Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org
Men's Leadership Support Group Meeting notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/mensupport/20051209.m.htm

MEN'S LEADERSHIP SUPPORT GROUP
Part XI: Functioning Effectively As A Leader Under Pressure - 2 Timothy
B. Staying Focused On The Basics As A Leader Under Fire
(2 Timothy 2:2-7)
  1. Introduction
    1. Functioning effectively while in combat on a battlefield where stress is extremely high takes focus, and much of military training seeks to produce an ability to FOCUS by way of training.
    2. Similarly, Christian leadership under fire takes focus, for spiritual warfare is much like military combat as Paul charged Timothy to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," 2 Timothy 2:3.
    3. 2 Timothy 2:2-7 directs us on staying focused on the basic goal, task, methods and quality controls of effective Christian leadership when one is under the fire of trials and opposition in oversight (as follows):
  2. Staying Focused On The Basics As A Leader Under Fire, 2 Timothy 2:2-7.
    1. We previously learned that 2 Timothy was written by Paul who faced martyrdom (2 Timothy 4:6, 16), and this epistle was sent to Timothy who faced trials in his pastoral duties, cf. 2 Tim. 1:8 with 1 Tim. 3:15.
    2. So, after revealing how Timothy was to be strong in the Lord in 2 Timothy 1:1-2:1, Paul gave directives on the BASICS that demanded Timothy's focus to remain effective under fiery trials in 2 Timothy 2:2-7:
      1. Leaders Must Focus On The Goal Of Christian Leadership Under Fire, 2 Timothy 2:2:
        1. What Timothy had been taught by Paul in the presence of other attesting witnesses, Timothy in turn was to commit to reliable men of faith who would by their faith in God disciple others, 2 Tim. 2:2.
        2. Thus, under fire, Timothy was NOT to "pour all his energies into" discipling the not-so-committed, but focus on developing the most promising men of FAITH as those God would use after him!
      2. Leaders Must Focus On The Task In Christian Leadership Under Fire, 2 Timothy 2:3-4:
        1. Likening Timothy to a soldier at war, Paul wrote Timothy was to please his commanding officer, Jesus Christ above getting involved in even good civilian affairs, 2 Timothy 3:3-4 ESV, NIV.
        2. In other words, good Christian leaders must focus on the task that GOD'S WRITTEN WORD assigns them above doing what even he himself or others would suggest he do to the contrary.
      3. Leaders Must Focus On The Methods For Christian Leadership Under Fire, 2 Timothy 2:5:
        1. Likening Timothy to an athlete, Paul urged Timothy to function according to BIBLICAL METHODS in the ministry or suffer by the Lord disqualification from the ministry, 2 Timothy 2:5.
        2. This reminds us of Ben Johnson who outran Carl Lewis in the Olympic 100 meter yard only to lose the race to Lewis: Johnson's time crushed the world record where the second place Lewis' did not, but Lewis won the gold medal and Johnson was disqualified as Johnson was found to be on illegal drugs where Lewis was not! The MEANS employed by both men involved set their reward!
      4. Leaders Must Focus On The Quality Controls For Effective Leadership Under Fire, 2 Timothy 2:6-7:
        1. Paul shifted from the athletic realm to the occupation of farming in his 2 Timothy 2:6 directive.
        2. The thrust of his statement here is as follows: as a hardworking farmer who also farms correctly is the first to partake of the rewards of his labor, Timothy would himself be edified from his own hard-worked and accurate pastoral Scripture expositions. Others under him would also respond by sharing their approving testimonies and material goods with him as they were blessed in accord by his good ministry, 1 Cor. 9:13-14; Hendriksen, I-II Timothy-Titus (NTC), 1974, p. 249.
        3. Yet, WERE Timothy and his hearers to LACK in their walk, that lack would mean the quality of his work was lacking, meaning he either had to work harder or more accurately in his exposition!
        4. In effect, by paying heed to this "quality control" test, Timothy could be sure of the level of quality in his pastoral work regardless what confusing, upsetting trials he faced in the ministry!
Lesson: Timothy would be effective in leadership under fire if he (1) invested more time with reliable subordinates than with the less reliable, (2) if he did what Scripture directed above all other opinions, (3) if he used Biblical methods and (4) if he kept applying God's "quality control test" of (a) his own edification level and (b) that of his subordinates, and adjusted his work ethic or accuracy accordingly.

Application: May we apply these focuses to our personal realms of leadership for God's blessing.