In touch	Check-in	Intercessions
In touch begins immediately below	Scroll down or click for Check-in	Worship Together subscribers only: see intercessions

 

In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

A rich inheritance

Remembering others’ faith can help us hold on to its treasure ourselves (2 Timothy 1:1-14).

 

Context

• Party conference season continues. This week it's Labour in the spotlight. In an attempt to boost morale in the face of growing opposition from both within and without, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has urged members to “take pride” and, “Whatever tests confront us, have faith…”
• The craze for collectible Labubu plush dolls has become so widespread and profitable that 90% of the fake toys seized by customs this year have been based on the little monsters. This data comes from a Home Office campaign warning that fake toys can cause real harm as, while they may be cheaper or easier to come by, they are rarely made with any attention to legal safety standards.

 

Reflection and ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Relying on the power of God

Rather like the current Labour party leadership, Timothy had a challenging job as he ministered to a divided church in Ephesus (see Scripture in context). Paul’s imprisonment must have made him even more conscious of the opposition facing those living for Christ. It would be natural to feel anxious in this context. So Paul writes to prevent his younger colleague from falling prey to “a spirit of cowardice”
(2 Timothy 1:7).

Like Rachel Reeves reminding the Labour party faithful of past political achievements, Paul reminds Timothy of his rich history and inheritance of faith. He can draw on:

• the faith of his mother and grandmother before him, Eunice and Lois;
• the example of his father-figure Paul, who sees him as a “beloved child” (1:2);
• and of course on the “spirit of power and love” given by God through the Holy Spirit (1:7).

In this way, he can “Hold” (1:13) firm in the days to come.

This encouragement to focus not on reacting to troubles and wrongdoing, but instead on remembering God’s past faithfulness, and trusting in his ongoing purpose and grace, is also echoed in the readings from Psalm 37:1-9 (“Do not fret because of the wicked…” (v.1) instead “Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him…” (v.7)) and Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 (“…wait for it…” 2:3).

 

Guard the good treasure

We are all influenced by others around us to some extent, whether family, friends, school- or work-mates, celebrities, online influencers, or communities to which we belong. And when we love and treasure something, we tend to tell others around us about it. Combine these two things and sometimes a craze really takes off and spreads widely and rapidly, going “viral”, like the Labubus. At that point, others often decide they want some of that action but at lower cost and effort; or they decide to squeeze out some personal profit for themselves at others’ expense. That’s when the fakes and knock-offs proliferate.

It’s what happened with the fake Labubu toys and it’s perhaps part of what drove the troubles in the church in Ephesus. The call to “join with me in suffering for the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:8) is not an easy one to follow, after all. Against the false whispers, Paul urges Timothy, and by extension, us today, to “Hold to the standard of sound teaching” (1:13) and to “Guard the good treasure entrusted to you” (1:14). And how do we know the good treasure? Through remembering the rich history of our faith and relying on the “help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (1:14).

 

Questions for discussion

• A mother’s touch. Timothy benefitted from the example of his mother’s and grandmother’s faith. How many TV programmes can you name that are driven in part by exploring the influence of mothers, both good and bad? My own recently viewed list includes the varying mother-daughter pairs in Gilmore Girls and North of North, and the wide-reaching family drama surrounding Rebecca Pearson in This is Us. Younger audiences might know Bluey or The Simpsons. Why is it such a popular theme? What scenes might you hope to see in a TV drama following Lois, Eunice, and Timothy?
• Pass it on. Timothy is young (1 Timothy 4:12), at least for a leader, but it seems he valued the mentorship and guidance of his elders, whether his biological family like his mother and grandmother, or his church family, like Paul. In The I Paper print edition on Tuesday (subscription-only online), 23-year-old Kia-Elise Green wrote about the group of older friends she gained while dog-walking, in “What I learnt when I asked boomers for their life advice”. She talks about how she helps them with their smartphones while they in return offer her something “much more valuable… an abundance of life experience”, with tips on work-life balance, relationships, or the importance of working on communication skills and learning to cook from scratch. She concludes by saying that she hopes when she’s older: “Not only can I share my own advice, I can pass on what my new friends have taught me, too.” What are some of the tips about living in faith that you have learnt from older generations? What tips and “good treasure” would you like to pass on to those who come after you?

 

Rebecca Froley was the launch editor for the Roots website and has worked in digital publishing for 20+ years. She is currently volunteering while awaiting a start date for her new job. She worships at a Baptist church in the London Borough of Sutton where she helps with the young people and mission group.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

The headline news in recent days has been an attack on a Jewish synagogue in Manchester. A horrible and violent attack – it might leave us, whatever our religion, feeling nervous or worried. But we should not fear.

This might not be easy, but this week’s reading from Paul can help us. Paul reminds Timothy that he is part of a long line of faithful people – which in our day equals over 2000 years of Christian people, and even longer when we think of the Jewish people – our ‘older siblings’ in the faith of the Bible. Ours is a strong community – alongside our brothers and sisters of other faiths we should not be ashamed in the face of lone individuals. Moreover, we should remember the gift and treasure which is our faith in Jesus Christ. He walks alongside us to protect and comfort us no matter what happens in life.

In our lives we will experience all sorts of twists and turns – bad things among the good things. Jesus makes all things good in the end – and we should be confident and hopeful in this. Stand tall, stand firm – be confident and always pray to God through the good and the less good days – this is how we should pass on the faith to those around us.

Joe Allen is a PhD Theology candidate at St Mary’s University Twickenham. Holding BA and MA Theology Degrees from Exeter, he combines study with ecclesiastical finance work for the (CofE) London Diocesan Fund alongside various freelance projects. He has worked across several Anglican dioceses and for a Roman Catholic Cathedral. He reads voraciously and lives in central London.

 

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.

The week in focus is also available via facebook and Instagram.

Roots publishes weekly lectionary-based worship and learning resources online and in two magazines. FIND OUT MORE.