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Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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2010 GBC THEME –
Pt. 1 “Training
Faithful Disciples and Leaders for Ministry” (2Ti 2:2) Pastor I. THE CALLING OF A FAITHFUL
DISCIPLE AND LEADER A. The Context of 2Ti 2:2 1. Paul’s
Last letter a) Paul,
knowing that his martyrdom is imminent, writes his second and last letter to
Timothy with sober urgency. b) Paul hopes to see Timothy again before his
life and ministry end (2Ti 4:9). 2. Paul’s
Frequent Imprisonment (2Ti 1:8, 16; 2:9-10) a) Paul was imprisoned
the first time in b) However, he was arrested again and wrote
the last of his inspired letters, 2 Timothy, shortly before his martyrdom. 3. Paul’s
Looming Martyrdom (2Ti 4:6-8) a) Paul was
martyred sometime after his second letter to Timothy in A.D. 67. b) Because he knew his life was being poured
out like a drink offering to God, he did mince words and spoke with utmost importance
of passing on his mantle to Timothy. 4. Paul’s
Legacy to Timothy (2Ti 1:2; 2:1) a) Be strong
in the grace that is in Christ (2:1) b) Entrust God’s truth to faithful men (2:2) c) Suffer hardship with me (2:3a) (1) As a
loyal soldier (2:3b-4) (2) As a committed athlete (2:5) (3) As a hard-working farmer (2:6) B. The Concept of 2Ti 2:2 1. The
concept that we learn from 2Ti 2:2 is that all believers are expected by God
to develop, participate, and reciprocate in discipleship, leadership and ministry.
2. This is not an optional or negotiable
concept, but a mandatory concept taught in Scripture. a) Definition
of discipleship and leadership (1) A
“disciple” (mathetếs from manthánō – to learn) means a
learner, follower, and imitator of Jesus who in turn helps other to do the
same (Mt 10:24-25; Mt 13:52). (2) A “leader” is a disciple who leads by
example and by his spiritual service to Christ and other believers (Lk
22:26). b) Discipleship
and Leadership is to be developed and passed on (2Ti 2:2). (1) Timothy
was a faithful disciple of Christ under Paul (2a). (2) Timothy became a leader to other faithful
disciples of Christ (2b). (3) Those faithful disciples of Christ in turn
taught others (2c). c) All
believers are to be involved in discipleship (Mt 28:19-20). (1) Christ
commanded His disciples to “make disciples” (aorist imperative of
mathêteúō – “You must make disciples”). (2) Disciples are made through evangelism
(“baptizing them”) and edification (“teaching them”). d) Leadership
in the church is of first importance (Ti 1:5). (1) Titus was
to “set in order” (epidiorthóō – straighten, correct) the
church by appointing leadership. (2) God works through believers within the
local church and under the direction of leadership. Para-church organizations
are fine as along as they work with the local church. (3) Leadership for the local church is
accomplished through the plurality of elders. e) Discipleship,
leadership and ministry is to take place between the members. (1) Older men
are to be sound in faith so they can disciple others in the church (Ti 2:2). (2) Older women are to disciple younger women
(Ti 2:3-4). (3) All are to be examples to one another (1Ti
4:12). C. The Causes for Slackness
in Discipleship and Leadership 1. Misconceptions
of Discipleship a) If we
believe that discipleship is only for others, then we do not understand God’s
mandate in Mt 28:19-10. b) Or, if we believe that we do not need
discipleship anymore, therefore we do not need to be involved, we embraced a
dangerous misconception. 2. New
Convert (1Ti 3:6) a) It is
true that a new convert is not ready to be an elder or hold any major
leadership positions. However, new converts especially need to be discipled
and in that sense they are apart of discipleship. b) Prayerfully, in a short time they will be
ready to help disciple others. 3. Timidity
(2Ti 1:7) a) If we are
timid about discipleship and ministry or feel our gifts are inferior, we must
realize that those things come from God’s power, not ours. b) The spirit of timidity does not come from
God, but all of the things necessary for discipleship, leadership, and
ministry do. 4. Immaturity
(He 5:12) a) If we
have been slack in our spiritual growth and should have learned what we have
already been taught, then we must commit to go forward in our spiritual
lives. b) Immaturity is a result of not growing and
going forward. The moment we begin to go forward, we start growing in
maturity. 5. Problems
(Mt 8:20) a) In Mt
8:20, Jesus was not complaining about ministry but was communicating to His
disciples the cost of discipleship. b) When we minister to the problems of
others, many of our own problems seem insignificant and disappear. 6. Self-serving
(2Ti 4:10; 1Ti 6:9-11; Lk 9:23) a) Some
disciples become so involved in their own interests and agendas that they
lose interest in discipleship, leadership, and ministry. b) Jesus said that anyone who wants to be His
disciple, must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Christ’s
example (Lk 9:23). 7. Sin (2Ti
2:19-22; 1Co 9:27) a) When a
sinner trusts in Christ, he not only is forgiven and receives eternal life,
but he is also to become holy and abstain from sin. b) If a believer repents of his sin, he will
become useful to the Master. In addition, he needs guard against sin and flee
from it to remain useful. |
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