Culture of Discipleship
by Natalie Maglaris
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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”. 2 Timothy 2:1-2
As followers of Christ, we are not only called to be disciples; we are called to make them. The life of Timothy in the bible is a perfect example. We first hear about Timothy in the book of Acts, where Paul meets him in Lystra on his second missionary journey. Amongst the believers there, Timothy was known to be a reputable man. Paul must have seen something special in Timothy because immediately he takes him under his wing. Paul describes Timothy as a man of sincere faith (2 Timothy 1:5). We learn that this authentic faith that Timothy possessed was passed down to him from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. His mother was a Jewish convert and father was Greek. Not much is known about his father, but we see that it was the lives of his grandmother and mother that greatly influenced this man’s faith. They were intentional in laying down a foundation in God and, from childhood, made sure Timothy was taught the holy scriptures. His knowledge and wisdom of the Torah helped lead him to salvation in Jesus Christ.
The relationship between Paul and Timothy is a beautiful demonstration of what discipleship looks like. Paul invited Timothy into his life, and he equipped him for the work of the gospel. Paul empowered Timothy and helped him to find his identity in Christ. When Paul saw weaknesses in Timothy, he challenged him. Paul refers to Timothy throughout his writings as “son”, “brother,” and “co-worker”. Timothy wasn’t just an assignment. Paul loved Timothy and took on the role as a spiritual father.
From Timothy’s life, we can learn that if we want to mature in the faith, we need to first be a disciple and then we are to disciple others.
Who is your Paul? This person should be a mature believer in Christ, who can teach you how to live your life according to the scriptures.
Who is your Timothy? Who are you closely walking life with and being intentional, teaching them what it looks like to follow Christ?
Brothers and sisters, it is through discipleship we grow in our relationship with God. Discipleship is not optional. Jesus said, go therefore and make disciples...
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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”. 2 Timothy 2:1-2
As followers of Christ, we are not only called to be disciples; we are called to make them. The life of Timothy in the bible is a perfect example. We first hear about Timothy in the book of Acts, where Paul meets him in Lystra on his second missionary journey. Amongst the believers there, Timothy was known to be a reputable man. Paul must have seen something special in Timothy because immediately he takes him under his wing. Paul describes Timothy as a man of sincere faith (2 Timothy 1:5). We learn that this authentic faith that Timothy possessed was passed down to him from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. His mother was a Jewish convert and father was Greek. Not much is known about his father, but we see that it was the lives of his grandmother and mother that greatly influenced this man’s faith. They were intentional in laying down a foundation in God and, from childhood, made sure Timothy was taught the holy scriptures. His knowledge and wisdom of the Torah helped lead him to salvation in Jesus Christ.
The relationship between Paul and Timothy is a beautiful demonstration of what discipleship looks like. Paul invited Timothy into his life, and he equipped him for the work of the gospel. Paul empowered Timothy and helped him to find his identity in Christ. When Paul saw weaknesses in Timothy, he challenged him. Paul refers to Timothy throughout his writings as “son”, “brother,” and “co-worker”. Timothy wasn’t just an assignment. Paul loved Timothy and took on the role as a spiritual father.
From Timothy’s life, we can learn that if we want to mature in the faith, we need to first be a disciple and then we are to disciple others.
Who is your Paul? This person should be a mature believer in Christ, who can teach you how to live your life according to the scriptures.
Who is your Timothy? Who are you closely walking life with and being intentional, teaching them what it looks like to follow Christ?
Brothers and sisters, it is through discipleship we grow in our relationship with God. Discipleship is not optional. Jesus said, go therefore and make disciples...