Keep the Faith

For years my father wrote me every Sunday evening. In these letters he'd update me on family news, tell me what he was reading and thinking about and answer any questions I might have. I've saved all of them and someday plan to reread them and the advice he had for my younger self.

The book of 2 Timothy reminds me of my dad's letters. Written not to an individual church, as many of Paul's letters were, but to Paul's young friend and protégé Timothy. And it's likely the last letter Paul wrote and, arguably, his most personal.

Paul wrote from prison in Rome during a trial that wasn't going well. In fact, he was fairly certain he wouldn't survive. He wrote Timothy with advice on how to pastor the church in Ephesus that Paul had left in his care.

It wasn't an easy job and Paul knew it. Timothy faced challenges from some who wanted him to change the message Paul believed came directly from God along with pressures from the outside from those who hoped the church would fail.

To make matters worse, Timothy felt inadequate for the job. He was young and inexperienced, had health issues and, unlike his more assertive mentor, was shy and introverted. But Paul believed in Timothy. He felt he had the gifts to do the job, and more importantly, believed God would empower him to do what needed to be done.

In the 2000 years since Paul sent this letter, his words have challenged and encouraged countless young and not so young followers of Jesus. We, like Timothy, face the pressure of public opinion to change what we know to be true. And we face hardships that tempt us to believe the lie that God has abandoned us, when in reality, it is in precisely these moments that the love of God becomes most tangible and real.

The Quotable Jesus

It’s not a stretch to say that Jesus is quoted more than any other figure in history. Even self-identified skeptics, can’t help but quote Jesus. He had a way of putting things that comforted the weak, captivated the curious and infuriated the self-righteous. He took conventional wisdom and turned it on its head. His words cut through the petty concerns of selfish hearts and inspired many to pursue a better way of life. For nearly 2,000 years the words of Jesus have shaped the moral imaginations of people around the globe. From the Golden Rule to loving your enemies his words have provided clarity, healing and hope to countless millions. In the coming months we’re going to look at fifteen of the most quoted sayings of Jesus. But this will be more than simply an examination of the teaching of Jesus. Our hope is to uncover what it is about Jesus that has so captivated people for 2,000 years. And, has been the case for so many in history, to find that by meeting Jesus we will be changed.