It is easy to lose focus in a world filled with so many distractions. I am sure you can identify circumstances, challenges, and cultural issues that has caused you and other believers to lose focus. This week's session will provide some ways in which we can remain focused on living, sharing, and showing the good news of Jesus.
The supplemental teaching ideas session will focus (no pun intended) on 2 Timothy 2:1-9. This is not all the passages suggested in the Explore The Bible curriculum but can help you close with a challenge based on 2 Timothy 8-9 that helps your group determine actions they need to take in order to remain focused on Christ.
LOOK UP Ideas
The downloadable ideas provide three opening options that could be used to inject a little fun while getting your group ready to look into God's Word. One is a PowerPoint that will need to be downloaded.
LOOK IN Ideas
In 2 Timothy 2:3-7, the Apostle Paul uses three occupations as symbols of the Christian life. He wanted Timothy to learn lessons from these occupations and apply them in order to remain focused. Consider enlisting individuals from your group who might have experienced these occupations to share their experiences as they relate to what Paul is saying.
LOOK OUT Ideas
Paul concludes with a reminder in 2 Timothy 2:8-9--one which we can’t forget if we are to remain focused as believers.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. (2 Timothy 2:8-9, CSB)
- Paul said to remember – to remain focused!
- We need to remember Who Jesus Christ is and what He did!
- We need to remember that, no matter our circumstances, God’s word is not bound!
Consider using one of the following images as a part of your closing emphasis, reminding your group to remain focused on Christ.
Image One: Concentrate on the four small dots at the center for a few seconds, and then blink your eyes while looking at the white paper next to the image. What do you see?
Image Two: Stare at the center of the image below without blinking until the 3D images in the background become visible.
We cannot lose focus because of the distractions of this world, or the good things, or difficult things we experience. We should concentrate on Christ.
We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) if we are to remain focused on living a life that reflects the gospel. Paul wrote to the Philippian church, stating his goal for remaining focused, My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death (Philippians 3:10). Based on what Paul told Timothy today, consider leading your group to state in one or two sentences their goals that could help them remain focused on Christ.
DOWNLOAD THE SUPPLEMENTAL TEACHING IDEAS
