Daily Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. 7 For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. 8 So don’t be ashamed of bearing testimony to our Lord or to me, his prisoner. On the contrary, accept your share in suffering disgrace for the sake of the Good News. God will give you the strength for it, (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions: Confronting danger near the end of the game in Jumanji, Dr. Bravestone said, “It’s a lot easier to be brave when you’ve got lives to spare. It’s a lot harder when you only have one life.” To which Moose Finbar replied, “We always only have one life, man. That’s how it is.” (And then added, in astonishment, “Did I just quote the principal?”) A younger man named Timothy, who the apostle Paul met (cf. Acts 16:1-4) on his second missionary journey, became one of Paul’s most trusted associates. Paul trusted him to lead some of the churches he planted, and to continue leading them after Paul was gone. Such a large responsibility must have frightened Timothy at times, especially in the light of his youth (cf. 1 Timothy 4:12). But Paul told him that God’s spirit would make him lovingly powerful, rather than timid.
- Paul knew his faith came from his ancestors, and called his friend Timothy to live out his own legacy of faith from his mother and grandmother (cf. 2 Timothy 1:3-5). But he knew the ultimate source of courage and power was God, not just family tradition. What examples of either spiritual courage or timidity are parts of your family’s spiritual legacy? Are there ways that parents, grandparents and other important people have given you confidence to fearlessly value and use your God-given strengths? If so, how has their legacy affected you? If not, in what ways has God empowered you to be the person God made you to be? How can you mentor and encourage someone who is younger than you?
Family Activity: Every character is important in Jumanji, just as every gift and ability is important in the Christian life. As a family, talk about how each person can use his or her God-given gifts and abilities. Discuss how you can use those gifts to serve people within and outside of the home. How can you combine those same gifts with those of other family members to work and serve? Using construction paper, draw pictures of your home, your neighborhood and the world. On the pictures, write or draw the gifts of each person to show where they might work best. Also, write or draw about how each person can use their gifts to serve others. Pray together, asking God to help guide you to use your ideas and gifts. Thank God for giving them to you. Display your family’s pictures as reminder to serve and work for those who are in your home, neighborhood and world.
Dave grew up in a large UMC in the Houston, Texas area, attended Vanderbilt University for college, and went to Duke University for seminary. He served in full time youth ministry since 1999 until he transitioned to a leadership role in Resurrection's adult small groups ministry in 2018.
In ministry Dave has a passion for teaching the Bible and theology, leading missions and raising up leaders. In his free time, Dave is an enormous sports fan, especially SEC football and Duke Blue Devils basketball.
Paul's words in Timothy here are so powerful, so inspiring, that I want to share about seventeen stories and illustrations, but I'll spare you and just share these two!
In 2 Timothy 1:6, my NIV Bible says, "I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God." It goes on to say in verse 7 that God has given us the Spirit. In each of us God has placed a divine spark. As anyone who has ever started a fire knows, fires begin with a small spark, which when fanned with life-giving oxygen can slowly build into a roaring blaze. Over the past few years I had the opportunity to speak to middle and high school students going through confirmation at the retreat at the end of their confirmation journey as they prepare to claim and profess Christ for themselves. Students go through confirmation in groups together, just as each of us goes through life with others by our side. But while each of us may possess a divine spark, I have told the confirmands that we are like a piece of charcoal--we stay burning brightest and hottest when we are surrounded by other pieces of coal, but when one piece of charcoal is removed from the fire it goes out quickly. I have encouraged them that once confirmation ends they need to maintain a Christian community to stay on fire for God. Who or what "coals" might you need to surround yourself with to continually burn bright and fan your flame for God?
2 Timothy 1:7 also says that God gives us a Spirit not of timidity but of power, love, and discipline. When I was in college, I heard a campus minister share that the reason most people are afraid to share their faith is they are afraid of being rejected by others. But that minister said that when we share the gospel and someone else doesn't receive it, they are not rejecting you, the sharer, but rather are rejecting God or the message God may have for them. I believe the Gospel is the most compelling story every told, so when I am called to share I remember this idea and ask God to speak powerfully and boldly through me with a Spirit-filled message of love. God can use my God-given strengths and overcome my perceived weaknesses, and I know that God's power and message is bigger than me or my words.God has placed a divine spark in you. Fan the flame, allow God's power and love to fill you and ask God's Spirit to do God-sized things through you!
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You might also like:
- Faith in the real world
- Choosing how to live the one life we get
- Dr. Bravestone: “We need each other, whether we like it or not”
- No one “got all the good stuff”
- Dr. Bravestone: “We can help each other.”
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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