Fan the Flame

Now more than ever, we spend our days wondering what’s going to happen next. We hear of wars, economic crises, and natural disasters around the world intensifying month after month.

Two millennia ago, the ancient world was also rapidly changing. Between his letters to Timothy, Paul went from living under house arrest to being behind bars awaiting execution. In his final letter to Timothy, his last recorded words on Earth, he offers advice for trying times: keep fanning the flame of God’s gift of the Gospel.

Campfires are always either growing or burning out and require frequent rekindling to stay alight. The same applies to our faith. We must put effort into keeping it alive and growing.

Paul gives three ways to keep our spiritual fire hot (2 Timothy 1:3-14). First, remember. The Bible stresses the importance of remembrance; the Old Testament repeats the story of the Exodus over 100 times to remind us of God’s faithfulness. Hold on to the moments you’ve encountered Him, from your first meeting to the present day, to renew your commitment and hope.

Second, be bold. It’s easy to surround ourselves with people who share our beliefs and remain silent when someone disagrees. While our differences aren’t the essence of the Gospel, they are opportunities to express our faith, show how it shapes new life, and fan the flames already burning in our hearts.

Third, embrace the cost of following Christ. We’re conditioned to avoid suffering, but it’s part of following Jesus. If we want to walk alongside Him and do the work He prepared for us, we can’t let fear stand in our way. Follow His example and press onward despite your apprehension, and your faith will be rekindled.

Even the most faithful must tend their flame. This week, consider which of these three steps you can take to stoke the fire in your heart.

You can watch the full sermon here.