The Heart and Soul of Disciple-making!

These two verses in 2 Timothy 2 are the heart and soul of disciple-making. They involve the greatest disciple-maker that ever lived apart from the Lord Jesus himself, the Apostle Paul, and perhaps the greatest model of a disciple in the process of being built into a reproductive, multiplying, world-visionary, world-impacting disciple in Timothy.

While there was a great multitude that stood out to Paul as his spiritual children in the Lord, there was one man whom Paul considered special in a peculiar way.  This man was Timothy, the son of Eunice.

In six of Paul’s letters, Timothy’s name is associated with his own in the opening lines, and in four of these Timothy’s name is the only one associated with Paul’s in this way.  From the beginning of their association, Timothy shared Paul’s ministry on a permanent basis. Timothy was Paul’s disciple, or intern, or understudy, or apprentice. In the letter to the Philippian church, Paul has been admonishing them to practice humility in its total life.  To enforce his admonition, Paul presents the examples of Jesus, of Paul himself, of Timothy, and of Epaphroditus.  Paul uses Timothy as a role model for the Philippian church.  With this in mind, we will do a brief profile of the process of disciple-making, using Paul and Timothy as a pattern.

(I gladly and humbly confess that the majority of this teaching is that of my discipler and spiritual father, Brother Herb Hodges. My desire is not recognition for writing but reproduction of disciples – all of which will be in the down-line of Brother Herb!)

I. A Summons to Resist the Pressures Toward Defection – 1:13-18

The therefore in 2 Tim. 2:1 takes us back to at least to verses 13-18 in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2 verse one, the word “you” is major stress (Holy Spirit shouts!) Why? Because of the conclusion of chapter one which has contrasted the “faithless many” and a “faithful one”.  Paul is saying to his disciple, “Timothy, as for YOU, make the choice to be faithful and a finisher, not fickle and a fallout!”

A. The Choice of the Faithless Many 

1:13-15 — Although “all” those in Asia Minor had deserted Paul, he singles out two men in particular, Phygelus and Hermogenes. We know nothing of these individuals but what is here mentioned. It would seem that they were prominent persons, and those from whom the apostle had been discipling and had expect better for his investment in them.  “The ecclesiastical traditions allege that they were of the seventy disciples, and in the end became followers of Simon Magus.” This is just conjecture. It is a sad thing when the only record made of a man – the only evidence which we have that he ever lived at all – is, that he turned away from a friend, or forsook the discipling process with the greatest of disciple-makers. And yet there are many men of whom the only thing to be remembered of them is, that they lived to do wrong.

Lesson – Do not be surprised when potential disciples defect and drop out on you!

B. The Choice of a Faithful One 

2 Timothy 1:16-18 – Paul dismisses the faithless defectors with one short verse but uses three verses to commend Onesiphorus. In verse 16 he is in Rome, and then in verse 18 he is half-way across the Roman Empire. All of this effort and expense was in order to catch up with the greatest disciple-maker in history and minister to him as well as getting further infected with the Master and his Mandate.  Onesiphorus had shown great kindness to Paul: he refreshed him, he often refreshed him with his letters, and counsels, and comforts, and he was not ashamed of his chains. He was not ashamed of him, not withstanding the disgrace he was now under. He was kind to him not once or twice, but often; not only when he was at Ephesus among his own friends, but when Onesiphorus was at Rome; he took care to seek Paul out very diligently, and found him, 2Tim 1:17.

C. The Choice Facing Timothy 

2 Timothy 2:1 – Two little monosyllable words in the Greek bear the stress of this second letter to Timothy. In 2:1, the words are, “su oun” and in 4:5, “su de” and could be translated “YOU therefore” or “but for YOU! Paul suspends Timothy between the “faithless and the faithful” and says in essence, “YOU must make the choice of which category you will live!

Others may conform to the spirit of the age, yield to the pressures of public opinion, run for fear of their lives, or trade the truth of the gospel for the trinkets of the market – BUT NOT YOU! YOU THEREFORE!”

Lesson – We Face this Choice on a Regular Basis – Convenience or Commitment? Interpersonal disciple-making relationships or Independent safe and cozy relationships? But as for YOU – which?

