"Lois and Eunice"

Overview

A Faith Passed Down: Lois, Eunice, and the Calling of Every Christian Home

Writing from a Roman cell near the end of his life, Paul opens his final letter with a tender greeting to Timothy, "my beloved child" 2 Timothy 1:2. Though not Timothy's biological father, Paul had become his spiritual father—a relationship he highlights elsewhere as well (1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:22). What Paul commends in Timothy is a "sincere faith"—literally, faith without hypocrisy—a faith that "lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" 2 Timothy 1:5. Though Timothy's father was apparently not a believer Acts 16:1, his mother and grandmother had taught him the sacred writings from childhood, the very Scriptures "able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 3:14–15.

This is a needed reminder to Christian households: the primary responsibility for passing on the faith belongs to the family, with the church serving in a supportive role. Sports, academics, music, and friendships are all good gifts, but they can crowd out the one thing needful—placing Scripture into a child's hands and heart. As Proverbs counsels, "Train up a child in the way he should go" Proverbs 22:6, and the psalmist sings, "One generation shall commend your works to another" Psalm 145:4. Faith itself is a gift, for "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" Romans 10:17.

But what of the parent or grandparent whose child or grandchild does not believe? Proverbs 22:6 is wisdom, not an unconditional promise, and many faithful homes carry deep heartache. God Himself knows that ache: "I have reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me" Isaiah 1:2; Jesus weeps over Jerusalem Matthew 23:37; Paul carries "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" for his own kindred (Romans 9:2; Romans 10:1). You can be faithful as the day is long and still not see faith bloom in those you love.

So where is the grace? Eunice's name comes from the Greek eu-nikē—"good victory." The encouragement from Lois and Eunice to weary parents and grandparents today might sound something like the familiar slogan: just do it. Share the word and live in grace. You are not responsible for the results—only God changes hearts. You may not see the harvest this side of heaven. Your sharing need not be perfect; it must be accurate and biblical, but your children already know you are not flawless, so do not put that burden on yourself. Don't live in regret over missed opportunities; the cross is wide enough to cover them all. Live in today's grace, and keep speaking the best news there is: that Christ has borne our sin, the tomb is empty, and in baptism God washes us into His victory and calls us His children. Share the word. Live in grace. Just do it.

Transcript

Would you open your Bible please with me for our study today? 1s

The Book of Second Timothy, Second Timothy, the very first chapter for our study this morning, 6s

Second Timothy, Chapter 1. 14s

Sluggins, slogans, companies, organizations, many of them have slogans. 19s

There were words that helped to communicate the message that that organization or that company 28s

want to present. 35s

Oftentimes it's a summary of what that company organization is all about. 37s

And those slogans can become very, very identifiable. 43s

You can hear a slogan and then immediately think, oh, well, that's that group. 49s

For that's that company or that's that organization. 54s

The slogan can be used to identify. 58s

So also the logo, right? 64s

No words, just that picture. 66s

When you see that picture or that symbol, your mind, if you've seen it enough, 70s

through enough advertisement, your mind can go right to, oh, that's that company. 76s

Or, hmm, I think I might want to buy that or that's a reminder. 82s

I need to pick that up. 86s

That logo is the reminder. 88s

slogans, logos. 92s

I think today about the Nike company, the Nike company. 98s

They're slogan. 105s

You see it all over their advertisement. 107s

Just do it. 109s

Just do it. 114s

Okay, here's the question. 120s

How is it that the Nike slogan has wound its way into this sermon? 123s

Let's study. 135s

As we come to second Timothy, this beautiful, beautiful letter 136s

that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. 143s

It shows a very, very special bond. 147s

Second Timothy is the last of Paul's writings that we have. 152s

Paul was in a Roman cell at this point. 160s

He was certain that his service, this side of heaven, was about ready to conclude. 164s

And so this is a very meaningful expression here that Paul is sharing. 171s

Look at me, please, at verse 1. 178s

Paul and Apostle of Christ Jesus. 182s

Apostle is that term that was used with the 12 disciples and also Paul. 186s

He then goes on to say, by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. 192s

Paul was in a puzzle and he was in a puzzle because of God's will. 203s

Remember, God had turned around the life of Paul. 210s

We knew him initially as Saul. He was persecuting the church. 214s

And yet the risen Lord Jesus Christ met him on that road to Damascus and turned his life around. 219s

It was God's will that the Apostle Paul would have a unique function, a unique ministry. 228s

He would be an apostle. 234s

And what was the message? 237s

What was the reason why he was called into this ministry? 239s

It's as for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. 243s

John writes in the third chapter, 251s

for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that all who believe in him shall not perish, but may have eternal life. 254s

Jesus says, recorded in the 14th chapter of John, 267s

I am the way and the troops and the life, not a way, a truth or a life, the way the truth and the life. 270s

Paul begins this beautiful letter declaring his identity in the Lord that God had called them. 284s

It was his will that he be an apostle, that he was a proclamer of this very message of life. 292s

What a beautiful way to start this letter. 301s

And we go on into verse 2, 306s

two Timothy, my beloved child, Grace, mercy and peace from God, the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. 309s

