Disciples

​There is almost an intoxication that comes with preaching the Word from a pulpit to a listening crowd.  But I do not believe this is the kind of preaching Paul is challenging Timothy to perform.  If anything, I have found over the years, that little results from Sunday morning sermons.  Yes, people may go away encouraged, challenged, thinking or offended, but do their lives change much?  Are disciples created or is the crowd just expanding?  Disciples are not made by microphone messages to seated masses.  This is why the church is not winning the world for Jesus. 

​Meditation
2 Timothy 1:13-- Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
 
I believe the teaching that Paul challenges Timothy to be engaged in is the delivery of Biblical principles to people who have indicated a desire to follow Christ. This is what he modeled.  He met people where they were at whether in the work-setting or at home.  We love winning people to our convictions.  How much better to see them take God’s truth and replicate it.  The former results in spiritual nurseries the latter in a vibrant spiritual army!  Never say, “I cannot disciple anyone, I don’t know enough.”  You can disciple someone else.  Just commit to sharing what Jesus through His word is teaching you.  If you are content in your spiritual life but are not sharing God’s word with others so they grow in their faith, you are missing the whole objective of Christianity—to go and make disciples!  Rebel against complacency!  Burn the creed “I’m too busy.”  Get after the most rewarding work God gave us.  The privilege of making disciples!  Such work results in eternal reward most everything else will burn.
 
Inspiration
How many make followers of their own convictions, and how few make disciples!  The production of saints, that is the work. God Almighty regenerates people’s souls; we make disciples.  Are we doing it?—Oswald Chambers in Christian Disciplines
 
©1997 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)