SCRIPTURE | 2 Timothy 2:2 “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
OBSERVATION | The first lesson is to remove our lenses of the modern understanding of making disciples and the great commission. It is most difficult to do this, for it has been a long time the church has exalted the great commission above most all other calls to obedience. And who can argue against “saving souls” and “a love for souls” without sounding like someone sending the lost to hell with a grin?
Yet, we have before us one example of a correct understanding of the modern error. Today’s methods and view discipleship and evangelism make a practice like this verse look ancient and obscure, even wrong. It is out of touch with the church in our times. Why? Because since around the time of the reformation the church has championed and applauded the work of missionaries and preachers who attract great numbers and go to great extents to reach the lost. The Billy Graham’s crusades were an example of this
Yet, if we reflect on our verse, and ask today where the impact of those crusades have gone we begin to see the distortion of our modern views. JC Ryle, who lived long before Bill Graham, said that such events and big Christian gatherings are only any good if they make a lasting impact of the people in their daily living. If they make better mothers, better fathers, and better citizens. Discipling only those who are “faithful” and only those who are “able to teach others” shatters our modern lenses. For disciplining is what it means to “teach others.” The disciple was the student and the Rabi the teacher.
Second, we learn from our passage that making a disciple takes depth. It cannot be shallow. It takes time and depth to “entrust” “The things which you have heard from” scripture so that they “will be able to teach others also.” That is discipleship. That takes long-term commitments, not a door knocking event. Not that God cannot use such things, but the question 2 Timothy 2:2 asks is how is that “making disciples” and “teaching them to keep all that I commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20) in such a short, quick, easy and shallow way? What we have instead is the church of our day celebrating a cheap “conversion” and it has been celebrated for far too long while it is no-where the aim of Holy Scripture. Jesus’ example of making disciples included 3 ½ years of living together, eating together and seeking the way of the Lord together and it only came to an end because He had to physically leave the earth.
Third, we see here not only is there a depth and a time commitment applied with disciple making, but there is to be careful discernment in who is invested in. Discernment is needed because not all men are “faithful” and not all will be able to “teach others also.” Today’s marketing method of church ministry says “all are welcome” and wrangles in anyone who is willing. In contrast the scripture calls for discernment and church discipline in the assembly of the believers. We need to return to the right view of the great commission, even if it seems out of touch and ancient in our day.
APPLICATION | Am I a faithful man or woman? Do I love and teach others the beautiful doctrines of Scripture? In what way do I need to repent so that I am a more faithful disciple? In what way do I need to repent so that I am more faithfully making and growing disciples? Do I have an exulted view of evangelism and a low view of the long-term and more deep relationships of maturing someone in the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ? If I have children or a spouse, how am I teaching and growing them? Have I handed that God-given responsibility to others? Do I see the great glory it brings God to be a faithful husband or wife, a faithful father or mother that raises, matures, strengthens and grows children in God’s Word? Where has the honor and glory for God gone in the making of disciples in our own homes? Has it all gone over sees with the missionaries? Lets repent and lets become faithful in becoming and make growing disciples of Jesus.
PRAYER | Father, forgive me for my omission of your command to grow others in the faith of Your Son and Your Word. Forgive me for not intentionally growing my own faith and obedience. I want to be a faithful disciple who makes other faithful disciples. Convict me of sin. Convict me of a focus on worldly things that keep me from the most important heavenly things. SO that on the day when you return I will have reason for much rejoicing with You, not only in the souls saved, but in the glory their lives began to give you more and more after their salvation. And let that also be true of my life, that it greatly glorifies You on that day because of how I lived in Your will, for You and Your glory alone. Amen.
