June 7, 1998 - LESSON: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: Developing Proficiency

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  1. In 1974 Frederica Mathewes was hitchhiking around Europe.(1)
    1. One afternoon she went into a church in Dublin, Ireland.
      1. Wandering to the back she encountered a statue of Jesus.
      2. He stood marble-white with arms held low, palms open.
      3. On his chest the sculptor had depicted his heart, twined with thorns and springing with flames.
      4. The base of the statue was inscribed: "Behold the heart that so loved mankind."
    2. She can't explain it, but she had a deeply moving spiritual experience.
      1. She felt an interior presence forming the words, "I am your life."
      2. After reading the Scriptures and learning from other Christians, she discovered that Jesus is everybody's Lord, whether they know it or not.
        1. Some people find this rude.
        2. It's a hard thing to say.
        3. As soon as the idea of objective religious truth is proposes, touchy offense rises up in alarm.
    3. Not long ago, now Frederica Mathewes-Green, was invited to speak, in a secular context about spiritual nurturing.
      1. She told the story of her conversion, then invited the listeners to learn more for themselves.
      2. "If the Christian faith is your heritage, explore it--there's always more to discover.
      3. "If the Christian faith is not your heritage, explore it--Christianity is not exclusive; the welcome here transcends earthly bounds."(2)

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    4. She notes that when she sat down, the emcee looked at her like a naughty kindergartner.
      1. "What Frederica was trying to say," he explained to the audience, "was that there are many wonderful spiritual path, and all should be honored in the spirit of multiculturalism."
      2. "Wow," she thought to herself, "I had no idea that was what I was trying to say."
    5. She writes, "I had just run into the modern mental cloverleaf that shunts Christ's claims to the service road: all religious beliefs are equally valid, all are fundamentally the same, and thinking yours is better is rude....Christianity is very nice, as nice as other religions, and all of them can be blended together in a tasty, open-minded stew."(3)
      1. "Many faiths, not just ours, hold quite specific doctrines and stand at firm disagreement with one another.
      2. "All religious beliefs are equally valid" turns out to be just another religious belief, one that hasn't been proved valid.
      3. "In fact, it's a kind of cultural imperialism--all the world's religions get reduced to a sentimental lowest common denominator that seems self-evident only to the privileged Westerners who came up with it."(4)

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  2. To avoid falling into the pit of religious multiculturalism it is important to know what you believe and how to hold on to it.
    1. If you desire advice on a particular issue or personal concern, what sources do you use?
    2. It all depends on the specific nature of your need.
      1. Business - Person with successful business
      2. Social customs - Individual who is well-versed in them.
    3. If you need information on some topic or question, where do you turn?
    4. It all depends on the nature of your need.
      1. If it is a mathematical problem, you turn to someone who knows math.
      2. If it has to do with traffic laws, you contact the Department of Transportation.
    5. If your need has to do with morals or ethics you would use resources that would provide you what you require.
  3. When it comes to Christianity we have resources and advice that has proven to be practical and reliable, and very helpful.
    1. Truly there is no other resource that is just as good.
    2. This is the advice and counsel given to a young man, but it could also be to young women or older men and women.
  4. This is sound, comprehensive counsel.
    1. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,
      1. What you have learned.
      2. What you have firmly believed
      3. From whom you learned it.

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    2. 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
      1. Sacred writings able to instruct you
      2. For salvation
      3. Through faith in Christ Jesus
      4. Salvation needs to be understood and appreciated for what it is and what it makes possible.

ILL> There is a story told of man who died after having led a throughly selfish, immoral life. Moments later, he found himself in a world of bright sunlight, soft music and figures all dressed in white.

        1. "Boy, I never expected this," he said to himself. "I guess God has a soft spot in his heart for a clever rascal like me."
        2. He turned to a figure in a white robe and said, "Buddy, I've got something to celebrate. Can I buy you a drink?"
        3. The figure answered, "If you mean alcoholic beverages, we don't have any of that around here."
        4. "No booze, Huh? Well, then, how about a game of cards? Pinochle, draw poker, you name it."
        5. "I'm sorry, but we don't gamble here either."
        6. "Well, what do you do all day?" the man asked.
        7. "We read the Psalms a lot. There is a Bible class every morning and a prayer circle in the afternoon."
        8. "Psalms! Bible study all day long! Boy, I'll tell you, heaven isn't what it's cracked up to be."
        9. At which point the figure in white smiled and said, "I see that you don't understand! We're in heaven; you're in hell."

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      1. What other alternative is there?
    1. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
      1. The scriptures are finally not alone the works of human beings.
      2. They are God inspired.
      3. The serve a specific purpose as it relates to our need.
        1. Teaching
        2. Reproof
        3. Correction
        4. Training in Righteousness

ILL> A police officer had just pulled over a car full of nuns for going too slow on a major highway. The conversation went like this:

        1. Police officer: "Why were you driving so slowly?"
        2. Nun driver: "I kept seeing all these signs with the number 20 on them and figured that was the speed limit."
        3. Police officer: "No, Sister, that is the highway number."
        4. Nun: "Oh, I'm so sorry, Officer, I didn't know that."
        5. Then the police officer looked into the back seat and saw that the nuns there had panic-stricken faces and white knuckles from holding on to each other too tightly.
        6. Police officer: "What's wrong with the nuns in the back seat?"
        7. Nun: "Oh, we just got off Highway 101 a few miles ago."
      1. Training goes on.

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    1. 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
      1. Proficient
        1. Performing with expert correctness and facility
        2. To make progress
        3. A high degree of competence through training
  1. We recognize the need for proficiency in many areas of life.
    1. I have worked at many occupations and realize the benefits of proficiency.
    2. The Christian has resources that will create proficiency.
      1. Proficient Christians
      2. Proficient persons
    3. Equipped for every good work.

1. Frederica Mathewes-Green, "I Didn't Mean to Be Rude," Christianity Today, Vol 42, No. 6, May 18, 1998, p. 54

2. Ibid

3. Ibid

4. Ibid

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