Wesley Chapel Methodist Church

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God--whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did--when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, in the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, and this grace was given to us in Jesus Christ before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard the deposit I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.  [NRSA]

2 Timothy 1:1–14         Title: “Guard the Good Treasure”

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we turn to Paul’s second letter to Timothy, chapter 1, verses 1 through 14. This passage is often called Paul’s “last will and testament,” written from prison in Rome, near the end of his life. These are the words of a mentor to his beloved child in the faith, Timothy. They are words of encouragement, words of remembrance, and words of challenge.

The theme that comes through is this: hold fast to the faith and guard the treasure of the gospel, not with fear, but with power, love, and self-control.

I. Remembering the Faith that Lives in You

Paul begins with thanksgiving: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.”

Faith is not born in a vacuum. It is passed on. In Timothy’s case, it was the gift of his grandmother and mother. In many of our lives, faith came to us through family, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, or a church community.

This reminds us that we carry a heritage of faith. We are not the first to walk this road. Others prayed for us, taught us, and encouraged us. And just as faith was entrusted to us, we are called to pass it on.

Methodism has always emphasized this chain of discipleship—John Wesley organized societies, classes, and bands so that faith would be nurtured and handed on from one generation to the next. This passage calls us to become intentional about passing on the faith to the next generations. How will we if they do not come to us? We go to them.

II. Rekindle the Gift of God

Paul continues:  “For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands.”

The Greek word here for “rekindle” literally means “fan into flame.” Faith is like a fire—it can burn bright, or it can smolder and fade. Timothy was facing challenges, opposition, maybe even discouragement. Paul urges him: Don’t let your flame die out. Stir it back up. Let it burn again.

Illustration: I’m reminded of a young boy who once took piano lessons and showed real talent. But as he grew older, life got busy — school, sports, friends — and eventually, the piano sat untouched in the living room, gathering dust.

Years later, as an adult, he went back to his parents’ house and sat down at the old piano. At first, his fingers stumbled across the keys. The notes were clumsy, the rhythm uneven. But as he kept trying, something awoke inside of him. His hands began to remember. The music returned. What had once grown quiet was still there — it just needed to be stirred up again.

That’s what Paul is saying to Timothy: “Rekindle the gift of God that is within you.” Our faith, our spiritual gifts, may feel dormant at times. But the Spirit has not left us. The music of God’s grace is still within us, waiting to be played again.

In the Methodist tradition, we often talk about the “means of grace”—prayer, Scripture, Holy Communion, works of mercy. These are like sitting back down at the piano and letting our hands remember. They keep the song of faith alive in us.

III. Not a Spirit of Fear, but of Power, Love, and Self-Control

One of the most memorable verses in this passage is verse 7:

“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.”

Fear is natural when we face uncertainty, opposition, or suffering. But fear does not come from God. What God gives is power—the power of the Holy Spirit; love—the same love that took Christ to the cross; and self-discipline—the steadiness to live faithfully day by day.

Illustration (from John Wesley’s life):

John Wesley himself once struggled with fear. In 1735, he sailed to the American colonies as a missionary, but during the voyage a violent storm struck. The ship was tossed about, and Wesley confessed he was terrified. In the midst of the chaos, he noticed a group of Moravian Christians calmly singing hymns, unshaken by the threat of death. Their peace in the face of danger shook Wesley deeply.

He later wrote in his journal, “I went to America to convert the Indians; but oh, who shall convert me?” It was not until years later, at Aldersgate Street, that Wesley felt his heart “strangely warmed” and knew the assurance of faith. The Spirit taught him that faith is not about living in fear, but about living in the power, love, and self-control that only God gives.

In the Methodist spirit, this means holiness is both personal and social. The Spirit equips us not only to resist fear in our own lives, but also to stand courageously for justice, mercy, and compassion in the world. We hold fast the gifts of the Gospel when place our fears in Christ and trust the Holy Spirit’s leading.

IV. Guard the Good Treasure

Paul closes this section with a charge: “Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.”

The “good treasure” is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is priceless. It has been entrusted to us, not to hide away, but to preserve faithfully and to share boldly.

To guard it is not to build a fortress around it. Rather, it is to live it out with integrity, to teach it rightly, and to proclaim it in word and deed. We guard it by living lives that reflect Christ’s power, love, and self-control.

In Wesleyan language, we guard the treasure by holding fast to Scripture, as seen through tradition, reason, and experience—letting all three work together to keep the gospel alive and relevant in every generation.

Paul’s words to Timothy are words to us today:

•            Remember the faith that has been handed down to you.

•            Rekindle the gift of God within you.

•            Live not in fear, but in power, love, and self-discipline.

•            Guard the good treasure of the gospel through the Spirit’s help.

Brothers and sisters, the fire of faith is still burning. The Spirit is still moving. The treasure is still entrusted to us. May we, like Timothy, rise up in courage and faithfulness, so that the gospel may shine in our lives and be passed on to generations yet to come. 

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God,

we thank You for the faith that has been handed down to us —

through parents and grandparents, teachers and friends,

through saints of the church and witnesses of Your grace.

Help us to remember that we are not alone,

but surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Lord, rekindle in us the gift of Your Spirit.

Where our faith has grown cold, fan it into flame again.

Where we have grown weary, renew our strength.

Where fear has taken root, replace it with Your power,

Your steadfast love, and Your Spirit of self-discipline.

Teach us, O God, to guard the good treasure of the gospel.

Make us bold in proclaiming Christ,

faithful in serving our neighbors,

and joyful in passing the faith on to the next generation.

We entrust ourselves to You,

for You are able to guard all that we have committed to Your care.

Send us forth as people of courage,

living not in fear, but in the confidence of Christ Jesus our Lord,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen.

Benediction

Go forth in the Spirit God has given you —

not of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Guard the good treasure of the gospel,

and may the grace of Christ,

the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

be with you now and always. Amen.