II. The Strategy for Reproducing the Savior’s Model of Disciple-making

A. The Dynamic for Being and Building Disciples Must be Understood

2 Timothy 2:1 – Before Paul sets forth the process of building disciples, he first reminds Timothy of the supernatural power needed to complete the Master’s assignment.

Be strengthened is the Greek word endunamou and it is as a present passive imperative of endunamoo and could be translated: “Keep on being empowered,” or “keep in touch with the power.”  Note the location of the power is in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Christ is the dynamo for power only when and while we keep in touch with him. So Paul reminds Timothy that the assignment to turn men into disciples doesn’t rest on his ability but on the availability and unlimited accessibility to the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

Spend much time with your disciples teaching them about Christ Jesus! – Christ Jesus is unique to Paul. All the other writers refer to him as Jesus Christ because they first knew him as Jesus (humanity) and then Christ (deity). But Paul meet him first as Christ – the Messiah (brilliant vision and loud voice from heaven on Damascus Road). Then clarification as to who the Messiah was—Jesus – in Saul of Tarsus former opinion – the despised Nazarene peasant!

Lesson – Spend much time with your disciples teaching them about the person of Christ Jesus! (Use those great Christological passages like John 1:1-18; John 8 (I AM); John 10; Romans 1:1-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-23; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 John 1:1-3; Revelation 1:9-20.

B. The Decision for Building Disciples Must be Intentional and Relational

 Some synonyms for intentional are: deliberate, calculated, on purpose, premeditated. We must understand that we will not build disciples by accident or as a residual effect of typical institutional type church programs.

1. Building Disciples involves a Mutual Partnership that is Intentional in Design

 The mission is simple: to be and make disciples. In order to make disciples we must know what Jesus intended. What is the finished product to look like? A disciple is a pupil, a student, a disciplined learner, a practitioner of his or her master’s commands. A disciple seeks to learn wisdom from his or her teacher in order to imitate the teacher’s way of life. The practice of steadfast obedience, faithful following, and radical commitment are all contained in the word “disciple.”

2.  Building Disciples involves a Spiritual Apprenticeship that is Relational in Nature – 1 Tim 1:2. 18,20; 2 Tim 2:2

(1Ti 1:2) “To Timothy, my true child in the faith…”’  (1Ti 1:18) “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, …”

Paul chose a man of most unlikely character – very timid, fearful, and very many years younger than he and discipled him into a champion for Christ. Disciple-making is spiritual parenting. Timothy wasn’t Paul’s “blood son” but his “under the blood of Jesus” son!

Where are the Timothy’s who are being discipled and trained? Where are the men and women who are being motivated, encouraged, prepared and called by the Lord to meet the needs of a hungry, broken and lost world? We need more people consumed with a passion to send servants into the world with the message of hope, peace and salvation. Paul’s discipling of Timothy blazes an unmistakable trail for us all to follow.

(a) Timothy was Available — Timothy lived at Lystra. Acts 16:1. Paul’s first visit there almost cost him his life. Acts 14:19-20. On his second visit an event happened that proved to be one of the greatest joys of his life. He met Timothy. His mother was a Jewess and a believer. His father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and nearby Iconium spoke well of him. Acts 16:1-2. Paul recruited Timothy and invited him to join the team. Acts 16:3.

Instead of excusing himself from accepting Paul’s invitation to be discipled by him with lame excuses like, “I’m too busy, too young, too inexperienced, Timothy made himself available to this great man of God. As a result of his availability, Timothy got discipled by the greatest, most capable man in the history of the church.

(b). Timothy was Teachable — Timothy was young, inexperienced and timid. Paul knew that the way ahead was full of problems, trials and opposition. Why did Paul select him to be the disciple he would train as a laborer for Christ? He obviously perceived his potential. He was prepared to put in the years of discipling to help this young man develop and serve God.

(c). Timothy was willing to be a Servant –  Some people want to serve God on their own conditions. Timothy was fully committed. He was willing to ‘lose his life’ (Matt. 10: 39), as he served others. Timothy demonstrates servant-hood. Servants are rare. Some of us prefer to be served by others, but he was eager to serve people. Phil. 2:20. Because of this, Paul the great discipler described him as a ‘minister of God and fellow-laborer in the Gospel of Christ’. 1Thess. 3:2.

