And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Paul’s letter to his disciple Timothy is one that is very helpful for leaders due to its discussion on how we should go about the discipleship process. In this, the approach that is stated provide three key points:
1. The Recollection: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses…”
Paul is asking the church to remember his teachings and doctrine from the Bible because that’s what helps us move forward in growth. There is a quote that says “knowledge without action is futile.” We believe this is what Paul was alluding to. What we hear needs to be what we do, and who we are ought to reflect us as followers of Christ just like Paul.
2. The Release: “…commit these to faith men…”
Disciples are called to release what God has placed in them to expand His kingdom. We are to commit to what we recall from God’s Word and be faithful to it with our actions. Faithful men are those who are dedicated, trustworthy, and have a heart for souls in the kingdom. These things are to be our main priority so we can release what God has called us to do.
3. The Reproduction: “…who will be able to teach others also.”
Lastly, reproducing ourselves is how we can assure the continuation of the Gospel. The reproduction is what we call, “Discipleship.” The Kingdom Cycle is when a believer pours into another believer, and then another, and so forth. We accept the responsibility of not only doing what God has called us to do but also teaching another how to do the same.
This methodology is what keeps discipleship ongoing for everyone, including you! How is this done? Like a vase of water pouring into a number of glasses, it too needs to be filled. We are filled by recollecting, then acting on what we recall, and then teaching and sharing with another. Therefore, the discipleship process is something that is ongoing for everyone. Whether you are a lead pastor or a new church member, we all are being discipled and we must all remember this by taking the 2 Timothy 2:2 approach to ministry.