Josh McGuire - Be Like Demas, but Don't Be Like Demas | Austin CFC | 2022-05-29
Summary
The speaker encourages deep, personal study of scripture, noting how books like the Bible remain fresh upon repeated reading. He focuses on the character Demas, who appears three times in different New Testament books, suggesting this repetition is significant. The initial analysis centers on Philemon, revealing that Paul and Timothy co-authored the letter to Philemon, which concerns a runaway slave being returned to his owner as a brother.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Looking at Demas through scriptureThe speaker introduces a character study on Demas, noting that he is mentioned in three different books of the New Testament, which prompts a closer look at who he was.
First mention in PhilemonExamining the book of Philemon, co-written by Paul and Timothy, which addresses the runaway slave Onesimus and includes Demas among the brothers sending greetings.
Second mention in ColossiansLooking at the letter to the Colossians, another collaboration between Paul and Timothy, where Onesimus is received as a faithful brother and Demas is mentioned again sending greetings.
Third mention in Second TimothyIn Paul's final letter written from prison to Timothy alone, Paul expresses loneliness and shares the heartbreaking reality that Demas deserted him because he loved this present world.
The parable of the seed and the thornsRelating Demas's fall to the parable of the sower, where the worries and deceitfulness of riches choke out the seed so that it yields no crop.
Do not love the worldCiting the apostle John's direct admonition not to love the world or the things in the world, urging believers to put worldly fleshly desires to death.
Standing by Christ in His trialsContrasting Demas with Jesus's commendation of the disciples who stood by Him in His trials, expressing the desire to remain faithful to Christ and His body, the church.
Being diligent and avoiding worldly chatterA visiting brother shares a reading from Second Timothy about being a workman approved by God and avoiding worldly chatter that leads to further ungodliness.2 Timothy 2:15
Guard against being impressed by the worldAnother brother reflects on how Demas's fall was a subtle, gradual drifting and warns against being inwardly impressed by worldly status, wealth, or material things.
Setting affections on things aboveReflecting on the temptation of the world's passing attractions and the importance of setting affections on eternal things above rather than on earth.
Guarding against false expectations and idolsA final speaker warns that like Demas and Judas, disappointment with the reality of following Jesus can cause people to fall away, concluding with an exhortation to keep themselves from idols.
