Pulpit Curriculum: God’s Faithfulness: A Firm Foundation

September 29^th – October 5^th, 2024

Sermon Summary

In an impassioned delivery, the preacher reflected on God’s unshakable Faithfulness. Not just over the past seven years, even though there is much evidence to support this, but we were reminded that God’s character is not dependent on our performance. He is faithful because He cannot be otherwise. Through the various seasons of joy, challenge, growth, and even uncertainty these past seven years in @HarvestBarbados’ history and in each of our lives, one thing has remained constant: God’s faithfulness. He has been our solid foundation, holding us firm through it all. As we look to the future with expectation, let us renew our resolve. Let us commit to building on the firm foundation of God’s faithfulness. May we be a church that not only celebrates God’s faithfulness but also reflects it in our own lives, as we continue to walk by faith, endure with hope, and trust in the One who has been faithful from the very beginning and will remain faithful to the end.

Verse of the Week

2 Timothy 2:11-13
¹¹ “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; ¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself ”

Going Deeper

Review: 2 Timothy 2:11-13

1) 2 Timothy 2:13
a) The Greek term for trustworthy (πιστός – pistos) is to be worthy of belief or trust. What does this reveal about the depth of the faithfulness being described in this verse?

b) How does it compare to other uses of the term in the New Testament?

2) Review: Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6

a) How should we interpret the portion of scripture “He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself” in light of God’s unchanging nature?

b) What does verse 13 teach us about God’s faithfulness despite human shortcomings?

3) Review: 2 Timothy 2:12

a) What is the meaning of the word “deny” in verse 12, and how does it compare to Jesus’ teaching on denying Him in the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 10:33)?

b) How does this relate to the context of persecution in the early church?

c) The sermon explains that God’s faithfulness is not just a quality He possesses but is rooted in His very nature. How do these statements affect our understanding of God’s reliability and the certainty of His promises throughout Scripture?

4) Review: 2 Timothy 2:11

Cross referencing verse 11 with Romans 6:8 and Colossians 3:3:

a) What is the theological significance of the phrase “if we have died with him” in light of Paul’s teaching on union with Christ?

b) What is the theological significance of the phrase “if we have died with him” in light of Paul’s teaching on union with Christ?

Assess Your Life

_{The following questions are meant to encourage personal reflection and identify areas for spiritual growth in your relationship with God. Ask yourself the questions, respond honestly, write down your responses, and then prayerfully seek God’s conviction and guidance to move forward to repentance and restoration. In discussions with your friends and family, or in your Small Group, be open to sharing your responses with others in a spirit of accountability and transparency.}

The Preacher shared “Faithlessness in believers often stems from a combination of external pressures and internal struggles. Life’s trials, such as suffering, unmet expectations, and uncertainty about the future, can lead believers to lose trust in God.”

a) How do you respond to challenges in your faith?

b) Are you enduring in your relationship with Christ, and what does this statement encourage you to focus on as you face trials?
The sermon compares God’s faithfulness to a lighthouse standing firm.
a) How does this metaphor help you understand God’s unchanging character in the midst of life’s “storms”?
How does understanding God’s faithfulness as “rooted in His nature” change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship?
How has your faith been challenged by external pressures, and how can you lean on God’s promise to remain faithful even in those times?

Application

_{One key objective of this Pulpit Curriculum is taking God’s truth as exposed in the sermon and helping people apply that truth in practical and intentional ways to plot a course toward obedience and transformation. This section is intended to achieve that objective.}

1) How can I cultivate endurance in my faith, as the sermon discusses, particularly in areas where I am struggling to remain committed? Journal and share with someone this week.

2) What does it look like for me to “die with Christ” in my everyday life? What are the personal desires or ambitions that I need to surrender to experience true life in Him? Journal and share with someone this week.

3) What practical steps can I take this week to live out the truth that “if we endure, we will also reign with Him”? Journal and share with someone this week.

I will ask_____ to hold me accountable in this.

Sermon Main Points

As followers of Christ, we are called to live with purpose and intentionality, we are called to be disciples and are commissioned to make disciples. As we seek to obey this commandment, we must:

God’s Faithfulness is Unchanging 2 Timothy 2: 13a
 Human faithlessness only serves to decorate the faithfulness of God
 His character is not dependent on our performance. He is faithful because He cannot be otherwise.
 Faithlessness in believers often stems from a combination of external pressures and internal struggles.
 Faithlessness can be the result of persistent sin, spiritual attacks, and neglect of spiritual practices.
 Fellowship and addressing doubts with truth are critical for sustaining faith.

God’s faithfulness is rooted in His nature 2 Timothy 2: 13b
 His faithfulness is not arbitrary or situational—it is rooted in His unchanging nature.
 God’s faithfulness is also rooted in the fact that He is truth
 God’s faithfulness is not bound by time or conditions
 God’s faithfulness is not something He chooses to be from time to time—it is who He is.

God’s Faithfulness enables us to endure 2 Timothy 2:11-12
 Endurance doesn’t come from our own strength but from the faithfulness of God, who sustains and empowers us through every difficulty.
 God’s Faithfulness Provides a Way Through Temptation
 God’s Faithfulness Gives Us Endurance for the Long Journey
 Trials are a part of life, but it is God’s faithfulness that sustains us through them.

Other highlights
 To deny Christ is a deliberate rejection of Christ. This denial includes both public renunciation and a life that consistently opposes or disregards His commands.
 It is impossible to deny Christ and receive his gift of salvation. Denying and accepting Christ are mutually exclusive.
 It is God’s faithfulness that enables us to endure. He sustains us through trials.

Sermon Reflection

What stood out for me in this sermon?

What can I do to remember this?

5 Day Study Plan

Use the Inductive Bible Study method to study these scriptures this week and remember to share with someone else.

Follow these steps

1. Observe the text.
_{(What do you see in the text? Look for answers to questions like: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?)}

2. Interpret the text.
_{(What did God and the human author of the text want the original people reading this text to understand/do? Why?)}

3. Apply the text.
_{(How do I need to change in my thinking, my affections, my attitudes, and/or my actions?)}

Day 1 - Romans 6:1-5