To Timothy, my beloved child. 323s

Paul was not the actual father of Timothy. 329s

What he's saying is that he was the spiritual father and Timothy was his spiritual child. 334s

We hear that in other places, for example. 342s

First Corinthians, the fourth chapter, Paul writes this, 345s

for this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord? 350s

Or, first Timothy 1, to Timothy, my loyal child in the faith. 359s

Later on, he says, I'm giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child. 369s

Or, Philippians 2. 376s

But Timothy's worth you know how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 379s

There's this special bond here between Paul, the spiritual father and Timothy, his spiritual child. 390s

He goes on. 400s

Verse 3, I'm grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did. 401s

When I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. 411s

Worship with a clear conscience, why? 419s

Because he knows he's been forgiven through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 421s

He joins with his ancestors. 427s

Those that had gone before him, those old testament saints who also worshiped with a clear conscience as they were anticipating the Messiah to come. 430s

He goes on in verse 4, recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 443s

The tears here are the tears that Timothy shed when he was separated from Paul. 455s

Paul then reflecting on this special bond with Timothy. 465s

He then goes on to talk about Timothy's faith. 472s

Verse 5, I am reminded of your sincere, 478s

sincere faith. 483s

The first thing that he says about Timothy's faith is it's sincere, it's sincere. 488s

That's a really interesting word. 493s

It's a compound word. 495s

There's an occasion in front of the Greek word, making it that compound word. 499s

The Greek word is, Hupel, Critis, Hupel, Critis. 506s

Now, as you think about that, what word do we get in English? 512s

We get hypocrite. 518s

When Paul takes the negative and he puts it in front of the word, he's saying, 521s

Timothy, your faith is genuine. 527s

Your faith is without hypocrisy. 529s

What a beautiful thing to say. 533s

Then he says, this second thing about Timothy's faith. 535s

Verse 5 again, a faith that lived first in your grandmother, 540s

Lois, and your mother, Eunice. 548s

And now I am sure lives in you. 553s

So it's a sincere faith. 560s

It's a faith without hypocrisy. 563s

And it's also a faith that first lived in his grandmother and his mother. 566s

Eunice, his mother. 577s

Lois, the grandmother. 580s

Most certainly, Timothy's father was not a believer. 584s

We know that from Acts 16, chapter. 590s

But his grandmother, his mother, they were believers. 594s

These were two Jews who were anticipating the Messiah to come. 600s

And what did they do? 608s

But they taught Eunice taught her son. 611s

Lois taught her grandson. 615s

taught them the word. 620s

Turn over if you would to second Timothy the third chapter. 623s

Second Timothy, chapter three, we'll pick up in verse 14. 627s

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, 635s

knowing from whom you learned it. 643s

And how from childhood, you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 646s

Timothy was blessed indeed. 662s

His grandmother and his mother taught him the word. 664s

I think of a preacher by the name of Dr. G. Campbell Morgan. 676s

Dr. Morgan, his four children all became pastors. 683s

And so one day at a family reunion, someone came up to one of his children and said, 691s

okay, of all of you, of all of you that became pastors here, all of you that were called into that ministry. 697s

Which one of you is the greatest preacher? 709s

Which one is it? 714s

Well, the one that was recipient of the question said, 718s

oh, that's a very, very easy question to answer, very, very easy. 720s

The answer is clearly mother, mother. 725s

Proverbs 22 says this, 734s

train children in the right way. 738s

And when old, they will not stray. 742s

Psalm 145 says, 746s

One generation shall laud your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. 750s

Verse 5 of our text, 759s

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother, 763s

and your mother, you and your mother, you and now I am sure lives in you. 769s

It's interesting though, raising children, 783s

the emphasis can so often be on things like sports or music lessons, 789s

or academics, or building relationships and play dates, 798s

and giving your children a grandchild, 805s

and various experiences so they can experience life. 807s

It's often in the raising of children. 813s

The emphasis can be on those things. 817s

They're all good, they're all important, they're all that, which one should do, of course. 820s

But in the process, the parent or the grandparent can be tempted to forget the one thing that's needful. 826s

And that is to teach the child the scriptures, the scriptures. 840s

You see, no one brings them self to faith. 847s

Faith is a gift. 854s

Paul puts it this way in Romans 10. 856s

So faith comes from what is heard, 859s

and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. 862s

I think of the baptismal promises that a parent makes, 869s

where that parent promises to place in the child's hand, the holy scripture, 873s

to provide for their instruction and the Christian faith, all important promises that are made. 877s

