Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 22-24
     New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 2

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

Before Jesus left this earth, He gave His Apostles their marching orders; Go, therefore, and make disciples (Matt 28:19a). When Paul was converted he had Barnabas, take him under his wing and discipled him. Paul continued the work and discipled Timothy, Silas, Luke, Titus, Apollos, Aquila, and many others too many to name. Now, in this final letter to his young son in Christ, Paul instructs Timothy to carry on the process.

Timothy was to take the inspired teachings he had learned from Paul and teach it to other faithful men—men with proven spiritual character, who would pass on those truths to another generation. From Paul to Timothy, to faithful men, to others, encompasses four generations of godly leaders. That process of spiritual reproduction, which began in the early church, is to continue until the Lord returns.

Paul was soon to pass off the scene. He had faithfully taught Timothy in the presence of many witnesses. Timothy’s own day of service would be short and he should conduct his ministry so that others would be prepared to carry on after him.

Paul was a master of explosive growth. He dedicated himself to people and activities that would affect the world. His strategy remains as effective today as it was two thousand years ago. Everywhere Paul went, he gathered listeners and taught them. Paul would enter a town and begin teaching for days, months, and sometimes years. No matter where he went, he continually equipped as many people as possible and mentored them to be leaders. He took them with him as he worked, preached, and led. Then he turned them loose, giving them responsibility and authority.

Leaders who develop followers grow their organization by only one person at a time. But leaders who develop leaders multiply their growth because, for every leader they develop, they also receive all of that leader’s followers. That’s the difference between addition and multiplication.

It is interesting to note that Paul is not giving Timothy this instruction to develop a school to train a new generation of preachers. Timothy was leading the local church in Ephesus. Paul was instructing Timothy to disciple Believers within the church who would disciple other Believers. This Scripture emphasizes the importance of every-member discipleship. If each Believer truly did his part, the world could be evangelized and brought to spiritual maturity within a generation.