2 Timothy 2:1-2
Tale of two plumbers
Plumber 1 – expert plumber, he can fix anything
and does. Any time there is a problem, he takes
care of it. He has all the tools and knowledge to
take care of any plumbing situation.
His kids grow up and start a family of their own.
They don’t have any plumbing issues either
because they just call dad to help out. They
learned a few things from dad, but dad comes over
and takes care of most of the plumbing problems.
The next generation comes along and they begin to
face some plumbing problems. The second
generation was able to see the dad at work. They
even went on some jobs with him. The third
generation never saw any tools used. The grandpa
is getting old now and isn’t able to help the third
generation out. He just hires a plumber. The skill
of the first generation was never passed on.
Plumber 2 – same expert plumber. Deliberate at
training his two sons. He said “you may never be a
full time plumber, but I want you to be able to do
every plumbing job you would need.”
He took them to many jobs so they were working
right next to him. They didn’t just watch, they
performed the work. This is what the father told
them,
“There is one thing I want you to do as my
sons take this training and teach it to every son
you have. There are two ways to teach,you can show
him or you can show him until he can do it and then
let him do it.
Today we are going to wrap up our discipleship series.
As a reminder, here is what we have discussed so far:
- Who is a Disciple?
- How Should a Disciple Live?
- What is the Mission of a Disciple?
- Why should a Disciple be Obedient?
- The Cost of being a Gospel Sharing Disciple
Today we are going to answer the question “How does a
disciple maker make disciples?”
We are going to explore the concept of multiplication.
No, not the math.
This message is about a disciple showing his disciple how
to make more disciples who make more disciples.
Let’s take another look at my definition of a disciple:
A disciple is committed to loving God and others,
walking in His commands, sharing His message and
making more disciples.
Maybe I should have added the phrase “who make more
disciples” to the end of my definition. Because if we don’t
teach those we disciple to go and do the same, who will
do it?
2 Timothy 2:1-2
Discipleship begins with a relationship.
Paul calls Timothy his child in verse 1.
He loves him like he would his own child if he had one.
He also addresses the letter to Timothy, my beloved child
back in the first chapter.
Also in the first chapter Paul reminds Timothy that he is
praying for him night and day.
Paul mentions Timothy’s mother and grandmother, Lois
and Eunice, who also had faith in Christ and lived it out in
front of Timothy.
Paul had spent time with Timothy getting to know his
background and about his family. Paul built a relationship
with Timothy.
Paul tells Timothy to be strengthened by the grace that is
in Christ Jesus.
This phrase be strengthened is interesting.
It is a passive imperative.
Paul is not telling Timothy to strengthen himself, he is
telling him to allow God to give him the strength he
needs to keep on being the pastor at his church in
Ephesus.
Even if persecution comes Timothy’s way.
But it’s still a command.
Paul is also telling Timothy to pass on what he has
learned from him to other believers.
What has Timothy learned from Paul?
For this we have to go back to the first letter Paul wrote
to Timothy.
Paul shared his;
Purpose
I Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues
from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere
faith.”
Paul taught about;
Salvation
I Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving
of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
Paul confirmed the importance of;
Prayer
I Timothy 2:1,8 “First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings
be made for all people,
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray,
lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.”
Paul also stressed the importance of;
Godliness
I Timothy 4:7b “…Rather train yourself for godliness”
These things Paul is writing to Timothy are the same
things he shared with him when he was in person
discipling Timothy.
Now Paul wants Timothy to find someone that he can
share these things with in the same way Paul shared
them with him.
Paul tells Timothy to “entrust to faithful men who will be
able to teach others also.”
Entrust in the Greek is actually a compound word.
Para which means beside and
Tithemi which means place.
Literally entrust means to place something beside
someone or to set or place before someone.
Now, let’s go back to the previous chapter and see how
Paul describes what has been entrusted to him.
2 Timothy 1:8-14 “Therefore do not be ashamed of
the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by
the power of God, who saved us and called us to a
holy calling, not because of our works but because
of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in
Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now
has been manifested through the appearing of our
Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and
apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have
believed, and I am convinced that he is able to
guard until that day what has been entrusted to
me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you
have heard from me, in the faith and love that are
in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells
within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to
you.”
Notice how Paul recaps the gospel.
We are saved by God not because of anything we have
done. It’s all the completed work of Christ on the cross.
Notice he mentions that Jesus abolished death and gives
us eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because he knows that
God has saved him and he now lives his life so that as
many as possible can come to that saving faith in Christ.
Paul has invested in the life of Timothy.
He developed a relationship with him and taught him how
to be a disciple. And now he is teaching Timothy to do
the same thing.
This is how God wants His church to function.
APPLICATION
If you make disciples, you always get the church. But if
you make a church, you rarely get disciples. Unknown
author
Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all the nations.
He never said, go and build churches.
But when we make disciples they will want to go to
church somewhere.
This is a great time to take stock of our lives.
Are we being discipled?
Are we making disciples?
Are the disciples we are making disciples of others?
We also should remember that our disciple maker is a
disciple of Christ just like we are.
They are going to mess up. They are human.
We worship God not our disciple maker.
Be Imitators of Christ
We are to be holy just as God is holy.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:1 “Be imitators of God, as
beloved children.”
Let’s be imitators of Christ.