​Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
  • Home
  • The Latest
    • Recent posts
    • March 19 message
    • March 12 message
    • March 5 message
    • February 26 message >
      • February 26 handout
    • February 19 message
    • February 12 message
    • February 5 message
    • January 29 message
    • January 22 message
    • January 15 message
    • January 8 message
    • January 1 message
    • December 18 message
    • December 11 message
    • November 27 message
    • November 20 message
    • October 30 message
    • October 23 message
    • October 16 message
    • October 2 message
    • September 25 message
    • September 11 message
    • September 4 message
    • August 28 message
    • August 14 message
    • August 7 message
    • July 31 message
    • July 24 message
    • July 17 message
    • July 10 message
    • July 3 message
    • June 5 message
    • May 22 message
    • May 15 message
    • May 8 message
    • May 1 message
    • April 24 message
    • April 17 message
    • April 3 message
    • March 27 message
    • March 20 message
    • March 13 message
    • March 6 message
    • February 27 message
    • February 20 message
    • February 13 message
    • February 6 message
    • January 30 message
    • January 23 message
    • January 16 message
    • January 2 message
    • December 19 message
    • December 5 message
    • November 28 message
    • November 14 message
    • November 7 message
    • October 31 message
    • October 17 message
    • October 10 message
    • October 3 message
    • September 26 message
    • September 19 message
    • September 12 message
    • January 17 message
    • September 5 message
    • August 29 message
    • August 22 message
    • August 8 message
    • August 1 message
    • July 25 message
    • July 18 message
    • July 11 message
    • July 11 Scripture
    • June 27 message
    • June 13 message
    • June 6 message
    • May 9 message
    • May 2 message
    • April 25 message
    • April 18 message
    • April 11 message
    • April 4 message
    • March 21 message
    • March 14 message
    • March 7 message
    • February 28 message
    • February 21 message
    • February 14 message
    • January 31 message
    • January 24 message
    • January 10 message
    • January 3 message
    • December 13 message
    • December 6 message
    • November 29 message
    • November 15 message
    • November 1 message
    • October 11 message
    • Sept 13 message
    • Sept 6 message
    • Aug 30 message
    • Aug 23 message
    • Aug 16 message
    • July 26 message
    • July 12 Message
    • July 5 message
    • June 28 message
    • May 24 message
  • Videos
    • This week's service
    • Worship videos 2023
    • Worship videos 2022
    • Worship videos 2021
  • About Us
    • Church Staff
    • Church Directions
    • How to reach us
    • History
  • Ministry Matters
    • Announcements >
      • Ministry Matters March 19
      • Ministry Matters March 12
      • Ministry Matters March 5
      • Ministry Matters February 26
      • Ministry Matters February 19
      • Ministry Matters February 12
      • Ministry Matters February 5
      • Ministry Matters January 29
      • Ministry Matters January 22
      • Ministry Matters January 15
      • Ministry Matters January 8
      • Ministry Matters January 1
      • Ministry Matters December 18
      • Ministry Matters December 11
      • Ministry Matters November 27
      • Ministry Matters November 20
      • Ministry Matters November 6
      • Ministry Matters October 23
      • Ministry Matters October 9
      • Ministry Matters October 2
      • Ministry Matters September 25
      • Ministry Matters September 11
      • Ministry Matters September 4
      • Ministry Matters August 28
      • Ministry Matters August 21
      • Ministry Matters August 14
      • Ministry Matters July 31
