Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness (2 Timothy 1-2:13)

(Our Reforming Group Guides are designed to be inductive, using the COMA form of study: Context, Observation, Meaning, Application. For more on this method, check out this article.)

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By way of introduction: In an “options” age where our society easily opts in and out - is there any sense where people generally value “faithfulness”?

Read 2 Timothy 1-2:13

1. As you read 2 Timothy 1:1-7, how would you explain how Paul has known and related to Timothy?

2. Read 2 Timothy 4:9-22, and see if you can find clues that Paul is indicating he might be near the end of his earthly life and ministry.

3. As Paul writes to Timothy across this first half of the letter, where do you see him write about “faithfulness”?

4. In 2 Timothy 1:8-12, Paul mentions shame a couple of times. What is the connection from shame to faithfulness for Paul, and for the wider church?

5. Paul experiences the faithlessness of friends (Phygelus, Hermogenes and Demas). If we’re honest in our hearts, there have been times when we could remember our own faithlessness to friends, or to Christ.

   a. How does Paul help us with our initial reactions to faithlessness in 2 Timothy 4:16?

   b. Where can we have the strength to produce the fruit of faithfulness in our lives (2 Timothy 2:1)?

6. In 2 Timothy 2:8-10 we have one of Paul’s “gospel summaries”, where ‘remembering’ is a key theme. Psalm 111 is an example of a summary of remembering God’s covenant faithfulness to His people of the past - how does that help us today?

7. There are five “trustworthy sayings” in the pastoral letters, and here is a trustworthy (this could also be translated as “faithful saying”) saying that is creedal in form (2 Timothy 2:11-13).

   (The word “Creed”, comes from the Latin credo, which means “I believe”, a statement or confession of belief. There are many trustworthy sayings and creeds found in the Bible)

   a. How does remembering through saying this creed help us in moments of faithlessness?

   b. What will it look like for us to produce the fruit of faithfulness in our lives, after seeing who Jesus is toward us in this Scripture?

   Pray for one another of Reforming, and for friends of Reforming - that we would bear the fruit of faithfulness in Christ.