Our faith can be damaged and completely destroyed. We must be cautious for a shipwrecked faith.

1. Shipwrecked Faith
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy,
according to the prophecies previously made
concerning you, that by them you may wage the
good warfare, 19 having faith and a good
conscience, which some having rejected,
concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn
not to blaspheme.

2. The REALITY of Shipwrecks

Paul names two men who have shipwrecked

Hymenaeus

2 Timothy 2:16-18 16 But shun profane and
idle babblings, for they will increase to more
ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread
like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this
sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth,
saying that the resurrection is already past; and
they overthrow the faith of some.

3. The REALITY of Shipwrecks

Paul names two men who have shipwrecked

Alexander

2 Timothy 4:14-15 14 Alexander the
coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord
repay him according to his works. 15 You also
must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted
our words.

We need to remember shipwrecks can happen
to us. No one is immune.

4. The REASONS for Shipwrecks

They put away the faith.

NKJV – rejected; KJV – put away

This is not accidental. It is a deliberate act.

The word means “to thrust or push away”

Hymenaeus – rejected the faith, embraced
false doctrine

Alexander – developed a mean spirit and
worked against the Lord

5. The REASONS for Shipwrecks

The move from truth to error is not sudden.

It is a subtle drifting away.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more
earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest
we drift away.

Many are backsliding while thinking they think
they are going forward.

Sometimes we just lose power and drift.

6. The RESULTS of Shipwreck

“Delivered to Satan”

1 Corinthians 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan
for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus

Our sins have consequences

On yourself

Impacts others around you

Harms your influence for good

7. The RESULTS of Shipwreck

Spiritual death is a possibility.

1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning
a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask,
and He will give him life for those who commit
sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to
death. I do not say that he should pray about
that.

8. The REMEDY for Shipwrecks
5 Steps to Recovery

Obey orders 
“This charge I commit
to you” (18)

Military word for
following the
command of a
superior officer

We must learn to
obey our Lord.

9. The REMEDY for Shipwrecks
5 Steps to Recovery

Obey orders

Fulfilling

“According to the
prophecies” (18)

All the good success
and blessings that
were predicted.

Now we must “flesh
out” those promises.

10. The REMEDY for Shipwrecks
5 Steps to Recovery

Obey orders

Fulfilling

Fight

“Wage the good
warfare” (18)

Jesus – our captain

World – our enemy

Protection – armor

Weapons – Sword of
the Spirit, prayer

11. The REMEDY for Shipwrecks
5 Steps to Recovery

Obey orders

Fulfilling

Fight

Have Faith

“Having faith” (19)

Not had, or try to get

But “lay hold of a
thing to own or
possess for oneself”

Keep the faith – don't
let it slip (drift) away

12. The REMEDY for Shipwrecks
5 Steps to Recovery

Obey orders

Fulfilling

Fight

Have Faith

Good Conscience

“Having faith and a
good conscience”
(19)

“If it feels good, do it”

Conscience must
follow our faith and
obedience.

13. Is your life a “wreck”?

If Paul were writing today, would your
name be in his letter to Timothy?

Have you already shipwrecked?

Are you headed for a shipwreck?

It is not too late to make some course
corrections and get your life headed in the
right direction.