      • Ministry Matters July 24
      • Ministry Matters July 17
      • Ministry Matters July 3
      • Ministry Matters June 26
      • Ministry Matters June 19
      • Ministry Matters June 12
      • Ministry Matters June 5
      • Ministry Matters May 29
      • Ministry Matters May 22
      • Ministry Matters May 15
      • Ministry Matters May 8
      • Ministry Matters May 1
      • Ministry Matters April 24
      • Ministry Matters April 17
      • Ministry Matters April 10
      • Ministry Matters April 3
      • Ministry Matters March 27
      • Ministry Matters March 20
      • Ministry Matters March 13
      • Ministry Matters March 6
      • Ministry Matters February 27
      • Ministry Matters February 20
      • Ministry Matters February 13
      • Ministry Matters February 6
      • Ministry Matters January 30
      • Ministry Matters January 23
      • Ministry Matters January 16
      • Ministry Matters January 9
      • Ministry Matters January 2
      • Ministry Matters December 12
      • Ministry Matters December 5
      • Ministry Matters November 28
      • Ministry Matters November 21
      • Ministry Matters November 14
      • Ministry Matters November 7
      • Ministry Matters October 31
      • Ministry Matters October 17
      • Ministry Matters October 10
      • Ministry Matters October 3
      • Ministry Matters September 26 >
        • Understanding the UMC Budget
      • Ministry Matters September 19
      • Ministry Matters September 12
      • Ministry Matters September 5
      • Ministry Matters August 29
      • Ministry Matters August 22
      • Ministry Matters August 1
      • Ministry Matters July 25
      • Ministry Matters July 18
      • Ministry Matters July 11
      • Ministry Matters June 27
      • Ministry Matters June 13
      • Ministry Matters June 6
      • Ministry Matters May 30
      • Ministry Matters May 23
      • Ministry Matters May 9
      • Ministry Matters May 2
      • Ministry Matters April 25
      • Ministry Matters April 18
      • Ministry Matters April 11
      • Ministry Matters April 4
      • Ministry Matters March 28
      • Ministry Matters March 21
      • Ministry Matters March 14
      • Ministry Matters March 7
      • Ministry Matters February 28
      • Ministry Matters February 21
      • Ministry Matters February 14
      • Ministry Matters February 7
      • Ministry Matters January 31
      • Ministry Matters January 24
      • Ministry Matters January 17
      • Ministry Matters January 10
      • Ministry Matters January 3
      • Ministry Matters December 20
      • Ministry Matters December 13
      • Ministry Matters December 6
      • Ministry Matters November 29
      • Ministry Matters November 22
      • Ministry Matters November 15
      • Ministry Matters November 8
      • Ministry Matters November 1
      • Ministry Matters October 25
      • Ministry Matters October 18
      • Ministry Matters October 11
      • Ministry Matters October 4
      • Ministry Matters September 27
      • Ministry Matters September 20
      • Ministry Matters September 13
      • Ministry Matters August 16
      • Ministry Matters July 12
      • Ministry Matters July 5
      • Ministry Matters June 29
      • Ministry Matters May 31
      • Ministry Matters May 24
      • Ministry Matters May 16
      • Ministry Matters May 7
      • Ministry Matters April 30
      • Ministry Matters 4/23/20
  • How We Serve
    • Food Pantry
    • Clothing Thrift Shop
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • UM Economic & Lakota Ministries
    • Fair Trade Coffee
    • Regional Food Bank Trip
    • 2020 Falling Leaves 5K Run
    • 2019 Falling Leaves 5K Run
    • Bright Red Book Shelf
    • Summer Lunch Program
  • Giving
    • Online giving
    • Sign up for automatic giving
    • Through On-line Purchasing
  • Resources
    • Safe Sanctuary Policy
    • Links
    • Forms
    • Photos & Videos

