Sound Doctrine: Plow Creek Sunday Meditation

Plow Creek Mennonite Church

Sunday Meditations
Disclaimer - meditations are the personal reflections of the worship leader, not official church doctrinal statements.

Unity, in Love and Humility
Jim Foxvog

October 17, 2004

2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,
and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:
proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.
For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.
As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Timothy is told to Proclaim the message. Be persistant.

What is the message? The message is sound doctrine.

What is sound doctrine?

Primarily the Good News, the gospel, the message of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. It must be according to the teaching of Jesus.

NOT what suits our own desires. Sound doctrine is challenging, not always comforting. Not something new. Compare a doctrine with what the early church taught and practiced.

Sound doctrine is challenging, not always comforting. Scripture is for correction and reproof. Some don't like to hear the requirement of faith in Christ Jesus. Most do not want to really follow everything that Jesus taught us.

Sound doctrine is in accordance to scripture. "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." I don't think arguments about how scripture is inspired would be profitable now; the point is that Scripture IS inspired by God. The early Christian writings are consistant in considering the words of scripture the authority.

Two of the examples I found:
Clement, near the end of the first century: "You are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit."

Irenaeus, in the 2nd century: "We [are] most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit."

There are two common departures from sound doctrine that I want to urge us all to avoid. Some speak of salvation only through faith in Jesus, and make that the whole message; ignoring the teachings of peace, justice, righteousness and concern for the poor. Others make the social gospel the whole gospel. Sound doctine includes the whole teaching of scripture, focused on both the person and teaching of Jesus. Let us use the Bible for reproof and correction when brothers and sisters miss much of God's message.

home Who We Are People Documents Mission Spirituality Relationships What's New Links Come Visit Village Store Picture Gallery Calendar Contact Us Site Outline Search Plow Creek site	Plow Creek Mennonite Church Sunday Meditations Disclaimer - meditations are the personal reflections of the worship leader, not official church doctrinal statements. Unity, in Love and Humility Jim Foxvog October 17, 2004 2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. Timothy is told to Proclaim the message. Be persistant. What is the message? The message is sound doctrine. What is sound doctrine? Primarily the Good News, the gospel, the message of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. It must be according to the teaching of Jesus. NOT what suits our own desires. Sound doctrine is challenging, not always comforting. Not something new. Compare a doctrine with what the early church taught and practiced. Sound doctrine is challenging, not always comforting. Scripture is for correction and reproof. Some don't like to hear the requirement of faith in Christ Jesus. Most do not want to really follow everything that Jesus taught us. Sound doctrine is in accordance to scripture. "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." I don't think arguments about how scripture is inspired would be profitable now; the point is that Scripture IS inspired by God. The early Christian writings are consistant in considering the words of scripture the authority. Two of the examples I found: Clement, near the end of the first century: "You are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit." Irenaeus, in the 2nd century: "We [are] most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit." There are two common departures from sound doctrine that I want to urge us all to avoid. Some speak of salvation only through faith in Jesus, and make that the whole message; ignoring the teachings of peace, justice, righteousness and concern for the poor. Others make the social gospel the whole gospel. Sound doctine includes the whole teaching of scripture, focused on both the person and teaching of Jesus. Let us use the Bible for reproof and correction when brothers and sisters miss much of God's message.
	Meditations