Slices
Prepare
Pause and give thanks for the wonderful gifts God gives to us through Christ: grace, mercy and peace.
Bible passage
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy charged to oppose false teachers
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practising homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Explore
We often associate mission with the word ‘go’. We applaud, pray for and support those who have heard God’s call to ‘go’. We consider that they are making challenging choices for the sake of the kingdom, leaving behind what they have known and going somewhere new. But Paul instructs Timothy to stay (v 3). This is not an easy option. Timothy is not being given a rest or a break from his work. He is to stay and speak out against those teaching false doctrines and leading meaningless discussions (vs 3,6). This will be a hard task (v 18) but is the loving thing to do (v 5) and is vital to the advancement of the kingdom (v 4).
Timothy’s mission is to ensure the church is taught sound doctrine, including how to use the law properly (v 8). As the law reveals sinfulness it points towards the need for a saviour, fixing the eyes of the church on Jesus and his redemptive work (vs 9–11).
Is God asking you to stay? To speak out for the glory of God (v 11) where you are? Staying, when done in obedience to God’s call, is as important as going.
Respond
Think of people you know who have ‘stayed’ to serve God where they are. Pray for them, asking God to help them keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and to know with certainty that they are where God is asking them to be.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 21; Mark 7
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Tanya Pencheva as she looks after the administration for SU’s Bible Reading Guides – printed notes, apps and Word Live. Pray that she will know how to provide fast and accurate support to the Mission Resources Director and the new members of the team.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