C. The Deposit of Life and Learning must be Unselfish

Timothy not only patterned his life after Paul, but he in turn established, nurtured and trained other disciples. We sent Timothy…to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith. 1Thess. 3:2. Timothy had the capacity to catch Paul’s vision and approach to his ministry and share it with others. The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others. 2Tim. 2:2.

(1) Building Disciples involves a Mentoring Relationship that is Personal in Nature — 2 Tim 2:2

One disciple-maker observed, “You, as a discipler, need to make Paul’s kind of commitment. If you truly love your disciples, you will spend time and money and anything else to see them mature. If you are too preoccupied with your own needs and interests, not willing to give your total energy to those disciples, you will never see them grow to be all that they can be. If you give of yourself to your disciples, then they in return will give of themselves to what you believe in. Discipling demands sacrifice, and that means hard work.”

Disciple-making involves never trying to do the job alone. Failure to heed this axiom is a prelude to frustration and pain.

Consider this thought by Japanese missionary, Dr. W. Maxfield Garrott (1941) — “…we have seen how Jesus lived night and day with twelve men…and made something of them.  The implication for us today is obvious.  To get results comparable to His, all you have to do is to be like Jesus and live close enough to few enough men for them to acquire His image through you.  Very simple.”

(2)Building Disciples involves a Supervised Stewardship that is Biblically Based – 2 Tim 2:2

Protect the deposit — The word “commit” may also be translated, “deposit.”  The word “deposit,” or “invest,” also has in it the idea of propagation.  Why is a deposit of money made in a bank?  To perpetuate and increase the principal!  To draw a dividend!  To gain interest!  To multiply!  This, I think, is the very reason Jesus used so many illustrations about money.  Money can be multiplied by proper investment! The Gospel, a far greater treasure than any amount of money, can be multiplied by proper investment!  Indeed, it must be.  This is our Commission!   

Perpetuate the deposit  — Faithful stewardship of the Gospel treasure that God has deposited into our care involves Propagating or perpetuating the treasure so that it has a continuing and ceaseless history of blessing the lives of men in all future history. This is precisely what the process disciple-making entails. What a stewardship!

Apparently, this is a gigantic stewardship with which every Christian is entrusted, and for which he is responsible.  And the New Testament makes it clear that the purpose of my stewardship of the Gospel is multiplication.  I am to so invest the Gospel in the lives of others through evangelism and strategic disciple-making that multiplication is guaranteed.

This principle of multiplication is revealed in many, many areas of life.  Take, for example, the matter of biological cell division in a living organism.  Dr. Daniel Mazia, professor of zoology at the University of California at Berkeley, said, “The rule for life is double or nothing.  With few exceptions a living cell either reproduces or it dies: the principle is so simple that no one has bothered to call it a principle.  A cell is born in the division of a parent cell.  It then doubles in every respect: in every part, in every kind of molecule, even in the amount of water it contains.”  Christian, read every phrase of Dr. Mazia’s statement studiously, pondering the application to Christian disciple-making.  Then further consider the following biological statistics.

One fertilized human cell multiplies itself, in a mere nine months of pregnancy, no less than 120,000,000,000 times to around 7 trillion cells!  And this does not occur haphazardly, but in such a way as to create the marvel of a human baby with all its personality and the organic complexity of its human nature built into it.  You only have to think of the formation of the eye during this relatively brief period to realize what a stupendous miracle this phenomenon is.  No wonder Jesus referred to His Church as His “Body.”  He envisioned a living organism, a “body” of living cells, each one of which is in full reproduction and leading to vast multiplication.

This, then, is the meaning of Paul’s association with Timothy.  This, then, is the meaning of my association with Jesus as His disciple, and my association with my own disciple.  May I ask my Timothys, How are you doing in the process?  Are you faithfully handling the deposit?  Are you true to your entrustment?  Is your sense of entitlement (what you own as a Christian) matched by a blessed sense of entrustment (what you owe as a Christian)?  Timothy, how are you doing? And, by the way, where is your Timothy? 

