A Farewell to Gateway

By Jon Augusta | March 30, 2025
Gateway Bible Church – Final Sunday
Text: 1 Timothy 6:11–12

---

Famous Last Words

There’s something weighty about final words. Whether they come from a historical figure or a close friend, we lean in when we know it’s the last thing they’ll say. Consider these:

• Marie Antoinette: “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur,” after stepping on her executioner’s foot.
• Leonardo da Vinci: “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”
• Winston Churchill: “I’m bored with it all.”
• Oscar Wilde (weeks before his death): “Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.”
• Thomas Jefferson & John Adams: “Thomas Jefferson survives,” (both unaware the other had died earlier).
• Frank Sinatra: “I’m losing it.”
• Bessie Smith: “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.”
• George Orwell: “I don’t need to forgive my enemies—I’ve had them all shot.”

Words matter. And when they are the last ones spoken, they often reveal what’s most important.

---

A Word from John

As we turn the page on this chapter of Gateway Bible Church, I want to take us to John 21:25—a verse I always hoped we’d reach in our study:

“Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

What a picture of the vastness of Jesus. And yet, this same Jesus met Paul—then a violent persecutor—in Acts 9 and transformed his life. That same Paul would later write, “To live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

As I reflected on what I might say in my final message to you all, I wanted to know: What were Paul’s final words to his churches? Here’s what I found:

• Romans 16:17–20 – “Watch out for those who cause divisions.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 – “Be watchful, stand firm, act like men, do everything in love.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:5–10 – “Examine yourselves. Test yourselves.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14–28 – A rich closing of encouragement and instruction.

And then… we come to 1 Timothy 6:11–12, where Paul gives Timothy a charge—a legacy—one that I now share with you.

---

The Final Charge

1 Timothy 6:11–12

Context

1 Timothy is what we call a “pastoral epistle”—a personal letter from Paul to Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. It’s often studied in men’s groups or leadership workshops, but make no mistake—this is for all of us. These words were preserved in Scripture by the Spirit of God for our benefit.

Before our key verse, Paul warns Timothy about false teachers, those motivated by greed and self-interest. But then, he turns the focus, and says:

“But as for you, O man of God…”

That title—“man of God”—is a weighty one. In the Old Testament, it was used for Moses, David, Elijah, and other prophets. In the New Testament, it’s only used for Timothy. And yet, it applies to anyone who belongs to Christ. That includes you.

You are not defined by your past. You are not your failures or labels. You are a man or woman of God, if your faith is in Jesus Christ.

---

FLEE

Paul urges Timothy to “flee these things”—what things?
The love of money. Greed. The cravings of this world.
These are not just minor distractions—they lead to destruction. Paul says many have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with grief.

We all have something we’re tempted to chase:

• Money?
• Pleasure?
• Comfort?
• Pornography?
• Attention?
• Approval?

Let’s be honest. We need to flee from whatever draws our hearts away from Jesus. Run from it like your life depends on it—because it does.

---

FOLLOW

But as we flee from those things, we must run toward something better. Paul lists six things to pursue:

1. Righteousness (dikaiosune) – Living rightly before God and others.
2. Godliness (eusebeia) – Reverence, living with a continual awareness of God.
3. Faith (pistis) – Unwavering trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
4. Love (agape) – Unconditional, Christ-like love.
5. Steadfastness (hupomone) – Enduring with patience, even in difficulty.
6. Gentleness (praus) – Responding with calm and humility, not anger or aggression.

Brothers and sisters—run after these things. Chase them the way the world chases success or celebrity. These are the real treasures of life.

---

FIGHT

Okay… I’ve made it this far without a single dad joke or motocross reference. But come on—what kind of music do chiropractors listen to?
Hip-pop.
And what cars do sheep drive?
Lamb-orghinis. 😄

Alright, now back to Paul’s final point:

“Fight the good fight of the faith.”

That word fight is where we get our word agonize. Think training. Grit. Sweat. Like an athlete pushing through the pain for the prize.

We are called to agonize in the faith. To train ourselves toward godliness with the same intensity an athlete trains for gold. Every single day. No off-season.

Then Paul says:

“Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”

That phrase—“take hold”—is like the suckerfish that clings to a shark. Wherever the shark goes, it stays attached. That’s how we should hold on to our eternal calling in Christ.

---

I want you to remember:

✦ Flee from the desires of the world.
✦ Follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.
✦ Fight the good fight of the faith.

Don’t settle. Don’t slow down. Don’t give up.

Hold fast.
Love Jesus deeply.
And keep running after Him.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think…”
—Ephesians 3:20