I love clarity.
Whether it’s an assignment for work, directions to a destination, or instructions for putting together furniture for our house (especially from Ikea), I want them to be clear.
Clarity is important. Without it we feel stuck!
Do you ever feel like there is a lack of clarity in how to grow in your faith?
Do you ever feel stuck?
I’m afraid many get stuck in their faith because we don’t make the mission clear. Think about it. There is a lot of confusion about how to follow Jesus in America today, especially for a new believer. Which church to go to? Which version of the Bible to read? What theology to avoid? What cause to support?
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some crystal clear instructions on what to do and how to live out our faith?
Thankfully, God has given us some instructions. In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul writes to a young leader, Timothy, and fills him in on exactly what he is to continue to do!
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
2 Timothy 2:1-2
The mission is clear.
The Mission is to Multiply.
It echoes Jesus’ command to make disciples!
From this passage, there are clearly 4 “needs” if we want to live out this mission to multiply. At the bottom, I’ve included a worksheet with some Scripture if you wanted to use this in a Bible study or 1 to 1 with someone. This post can serve as some talking points and illustrations for you to use. There is also a link to a talk I gave for StuMo Summer Institute that covers this topic.
#1 You need to Be Strengthened by Grace
Multiplication isn’t easy. In all four chapters of 2 Timothy Paul warns Timothy about people who had quit on him and the ministry. They bailed out. Paul didn’t want that to happen to Timothy and reminded him of his need for strength.
But this isn’t strength in himself. This is strength that comes from dependence on the Lord.
“Be strong” actually means to “be strengthened.” It’s the same word in Philippians 4:13 where Paul says he can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
This is something God does to you!
In 12 years of ministry, I’ve seen a lot of people quit laboring.
Some find their identity in doing ministry and are constantly trying to prove themselves to God and (mostly) to others.
Often times people find their value and worth in results instead of in Christ.
Others lean on wordly comforts and vices to take the edge off the burden and pressure of laboring.
Personally I have wrestled with ALL of those! Without the right perspective the pressure builds and the mission becomes muddy.
The only reason I last laboring is God’s grace. It continues to strengthen me.
It’s unearned. It’s undeserved. Christ accomplished our redemption for us. It’s grace! The pressure is off. The mission to multiply doesn’t entirely depend on you.
Imagine you’re running low on gas and about to stall out. You need to fill up! What will you put in?
The Christian life and mission runs on God’s grace. Grace is the fuel to the mission to multiply.
“Grace is the fuel to the mission to multiply.“
#2 You need a Paul
“And the things you have heard ME say…” (v. 2)
If the mission to multiply is going to happen you need a mentor in your life who is going to help you!
Paul had met Timothy when he was young, invited him along to do ministry with him, and trained him in how to follow Jesus.
Fifteen years ago I met Stephen. He taught me how to read and study the Bible. He taught me how to pray. I can still remember doing prayer walks around our campus praying for guys in my fraternity. I can remember meditating on Scripture in a chapel on campus. I’ll always remember the first time he took me to share the Gospel at Moe’s burrito shop and a fraternity brother came to faith.
I would have never done those things without his investment, challenge, and encouragement. He invited me to be a part of the mission to know Jesus and to make Him known.
Without a mentor in your life you will lose motivation for the mission.
“Without a mentor in your life you will lose motivation for the mission.”
Paul continues…
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses…” (v. 2)
Timothy was with Paul all the time. Paul modeled how to do ministry to him. He saw it. He experienced it. That’s what you’re looking for in a spiritual mentor.
- How much time do you get with the mentor in your life? Do you need more?
- Do you see them follow Christ and model ministry?
- Do you open up to them? Do they know everything about your life?
- Do you confess sin to them?
- Do you allow them to call you out? Challenge you in areas to change?
#3 You need a Timothy
“…entrust to reliable people…”
A lot of people want a mentor but most don’t want a mentee!
I hear all the time, “I don’t know enough.”
You know this verse! Discipleship isn’t about learning everything. Discipleship is about passing on what you do know.
But we must be selective! Paul didn’t ask Timothy to pass this on to just anyone; they needed to be reliable.
We use the acrostic “F.A.I.T.H.” to describe the reliable person. They must be Faithful, Available, Initiative-takers, Teachable, and have a Heart for God & others.
If the mission to multiply is going to happen we’ve got to be willing to pass this on to reliable people!
- Do you make excuses for being a mentor to someone else?
- Do you pray for your “Timothy”?
- Do you have a plan to help them grow?
- Do you model life and ministry to them?
#4 You need a Vision for Others
“…who will also be qualified to teach others.“
If the mission to multiply is to continue you can’t allow your group to become a holy huddle. You must always cultivate a heart to reach others.
I’ve been in lots of small groups and the goal is almost always the same. The goal is to gather together, read the Bible together, get to know each other more, and become really, really good friends over the next 40 years.
Now I’m not against being good friends. That’s an important part of fellowship. But that’s not the end goal of the mission.
The MISSION is to MULTIPLY. Find a group, a disciple-making group that will be committed to reaching others.
That’s the clear next step. Everything else is off-target.
Jesus has 2 billion followers across the world and he never traveled more than 40 miles from His hometown. How is that possible? Because He lived the Mission to Multiply and the ripple effects are still showing today!
How far could the ripple effects go if you committed to the mission of spiritual multiplication?
The next step is crystal clear.
You need to be strong in Grace, you need a Paul, a Timothy, and a vision for others.
Put it Into Practice:
I love helping students catch a vision for spiritual multiplication and begin to practically live it out. This is a worksheet you could easily use to help introduce someone to this topic.
I’ll include a link to a talk I gave on 2 Timothy 2:1-2 that would be another great resource.
Application questions:
- Who is the “Paul” in your life? Are you allowing them to speak into your life?
- Who is your “Timothy”? Do you have a plan to meet with and help lead them?
- Do you have a vision to reach “Others”? Do you pray for multiplication?
