PASS THE BATON
2 Timothy 2:1-7
I want to begin my annual report by thanking all our ministry leaders and volunteers for your tireless work and grace filled efforts to build up the body of Christ. Midwest Bible Church has been in existence for over 90 years because of the labor of love exercised by believers like you, which often goes unseen.
Earlier this year, eleven-year-old Melody Solis was baptized. Melody is the daughter of Lorenzo and Rachel Solis who both served at MBC for over twenty years and recently moved to Wisconsin. Lorenzo’s parents, Evonne and Sam were also members of MBC. Recently they moved to Florida and left us to battle the bitter winters of the windy city on our own. We miss them all dearly. I mentioned Melody because in her testimony at her baptism she mentioned all the ways her family and her MBC family helped to bring her to the Lord and grow her faith. The following is a portion of her testimony:
I shared this portion of young Melody’s testimony to highlight the impact the various ministries/ministers of MBC have had on Melody in growing her faith and love for Jesus. Moreover, it demonstrates an essential work that as a church we must endeavor to undertake to be faithful to our mission, namely to pass the baton of faith to the next generation.
Earlier this year, eleven-year-old Melody Solis was baptized. Melody is the daughter of Lorenzo and Rachel Solis who both served at MBC for over twenty years and recently moved to Wisconsin. Lorenzo’s parents, Evonne and Sam were also members of MBC. Recently they moved to Florida and left us to battle the bitter winters of the windy city on our own. We miss them all dearly. I mentioned Melody because in her testimony at her baptism she mentioned all the ways her family and her MBC family helped to bring her to the Lord and grow her faith. The following is a portion of her testimony:
I was very fortunate to grow up in a home that loves Jesus. Not only do my parents love Jesus but I also lived with my Lolo and Lola that love Jesus and my aunt and uncles that love, Jesus and my cousins that were also learning to love Jesus.
Here at Midwest, I started my days in the nursery as a baby where I received loving care from others that love Jesus and then I moved into my Sunday school classes where I had teachers like Miss Eligia, Miss Martin, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Lisa that not only taught me more about Jesus but also showed me what the love of Jesus looks like. I also participated in Awana since I was 3 years old. Here I learned more about God’s Word and dedicated myself to memorize Scripture verses and take them to heart. Here I also had godly leaders and teachers that pointed me back to Jesus, people like Miss Minnie, Miss Betsy, Mrs. Bowman, Miss Christina, and my mom that continually prayed for me.
And then of course I was able to attend the best school ever…Midwestern Christian Academy!! (Woot Woot) Here I was able to meet some amazing friends that were also learning to love Jesus. I was also able to sit in chapel services and get Bible classes and have teachers that really supported me and loved me and prayed for me. They reinforced more about who Jesus is, like what I was also getting at home.
I also attended Phantom ranch Bible camp, and became closer to Jesus weeks and weekends at a time. I loved to be in nature and gather together with people my age singing worship songs together to Jesus. It really stirred my heart.
I know this sounds like a lot but Jesus knows me and continues to know what I need. He knew that I needed to grow up in a godly home. He knew I needed Awana and Sunday School and a Christian school and a Bible camp because that’s where he helped me realize how much of a sinner I am and how much I truly and deeply need him.
I shared this portion of young Melody’s testimony to highlight the impact the various ministries/ministers of MBC have had on Melody in growing her faith and love for Jesus. Moreover, it demonstrates an essential work that as a church we must endeavor to undertake to be faithful to our mission, namely to pass the baton of faith to the next generation.
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1-2
In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul’s exhortation to Timothy about passing the baton describes four generations of Christians: Paul teaches Timothy, Timothy teaches qualified people, and those people teach others. If each generation is faithful to teach the next generation, the work of the Lord will go on; otherwise every church is only one generation short of extinction.
One of the word pictures that Paul shared for effective ministry was that believers are to serve like athletes: “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules…” (2 Timothy 2:5). Paul often drew upon the world of athletics for illustrations of the Christian life, mentioning track and field (1 Corinthians 9:24), boxing (1 Corinthians 9:26), and wrestling (Ephesians 6:12).
If an athlete is going to even qualify to be in the race they must be in top shape which requires discipline and self-control. To work hard and compete, an athlete trains hard and prepares well (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Additionally, to run our race we must understand the goal. Paul said, “So I do not run aimlessly…” (1 Corinthians 9:26). It’s not just about getting to the finish line having lived a good moral life. It’s often said that the race of a Christian is not a 100-yard dash or a sprint, but rather a marathon. Therefore, what we need is spiritual endurance. This is certainly true. The author of Hebrews wrote: “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2a).
But although we need endurance to run our race, which comes from looking to Jesus daily, the race we are in should be more like a relay race. It’s not just about getting to the finished line having lived a moral life. It’s about passing the baton of faith to the next generation. In a relay race, the baton pass is critical. We don’t win the race if we drop the baton.
Moreover, Paul explained that it’s not just about running hard or working hard for the Lord. Paul knew that all the work we are called to undertake is the gift of God’s grace: “I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul knew the balance of working hard, yet always knowing it is all of grace. Again, it not just about hard work; its grace filled efforts. As he also exhorted his young protégée” “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1a
Remember, in our Christian race we not only need to seek daily grace to run with endurance but to pass the baton. That’s the win! It’s possible to work hard in the flesh and with the wrong motivation. The joy of the Lord is our strength and spreading that joy is our aim.
