of day when family is a priority.
Now that you’ve agreed upon a time and place, for example, lunch at the fast food place near the person’s office, the big question then arises: “What do I do with this person?! How do I impart my life to her or him?” You can do with this interested young Christian what Paul did with his young man, Timothy.
It’s been said that all ministry is essentially two things: love and truth. The best picture of this in the Bible (I think) is seen in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 & 11. Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica that he and his team were . . . as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. (2:7) and . . . how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you, as a father would his own children. (2:11) The loving heart of the mother and the exhorting, teaching heart of the father are good depictions of personal ministry. Anyone who has ever seen a mother with a baby or toddler knows what demonstrated and verbalized love looks (and sounds) like. In discipleship, it’s affirmation of the younger Christian you’re helping, and genuine praise. This is not pretense or flattery, but sincere appreciation for the person. Someone once said, “I can live a month on a good compliment!”
This heart of the mother builds trust in the relationship. The young Christian will come to see that you really do like him and care about him. He or she will feel, rightly so, that you are on her side.
The father’s heart to teach and exhort is the “truth” part of this spiritual “Velcro.” Paul describes his goal in ministering to the Colossian church this way:
. . . admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. (Colossians 1:28)
Helping someone else to grow is basically helping her or him to do and be what you do and are. As the Apostle Paul urged the believers in Philippi, The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
Christian disciplines which you know to be biblical—and that provide the foundation for your relationship with God—are the very same disciplines which another person will find foundational.
It’s a simple idea—a kind of spiritual parenting—but it’s one that’s sometimes overlooked. Some may feel that personal, one-to-one ministry is just too slow or even inefficient. One man said to me, “It’s too much attention given to too few people. If it’s good training, why not give it to the biggest group you can?” While I understand this thinking, I feel there are some real strengths to personal discipleship.
• First, in this day when many young people struggle with a good self esteem, personal ministry demonstrates to someone that she or he is valuable. “If this Christian leader is spending personal time with me, he must think I’m worth it!” As the Apostle Paul put it, …we were well-pleased to impart to you…our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. (I Thessalonians 2:8) It has to do with the worth of the individual . . . the concept that individuals are worth receiving personal, one-to-one ministry, and that individuals are worthy of giving this kind of help to others.
• Second, one-to-one ministry is a great way to teach principles of life, character, and ministry because the instruction, feedback, and application can be tailored to the individual. It’s an answer to the old criticism of group instruction that… “Telling isn’t teaching; listening isn’t learning!”
• Third, life-to-life ministry can result in spiritual multiplication, a kind of chain-reaction of lives impacting others for the Kingdom. Paul implied four generations of godly people when he said to Timothy…(Paul, Timothy, faithful ones, others) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:1,2)
What “things” did Timothy learn from Paul? I’m sure there were a multitude of lessons and issues Timothy received from Paul during their time together, but let’s look at a few key “things” mentioned in Paul’s two letters to Timothy.
1. prayer –Therefore I want the men in every place to pray . . . (1 Timothy 2:8)
2. exhortation and teaching – In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus . . . give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. (1 Timothy 4:6,13)
3. time in the Word of God –. . . and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15 –17)
4. sharing the Gospel –I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . . . preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction . . .do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1,2 & 5)
5. godly character – 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. (1 Timothy 4:12) Godly character has these three foundation stones:
• sexual purity – (relate to) . . . the younger women as sisters, in all purity. (1 Timothy 5:2)
• having God’s perspective on money –For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith . . . (1 Timothy 6:7-11)
• humility . . . seeing ourselves as God sees us, beloved and valuable; but not a self-made superman or superwoman . . . not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think . . . (Romans 12:3)
And let me add this, not mentioned explicitly by Paul in his letters to Timothy, but implicit in Paul’s writing, and emphasized by Jesus: friendships with other serious Christian men and women. These relationships are important for encouragement and accountability. I would use the term “fellowship,” but that word has become so trite and misused as to mean little more than socializing.
Help the younger Christian to have these disciplines in his / her life (prayer, time in the Word, sharing the Gospel, teaching others). The basic approach to helping the younger believer is for you to share with him how you do it. Remember the saying, “You teach what you know; you reproduce what you are.” In this relationship you have with a hungry-to-grow young Christian, you’re providing both: your knowledge of Scripture and your own life as a model. Godly habits are more caught than taught. The Apostle Paul said numerous times that young believers should imitate him and his walk with God. This isn’t pride or vanity. It’s just common sense. People often emulate their leaders, which is beneficial when the leaders are living for God.
Imitate me as I imitate the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Now, train the young disciple for service to Christ. Jesus sent His disciples out (Luke 10:1–17) to experience ministry without Him. You encourage your ministry trainee to do same . . . lead his or her own small group, ID a hungry one, teach her or him these same disciplines that lead to a good walk with God. Discipleship is really just having someone do what you do, and equipping is just one more step beyond, having your disciple do the same for another. Aha! That’s the very essence of 2 Timothy 2:2! Entrust good stuff to faithful ones who are able to teach others as well.
Conclusion: You walk with the Lord, and help other faithful ones to do the same. This is ministry.
(* For an in-depth look at how to disciple another,
