2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
The Greek word for men can also refer to people in
general. Jesus said to go into all the world and make disciples. Why is it that
we tend to understand that phrase, “make disciples,” as “make decisions” or “make
converts”? The Great Commission is not a commission to win people to Christ. It
is a commission to equip and train people to know Jesus, to know good theology,
and to pass that on to another generation of believers. In short, it is a
discipleship commission, not an evangelism commission. When we stop with conversion,
we have failed to keep the Great Commission. There are a few cases in the New
Testament where people came to faith and were left to go on their own. Actually,
the Ethiopian Eunuch is the only one I can think of. Everywhere in the New Testament converts were
taken under the wing of someone and trained, even if just for a short time. Paul’s
challenge to Timothy in the verse above is a challenge to make disciples. But
it is more. It is a challenge to train disciples into leaders. Entrust others
with the gospel truths that we have been taught. That is what we are called to
do. This is not just for Timothy, or for pastors, or for teachers. This is the
call of every believer. Take what you have learned and entrust it to others. It
might be your children. It might be a Sunday School class. It might be your
co-workers or a neighbor. Even if you are not in a leadership role in the
church you are called to make disciples. Who are you training and equipping?
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