Joshua was Moses’ successor. The baton of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land was passed to him. Joshua was a godly man who demonstrated incredible faith and courage as He led the people of God into the promise land. He and His generation knew the Lord and His mighty works. But something went wrong in the passing of the baton.
“When he wrote Second Timothy, Paul was about to be martyred, and he wanted to be certain that his 'pupils' were ready to take the torch and carry on the work in his absence.” -Wiersbe
One of the word pictures that Paul shared for effective ministry was that believers are to serve like athletes: “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules…” (2 Timothy 2:5). Paul often drew upon the world of athletics for illustrations of the Christian life, mentioning track and field (1 Corinthians 9:24), boxing (1 Corinthians 9:26), and wrestling (Ephesians 6:12).
If an athlete is going to even qualify to be in the race they must be in top shape which requires discipline and self-control. To work hard and compete, an athlete trains hard and prepares well (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Additionally, to run our race we must understand the goal. Paul said, “So I do not run aimlessly…” (1 Corinthians 9:26). It’s not just about getting to the finish line having lived a good moral life. It’s often said that the race of a Christian is not a 100-yard dash or a sprint, but rather a marathon. Therefore, what we need is spiritual endurance. This is certainly true. The author of Hebrews wrote: “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2a).
But although we need endurance to run our race, which comes from looking to Jesus daily, the race we are in should be more like a relay race. It’s not just about getting to the finished line having lived a moral life. It’s about passing the baton of faith to the next generation. In a relay race, the baton pass is critical. We don’t win the race if we drop the baton.
Moreover, Paul explained that it’s not just about running hard or working hard for the Lord. Paul knew that all the work we are called to undertake is the gift of God’s grace: “I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul knew the balance of working hard, yet always knowing it is all of grace. Again, it not just about hard work; its grace filled efforts. As he also exhorted his young protégée” “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1a
Remember, in our Christian race we not only need to seek daily grace to run with endurance but to pass the baton. That’s the win! It’s possible to work hard in the flesh and with the wrong motivation. The joy of the Lord is our strength and spreading that joy is our aim.
Joshua was Moses’ successor. The baton of leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land was passed to him. Joshua was a godly man who demonstrated incredible faith and courage as He led the people of God into the promise land. He and His generation knew the Lord and His mighty works. But something went wrong in the passing of the baton.
“And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel… 10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” Joshua 2:6-10
How could it be that the generation that came after Joshua did not know the Lord or the mighty works he did for Israel? As one Christian author explained:
“What happened? Where was the legacy of Joshua’s generation?
Were they so busy defeating foreign armies that they forgot to remind their children that it had been the Lord who fought for them? Were they not purposeful about passing those stories on to their children? Did they not encourage their children to encounter God for themselves? Maybe after many hard years of war, the parents dropped their guard, complacently dwelling in cities they had not built and eating the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards they did not plant.
We don’t know what happened, but something went horribly wrong. Whatever the gap, it had a crippling effect on the next generation. Whatever the reasons may have been, someone somewhere dropped the baton of faith. They stopped carrying on the baton of faith, and a great big God became so small in the eyes of his people that an entire generation could no longer see him.
Yes, we have a tremendous responsibility. Hand off the baton well and we represent God as big to the world around us. Hand off poorly (or worse yet, stop handing off at all) and we represent God as small to the world. Then all of the ground we have taken can be quickly lost as an entire generation is left unreached.” Cain
The Apostle Paul was intentional about passing the baton to the next generation, to young men like Timothy, and by God’s grace we must do the same, we must not drop the baton.
After exhorting his young protégé to pass the baton, to run his race (by word and by example) like a parent, teacher, soldier, athlete, and farmer, Paul wrote:
“What happened? Where was the legacy of Joshua’s generation?
Were they so busy defeating foreign armies that they forgot to remind their children that it had been the Lord who fought for them? Were they not purposeful about passing those stories on to their children? Did they not encourage their children to encounter God for themselves? Maybe after many hard years of war, the parents dropped their guard, complacently dwelling in cities they had not built and eating the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards they did not plant.
We don’t know what happened, but something went horribly wrong. Whatever the gap, it had a crippling effect on the next generation. Whatever the reasons may have been, someone somewhere dropped the baton of faith. They stopped carrying on the baton of faith, and a great big God became so small in the eyes of his people that an entire generation could no longer see him.
Yes, we have a tremendous responsibility. Hand off the baton well and we represent God as big to the world around us. Hand off poorly (or worse yet, stop handing off at all) and we represent God as small to the world. Then all of the ground we have taken can be quickly lost as an entire generation is left unreached.” Cain
The Apostle Paul was intentional about passing the baton to the next generation, to young men like Timothy, and by God’s grace we must do the same, we must not drop the baton.
After exhorting his young protégé to pass the baton, to run his race (by word and by example) like a parent, teacher, soldier, athlete, and farmer, Paul wrote:
“Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” 2 Timothy 2:1-7
Likewise, let’s think over what God’s word has to say about how He has called us to run our race. Let’s examine our hearts. Let’s be honest with the Lord. Let’s praise Him for His grace. Let’s surrender to His will and seek His grace to run our race, to pass the baton, to reach the next generation for the greater fame of Jesus.
-Pastor Marco
-Pastor Marco