Church on Purpose- DISCIPLE: Find Your Timothy

Sermon: FCC Afton February 5, 2023 Church on Purpose Series Disciple: "Find Your Timothy" Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:2b-14 Today we continue in our Church on Purpose series, taking a deeper look at the purpose of the Church- and not just the general Church, but you as the Church, your purpose. What does it mean to teach others what Jesus taught us first, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus and to make disciples of others, and what does it mean to go unto the world for Jesus as readied, disciple-making disciples and to grow the Kingdom of God? Making disciples is not a suggestion for the Believer. It is not some cool thing that Jesus hopes you will do; not something that He hopes you can fit into your busy schedule. It is a command- it takes priority in life; before everything else, you will make disciples. In your job, you will make disciples; of your kids, you will make disciples. If you will follow Christ, if you will take up your cross to follow Him, then you will be active in making disciples of others. Two weeks ago, we looked at the first of three parts of the "Disciple" pillar, at what it means to be an example of Godliness. How can we make disciples if they do not see Godliness in us? How can we ask others to surrender to Christ if they do not first see us surrendering to Him? How can they become reflections of Jesus if they don't first see Jesus in us? Today, we are going to examine what it means to tangibly begin to make disciples of Jesus. What does it mean to instruct others on how to surrender their lives to Jesus? What does it look like to show someone else how to begin operating their life in the same way that Jesus did? What does it look like to begin to follow Jesus' (and Paul's) example of discipleship by coming alongside someone and walking together, doing life together, doing ministry together? Being a Timothy is the act of submitting to apprenticeship, learning from someone more experienced. Conversely, those who are more experienced are called to find those who need to be apprenticed to show them how to walk this Christian walk. Think of it as Batman and Robin comics, where Batman is preparing Robin to be his own superhero; once Batman sends Robin off to do his own thing and helps him choose a new name, Batman then chooses a new Robin and continues the process of apprenticeship. This is our task within Christian fellowship! Whom are you apprenticing today? Whom are you teaching to become more like Christ today? Read 1 Timothy 6:2b-14 [Pray here] The Apostle Paul, the church leader and great missionary, began his ministry as a Timothy to Barnabas; Paul needed someone to vouch for him and take him under his wing because nobody believed that this guy that had recently been killing Christians was somehow now a disciple. And so he does ministry with Barnabas and learns from Barnabas. I think we have the tendency in our humanity to see discipleship as weakness, needing to be taught by someone else, working in someone else's shadow rather than being allowed to shine on our own. But it's not playing second fiddle to anyone, it is learning and being prepared- our solo work, our time as the discipler comes later. Acts 9:26-27: "When he [Saul] arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him since they did not believe he was a disciple. Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus." Acts 11:25-26: "Then he [Barnabas] went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught large numbers." Acts 13:2-3: "As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.' Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off." It's unlikely that Saul would have become Paul, or would have ever become anything outside of a small-town preacher in Tarsus, had it not been for Barnabas influence. It is vital that we do the same- we must recognize God's call on other's lives and empower and equip them to step into ministry; and if it means sending them off to do ministry elsewhere, then we send them off with prayer and anointing. Paul and Barnabas eventually part company, brothers but no longer working so closely. Barnabas takes on a new Timothy, his cousin John Mark, while Paul takes on his first Timothy: Silas. In Acts 16:1-5, Paul brings Timothy into his growing band of missionaries. In Acts 20:1-6, Paul expands his team of missionaries: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychius, Trophimus, and Titus. In Paul's letters to the churches, we read of other fellow workers and missionaries: Col. 4:10-11- John Mark, Barnabas' cousin, and Justus; Philemon 1:1- Philemon, Apphia, Archippus; Acts 18-19- Acquilla and Priscilla. Main Idea: Timothies are essential to ministry. Even our healthiest churches are in big trouble if we are not finding strong, capable leaders to rise to leadership- leaders who will currently fill the roles in the trenches, but who will eventually take on the mantle of leadership. -What can we do to find our next Timothies, to raise up the next generations of preachers, teachers and servants? Are we doing enough to build a solid foundation for the future church? -We must recognize that Timothies are an integral part of ministry. The Barnabas/ Timothy partnership, where the mature mentor bestows wisdom and experience on the young, excited novice, is desperately needed within Christianity! Christians, we can't do this alone! Nor are we called to: Jesus sent the disciples out two-by-two because he recognized the importance of having someone to lean on and learn from; Jesus was the source of the wisdom of Solomon, so he knew Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their effort. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down beside each other, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him." God has called us to do ministry together, not solo. We are called to learn from one another, to teach one another, to support one another, and to carry one another. It is not a minister lording his authority over his Timothy, but rather finding the next person in line that God has called and feeding into them, equipping them, and giving them the tools necessary for their ministry. [Video: Helicopter Training- We Were Soldiers] -It is an act of obedience to take part in a Barnabas/ Timothy partnership. Timothy, you will have to surrender to the authority that God places over you; Barnabas, you will have to dedicate yourself to learning how to mentor another person. Both of you will need to lean on the other in order to follow the instruction in Proverbs 17:17 to "sharpen one another." -But things look bleak without adequate sharpening going on (all stats according to the Barna Group): -80% of pastors report that the church is the single greatest source of drama/ stress in their lives; the majority report that the biggest challenge in ministry is finding volunteers to help in the ministry. 