2 TIMOTHY 2:2 | DISCIPLE : MAKE MATURE MULTIPLY
DISCIPLE : MAKE . MATURE . MULTIPLY • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 45:25
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TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 2:2 | DISCIPLE : MAKE MATURE MULTIPLY
TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 2:2 | DISCIPLE : MAKE MATURE MULTIPLY
ME
ME
INTRODUCTION: HOW DO I STRUGGLE WITH THIS?
INTRODUCTION: HOW DO I STRUGGLE WITH THIS?
I hate it when I forget things.
I’m finding that the older I’m getting the easier it is to forget about stuff.
I’ve reached that point where I find myself staring into the fridge because I forgot what in the world I was going to do, and that seems like a good place end up.
When Lon and Barbara first started coming to church, Lon had asked if we could meet up for lunch.
We scheduled a day to meet and nailed down the plans.
I think it was two days after we had scheduled to meet that I realized I had completely forgotten and stood him up.
I don’t know why they kept coming to church… it’s a minor miracle to me!
But maybe even worse than forgetting is when we just neglect to do something.
It’s not that you’ve forgotten about it… you know you need to do it… you just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Like the Christmas tree still standing in your living room with Christmas ornaments still decorating it.
You know that Christmas was nearly on 2 weeks ago.
You know that we’ve turned the page into the New Year at this point.
You know you should take it down
But if you wait long enough… you wont have to put it up again next year!
WE
WE
EXPLANATION: HOW DO WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THIS?
EXPLANATION: HOW DO WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THIS?
We’ve all had things that we have neglected doing.
For some its a dentist appointment
For others it’s something that needs put away
Maybe it’s something you know you need to take care of at work
The list could go on and on and on.
But the problem is, the same thing can so often be said about things in church.
GOD
GOD
EXPLANATION: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THIS?
EXPLANATION: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THIS?
Over at the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus is getting ready to ascend into heaven.
But before He goes, He gives one final command to the church.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
APPLICATION: It’s such a familiar passage.
APPLICATION: It’s such a familiar passage.
We’ve heard it preached on in countless messages
Many services right here at WBC we have referenced that passage.
God has made clear that we are supposed to “Go into all the world” with the Gospel
And we have been passionate to fulfill the great commission.
We hold special services regularly throughout the year
We support missionaries that are all around our world preaching the Gospel.
We strive to have materials in the back that are eye catching and helpful, so we can clearly give people the Gospel, whether just in a passing moment or if we have time to walk all the way through it.
We strive and emphasize memorizing verses like the Romans Road, so we can show people that they are a sinner in need of a Savior, and just how they can receive the gift of eternal life.
In the 5 and a half years since the Lord allowed me to become the pastor here at WBC, we have heavily focused our attention on going into our world with the Gospel!
And rightfully so.
It is the most important decision a person can make.
It is showing a person how to change their eternal destination from a lake of fire to heaven!
Truly, the message of the Gospel and salvation is the most important message a person could ever hear and recieved.
So we have intentionally asked the questioned when planning events and activities at our church, “Is this something that will enable us to further Gospel?”
Praise God for that focus and for the intentionality of so many here at WBC!
I hope in 2025 that passion to give the Gospel only increases more!
But as we reached the final quarter of last year and began to look into 2025, I began to ask the Lord, what areas do we need to grow most here at WBC?
And it was from the burning question God made clear where out focus needed to be for this new year: Making disciples!
You see, Jesus didn’t simply say, “Go into all the world” and stop there.
No, we are also supposed to be “teaching them to observe all things”… whatever God has commanded us.
You see, salvation is not the end… it is only the beginning.
EXPLANATION: Here in 2 Timothy, Paul is writing to a young student of his that has become familiar to us, simply because of the books that bear his name.
EXPLANATION: Here in 2 Timothy, Paul is writing to a young student of his that has become familiar to us, simply because of the books that bear his name.
Paul is writing to Timothy.
Timothy was from Lystra and was undoubtedly led to Christ by Paul on his first missionary journey in Acts 14.
When Paul visited Lystra again in Acts 16, he chose Timothy to travel alongside him.
Timothy was most likely in his late teens or early 20’s, and Paul was intentional to take him under his wing and train him for the ministry.
Once Timothy had received some training from Paul, Paul began to send him to locations with messages and letters.
He trusted Timothy as his representative to clearly communicate the truths he had been taught.
What kinds of truths were those?
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
These things command and teach.
Paul had trained and communicated to him the doctrines of the faith, and Timothy had readily received them in his own life!
But the process of discipleship wasn’t complete until we find the command in v.11… “These things command and teach.”
