                                               Matt. 22:37-40; I Tim. 6:9, 10

Misdirected religion leads to false teaching and authoritarianism                                                             Isa. 1:14-17; Matt. 23:23-26


III.  Spiritual Truth                                                                    3:10-17

God provides moral clarity and inward peace

God gives us objective truth so we can define personal truth and seek to please Him                         2 Tim. 3:16, 17

God defines our sinfulness, yet offers forgiveness through Jesus Christ, not our attempt to be good or moral                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Titus 3:3-7

Christ gives us true peace in stressful times and the ability to change our sinful tendencies into godly tendencies
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Rom. 5:1; 8:5-9