The book of first and second Timothy are letters from the Apostle Paul to a young pastor we know as Timothy. This letter was written to Timothy to encourage him not to give up. “Paul had put him in a position of leadership in the church in Ephesus but it had turned out to be so difficult that he was tempted to leave.”^[1] Timothy struggled with the day to day responsibilities of being a pastor and was battling false teaching that was creeping into the church. Therefore, Paul writes this letter to offer encouragement for Timothy and to give him some advice for his pastoral ministry.

                The letter begins with the author identified. Paul states that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. “The term “apostle” is used in the New Testament in at least two senses. It can refer to a messenger (apostolos) or a representative of a church (Phil 2:25), or it can describe God’s chosen ambassador who is commanded to testify concerning the resurrection and to herald abroad the gospel (1 Cor 9:1–2). In the Pastorals Paul used it in the latter sense.”^[2] Paul was declaring his position of authority by confirming his apostleship as a calling from God. “Paul’s apostleship was not something he had sought; it had come to him through a heavenly command.”^[3] Paul also makes a point to identify the one thing that unites all believers and that is the hope we have in Jesus. In a sense, Paul was appealing to the church at Ephesus and beyond to pay attention to the contents of his letter to Timothy because he is writing to them not only with authority as an apostle, but also as a fellow partaker in the hope that all Christians have in Christ.

                “Though this letter was clearly intended to be read aloud to the congregations in Ephesus and beyond, Timothy was identified as its immediate recipient.”^[4] Paul claims Timothy as a ‘true or his very own son in the faith.’ This is a reference to the fact that Timothy was a personal convert of Paul and was one that Paul discipled.

                Who have you led to the Lord? Timothy was Paul’s own ‘son in the faith.’ He was one that Paul led to the Lord. One can never over emphasize the importance of evangelistic practices in the life of a believer. We are all called to proclaim the Gospel every where we go. The goal of every believer should be to lead as many people to the Lord as they possibly can. How many sons and daughters in the faith do you have? How many have you led to the Lord? There are two ways in which we lead others to the Lord. Each way is of equal importance, and you cannot have one without the other. (1) By your words. Romans 10:14 says, “But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him?  And how can they hear without a preacher?”^[5] You cannot lead others to the Lord without words. You must open your mouth and speak truth. You must proclaim the Gospel. No one can be saved without hearing the Gospel. The Gospel cannot be heard unless it is spoken. (2) By your actions. Equally important to your words are your actions. A lost sinner will not respond to your words if your words are not backed up by your actions. The world around you needs to see the change that the Gospel has produced in your life. No one will be convinced of the truth of the Gospel if the Gospel is not clearly seen lived out in your life. As Timothy is Paul’s ‘son in the faith’, what about you? Who have you led to the Lord by your words and by your actions?

                Who have you discipled? Being Paul’s son in the faith indicates that Timothy was also discipled by Paul. When you lead someone to the Lord your responsibility toward that person does not end. You now have the responsibility to make sure that person is discipled. The church must be careful to not have a ‘dunk them and drop them’ practice. Our responsibility to the lost does not end with their conversion and baptism. New believers must be discipled. What does it mean to disciple someone? What does real discipleship look like? There are three essential elements of discipleship. (1) Teaching. Paul was Timothy’s teacher. To disciple someone is to teach them. What do we teach? We teach the Bible. The Bible is a handbook for the Christian life. Its pages are filled with principles by which every believer should live. Therefore, the textbook for discipleship is the Bible. Those you disciple should be taught the history of the Bible, the content of the Bible, and how to study and apply the Bible. The goal of the disciple maker is to whet the appetite of the disciple. Give him or her just enough to make them hungry for more. Teach them how to read the Bible for themselves and how to properly interpret and study the Bible so that they are able to rightly apply the Bible to their daily lives. Why should we teach the Bible? For their survival. No Christian can survive spiritually without continual Bible study. Without being in the Word one will soon fall prey to the sinfulness and depravity of the world. It is imperative for the survival of all Christians that the Bible be taught. (2) Mentoring. Another essential element of discipleship is mentoring. Paul was Timothy’s mentor. There are three basic aspects of mentoring a new believer. Apply the Bible to daily life. As the Bible is taught to the disciple, it must be done so in such a way that application is given to daily life. The Bible must come alive. It must be real, and it must be applicable. Mentoring is helping the disciple see how the Bible applies to them personally. Set an example. We learn not just by what we are told, but by what is demonstrated to us. In mentoring his student, the disciple maker must apply the Bible to his own life and demonstrate such a life to the student. You must be an example in love, in purity, in holiness, and in obedience. Do life together. One of the greatest aspects of discipleship mentoring is simply doing life together. Workout together. Go to ballgames together. Meet up regularly for lunch. Frequent each other’s homes. You cannot mentor someone without being present. You must be involved in their life. (3) Leading. The third and final element of discipleship is leading. Paul led Timothy. He did not just send Timothy out on his own. He offered godly leadership for Timothy to follow. There are three basic things that such leading does. Gives direction. To lead someone is to point them in the right direction. It is not to do everything for them, rather, it is to guide them toward the path that they should take. What kind of direction are you giving those you are discipling? Show/Demonstrate. When it comes to leading, one must lead by example. A new Christian cannot just be told what to do, they must be shown what to do. It must be demonstrated for them. Are you setting a good example to those you are leading? Can you honestly tell them to do what you do, to live the way you live? Give options. A good leader will give his followers options. You cannot just tell someone what to do. They must be given choices. One can never learn without making decisions for themselves. Therefore, a good leader will give direction and demonstrate, but will never make decisions for someone else. They will give viable options and directions and allow those they are leading to choose the path they take for themselves.

                When it comes to having sons and daughters in the faith (leading people to Christ and discipling them) one cannot do so apart from love. Leading others to Christ and discipling them begins with a love for God and for people. You may not be the best teacher or leader, but love trumps everything. Love goes a long way. Who have you led to the Lord? Who are you discipling? Do you love them?

^[1] Robinson, S. J. (2004). Opening up 1 Timothy (p. 16). Leominster: Day One Publications.

^[2] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 62). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^[3] Litfin, A. D. (1985). 1 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 731). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[4] Litfin, A. D. (1985). 1 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 731). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 10:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.