Finishing Well

TEXT: 2 TIM. 4:6–18

LESSONS: This letter offers a glimpse into the heart of Paul as his life journey comes to a close. His farewell thoughts to Timothy on how a Christian can finish well are significant guidelines to follow and are worthy of serious reflection. No matter where we are on our spiritual journey, this veteran missionary can show us how to finish the race worthy of a “well done” from our Lord.

1. There is a Race to win. (v. 7)

• Our worthy goal is to finish our God-given race and keep the faith.

2. There are friendships to nurture. (vv. 9-12)

• Paul knew the value of friendships. Romans 16 is a gallery of his friends.

3. There are broken relationships to restore. (v.11)

• Paul was close to the end of life’s journey, and he wanted to restore any fractured relationships.

4. There are disappointments to handle. (v. 10)

• Disappointments are inevitable in our church and family life. How we handle them really counts.

5. There are life-long lessons to learn. (v. 13)

• While in prison, Paul still read books and wrote letters.

6. There are adversaries to release to the Lord. (vv. 15-16)

• What Paul wrote in Romans 12:19, he practiced throughout his ministry.

7. There are people to forgive. (vv. 16-17)

• What Paul heard from Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7:60), may have left an indelible impression on him.

8. There is a Lord who is able to deliver us. (v. 18)

• This may be a reference to Paul’s release from his first imprisonment.

Conclusion: Let’s join Paul in running our race well!