Pilgrims: Timothy - Discipled
Acts 16:1–2 (ESV)
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
Who is Timothy?
He was a son of a Jewish woman and Greek father who lived in the city Lystra
Scripture indicates that his family was saved during Paul's first missionary journey that we see in Acts 14
Eunice - Mother
Lois - Grandmother
Paul's writings to Timothy point to the fact that he looks to Timothy as a direct son of the faith.
The short story here is that Paul becomes his primary mentor, his pastor, his teacher and Paul ultimately trains Timothy to be a leader of the church as he grows more mature in his faith.
Here’s some clarity to what we’re talking about when we say that we are here to be disciples who make disciples:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MAKE AND BE A DISCIPLE?
ONE: Discipleship takes time:
How much time do you think passed between Paul's first missionary journey to Lystra and the journey that Timothy accompanied Paul? (Acts 14, Acts 16)
About 2 years
Meanwhile, Timothy's faith and walk with the Holy Spirit had been maturing (In Paul's absence)
Discipleship is investment
Investments take time
There is no get-discipled-quick scheme
It is a process of walking with the Spirit and Spirit-led people
Here's a look at a couple of disciples
“Passive” Disciple vs. “Active” Disciple
Passive Disciple
Hears the word occasionally - regularly (typically during Sunday attendance)
Seeks to avoid sin
Enjoys spiritual atmosphere but sometimes struggles to make spiritual application
Likes Worship, but is not seeing much life-change
Interested vs Invested
Active Disciple
Seeks the scripture daily
Seeking wisdom
Seeking the Spirit
"Stirring" the gifts
2 Timothy 1:6–7 (NKJV)
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)
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,
We have the ability to cultivate the gifts in our life
Do you ever have situations where you've got:
Filet Mignon taste on a pork chop budget?
Granite taste on a formica budget?
That's being discipled:
We want the blessing
We want the wisdom
We want the overflow in our lives
BUT ARE WE WILLING TO INVEST FOR IT?
The time
The discipline
The hard conversations
The more I "INVEST" into becoming a disciple - the less it costs!
My heart and my desires changes
My time in prayer and in the word yield greater results
It's like an interest earning account - the sooner I invest, the quicker it begins to yield
TWO: Learning to lead is learning to follow
How many times do I want the Lord to give me a different kind of disciple than me?
I want a disciple who is disciplined - and when my life is unraveling
I want a disciple who gives radically - and I'm guarding every dollar
I want to disciple someone who exhibits all the fruit of the spirit, and I'm not cultivating that in my life!
We want FAT people!
FAITHFUL, AVAILABLE, TEACHABLE
As a disciple-maker - I can teach what I know, but I will reproduce what I am!
If I am going to make disciples, I have to continually put myself in a place to be discipled
PUT MYSELF
I can't pour out of an empty tank
Learn to ask questions - not pretend to have the answers!
John 4:25–34 (ESV)
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him. 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Nobody asked
Failed discipleship moments happen when we don't ask questions
Some of the most impactful prayer moments in my life have happened when I asked questions.
James 1:5 (ESV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Sometimes we have a perception that God has all of the answers and. keeps them in some kind of proprietary vault that's none of our business.
The instructions were to ask!
Matthew 7:7–11 (ESV) Jesus:
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
This still works!
ASK!
