Suggested Friends: Timothy
Part 4 of the “Suggested Friends” message series
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
– II Timothy 2:1-7 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
Making disciples and raising young people in the Church is important because they are the present and the future hope of any effective and vibrant Community of Faith. Paul’s relationship with young Timothy gives us three phases of Biblical principles regarding the art of discipleship within the Church. If these three phases are followed in accordance with God’s Word, anyone can be a mentor or be mentored. All play a role in the process because age is not to be a factor in God’s Church!
ILLUSTRATION: African Elephants and the river crossing
What is a disciple? A disciple passes on the truths they have learned from God’s Word and their faith journey from generation to generation.
Phase 1: PARENTHOOD
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. – I Timothy 1:2 (NASB)
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. – Acts 16:1 (NASB)
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. – I Timothy 4:12 (NASB)
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. – Proverbs 14:4 (NASB)
It is important to apply grace when it comes to parenthood and mentorship.
Being “different” is more important for a follower of Jesus than “being better.”
“Children will grow out of childhood, but a parent will never grow out of parenthood.” – Anonymous
Phase 2: PACESETTING
ILLUSTRATION: A soldier with a commanding officer and a player with a coach.
Be patient, mature, and eventually there will be a harvest.
Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17 (NASB)
We must be good pacesetters because the next generation is following.
Phase 3: PARTNERING
Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. – Romans 16:21 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: Belgian horses working together!
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
– I Timothy 4:14-15 (NASB)
God cannot bless the steps we do not choose to take.
“We are all treading in someone else’s footsteps.” – Anonymous
Questions for Reflection
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Who is a Timothy in your life?
Saint Benedict, in his “Rules,” says a couple of times that “the young should respect their elders, and the elders should love their juniors.” Which group do you think has the harder task?
Do you think that the Gospel is less about “better” than “different,” that disciples of Jesus are not just called to be “better” but to be different?
What are the three phases of Biblical principles regarding discipleship?
How important are partnerships in life?
How important are partnerships with God?
How important is grace when it comes to parenthood and partnership?
Who are some of the people you are treading in the footsteps of today?
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
– II Timothy 2:1-7 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
Making disciples and raising young people in the Church is important because they are the present and the future hope of any effective and vibrant Community of Faith. Paul’s relationship with young Timothy gives us three phases of Biblical principles regarding the art of discipleship within the Church. If these three phases are followed in accordance with God’s Word, anyone can be a mentor or be mentored. All play a role in the process because age is not to be a factor in God’s Church!
ILLUSTRATION: African Elephants and the river crossing
What is a disciple? A disciple passes on the truths they have learned from God’s Word and their faith journey from generation to generation.
Phase 1: PARENTHOOD
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. – I Timothy 1:2 (NASB)
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. – Acts 16:1 (NASB)
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. – I Timothy 4:12 (NASB)
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. – Proverbs 14:4 (NASB)
It is important to apply grace when it comes to parenthood and mentorship.
Being “different” is more important for a follower of Jesus than “being better.”
“Children will grow out of childhood, but a parent will never grow out of parenthood.” – Anonymous
Phase 2: PACESETTING
ILLUSTRATION: A soldier with a commanding officer and a player with a coach.
Be patient, mature, and eventually there will be a harvest.
Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17 (NASB)
We must be good pacesetters because the next generation is following.
Phase 3: PARTNERING
Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. – Romans 16:21 (NASB)
ILLUSTRATION: Belgian horses working together!
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
– I Timothy 4:14-15 (NASB)
God cannot bless the steps we do not choose to take.
“We are all treading in someone else’s footsteps.” – Anonymous
Questions for Reflection
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Who is a Timothy in your life?
Saint Benedict, in his “Rules,” says a couple of times that “the young should respect their elders, and the elders should love their juniors.” Which group do you think has the harder task?
Do you think that the Gospel is less about “better” than “different,” that disciples of Jesus are not just called to be “better” but to be different?
What are the three phases of Biblical principles regarding discipleship?
How important are partnerships in life?
How important are partnerships with God?
How important is grace when it comes to parenthood and partnership?
Who are some of the people you are treading in the footsteps of today?