As Paul concludes his letter, he reflects on his ministry and the cost he has endured. His recounting of these things is not to brag but to pass the baton on to Timothy and those who will continue to preach the word.  

The gospel requires total sacrifice and faithful endurance, knowing that whatever the cost, the hope of heaven is worth it all. Those who have given their lives for Christ desire to see the work continue in succeeding generations.

During the summer months, there are several Sundays when I am out of the pulpit. I will return to preaching through 2 Corinthians when I return to the pulpit, but for these weeks where I have been away, I will be posting sermons from the book of James I preached in 2020. As an interesting historical note, considering that James begins the letter with the instruction to "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance," while preaching this series, I was hospitalized with COVID-19. I began the series in August. Our church had returned to in-person services a few months before, in May, and we were trying to define a new normal while responding to the pandemic. When I began this series and preached this message, I had no idea that ten weeks later, I would be in a hospital bed, too weak to carry on a conversation longer than a few words.

This past Sunday, my friend Freddie Smith preached for me thus there is not a new sermon for the podcast this week. So I am posting a sermon I preached in 2017 on the occasion of the recognition Sunday for our high school graduates. The sermon is from 2 Timothy 4 on the spiritual dangers we face today.

Of course, these concerns are not unique to our day. The spiritual dangers we face are not new to the modern area. These concerns are what prompted Paul to warn Timothy in this passage. In this sermon, I share two warnings and then encourage you to stand firm and keep the faith.

What tempts you to give up? All of us have, at some point in our lives, been tempted to give up. Sometimes it happens in the context of sports. Sometimes it seems like you just cannot get a break. Other times it seems like your opponents are so far above you that you have no hope of being competitive. Sometimes it happens in the context of work.

Maybe you are struggling to keep up with the demands of your job. or maybe the stress of your job is overwhelming you. Sometimes the temptation to give up is even more heart-wrenching than normal difficulties. It could be that those in authority are not adjudicating righteousness. It could be that your boss is treating you unfairly. It could be that others are exploiting and taking unfair advantage of you. And all of this leads to the temptation to give up.

This temptation is present in our walk with the Lord as well. Many are tempted to give up and give in to the world's demands because of the hardships and sufferings that come with following Jesus.

In this parable, Jesus teaches us how we are to pray and not lose heart.

Sermons on giving are uncomfortable for everybody. They are uncomfortable for the hearer because our giving is such an intimate testimony of who and what has true lordship in our lives. Giving, because it is not generally public knowledge, is often the very first area in your life that becomes disobedient when you begin to turn away from the Lord.

But I want you to understand that preaching on giving is not just uncomfortable for the hearer; it is uncomfortable for the preacher as well. The fear of being labeled "money focused" or only money focused is a limiting fear for many who preach. The right desire not to be identified with the false teachers of the health-wealth-prosperity gospel movement causes many to limit how much they say about giving in faith.

Yet the command to give tithes and offerings is found throughout Scripture from the Old Testament to the New. I believe if you are to walk in faithfulness before the Lord, you must be obedient in your giving. Thus, faithful preaching and faithful pastors must preach on giving.