"Make disciples"
You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT)
Do you know the command in the great commission? Here's a hint: it's not "go." The verb "go" in Matthew 28 is not an imperative. It's a verbal that is best translated "going" or "as you are going." It is joined by two other verbals, "teaching" & "baptizing." But the command in the commission is "make disciples."
And this is the process of disciple making that the apostle Paul practiced & was encouraging this young pastor, Timothy, to employ. It goes beyond evangelism to actual disciple making. We are not commanded to make converts but disciples. Religions make converts, Jesus has disciples.
Paul describes how disciples are made. This verse represents four generations of disciples & disciple makers.
Paul heard from others, that's one generation.
Paul taught Timothy, that's two generations.
Timothy was then to teach reliable men, that's three generations.
Who would then teach other men also, that's four generations.
And we have to assume that the people that taught Paul were making more disciples who were making disciples. And Paul was making more disciples & Timothy was & the people that Timothy taught were as well. So discipleship happens by multiplication & not addition. And the more disciples that are made the more potential for disciples increases.
So, how are we doing making disciples? Are we concerned with making converts or disciples? Who are we pouring into who will be able to pour into others? This is Jesus' command to us. This is what it means to make disciples. Who will be our first? Who is one person we can meet with to make a disciple who then makes disciples? This is the command of Jesus.
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