1 - God puts us in His household as workers. Therefore we must build by applying His Word with careful accuracy. (2:14–18)

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
• Two categories of workers:
• Approved worker
o One correctly handling scripture (rightly dividing) lit - “cutting straight”

• Ashamed worker
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

o Corrupt teaching
 The harmful nature - “spreads like gangrene”
 The harmful effect - “Upsetting the faith” of those who listen

2 - God puts us in His household as vessels. Therefore we will be useful if we are clean and available. (2:19–21)

19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
• God’s house stands on a firm foundation bearing a seal with a two-part inscription:
o Assurance - God knows the people who are his
o Responsibility - God’s people must behave

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
• The church is pictured as a great house furnished with two categories of utensils:
o High-end - gold & silver - useful to the master of the household for any purpose
o Low-end - wood & clay - limited to dirty work (garbage & unsanitary waste)

• Two requirements of a useful vessel:
o Purity - “sanctified”
o Ready - empty and available to be filled

3 - God puts us in His household as servants. Therefore we will help people with gentle yet focused teaching. (2:22–26)

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
• The Lord’s servant’s mandate:
o Submit to the master’s desires by removing themselves from the area of their vulnerability.

• The servant’s challenge:
o People lose sight of the real issues and mistake a heated argument for contending for the faith.

• The servant’s response:
o Correct error by teaching with kindness, gentleness, and humility.

• The servant’s role:
o Not to win arguments, but to win souls.

• The servant’s potential:
o People will “come to their senses” and receive God’s forgiveness and freedom.