Paul wrote the book of 2 Timothy to one of his closest disciples, Timothy. In four succinct chapters, Paul shares a wealth of truth and guidance for his spiritual son.
In this article, we will explore 8 principles of discipleship that Paul shares in 2 Timothy. These principles were written almost 2,000 years ago, but they are timeless and still incredibly relevant to disciple-makers and church leaders today.
Let’s get into it. All Scripture references in this article are from the ESV.
Parents are Disciple-Makers
We have written before about the ways parents are the primary disciple-makers of their children.
Paul calls this out multiple times. In 2 Timothy 1:5, he says, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”
Paul knows that both Timothy’s grandmother and his mother played an essential role in modeling and teaching him their faith. He celebrates their work again in 2 Timothy 3:15, “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Timothy was taught the truth at a young age. The Scripture he heard gave him wisdom and faith that led to salvation. If you are a parent (or a grandparent), you should know that teaching your children the truth is an essential investment in their future. They listen to you, watch you, and imitate you. God gives parents an incredible opportunity, so do not waste it.
Teach the Truth
If you want to make disciples, then you must know and speak the truth. People will follow you, and you must lead them in the right direction. The world is full of noise and lies that sound really delightful to our sinful hearts, but as leaders, we are called to resist those urges and demonstrate Godly living.
In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul encourages Timothy to “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” Those sound words are the truth, and living by them will draw you closer to Christ.
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul explains the ways in which the world tempts us to stray from the truth. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
If you want to teach the truth, you can start by teaching the truth to yourself. Do not stray from it, because if you do, the people you disciple will follow you the wrong way.
Equip Others to Equip Others
Perhaps the most famous verse on discipleship in Paul’s second letter to Timothy comes from 2 Timothy 2:2. It says, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Discipleship is far more than teaching knowledge or building community. When you disciple someone, the goal should be to equip them to disciple others. We are humans, and we have limitations. We can only disciple so many people, but when we enable people to disciple others there is a multiplication effect.
This is the model of Jesus, but we are quick to forget it or ignore it today. We need discipleship; it is essential for Christians today. Do not settle; make the effort to equip your people to be disciple-makers themselves.
Making Disciples Can Be Difficult
Making disciples is essential, but that does not mean it is easy. Paul does not try to shield Timothy from this fact. Instead, he warns him repeatedly about how hard teaching the truth and equipping disciples can be.
In 2 Timothy 2:9–10, for instance, he refers to the gospel, “for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Paul has been arrested for his faith, but he will not stop sharing the gospel. He cares about the elect, those who have believed, and he will endure everything for their sake.
Paul also calls Timothy to be prepared for suffering. In 2 Timothy 4:5 he says, “But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Making disciples will include suffering. For some people in the world today, that could include being arrested or death. But even if you live in a free country where that is not a concern, there will still be forms of suffering. You will see people drift from their faith. You will walk closely with people through painful life experiences, such as disease and death. You may suffer ridicule.
And of course, making disciples is work. Paul calls Timothy to be “sober-minded” and to “do the work.” Making disciples can be fun, but it is a sacrifice of your time, energy, and availability. The work, however, is worth the reward.
Your Character Matters
Modern Christians are sometimes mesmerized by charismatic leaders who lack character. But integrity is essential for Christian leaders.
Paul touches on this multiple times in his letter. In 2 Timothy 2:16–17, he reminds Timothy to “avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.”
This is a vivid picture and shows how a lack of truth or godliness can destroy the health of a church. This kind of “gangrene” can destroy communities, trust, and make it nearly impossible to make disciples.
In 2 Timothy 3, Paul spends several verses explaining the many ways in which worldly character is destructive. In 2 Timothy 3:10–11, he calls Timothy to live differently: “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings …”
Jesus called us to be salt and light. The world is full of darkness and selfishness. Effective discipleship builds strong character, and in turn, creates leaders who can emulate that character and teach it to others.
Teach and Correct with Kindness
It is not enough to speak the truth. We must do so with kindness. It is easy to put people down or point out their faults and feel smug about the way we are sharing the truth.
No one wants to learn from that kind of leader, which is why Paul calls Timothy to something else entirely. Discipleship leaders are not called to demonstrate their self-importance, but instead to be patient and correct with gentleness.
2 Timothy 2:24–26 puts it this way, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
Life-on-life missional discipleship is an ongoing investment and a relationship. We should imitate Jesus, demonstrating kindness and love to others. As Paul says, God can work through that kindness to lead them to a deeper understanding and knowledge of the truth.
Always Be Ready
An effective discipleship leader will always be on the lookout for the opportunity to make new disciples. Jesus himself called us to make disciples, and Paul charges Timothy to always be ready in 2 Timothy 4:1–2, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
You never know when an opportunity to share the gospel or preach the word will happen. To be ready, we must consistently be in the Word ourselves. We should teach it to ourselves, and we should teach it to those we disciple. Looking for guidance? Try our resource on sharing the gospel in one minute.
Conclusion
Paul’s letter to Timothy is filled with Godly wisdom on leadership and discipleship. Although we have included a few highlights in this article, we encourage you to read the entire letter.
As you continue to grow as a disciple and disciple-maker, consider doing it alongside others by joining one of our upcoming discipleship training cohorts.