CHURCH OF CHRIST at

October 18, 2009•Meal after services•Camp-out, October 24•Area-wide singing, October 25•Trunk-or-Treat, October 28

Hebron

A Lifetime of

Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Changes

Changes Do Occur

• II Timothywritten partly to prepare Timothy for negative changes

– II Timothy 1:13-14 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Changes Do Occur

1) Change was already happening– II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in

the last days perilous times shall come.

• “Last days”—period beginning with Pentecost and ending at 2nd Coming

• Hebrews 1:1-2; Isaiah 2:2• I Timothy 4:1-3—another

description of this period

Changes Do Occur

– “Perilous times”—hard times characterized by:•Immoral living (2-5)•Persecution (10-12)•False teaching (13; 6-9)

– “Wax worse and worse”—literally, to lengthen by beating; to proceed (2:16, 3:9)

Changes Do Occur

2) Changes were taking place in the mindsets of the people

– II Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

– II Timothy 3:6, 8—mindset changes

Changes Do Occur

3) Those formerly faithful would even be swept away by the change

– II Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

– II Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Do we still see these changes today?

• II Timothy 3:2-5 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away

• II Timothy 3-4—the general religious landscape• II Timothy 1:15, 4:10—even within the church

Changes Must Be Placed in Context

1) Changes are not new– Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 The thing that hath

been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

2

1

Changes Must Be Placed in Context

2) Changes are cyclical– Judges 2:11-19:

• They would depart from God• They would be taken into

captivity• They would repent• God would raise up a judge• The judge would die…

Changes Must Be Placed in Context

3) Some things never change– II Timothy 3:14-4:2

• God is stable• Christ is stable• His word is stable• His expectations are stable

Do you need to change?

Have you never made the first change?

Have you changed for the worse?

Consider During the Lord’s Supper:

1 Lord—Jesus Christ

2 Thieves Crucified Beside Him

3 Crosses Altogether

4 Pieces of Garment Taken by the Soldiers

5 Wounds—Side, 2 Hands, 2 Feet

6 Hours of Anguish

7 Last Sayings From the Cross