3. Building Disciples involves an OJT(on-the-job) Fellowship that produces Transformational Imitation of Life and Learning

 Shouldn’t our disciples follow the Lord and not us? Isn’t the command to follow or imitate, limited only to following Jesus Christ or imitating the Apostles? Sounding noble, this question is often asked but betrays a lack commitment to New Testament ministry. The probing question  “What did they do in New Testament times?” has ceased to be our determining guide for ministry today. However, the Scripture claims that it is both authoritative and sufficient not only for Christian maturity but also for all ministry. cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Jesus often called others to “Follow me,” with the Apostle Paul imitating his example. cf. 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; 3:7, 9; Phil. 4:9; Acts 20:20. We presume the other Apostles did the same as they gave their lives to the Great Commission. cf. Matt. 28:19-20. They are to be our models of how we do ministry and not the exceptions simply because they were special Apostles. Paul commanded Timothy to mentor other faithful men in the same way in which he was mentored. cf 2 Timothy 2:1-2 compare with 3:10-11. This isn’t just for these special men but the outworking of the Great Commission given to all believers.

One great man has said ‘Use them or lose them’. A disciple’s involvement must be real. A disciple must speak of ‘our ministry’ instead of ‘your ministry’. Paul knew how to pass on responsibility. Necessity may have demanded it, but he saw to it that Timothy could cope and that he received encouragement. 2Tim. 1:4-5. Timothy went on to serve alone and towards the end of Paul’s life he was invited to minister to his discipler. 2Tim. 4:21.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “The things that you have heard from me…commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2). “Paul and Timothy.”  Here we see the importance of one disciple (nobody can have two until he first has one). If we really operated in a Christ-like manner and by His method, would there be any single specific work that would always characterize us?  Yes!  Jesus clearly modeled the strategy which He mandated in the Great Commission, and both model and mandate are exemplified in the words, “Paul and Timothy.”  The Commission of Jesus is to “turn people into disciples,” and His own method and ministry provide the only acceptable interpretation of His command. Every Christian is commanded to “turn people into disciples,” and this must be done reasonably after the model of Jesus if it is to be done properly.  One of my most important environments is the small atmosphere which prevails around me and my disciple. One of my most important involvements is my involvement with my disciple.  The procedure and product of my disciple-making ministry must be constantly measured by those of Jesus, so the final test is in the product.  I cannot succeed without a successor, a disciple. The principle of succession is an indispensable principle in true Christianity.

D. The Design for Building Disciples must be a Multi-generational Undertaking!

(1) Building Disciples involves a Maturing Friendship that is Reproductive in Intent

2 Tim 2:2c — What is emphasized is that the “mathetes always implies the existence of a personal attachment which shapes the whole life of the one described as .” (Kittel, vol. 4, p. 441) They were controlled by the man to whom they had committed themselves, extending to all areas of the inner life. This was not simply a loose casual friendship or even relationship among peers. It suggests a definite leader and an obedient follower, i.e., a relationship, or as we would say today, a relationship. This is why true New Testament discipleship is often radically different than the American model, where egalitarianism has eliminated the possibility of a human mentor with authority. To commit oneself to a mentor is to follow what he/she says!

The process is not ended when a Christian makes a disciple as Christ commanded. Indeed, the process has but barely begun at that point. It is at this point that many disciple-makers abort the process by being falsely satisfied with a disciple or a group of disciples. No, the process is not properly undertaken until each disciple envisions and acts toward (at least) four more generations of disciples. We simply must not fail to see this. Timothy is to deposit that which Paul has deposited into his care into the lives of “faithful men,” who in turn will be enabled (by the disciple-making process) to teach others, also. This is the succession deposit, and great consideration and care must be given to it. The exact words of the Scripture text must be mulled over again and again. “And the things which thou (Timothy) hast heard of me (Paul) among many witnesses, the same commit (deposit) to faithful men, who will be able to teach others, also.” There are four generations of disciples in that one verse! We will never satisfactorily fulfill the Great Commission until we see through each disciple we are presently building to a fourth generation, and build the present disciple with such a qualitative building process that the fourth generation is all but guaranteed by the quality of the present process.

