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II Timothy 2: 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence
of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (NIV)
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The church needs to replenish its leaders constantly.* |
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When my husband retired from his job, he got to pick his successor. The man was younger and had risen through the ranks until my husband started grooming him to take his place. This seems like the ideal practice for the ministry. It sounds a lot like Paul’s words to Timothy: train reliable people who can be trusted to carry on the work that Paul started. Timothy was about to become a Bible college professor!
Passing on traditions from generation to generation was the practice of the Pharisees and Greek philosophical schools,* but Paul is writing about something much more important than traditions – he is telling Timothy how to keep the gospel alive. There was no New Testament to preach and teach from so the first Christians had to rely on the testimony of those who had “been there, done that” and of those they had trained.
I have heard it said that the Church is just one generation away from extinction; but “Christ’s church was designed to endure.”* As long as we are faithful in our duty to pass along the Gospel message we will not have to fear that we are the last generation.
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There’s joy in serving others, but the joy multiplies when we equip someone else to serve.* |
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