“REACHING OUR WORLD FOR CHRIST”, FOR YEARS TO COME
II Timothy 2:1-10
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Reviewing the first two objectives in the discipleship
process:
1. The command to evangelize “reaches our world for
Christ” today: (Mt.28:19)
2. The command to nurture obedience in a local church
“reaches our world for Christ”, tomorrow: (Mt. 28:18-
20; Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:41, 47)
B. Adding the final objective, the command to equip the
faithful, in “reaching our world for Christ” for years to
come (four generations): (II Tim. 2:2)
- What “faithfulness” is and why it is first: (I Cor. 4:2)
Faithful – “A faithful individual is a born again believer,
who has surrendered himself to the Lordship of Christ as a
disciple, and who can be depended upon to follow through
with tasks discharged to him, in a realistic time frame with
excellence.” A Barnes (I Cor. 4:2; III John 5) - What makes “equipping” work for years to come:
(Mt. 28:20) (See chart on back)
- What being “faithful” will always generate – “fruitful”
disciples: (Jn. 15:4-5, 8,16) (See chart on back)
What “fruit” is all about: Fruit is designed for the enjoyment of
those around me. Fruit glorifies the Father because it
makes Jesus a reality to everyone around me. Fruit is my
passion to tell God’s love story, to anyone who has yet to
experience it. More fruit is to sacrificially serve with others
(local church) to be even more productive in telling God’s
love story. Much fruit is abandoning my life to individually
build into others, so that God’s love story will be shared for
years to come. (Compare Jn. 21:19,22; with Mk. 1:17)
II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL FOUR GENERATIONAL
EQUIPPERS:
A. Five foundational essentials for each “equipper”: vv. 1-7
1. “Be strong”: v. 1
2. “Heard from me”: v. 2
3. “Endure”: v. 3
4. “Untangled”: vv. 4-5
5. “Partaker”: 6-7
B. Faithfulness, the single admonishment for any potential
student (disciple): v. 2
1. Faithfulness is a command, not a suggestion:
Ministry is not delegated in order to make men faithful, but
to those who are already faithful. “Putting confidence in an
unreliable man is like chewing gum with a sore tooth, or
trying to run on a broken foot.” (Pro. 25:19 LBT)
2. Why faithfulness is critical for a desired four
generational plan of fruitfulness:
C. Three admonishments for any “equipper”: vv. 8-10
1. “Remember”: v. 8
2. “Trouble”: v. 9
3. “That they may also attain”: v. 10
III. PRINCIPLES TO PERSONALLY APPLY:
(Together becoming “people of the Word” in principle AND in practice)
A. Promptly identify and focus on the next “leg” in the relay
of your legacy, and make it a daily prayer request that
you are determining to act upon.
B. Receiving and releasing the baton cleanly is what a
four-man relay (eternal four generational legacy) is all
about.
C. All true believers are expected to run in this four-man
relay, but success requires removing your “warm-ups”,
starting at the whistle, with the baton firmly grasped in
the correct hand, while staying in your appointed lane.
(Heb. 12:1-2)
Sinners Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I was made by you and I was made for you, but
I have been living for myself. I am sorry for that self-rule you call sin.
I believe that Jesus Christ being my creator God, died, was buried,
and rose again to pay the insurmountable debt that my sin has
created. So right now, I am turning from a life of going my own way,
to by faith, place my trust in Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of all my
sin, and to get me to heaven, when I breath my last breath. Lord
Jesus, from today on, I am yours. Thanks for saving me, this very
moment, in Jesus name, Amen.
If you just made this life changing decision, we would love to draw
along side and help you grow now in Christ. Call Grace Evangelical
Free Church at (509) 684-5936. If get an answering service, we will
promptly get back with you as soon as possible. You can also
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service now with all your loved ones on Facebook to give the good
news of the gospel to those who might have hesitated to visit this
local church or with those who live miles away.