And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. -- 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
For most of her life, my grandmother lived in Blooming Grove, Texas, a town about a half hour outside of Corsicana. When I was a kid, at least once a month, we would make the drive from our home in Dallas/ Fort Worth to visit her. The scenery on the ride there was plain and slow, and the same could be said of the town, as well as the sermons at the little Baptist church she attended. I would know because we went with her when we visited. But it didn’t matter how dry those sermons were, my grandmother’s faith was deeply rooted in Jesus, and to this day, her influence continues to impact the generations that have come after her.
You see, the full measure of your effectiveness as a disciple is found in your spiritual great grandchildren. I believe in today’s verse, 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul is alluding to this. In essence, he’s saying, “Take what I’ve taught you and invest it in someone else, who will then go teach it to someone else.” He’s encouraging us to not just take what God is saying to us and lock it up deep within our minds, never to escape, but to tell someone.
That’s what makes discipling others so simple. In fact, many people become intimidated at the thought of teaching or discipling someone else. They’ll say, “Well, I don’t know enough,” or, “I’m not much of a theologian.” But the truth is, you don’t need to be an expert to disciple someone. In fact, it’s easy to build the kingdom through discipleship. You just need to do two things.
1. You need to listen.
At Gateway, we believe that God speaks to us, whether it be through His voice or through His Word. Every time Pastor Robert preaches, he ends his message the same way. He asks, “What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?” What if every time he asked this question, you took a moment to really listen to the Holy Spirit?
2. You need to tell someone.
When God speaks to you, tell someone about it! You don’t need to have them memorize a verse or recite a prayer. You simply have to tell them what God is saying. Even if it doesn’t seem like a life-changing word, it can plant a spiritual seed that will grow and eventually bloom.
Discipleship is simple, and this is something my grandmother, and in turn my mother, understood. They gave me a perspective on reading God’s Word that has deeply impacted my life, and I’ve been able to pass that on to my own children who are influencing the next generation.
God is calling us all to be disciples and to make disciples, and it’s as simple as telling others what He’s told you. You never know how many generations of people will be changed when you listen and obey. Who will you disciple today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me learn to disciple people in ways that deeply embed the truth within them. May they experience such Holy Spirit–driven inspiration that the cycle of discipleship is unending. Grant my life a sea of spiritual great-grandchildren. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For Further Study
- Matthew 28:18–20; Luke 14:27; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11–17
-- Robb Brewer
Taken from Created to Be, a Gateway devotion.
