Disciple-Making in Motion

1 Thessalonians 3:1–5 “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

Acts 17:15 “Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.”

Acts 18:1–5 “After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.”

The process of multiplying disciple-makers will include:

1. Training and equipping disciples

1 Thessalonians 3:2 “and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,”

Paul’s references to Timothy in the “undisputed” letters. Paul refers to him as his “co-worker” (Rom. 16:21; 1 Thess. 3:2), his “son (Phil 2:22), his “child” (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2), and his “brother” (2 Cor. 1:1; Co. 1:1; etc.)

1 Timothy 4:11–14 “Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

2. Painting a clear picture of what is to come

1 Thessalonians 3:3 “that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.”

1 Thessalonians 3:4 “For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.”

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

3. Trusting that God’s will is always best

1 Thessalonians 3:5 “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

4. Sending out equipped disciples

1 Thessalonians 3:2 “and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,”

1 Thessalonians 3:5 “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

God does not just call the equipped, but he will always equip those He calls

Hebrews 13:20–21 “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”