54% of pastors admit to being overwhelmed by the ministry; 71% admit to battling burnout and depression; 57% feel disconnected, stressed, or fatigued; 84% feel that they have no one with whom they can share close fellowship. Only 10% of pastors will retire as pastors. -Timothies are growing scarce: there are fewer and fewer Timothies stepping up to replace retiring pastors- fewer are even answering the call to traditional ministry. As of 2018, only 14% of senior pastors are younger than 40 (this is a combination of the growing immaturity of young people and the general desire from churches to hire someone with experience, but also because of an undervaluing and under-equipping of Timothies who could step into empty churches). It's hard to be a young man, on fire for God, knowing that God has called you to step up and preach the Gospel, being told 'You've got to go get a degree and some experience before we will let you do what God has called you to do.' Many Timothies become burnt out by the church before there is even an opportunity to serve; the church is not cultivating young people to serve. Instead, they are choosing to focus their ministries on the service-heavy realm of para-church organizations, where the focus is on missions or local service rather than traditional preaching and teaching. While working in these organizations is awesome, and it's great that so many are finding avenues in which to serve outside of the restrictions of the traditional church, where does that leave the church? Question: Are you preparing yourself to be able to effectively mentor the Timothy that God brings you? Who is the Timothy that you are training up behind you to continue your ministry after you are gone? Are you even on the lookout for who the Timothy is that God has for you to bring under your wing? -This isn't necessarily traditional ministry. Remember, the first disciples you should be crafting are your children. Are you raising them up with a mind to continue in the various works of ministry that God has prepared for you to do? -Maybe this is in hospitality? Maybe in encouraging others? Maybe in leadership? -Do you know who it is that God wants to bring under your mentorship? -Are you preparing yourself? You must be prepared and mature before you can effectively develop others. Do you know the truths that you should be teaching them? (Remind everyone of 1 Timothy 6:2-14.) -We must be servant leaders who can manage the tasks God has given us Biblically and who will then begin to invest in others through discipleship. Are you prepared to help equip and support your Timothy as they begin to develop as leaders? Quote: "Wherever you reside, endeavor always to acquire and maintain an influence with young men. They are the hope of the church and of the state. They are worthy of your special and unwearied attention. In short, employ every Christian method of attaching them to your person and ministry, and of inducing them to take an early interest in the affairs of the Church." (Samuel Miller, Christian theologian) Question: Are you effectively leading and discipling your Timothy? -Not only do you have to be able to identify who it is that God is bringing into your life as a Timothy, you then must begin the process of actively mentoring, discipling, and praying for them. God allows us to go through things, good and bad, to prepare us for the work that He has for us to do- and so that we will know how to mentor our Timothy when it is time to draw him under our wing. [Share about mom becoming a Christian and Becky Dietrich, Marcia Downing and Juanita Ward coming alongside her, supporting her in a tangible, physical way, but at the same time teaching and showing her how to trust God, how to be a Christian, how to pray, and how to be observant and obedient to the Holy Spirit. -I likely wouldn't be a pastor, maybe not even a Christian, had it not been for those women taking my mom under their wings as a Timothy and effectively discipling her. While I had Godly men who would later come alongside me and mentor and disciple me, those women set the foundation in my household that would turn the tide of a lot of generational curses in my family. And now, my mom has long been doing the same for younger women in her life. This literally the picture of disciple-making disciples and it is what we are called to do!] Question: What is your role in your Timothy's life? A. Be a reflection of Jesus to your Timothy! 1 Cor. 15:48-49 - "Like the man made of dust, so are those who are made of dust; like the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man." [Share "I Want To Be Just Like You" by Phillips, Craig and Dean: "But I'm trying hard to learn from the best, being patient and kind, filled with your tenderness, Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees and the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me."] B. Demonstrate to them what it means to surrender to God's rule in their lives and show them what it means to go do the Lord's work in bringing the Kingdom of God to the world. 1 Cor. 15:58 - "Therefore, my brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." C. Show them how to remain in Him and to be bold in their faith. 1 John 2:28 - "So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." D. Encourage them through discipline and difficult times. Teach them to lean into God and trust in Him. Hebrews 12:-11-13 - "No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead." E. Be the example of Godliness that your Timothy wants to follow! 1 Timothy 4:12 - "Be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." Titus 2:7-8 - "Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. You message is to be sound beyond reproach." Questions: Do you know whom God is placing into your life as a Timothy? Are you aware of that work that God is trying to do through you? -Are you prepared to begin mentoring and discipling Timothy when he arrives? Are you preparing an example of good faith that they can imitate? Invitation and challenge: Be on the lookout, both for the work that God has for you to do- and for your Timothy!