Is the pine cone a seed or a fruit? Actually it is neither. The pine cone's main function is to keep a pine tree’s seeds safe – they remain closed during cold temperatures for protection and then open during warmer weather so the seeds can be released. You will discover in this week's teaching ideas how you could use the pine cone as an illustration as you guide your group through the Explore the Bible Study: Enduring.

In 2 Timothy 3:12-17 and 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Paul leaves Timothy with some closing words related to continuing or enduring until the end. While it is evident, even today, that the conditions for sharing our faith are challenging, we as believers need to continue to be faithful so that the seeds of the gospel may be sown.

Video Illustration
The closing portion of the downloadable teaching ideas suggests a video that could be used to demonstrate how heat causes a pine cone to release the seeds. Often, when believers experience "heat" from a hostile world, the seeds of the gospel are scattered in abundance.

Consider using the video as a part of closing your session.

More Comparisons to a Pine Cone

• Pine cones can remain on the tree for more than 10 years before dropping to the ground, and the Eastern Pine cone could have as many as 100 seeds encased in each.
• Like the pine cone, believers can only produce the seeds of the gospel if conditions are right, but we must be ready. 
• We get ready by continuing to embrace the faith of those who invested in us and by growing in the knowledge of God’s Word -- See 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

May Paul’s final challenge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5-8 be one we take to heart as we face a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel.

But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:5-8 CSB)

We are vessels that contain the seeds of the gospel. We are expected to produce fruit as  believers. Given the right conditions, just like the pine cone, we have the opportunity to produce fruit. May our prayer be that when it is time for our departure from this world, we, like Paul, can be as at peace regarding all we have done to live faithfully and to scatter the seeds of the gospel.

The word “diligent” is not one we use in everyday conversations, but it can describe a positive character trait. Someone who is diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort. In LifeWay's Explore the Bible Study: Diligent, Paul reminds Timothy about the importance of remaining diligent as a follower of Christ.

It is easy to lose focus in a world filled with so many distractions. I am sure you can identify circumstances, challenges, and cultural issues that has caused you and other believers to lose focus. This week's Explore The Bible Study: Focused, will provide some ways in which we can remain focused on living, sharing, and showing the good news of Jesus.

The supplemental teaching ideas session will focus (no pun intended) on 2 Timothy 2:1-9. This is not all the passages suggested in the Explore The Bible curriculum but can help you close with a challenge based on 2 Timothy 8-9 that helps your group determine actions they need to take in order to remain focused on Christ.

LOOK UP Ideas
The downloadable ideas provide three opening options that could be used to inject a little fun while getting your group ready to look into God's Word. One is a PowerPoint that will need to be downloaded.

LOOK IN Ideas
In 2 Timothy 2:3-7, the Apostle Paul uses three occupations as symbols of the Christian life. He wanted Timothy to learn lessons from these occupations and apply them in order to remain focused. Consider enlisting individuals from your group who might have experienced these occupations to share their experiences as they relate to what Paul is saying.

LOOK OUT Ideas
Paul concludes with a reminder in 2 Timothy 2:8-9--one which we can’t forget if we are to remain focused as believers.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. (2 Timothy 2:8-9, CSB)

• Paul said to remember – to remain focused!
• We need to remember Who Jesus Christ is and what He did!
• We need to remember that, no matter our circumstances, God’s word is not bound!

Optional Image Activity
Consider using one of the following images as a part of your closing emphasis, reminding your group to remain focused on Christ.

Image One: Concentrate on the four small dots at the center for a few seconds, and then blink your eyes while looking at the white paper next to the image. What do you see?













Image Two: Stare at the center of the image below without blinking until the 3D images in the background become visible.


We cannot lose focus because of the distractions of this world, or the good things, or difficult things we experience. We should concentrate on Christ.

When you saw the image for this post, many of you might have wondered what heresy might be covered in this week's session. No worries. This isn't the case for this weeks Explore the Bible Study: Confidence. A study of 2 Timothy 1:3-14 will lead you and your group to really take a hard look at "Who" we should base our confidence upon. 

Imagine you were the Apostle Paul. You were in a Roman prison for the second and final time before facing death. You had faithfully shared the gospel and invested in many believers, and now you were staring death in the face. How confident would you be? Would you be thinking "positive thoughts," or would you be wondering if you had chased a pipe dream?

What we see in the Apostle Paul is one who is more convinced and confident than ever because he knew in whom he had believed and was persuaded that He (Christ) was able to guard what had been entrusted to him until that day -- see 2 Timothy 1:12. His confidence was not in himself but in the Christ who had begun a good work in Him the moment he received Christ as his Savior (Philippians 1:6).

Challenging Questions
Consider using the following for each point of your outline. Note that these questions follow a different progression than what is provided in the study guide. More details about these questions are provided in the supplemental teaching ideas you can download.

2 Timothy 1:3-5
Paul begins with an interesting phrase in verse 3, "I serve with a clear conscience."

• What might prevent us from having a clear conscience? (unresolved sin; continued guilt from forgiven sin; disobedience; the memories of past sins that have been forgiven; etc.)
• How can unresolved sin impact our confidence to serve Christ?
• How can guilt from sins that have been forgiven impact our confidence to serve Christ?
• Imagine you were discouraged in your faith and Paul was writing you. How would the reminders about others' belief in Christ encourage you and boost your confidence in the Lord?
• Whose faith demonstrations encourage you to continue to be confident in the Lord?
• Who could you encourage today by reminding them of their relationship with Christ?

Paul tells Timothy to rekindle the gift of God that is in him. Notice, he has moved from encouraging words about Timothy’s faith in Christ to encouraging instruction related to Timothy’s ministry as a believer.

The slippery slope of greed starts as a temptation, becomes a trap, then ultimately turns into a tragedy. This description is used in LifeWay's Explore The Bible Study: Lasting Investments, to describe the dangers of pursing wealth versus pursuing godliness. The love of money and the relentless pursuit of wealth becomes a consuming fire that burns away at one’s desire to pursue godliness. We should avoid pursuing the provisions of God more than the Provider Himself.

As you guide your group through 1 Timothy 6, challenge them to evaluate whether or not they are placing more focus on pursing godliness versus pursuing wealth and success.

Remember, Paul isn’t telling Timothy that money is evil but that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is neutral. Because someone is wealthy doesn’t mean they are less or more spiritual, nor, on the other hand, just because someone is not wealthy does not mean they are less or more spiritual.  Paul is warning us that pursuing wealth (loving money) is a trap that plunges people into destruction (1 Timothy6:9). Rich and poor believers' lives can be out of balance if the love of money consumes their daily thoughts and dictates their daily actions.

Evaluation
Lead your group to consider these questions at the end of your session:

• Which consumes your time, energy, and focus more, the pursuit of wealth or the pursuit of godliness? 
• Which concerns me more? How much money do I have or how much of me does God have? 

Video Option
Consider using the following as you guide a discussion on greed.