2 Essentials Churches Need to Make Confident Disciples
By Michael Kelley
Paul had a special relationship with Timothy. Though Paul had many friendships and offered spiritual guidance and instruction to even more, Timothy was different. Their relationship was so close that Paul thought of him as a son in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2). He discipled him, travelled with him, and eventually entrusted him with important work like leading churches and confronting false teachers.
Paul loved Timothy. And because he did, he wanted him not only to remain faithful to Christ, but to live confidently in that faith. Here’s what he wrote to his son in the faith in 2 Timothy 3:14-15:
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
In Paul’s words, we find two simple but essential things Timothy needed to live as a confident disciple of Jesus Christ. And these are also two essentials for churches today if they want to make confident disciples in their own right. Those two essentials are the Bible and people.
Essential 1: The Bible
Timothy had spent considerable time around and with the Bible. And it would be that time with the Bible that would help him continue confidently in the faith. Similarly, we cannot expect Christians in our day to be confident disciples unless they have read, memorized, and meditated on God’s Word.
From the church standpoint, we often put our focus on programs and services. We want to be a part of churches that have a strong children’s ministry, an engaging youth ministry, a vibrant worship service, or teaching that captures our imagination. None of those things are wrong in and of themselves, and yet none of them can replace the essential importance of God’s Word.
It’s engagement with the Bible at a personal level that gives disciples confidence.
Though all the programs and services might be helpful, the absolute best thing we can do in the church is help people be able to read, study, understand, and apply the Bible for themselves, and then challenge and equip them to engage the Bible on a daily basis.
Essential 2: People
Paul wanted Timothy to live confidently in his faith, and he could do so because of his love for and familiarity with the Scripture. But he could also do so because of his deep relationship with the people who had actually taught him the Scripture.
These weren’t just nameless, faceless, impersonal influences in Timothy’s life. They were actual people - people that Timothy knew and that knew him. This is another reason why he could be confident - not only did he know the Bible, but he also had a deep knowledge and trust of those who taught the Bible to him.
This, too, is a challenge for the church.
Too often, we are satisfied with surface-level relationships in Bible study classes or small groups. But we have to press further because classes ultimately don’t make disciples, and neither do small groups. Neither do any other program the church offers, though they all might be helpful environments for discipleship to occur.
People make disciples. That was the charge given to us by Jesus. And disciples aren’t made at a distance. If we want to see confident disciples of Jesus Christ, then our churches must be characterized by at least these two things - an absolute insistence on God’s Word, and relationship after relationship of people who are investing in one another.
Michael Kelley is a husband, father of three, author, and speaker from Nashville, TN. His latest book is a year-long family devotional guide called The Whole Story for the Whole Family. Find his personal blog at michaelkelley.co.