Our Lord’s Invitation
2 Timothy 1:1-14

Picture
    Have you ever heard the expression “in perpetuity”?  This phrase was very familiar between 1700 and 1800 in America, but not so much these days.  Synonyms for this expression include words like continuous, endless, permanent, forever.  Here’s an example using this expression: A government decided to protect a wildlife reserve for endangered animals in perpetuity -- in other words, it will be permanent.  No one and nothing can ever shut it down or use it for alternate purposes.  Future generations will enjoy it because guardians living today preserved it.  Have you ever visited protected parks or reserves?  I love the gift of being able to walk or drive through thriving habitats.  Animals roam freely; we can listen to the sounds of nature.  It’s a small paradise.    
      In today’s Scripture the Apostle Paul is thinking about something precious being protected and passed down to younger generations: it’s faith in God. He begins by saying that he worships God, just as his Jewish ancestors did, because they passed their faith down to him.  He then mentions Timothy, a young adult he’s mentoring to be a teacher of the faith.   He says that Timothy’s remarkably strong faith has been passed down to him through his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois.  Paul was making the point that both he and Timothy are who they are because of the intentional, godly instruction and example of older generations. 
     In today’s passage Paul tells Timothy to “keep a strong grip on the sound teaching you learned from me”.  But who taught Paul? How did he become a respected teacher?  He’d thoroughly studied what we call the Old Testament, because he’d been trained to be a Pharisee, a teacher of the law.  But it was new Christians who told Paul the astounding truths about God shared by Jesus’ disciples. 
     He never knew Jesus, but the letters he wrote to early churches have been preserved and are part of our accepted canon of Scripture.  His correspondence with churches in numerous cities and nations, as a missionary and evangelist, are ours to read today.  They are Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.  These were highly circulated when he wrote them between 50 A.D. and his martyrdom in 67 A.D.  He addressed many themes and topics, but his overarching message was that we are saved by faith in Jesus.  We cannot earn salvation; it is a gift from God through faith in His son.    
         His writings encouraged Christians to live holy lives, persevere in the faith, and reject heresies.  He wrote about discipleship, suffering, forgiveness, grace, and joy.  He addressed unity in the body of Christ, dying to self and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Today, on World Communion Sunday, Christians around the world have been taught and strengthened by Paul’s God-breathed letters.  One man who lived generations before us passed on to us holy foundational texts that the early church and the apostles accepted as words from God.  His letters, or epistles, make up about a quarter of our New Testament.       
     When I was recently on vacation, Mark and I took a bus tour of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. It was an unforgettable experience.  As we passed the tight security to enter the school’s grounds, I found myself in another world.  I learned that over 12,000 applications were considered in 2022 but only 3,000 met their high standards.  Out of that group around 700 were accepted into the 47-month long program.  The number of those who graduate will likely be between 250 and 300 cadets.      
    Duty, Honor, and Country is their motto; it’s reverently taught and followed.  All cadets are trained to “understand what they ought to be, what they can be and what they will be”.  West Point expects cadets to become leaders of character through academic rigor, physical fitness, and military training.  There is also moral and ethical training.  Part of that involves living by this honor code: “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.” 
     Learning about this from our tour guide, who was a past graduate, drove home for me the high ideas and vigorous training required to achieve the rank of officer.  First year cadets are called plebes, which is a reference to underprivileged commoners in ancient Rome.  They have no leadership responsibilities, but do have a host of duties to perform; if successful, they earn the rank of Private.   Second-year cadets are called yearlings; they are assigned one to three plebes to mentor, train, and inspire.  If they capably lead their cadets, they achieve the rank of Corporal.  Third-year cadets have increased responsibilities as leaders of teams.    They are unofficially called “cows” and earn the rank of Sergeant.   Fourth year seniors are called “firsties”; they have significant leadership responsibilities and far more privileges.  They earn the rank of officer and at graduation commissioned as a Second Lieutenant; they are required to serve eight years. If they stay active 10 years, their salary earning potential is one million dollars.     
     Four things stood out for me as I learned about West Point’s cadets.  Before I share what those are, I want to say that they remind me of the ways Christian leaders are developed.  The disciples, Paul, and other teachers may not have gone through a formal, rigorous training process like West Point provides for future military leaders, but I think there are some striking similarities.  
     West Point’s applicants must show that they have outstanding potential to be future leaders. Very few are entrusted with the responsibility and privilege of joining what is called the Long Gray Line of military leadership.  Jesus chose just 12 men among thousands who listened to him.  They accepted his invitation and became part of a long line of godly leaders.
    Leaders in training at West Point get comprehensive, master-level training in academics, physical fitness, and military training.  However, to remain in the program, cadets must consistently score at the topmost level in each of the disciplines.  Jesus also invested three years in the training of 12 men; he revealed great truths and teachings and entrusted them to carry on his message.    
    I did have a favorite part of the cadet training that stood out for me.  It was the gradual advancement made year by year; each younger class of cadets was trained and supervised by those who recently mastered that level themselves.  I think that’s one of the most effective ways that the church of Jesus Christ and Christians can use to develop passionate leaders, who are mature in the faith and equipped to minister in today’s world.  
      In today’s portion of Paul’s letter to Timothy, he emphasizes how important it is to “hold on to the sound teaching” he’s received.  He had the rich resources of faith that his family passed down to him.  He was also receiving mastery-level training through Paul.  Now it was his time to be a passionate leader, mature in the faith, ready to minister effectively in his world.  
      Timothy didn’t leave a legacy identical to Paul’s; if he wrote faith-infused letters they weren’t included in the Bible.  But I’m confident that his leadership, modeled after and supervised by Paul, was impactful among the Christians he taught and mentored.      
       Today Christ is counting on us to know and preserve the sound teachings He entrusted to his core followers.  John, one of the 12 disciples, wrote about Jesus speaking to a group of Jews who believed in him.  He said, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:31-32) 
      My brothers and sisters in Christ, you and I are a bit like fellow cadets in training.  At whatever stage of learning or leadership we may be in, Paul’s word to Timothy is important for us to hear today.  He said: “Guard the good treasure entrusted to you.”  Paul was a teacher, a herald of the Gospel; he worshipped with sincere faith as his ancestors did before him.  He and Timothy were in the ranks of those who strengthened the church, by relying on the power of God and the support of fellow Christians. 
    This morning we who have a sincere and living faith are also commissioned.  We’re assigned to this present age to pass on the gospel and teachings of Jesus.   We are called to be on active duty, joining in the long line of other Christians who kept the faith and ran their race well, to the glory of God.  May it be so for us… Amen.      

Like us on Facebook:

Visit our Facebook Page:

© 2023 Ballston Spa United Methodist Church. 101 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
E-Mail: