Sunday School Lesson: Pursuing Righteousness

Purpose: To show that holy living requires a righteous, faithful, loving, and peaceful devotion to God’s truth.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2

In what ways are Christians like soldiers?

What is the difference between good soldiers and bad soldiers?

A good Christian, like a good soldier is focused on the tasks given by his commander. The completion of the assigned tasks are essential to the success of the mission.

How are Christians like athletes?

What can we learn from athletes about living a Christian life?

Christian character and athletic character is measured by how well we play by the rules. What happens when an athlete intentionally breaks or bends the rules? Even in playground games, rule-breakers are penalized. A continuous rule-breaker will eventually find that noone wants to play with him. Noone wants to play with a bad sport. The “bad sport” label becomes attached to that person’s character. Good sports sometimes become heroes or legends.

Are there “bad sports” in the Christian community? Are there Christians who think that the “rules” don’t apply to them?

There are many like this. They may think that what we are taught in scripture is not applicable in our modern lives. Living a life according to the Gospel certainly makes for inconveniences when judged by contemporary secular standards. We many times find ourselves placing personal wants ahead of God’s desires. When a Christian is a “bad sport”, bending and breaking the rules, or insisting on playing by his own rules, what does it say about his Christian character?

1 You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; 2 and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 3 Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer. 5 And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. 6 It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. (NRSV)

How are Christians like farmers?
Sowing, nurturing, harvesting.

What can we learn about living the Christian life from farmers?
Farmers are much more governed by certain rules than even soldiers and athletes. There are times and methods that will lead to successful crops. There is very little room to break the rules of nature that govern farmers. Breaking the rules in farming will most likely lead to failure.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (NRSV)

This is Paul’s gospel. For this Gospel Paul was willing to endure all sorts of inconveniences and punishments. His encouragement was the assurance that if we endure, we will reign with Christ with eternal glory, but if we deny Him, He will also deny us. Nothing is hidden from God, but don’t we often act and behave as if we believe that God will not notice or care about our behavior? The remainder of this chapter is Paul’s instruction to Timothy to develop and lead a life of Christian character. This lesson teaches that there is no room for hidden unrighteousness in the life of a disciple. God is gracious in His forgiveness of sin, but He also expects our best efforts in the pursuit of righteousness. But as Paul teaches, God is not the only one watching our behavior. Our actions are many times a greater witness than out words.

14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. 16 Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness." (NRSV)

Verse 15 is the perfect description of a life of Christian character and righteousness:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by Him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed..”

How would you describe “wrangling over words”? The KJV, ESV, and NIV all use the word “quarrel” or “quarreling” in this verse. The Message says “pious nitpicking”.

Do you think some folks, even Christians, enjoy arguing? Why? What makes quarreling fun?
How can quarreling be damaging?
Verse 14 says that it “ruins those who are listening”. The Message says it “chips away the faith”.

What is “profane chatter”?

If, at the end of the day, we were to review every word spoken that day, how much of our speech would be classified as “profane chatter”?

How does “profane chatter” damage us?

“The Lord knows those who are His”
Can we fool god with false piety?

What must everyone who calls their self Christian do?
"Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness."
If we are to be effective witnesses and taken seriously, we must live lives of righteousness and integrity. We must not profess Christ as Savior with our words but deny Him with our actions. Even truths become suspect when spoken by someone who is not “walking the walk”.

20 In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary. 21 All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work. (NRSV)

In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets--some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
(2Ti 2:20-21 MSG)

How can we restate this metaphor in non-metaphoric terms?
How do we make ourselves “ready for every good work”?

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (NIV)

How do we prepare ourselves for “noble purposes”?

What are some “noble purposes”?

We all are useful in the Body of Christ, whether athlete, soldier, farmer, or table waiter. We all serve a purpose, but like kitchen utensils we are only useful when clean, when we have cleansed ourselves by turning away from wickedness. A clean paper plate is much more useful than a filthy silver platter. We are much more useful as witnesses to the Gospel when we live in pursuit of righteousness than when we live in pursuit of worldliness.

22 Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, 25 correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (NRSV)

Here Paul narrows the focus on some specific rules of Christian Character. What are those four?

Righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”. How would you define “righteousness” as in “pursue righteousness”?
The best definition that I can find is “do the right thing”. As Christians we should always be “in pursuit” of making the right decisions and good choices. Our decisions should not be made based on personal desires or feelings, but on the Word of God. Decisions made in the pursuit of righteousness may not be the decisions that are the most popular or that lead to immediate gratification.

What is faith?
Everyone has heard Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

So how do we “pursue” faith?
James 2:18, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Faith is not simply a belief in certain doctrines. Faith is a verb. Faith is lived out by those of Christian character.

Remember the greatest commandment? We are commanded to love God and love others.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
(Joh 13:34-35 ESV)

Love is a great test of Christian character. Christian love is not necessarily an easy thing. The first thing to remember is that we are to love others “as we love ourselves.” What sacrifices are we willing to make for our love of self? Are we willing to make the same sacrifices for the love of others?
Even those who are difficult to love, that we may see as unlovable?

How do we pursue peace?

Paul tells us the best way to pursue peace in the next verse when he returns to the topic of arguments. Stupid, senseless, trivial disagreements lead to quarrels. Quarrels lead to fights, fights lead to.....

What are some senseless, trivial things that are argued about by Christians?

What kind of damage does quarreling cause?

If Christianity and Christian character is about love and forgiveness, fellowship and charity, why do Christians love so to bicker?

Verse 22 speaks of “youthful passions”. What would be some examples of these?

Are we less tempted to sin as we grow older?



To close I invite you all to recommit yourselves to the pursuit of righteousness by reciting together “A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition”, page 607 in The United Methodist Hymnal:

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
To thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.