EXPLORE IT - B|Disciplers - 2 Timothy 2:1-7

2 Timothy 2:1-7   You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  ³ Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-- he wants to please his commanding officer.  ⁵ Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.  ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

As we continue our B|Neighbors series, this week we take a look at “B|Disciplers – Paul & ‘Neighbor’ Timothy.”  Timothy comes from a diverse background.  His mother Eunice was a Jew, who had instructed him in the Scriptures, and his father came from a Greek family.  Scriptures do not tell us when Timothy became a Christian, but most scholars believe he was converted during Paul’s first missionary journey when he was in Lystra, Timothy’s hometown. 

Paul took Timothy under his wing, adding him to his traveling party, mentoring and developing him for leadership.  1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 reference that Timothy had prophetic messages made about him by the body of elders, confirming his being set apart for ministry, but he still had to learn and grow, preparing for leadership.  This preparation included begin circumcised before departing for his journeys in order to alleviate any opposition from local Jews.

Timothy’s ministry covers many different places.  His first assignment was a special commissioning to encourage the persecuted Christians at Thessalonica.  Timothy then appears with Paul during his time at Corinth.  Timothy is then sent with Erastus to Macedonia and then back to Corinth.  He also travelled with Paul to Jerusalem and then Paul commissioned Timothy to serve at Ephesus, addressing challenges with false teachers, administering public worship, and assigning church officials.

During his travels, Paul disciples Timothy, helping him to be successful in ministry.  Timothy initially seems to be a timid person, Paul encourages the Corinthians to take it easy on Timothy and accept him (1 Corinthians 16:10-11).  Paul admonished Timothy when he needed it, warned him against youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22), and encouraged him to stand firm in relationship to the Gospel message (2 Timothy 1:8).  In our passage this week, 2 Timothy 2:1-7, we see another example of Paul’s discipleship, encouraging Timothy to continue to run the race of faith and finish strong.

Just like Paul and Timothy have one another (a “discipler” and a “disciplee”), we too need a “discipler,” someone who will encourage us along our journey of faith, but we also need those in our life who we are discipling.  If you don’t have these two relationships in your life, I encourage you to prayerfully consider two questions:

1.       Who can I build an intentional relationship with – with the goal of them helping me to grow in my faith?
2.       Who can I build an intentional relationship with – with the goal of me helping them to grow in their faith?

We are all family.  We are all on this journey together.  We must intentionally encourage one another to run the race of faith and to finish strong!

Blessings,

Pastor Amy