It's always a helpful reminder, always a helpful reminder, 884s

that the primary responsibility for the passing of the faith, 889s

the primary responsibility for the teaching of the faith, 893s

belongs with the family. 897s

The church is a supportive role. 901s

It's a wonderful role to support families as they raise up their children and grandchildren in the faith, 904s

but the church is supportive in the process. 913s

Oh, the joy of unison the mother and lowest the grandmother. 919s

Over Timothy, the Timothy shared their same faith, 927s

that Timothy also was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. 937s

But what about those times, 950s

what about those experiences, what about those realities, 954s

where the parent doesn't share that joy, 960s

the grandparents doesn't share that joy, 965s

because their child or grandchild, 969s

they don't believe in Jesus. 974s

Proverbs 22 is not an absolute promise. 979s

And the parent or the grandparent can just have heartache, 987s

heartache when they think about their child or grandchild, 994s

and the fact that they don't believe. 1000s

God is no stranger to heartache. 1006s

In Isaiah, the very first chapter, the scripture says, 1010s

hero heavens and listen, oh earth, 1016s

for the Lord has spoken. 1019s

I reared children and brought them up, 1023s

but they have rebelled against me. 1026s

Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 23, 1032s

Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 1037s

The city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it. 1039s

How often have I desired to gather your children together 1045s

as a hand-gatherer's her brood under her wings, 1049s

and you were not willing. 1053s

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to heartache. 1059s

In Romans 9, I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 1064s

For I could wish that I myself were a cursed and cut off from Christ 1072s

for the sake of my own people, my kindred, according to the flesh. 1077s

Romans 10th chapter, brothers and sisters, 1085s

my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 1089s

You can have a faithful parent or a faithful grandparent. 1100s

Faithful is the day is long in raising up that child. 1107s

Sharing the scripture and teaching the scripture and providing for their instruction 1116s

in the Christian faith and placing in their hands the holy scripture. 1121s

You can have the faithful parent and the faithful grandparent doing that. 1125s

And yet not have a faith filled child. 1136s

Or a faith filled grandchild. 1141s

So where's the grace here? 1149s

Where is the grace here? 1153s

Do you remember when I started the sermon talking about Nike? 1161s

Well, UNICE's name, the mother of Timothy. 1168s

UNICE's name has a Greek origin. 1175s

The word is you Nike. 1179s

You and Greek means good and Nike means victory. 1183s

I don't want to put words in UNICE's or loauses mouth. 1192s

But I like to think that if somehow they could come to us today, 1199s

if somehow they could come to us today with a word of encouragement, 1206s

a word of encouragement for the parent or for the grandparent, 1210s

if they could somehow come today with a word of encouragement, 1214s

I like to think that they would say, 1218s

you know that slogan that Nike has? 1225s

It's a good one. 1231s

Just do it. 1234s

Just do it. 1237s

Just share the word. 1239s

Just do it. 1247s

It is an incredible word to share, isn't it? 1252s

It's the best word that could ever be given. 1259s

The word of the gospel. 1262s

That word that comes to us sinners. 1265s

The law comes and we're convicted of our sin. 1269s

We've sinned against him and thought, 1271s

we're indeed what we've done, what we've left undone. 1273s

That is an all-encompassing confession. 1276s

Left to ourselves, what we deserve is hell itself. 1280s

But God has sent his son to Lord Jesus Christ and on the cross. 1285s

Jesus Christ bore our sin. He paid our sin that. 1289s

Sinful humanity was reconciled with God. 1294s

As Jesus paid the debt, the sacrifice accepted, the tomb empty. 1300s

God comes in the waters of baptism and washes us in that victory. 1309s

Washes us in his promise, calling us his children. 1314s

There is no better word. 1320s

There is no greater news to share than that word. 1324s

Share that word. 1335s

Share that word and live in grace. 1337s

Share the word and live in grace. 1344s

You can't convert anyone. 1352s

Only God changes the heart. 1357s

You're not responsible for results. 1362s

You're responsible for the message, delivering it. 1367s

You're not responsible for the results. 1372s

In fact, it could be quite possible that you will not see the results 1376s

of your planting of the seed of the gospel in your loved one. 1383s

That you might not see it this side of heaven. 1388s

Share the word and live in the grace. 1393s

Don't think that you're sharing somehow has to be perfect. 1401s

That every word has to be perfect as you share with your child or your grandchild, your loved one. 1405s

Don't think every word has to be perfect. 1411s

You need to be accurate and you need to be biblical. 1414s

We don't think that every word has to be perfect. 1417s

Your children and your grandchildren, they've already figured out. 1423s

You're not perfect. 1427s

So don't put that bondage on yourself. 1429s

Share the word and live in grace. 1434s

Don't live in regrets. 1440s

Don't look back and say, I wish I would have done this when they were in my house. 1442s

I wish I would have shared that special opportunity that came up. 1448s

And for whatever reason, I was tired or I just didn't seize that moment. 1453s

Don't live in regrets. 1459s

The cross is big enough to cover all of our missed opportunities. 1463s

Don't live in regret. 1471s

Live in the moment that today is the day the Lord has made. 1475s

That we can rejoice in it and live in His grace. 1480s

Share that word. 1492s

Share that word. 1494s

Empowered by God and live in the grace. 1497s

Verse 5, 1506s

I'm reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grand mother-law's. 1511s

And your mother-unice. 1519s

And now I'm sure lives in you. 1521s

Share the word. 1529s

Live in grace. 1531s

Just do it. 1538s

Just do it. 1541s