And now, we make our way to 2 Timothy… the final book Paul would write.
He’s penning his final message to his young apprentice.
And what he records for Timothy is a challenge for us all the way down the centuries till today.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
In a single verse, Paul communicates what is one of the clearest examples of what true discipleship should be.
And it is a message that, by God’s grace, I hope will be the focal point of WBC for 2025.
And for that to be the case, we need to truly understand just what it is the Paul says here in this powerful verse.
I. PAUL KNEW WHAT HE BELIEVED
I. PAUL KNEW WHAT HE BELIEVED
EXPLANATION: He tells Timothy, “you have heard my message from what I’ve said, as well as from what others have told you I said.”
EXPLANATION: He tells Timothy, “you have heard my message from what I’ve said, as well as from what others have told you I said.”
Paul knew what he believed and he was faithful to communicate it whenever he had the opportunity.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
What is the hope that Peter was talking about?
Well he clarified this back in 1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Peter wasn’t saying, you have know every Bible verse and be able to clearly teach the deepest parts of theology.
But what he was saying is, you should be able to communicate the decision you made to accept Christ as your Savior!
APPLICATION: Friend, if someone asked you how to be saved, would you be able to give them an answer?
APPLICATION: Friend, if someone asked you how to be saved, would you be able to give them an answer?
No you may not know all of the Bible verses, but could you tell them about the decision that you made?
ILLUSTRATION: When Peter preached at Pentecost in Acts 2, he didn’t go through the whole Romans road… but what he did say was Acts 2:38
ILLUSTRATION: When Peter preached at Pentecost in Acts 2, he didn’t go through the whole Romans road… but what he did say was Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
When Peter preached in Acts 3 on at Solomon’s porch, he didn’t dive into the doctrine of Eschatology, but he did tell them in Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
You see, Peter was ready to give an answer to every man that asked of the hope that was within him!
APPLICATION: You may not be able to dive into all the verses and explain everything in some eloquent way… but if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, then you should be able to share that with someone else!
APPLICATION: You may not be able to dive into all the verses and explain everything in some eloquent way… but if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, then you should be able to share that with someone else!
Do you know what you believed?
If you don’t, it could mean you never truly received it yourself!
There are a lot of people walking around who prayed some prayer, but never truly accepted Christ as Savior.
If that’s you, get it settled today.
But the learning doesn’t end there!
We’ve talked about it before, but what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1 is transforming if you get it!
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
The Gospel and the truths of Scripture aren’t just for salvation… they are for your daily living as well.
You can get saved from just a few verses from this Book!
The rest of it is to help you with how to live after you get saved!
EXPLANATION: And Paul was passionate to communicate what the Christian life should look like when you get saved.
EXPLANATION: And Paul was passionate to communicate what the Christian life should look like when you get saved.
He was so passionate, he recorded it in some books.
Namely:
Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus Philemon, and I believe Hebrews too!
Paul was intentional about not just seeing people get saved… but teaching them to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded them!
APPLICATION: One of the great dangers of the Christian life is we can become so passionate about salvation… and so careless about growth!
APPLICATION: One of the great dangers of the Christian life is we can become so passionate about salvation… and so careless about growth!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Praise God, when you accept Christ as your Savior, the Bible says you are a baby in Christ!
And everyone loves a baby!
But no one loves a grown up that acts like a baby!
If your 20 years old still being burped on mommy’s lap something is wrong!
But for so many Christians, that’s exactly where they are!
They were saved, but they never grew!
They never dove deeper into God’s Word!
Years pass by and they are still just a baby unable to handle any of the meat of the Word of God!
Friend, grow a desire to know God deeper than you ever have in 2025!
Be faithful to every opportunity to know God in a deeper way!
I can honestly say, I’ve never regretted deepening my knowledge of God and His Word!
Why not decide to grow in your knowledge this year!
The truth is, none of us ever arrive! We can always learn more!
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul knew what he believed
II. PAUL UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF DUPLICATION
II. PAUL UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF DUPLICATION
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
EXPLANATION: Paul told Timothy, “the things that I taught to you, I want you to teach to others, who will teach others also.”
EXPLANATION: Paul told Timothy, “the things that I taught to you, I want you to teach to others, who will teach others also.”
Paul understood just how powerful duplication and multiplication could be!
But Paul wasn’t interested in making little robots that acted just like him.
That wasn’t what Paul told Timothy to duplicate.
No, Paul wanted Timothy to teach the “same” things that he had taught to him.
ILLUSTRATION: We live in a world where people are constantly trying to get people to be like them and like the same things.
ILLUSTRATION: We live in a world where people are constantly trying to get people to be like them and like the same things.
