Introduction to 2 Timothy: Paul the Apostle
Theme:
Text: 1 Timothy 1;1-2
1Ti 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, (2) To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
A lot has changed since 1 Timothy was written
1 Timothy 2 Timothy
A political prisoner awaiting A condemned criminal awaiting
trial death
He was a house prisoner in his Now he huddles in a cold dark own comfortable dwelling place and damp dungeon
Visited by many Forsaken by all
Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote 2 Timothy. He had already appeared for his preliminary hearing before the Supreme Court of Rome, before Nero himself. During his trial, no man stood with him. He had to face the charges all alone (2 Tim. 4:16-17). Some were forsaking the faith (2 Tim. 2:17; 2 Tim. 4:10), and others were publicly opposing Paul (2 Tim. 4:14-15). He was about to be sentenced to death—and he knew it (2 Tim. 4:6-8). He would never be able to write again. This was to be his last will and testament—the last words he would ever pen. Several things were weighing heavily upon his heart.
But there are a few things that has not changed.
1. Paul was still called as an apostle “ambassador” of Jesus Christ
2. He was commanded by God to do His will
3. This was more than just a duty but Jesus was
a. His Savior
b. His Lord Jesus Christ – the anointed one
4. He still cared about Timothy as his disciple.
After all these years Paul was still caring for his disciples.
Three hindrances to making disciples
The problem with the church is that many times we never give new believers a chance to learn. There are said to be three hindrances to making disciples 1) impatience 2) distorted goals 3) lost of first love. First we have a tendency to lose patience with people. Many times when someone becomes a Christian we say in our mind, well we’ll see. Surly we have seen many who have not continued to follow Christ. But I believe the failure to continue is many times more the churches fault with its failure to disciple than the new converts. We get impatient.
Second in our own church we have our priorities out of order. I told you how the Lord dealt with me on this when we had to borrow a baptism pool. He reminded me that I have no plan of baptizing new converts. How weak my faith must be that I can’t see new people won to Christ. Oh we all talk about it but it is time that we started walking the talk. Acting like it making preparation for people to be won to his kingdom. Making preparations to make disciples.
Finally we lose that first love. That initial joy that comes to the new convert. This is the joy of the Lord that comes when we become a new believer. I heard one man talking to a new convert who was real excited. He started talking about witnessing and discipling. The old veteran believer said, “Don’t worry you will grow out of that”.
Mat 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Challenged of Discipleship
Basics of Disciple Making
I. To Go – Go out and find them. Don’t wait on them to come to you
"But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" 2Tim. 4:2
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
1Pe 3:15 Message Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
II. To make disciples – make it intentional, intentional helping someone
What did He do? Christ "came to seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). He sought the lost, those who were willing to commit their lives to Him. And when He found such a person, He saved that person. When Christ found a person who was willing to commit his life, Christ attached Himself to that person. Christ began to mold and make that person into His image. The word attach is the key word. It is probably the word that best describes discipleship. Christ made disciples of men by attaching Himself to them; and through that personal attachment, they were able to observe His life and conversation; and in seeing and hearing, they began to absorb and assimilate His very character and behavior. They began to follow Him and to serve Him more closely. In simple terms this is what our Lord did. This is the way He made disciples. This was His mission and His method, His obsession: to attach Himself to willing believers.
There is another way to describe what Christ did. Christ envisioned something beyond Himself and beyond His day and time. He envisioned an extension of Himself, an extension of His very being, and an extension of His mission and method. The way He chose to extend Himself was discipleship, attaching Himself to committed persons, and through attachment, the persons absorbed and assimilated the Lord’s very character and mission. They in turn attached themselves to others and discipled them. They, too, expected their disciples to make disciples of others who were willing to commit their lives to Christ. Thus was the glorious message of Christ to march down through the centuries (2 Tim. 2:2).
2Ti 2:2 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.
III. Don’t leave any area untouched – all the earth “no limitations”
IV. Baptize them – Conversion “take them all the way”
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them (people at Pentecost), "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
V. Teach them – discipleship “show them, give them more than just the plan of salvation”
Deu 6:4-7 Attention, Israel! GOD, our God! GOD the one and only! (5) Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! (6) Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you (7) and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.
VI. Know that Jesus will always be there until the end. – Jesus will lead and guide us to the person we need to witness to and disciple
2. Note the great promise: "I am with you." He gave emphatic assurance: not "I will be with you," but "I am with you." Christ is with the believer as the believer goes forth to make disciples of all nations. Christ is with us...
• every step
• every decision
• every trial
• every joy
• every day
• every hour
• every sorrow
• when without • when poor
• when having nothing
• when having plenty
• when abused
• when sick
• when facing death
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Conclusion
Who could you be making a disciple of?