There is only one command in II Timothy 2:2, which I have quoted twice in the preceding paragraph. The one command is in the word “commit,” or “deposit.” Remember, Christian, this is a command of God! And one part of the verse bears major emphasis, or heavy stress, in the Greek text. It is the term, “others, also.” “Others, also!” “Others, also!!” “OTHERS, ALSO!!!” This is the passion and pulse beat of Jesus. We must never be content to merely build disciples, which easily degenerates into a personal piety, self-help, self-gratifying, self-curling, turned-in-upon-itself, caricature of Christianity. And note that the quality of the process that reaches the fourth generation must “enable” the fourth generation disciples to “teach others, also.” In other words, the disciple must not be permitted to merely see himself as a learner (the basic meaning of the word “disciple”), but he must be so trained (“enabled”) that he sees himself as a teacher. What an assignment! So the goals of a disciple-maker must include the development of teaching attitudes and aptitudes in an emerging fourth generation of disciples. WHAT AN ASSIGNMENT!!!

There is no success without a successor! Think expansively of the full genius of Paul’s oft repeated introduction to several of his letters: “Paul and Timothy.” Here is the genius of the strategy of Jesus. That innocent sounding phrase combines all the factors: (1) A revelational Christian (“Paul”)–the kind every Christian should be; (2) The relational conjunction (“and”)-all the relational mandates of the New Testament funnel into that one tiny word. Everything succeeds and continues only if your name is followed by the “and” of a disciple’s name and reproductive history. (3) The reproducing colleague (“Timothy”)– here is one of Paul’s many successors, and the fact that he had many accounts for the success of his ministry.

In The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert Coleman emphasizes that: “The test of any Christian life is the multiplication of that life in others.” In the same way, the test of any Christian ministry is the multiplication of that ministry in the lives of others.”

Spiritual multiplication is God’s planned vision and strategy for reaching our present world population and all future generations through those we win and train now. Note that it is God’s planned vision and strategy. This plan is referred to again and again in Scripture, and leaps to the front in the strategic early chapters of Acts as the regular practice of the early church.

The strategy of multiplication by disciple-making must not be thought of merely as a strategy for building a local church, but for total world impact. A church that merely implodes to enlarge its membership and then incidentally adds world impact as a by-product of its growth will never satisfactorily impact the world, however large it may become. Furthermore, if a “missionary” church only sends ministering missionaries and does not teach them how to instill a process of disciple-making that leads to a vast movement of multiplication through individual disciples where the missionary serves, that church is greatly reducing the potential for advance in the field where the missionary serves. Total world impact by building individual disciples who will multiply through many enlarging generations should be the first ministry goal of every Christian and every local Body of Christ. The principle is simple: The light that shines farthest must necessarily shine brightest nearest home.

The potential of spiritual multiplication is the same as that of biological multiplication. The only reason we don’t recognize this is that the process of spiritual multiplication has been hidden beneath a thousand other practices and techniques which have prevailed in the church throughout its recent history. We have substituted the building of crowds and institutions for the qualitative building of individuals.

An old adage says, “Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.”

Question: When truth reaches you, does it become terminal or germinal? If it becomes terminal with you, you will never know the real victory of the Christian life. If it becomes germinal with you, each disciple you build may be “the foundation of many generations” through the process of spiritual multiplication.

Question: Since the Greek word translated “disciple” (the word mathetes) gives us the root word for our word “mathematics,” and since God’s strategy is a mathematical strategy, could it be that the Christian’s Final Exam will be a math test? And the one question will concern multiplication of disciples? What can one expect if they have not a single disciple to show for their entire Christian experience?

Begin now to ask God for a Timothy that you can disciple. When God gives you a personal Timothy, begin to spend time with him.  Pray for him.  Develop ambitions for him.  Take him with you on your ministry assignments.  Teach him what you know.  Find opportunities for him to develop his ministry gifts.  Be aware that there is a price to pay in handing over ministries to younger assistants.  They will not, at first, do the same high-quality work as the leader.  However, you must remember your own mistakes and failures as you were starting out.  But mistakes and failures are “the back door to success.”  One day, you will stand before Jesus, and you will be glad then for all the investments you made in your Timothy.