Diagnostic Questions from 2 Timothy

Yesterday, I received this series of Diagnostic Questions from 2 Timothy, written by Bob Lepine, in an e-mail from a mutual friend of ours. And I thought they were worth passing on to you.

Years ago, I taught through another book of “famous last words” - the book of 2 Timothy. Paul’s final letter to his protégé Timothy is even more powerful as you consider the passion behind the words. You can hear Paul pouring out his heart, urging his young friend and co-laborer to continue the work that Paul had begun and to which he had given his whole life.

As I read through the book, there were several diagnostic questions that came to my own heart prompted by passages in 2 Timothy. I hope you’ll take a minute this week to ask yourself if these things are true of you. And I hope you’ll have time to look at the verses I’ve referenced here.

I think as you do, you’ll be able to hear this faithful servant of Christ pouring out his heart for what mattered the most to him – the ongoingministry of the gospel to the whole world.

#1 Do I love the gospel more than I love my own reputation and comfort? (2 Timothy 1:8).

#2 Do I love God’s truth more than my own opinions and preferences? (2 Timothy 1:13-14)

#3 Do I embrace God’s assignment for my life ahead of my own agenda? (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

#4 Do I remind myself every day of the gospel and choose not to focus my thinking on lesser things? (2 Timothy 2:8-10)

#5 Am I becoming a more skillful (not a casual) student of God’s word? (2 Timothy 2:15)

#6 Am I cultivating a godly character and putting to death the impulses of the flesh? (2 Timothy 2:22-26)

#7 Am I ready at all times to talk with others about God and His word – even when it’s inconvenient? (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

#8 Am I in pursuit of eternal, not temporal rewards? (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

My hope is that the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy might provoke each one of us to live our lives with the priority of the gospel and the Kingdom of God at the forefront of our thinking this week.