We have “social media influencers” who make millions of dollars trying to influence others by their actions, likes, and dislikes.
EXPLANATION: Paul wasn’t interested in getting people to follow him because of what he liked…
EXPLANATION: Paul wasn’t interested in getting people to follow him because of what he liked…
He wanted people to follow him so he could point them to the only one worth following!
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
And now, Paul is challenging one of his closest fellow-laborers and friends to take those things that he has learned that Paul has taught him about Christ, and find others that he can teach them to… so they can teach others as well!
ILLUSTRATION: The power of duplication is an incredible thing.
ILLUSTRATION: The power of duplication is an incredible thing.
If I offered you a choice between a penny doubled for a month and 3 million dollars today… it would be a difficult choice to make.
$3million is a lot of money… and a penny is nothing!
On day one the guy who took the penny is looking pretty foolish.
And it doesn’t get any better on day two.
In fact, after 7 days of doubling that money, that penny has grown to $0.64
After 2 weeks that penny has grown all the way to $81.92
Not bad… but compared to $3million dollars…
3 weeks in and that penny has now multiplies all the way to $10,485.76
4 weeks in… 28 days… and that penny doubled is now all the way up to $1,342,177.28
It’s on day 30 that penny has now doubled until is has reached $5,368,709.12
And on day 31… one month… That penny doubled now has reached $10,737,418.20
Now whose laughing about taking the penny!
APPLICATION: Now I know you are thinking I am either a financial genius or I’ve just lost my mind promoting a get rich quick scheme
APPLICATION: Now I know you are thinking I am either a financial genius or I’ve just lost my mind promoting a get rich quick scheme
But that isn’t the point of this illustration.
No, the point is the power of duplication!
And Paul knew just how powerful it could be!
And this is why discipleship is so important!
You see, I could go and reach someone with the Gospel every month this year, and at the end of the year, we could see 12 people saved.
And if I did that again next year… we would have 24 people get saved
And if the Lord let me do that every year for the next 30 years… I would be able to see 360 accept Christ as Savior
And that is amazing.
But what if instead I led one person to the Lord this year and taught them how to lead someone else to the Lord.
After 1 year there would be one more person saved.
But if we both went and did the same thing next year, then we would have 2 more get saved.
Now what if all 4 of us did the same thing on the 3rd year… now 8 people are saved and discipled
If we repeat this process for 10 years, each person just leading one person to Christ and then discipling them… we would see 1024 people saved, baptized, and discipled.
And if that same plan went on for the same 30 years, instead of 360 salvations, that would be over 5 Million, nearly 5 times the population of Montana.
Now I know what your thinking… that’s impossible.
And you know… you’re right… with man this is impossible.
But can I remind you of the words Jesus Christ said in Matthew 19:26
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
YOU
YOU
APPLICATION: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT THIS?
APPLICATION: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT THIS?
Church, we are at the first Sunday of 2025.
I don’t know all that this year holds
I’m looking forward to sharing next week of some of the opportunities to continue reaching out into our community with the Gospel.
I’m praying we will see more people saved and baptized this year than we have seen in the history of WBC
I’d love to see the church grow to the point that we are forced to go to 2 services because we can’t contain the number of people who have been saved and are growing in Christ!
It would really set a fire under us to get a new location.
But ultimately, I’m not interested in just building our kingdom here so we can point at all the people we have.
I want to see people become disciples of Christ!
To hear the call of Christ in Matthew 16:24-25
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Some people that will realize that it may not be easy or convenient to by a disciple of Christ and to help make disciples of Christ… but it’s a life that is worth living!
You see if I lead 360 people to Christ in the next 30 years people may point to me and say “Look at what a good job he did… he’s a great pastor.”
But I’m not interested in that…
I want to see 1000’s come to faith in Christ and be discipled because some faithful disciples of Christ at WBC got a burden to reach and to teach!
And if we do that, one day people will point and say, “Look at what God has done! He’s a great God!”
A God of the Impossible!
WE
WE
APPLICATION: HOW CAN WE ALL PRACTICALLY APPLY THIS?
APPLICATION: HOW CAN WE ALL PRACTICALLY APPLY THIS?
WBC, as I reflected on all God has done in the past 5 1/2 years God has allowed me to be pastor, I rejoiced in all He has done and where He has brought us, and the people we have seen saved.
But I don’t want to be guilty of neglecting the rest of the great commission!
So this year, will you purpose with me to be a disciple of Christ who is making disciples of Christ?
My prayer for 2025 is that we will Make, Mature, and Multiply disciples at WBC and in the surrounding areas!
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
