2 Timothy, Pt. 1 (Lessons on Discipleship)
![Jesus Told Us to “Go and Make Disciples”…
What Should We Teach these Disciples?
2 Timothy 1-2:2, Pt. 1
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© September 13, 2015
www.pastorkennedy.com
Most of us are familiar with “the Great Commission”, which Jesus gave to His disciples, following His death and resurrection, before He ascended to His Father in heaven.
“The Great Commission”
Matthew 28:18–20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said,
o “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
o 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
o baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
o 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
o And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Paul introduces his Second Letter to Timothy
Paul gives us an understanding for his lessons in Discipleship as he continues to write his second letter to Timothy…his young disciple and future Early Church Leader.
2 Timothy 1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lystra – hometown of Timothy (Acts 14:8-23; 16:1-4).
Timothy’s mother and grandmother were believers in Christ. They may have witnessed when Paul and Barnabas first came to their town. It is very possible that Paul and Barnabas led them to the Lord.
o Man crippled from birth – healed.
o Barnabas and Paul renamed Zeus and Hermes by locals.
o Later Paul was stoned!
It was from Lystra that Paul identified Timothy as a key disciple of Jesus Christ
Timothy helped Paul considerably throughout Paul’s Ministry
Acts 17:14; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; Rom. 16:21; 1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:19; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:2, 18; 2 Tim. 1:2
Paul’s Lessons for Christ’s Disciples (2 Timothy 1-2:2)
1. Serve God with a Clear Conscience
2 Tim. 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
How critical is a Clear Conscience in a Believer’s Life?
Acts 24:16
16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
2 Corinthians 1:12
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.
1 Timothy 1:18–19
18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.
Hebrews 13:18
18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
1 Peter 3:16
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
2. Serve God with Sincere Faith
2 Tim. 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Love, from a Pure Heart, a Good Conscience and Sincere Faith
1 Timothy 1:3–7
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
An Example of Love, Purity, good Conscience, and Sincerity of Faith are extremely important while teaching a disciple “sincere faith” in God.
3. Serve, Empowered by God-Ordained Gifts
2 Tim. 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
God-Ordained Gifts
God has gifted each of His Children with Spiritual Gifts (Rom. 12:3-9;
1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:11-14).
Some gifted by God are commissioned, by leadership in the church, through special prayer regarding appointment to specific ministries.
I believe this was true of Timothy who was being prepared by Paul for leadership in the Church of Ephesus.
1 Timothy 4:13–16
13 Until I come, devote yourself (1) to the public reading of Scripture, (2) to preaching and to teaching.
14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
4. Serve, not with Fear, but Strengthened by God’s Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-discipline
2 Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of [timidity, fearfulness or cowardice] but a spirit of power, of love and of [soundness of mind, moderation and self-control].
Peace, Power, Love and a Sound Mind
Romans 8:12–15
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
John 14:26–27
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Revelation 21:6–8
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
5. Serve, Understanding the Potential Pain of Ministry, enduring Suffering by God’s Power
2 Tim. 1:8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
Spiritually helping others is not just made up of the fulfillment spiritual serving brings, or appreciation of your sacrifice, or the personal satisfaction of the exercise of your God-given gifts; spiritual service also has its share of serious pain and suffering.
2 Corinthians 11:24–27
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
Philippians 3:10–11
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
6. Serve because of God’s Eternal Purposes and Grace
2 Tim. 1:9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am.
Disciples and followers of Christ have been saved and called to a holy life…
o Not because of our goodness or works.
o But because of His own purpose and grace…
o Given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
o But was revealed when Jesus came to earth to redeem us…
o Jesus destroyed the power of death, conquering it through His death and resurrection.
o Jesus brought life and immortality to light through His Gospel.
o God appointed Paul to broadcast the Gospel of Christ.
o This is why Paul was suffering.
7. Serve without Shame, because of Who Christ IS
2 Tim. 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Hymn:
I Know Whom I Have Believed
By D.W. Whittle
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
(refrain)
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.
o I know whom I have believed,
And am convinced that
o He is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Are we convinced that Jesus Christ can guard what we have entrusted to Him for the Day of Judgment and Eternity? How does this affect the way we think; the way we entertain anxiety and fear; the way we trust God?
8. Serve while Observing the Lives of Those Discipling You; Guard your “Deposit” with the Help of the Holy Spirit
2 Tim. 1:13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
If one becomes a Leader or Teacher in the Church they should hold firmly to that which they have been taught
o To encourage others believers by sound doctrine,
o And to refute those who oppose sound doctrine.
Titus 1:7–9
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
9. Serve, Understanding at times there will be those who will Desert you, and others who will genuinely Support you
2 Tim. 1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
Diotrephes – “Who loves to be first”…in the church
3 John 9–12
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
10. Serve, Realizing there will be Eternal Accountability and Reward for Everyone
2 Tim. 1:18 May the Lord grant that he (Onesiphorus) will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
James 3:1, 13
3 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
11. Serve by Discipling Other Reliable Believers
The following are the premier verses in the Scripture on Discipleship – the first chapter in 2 Timothy precedes it with important lessons for the Disciple of Jesus Christ!
2 Timothy 2:1–2
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 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.
Conclusion
Teaching Others to be Christ’s Disciples:
1. Serve God with a Clear Conscience.
2. Serve God with Sincere Faith.
3. Serve, Empowered by God-Ordained Gifts.
4. Serve, not with Fear, but Strengthened by God’s Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-discipline.
5. Serve, Understanding the Potential Pain of Ministry, enduring Suffering by God’s Power.
6. Serve because of God’s Eternal Purposes and Grace.
7. Serve without Shame, because of Who Christ IS.
8. Serve while Observing the Lives of Those Discipling You; Guard your “Deposit” with the Help of the Holy Spirit.
9. Serve, Understanding at times there will those who will Desert you, and others who will Support you.
10. Serve, Realizing there will be Eternal Accountability and Reward for Everyone.
11. Serve by Discipling Other Reliable Believers.
2 Timothy 2:1–2
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,_Pt._1_%28Lessons_on_Discipleship%29_files/shapeimage_1.png)
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