This passage begins w/ a word of contrast designed as a reminder

• you heard the truth from me and have followed it

Here, Paul was contrasting the false prophets just addressed … they will be exposed, but you know me …

The first thing he mentions was his message – my teaching

• In contrast to the false teachers he warned to avoid

The second thing he mentioned was his life that supported his message

• Conduct, purpose, faith, love, perseverance, persecutions …

The third thing he mentioned was the persecutions he faced …

• Persecutions at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra

3:10 – Paul said that they had “carefully followed” these things about Paul

• That is the word used in Luke 1:3, when Luke described how he had carefully investigated the truthfulness of Christ

3:11 – Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra

• Paul likely chose these locations because they were near where Timothy was from (Lystra)
• Paul was driven out of the city in Antioch
• He was driven out of the city in Iconium where people trying to stone him
• Lystra was where Paul was stoned and left for dead

There is ONE instruction in this passage … Continue! (14)

• Continue in the things you have learned and the things of which you have become convinced

CHALLENGE: Stay faithful to the things that you know to be true!

Why?  You KNOW two things:

1. You know the people who taught Scripture to you (14)
2. You have known the Scriptures (15)

RESULT = You have believed!

You might title this message: Continue!

1. We Should Continue in God’s Word because of the confidence we have in it and in those who taught it to us
2. We Should Continue in God’s Word because it is Able to make one wise unto salvation
   The Bible is our source of truth; our weapon of faith; the content of our spiritual growth
3. We Should Continue in God’s Word because it is Profitable
   For Teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness
4. We Should Continue in God’s Word because it Completes God’s work in you
   Complete and thoroughly equipped