9/24/20 By Larry Barker
As the interview continued on our Healthy Church Podcast the reality hit me and hit me hard. We were seeing a great example of exactly what II Timothy 2:2 is suppose to look like where Paul discipled Timothy, Timothy discipled faithful men, and then faithful discipled others also. Our guest was my good friend Eli Semedo and he spoke of “Pauls” in his life and how he became their “Timothy” and then he discipled others who are now discipling others. Yes, four generations of ongoing discipleship that multiplies over and over again. Here is his testimony.
“The Apostle Paul issued a bold challenge when he stated, ‘Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1). If we didn’t have information or context about the person who penned this challenge, we would be tempted to think it’s someone arrogant or overconfident. Because so much has been written about Paul’s upbringing, education, travels, theological depth, oratorical prowess and missiological endeavors, I fear that we often miss his heart and passion – making disciples (imitators of Christ).”
“With this in mind, the emphasis on discipleship should not come as a surprise when reading his interactions with Timothy, one of Paul’s many disciples. In his letters to Timothy, he affectionately calls him ‘my true son in the faith’ (1 Timothy 1:2), ‘my son’ (1:18), ‘my dearly loved son’ (2 Timothy 1:2). I believe that this is just a glimpse of the close relationship between a disciple-maker and his disciple. After all, they had spent countless hours ‘following Jesus, fishing for people and in fellowship with one another’ as Steve Murrell says. “
“Looking back, I have been honored to have a few ‘Pauls’ on my journey. During different seasons of my life, God has allowed godly men to cross my path who took the time to teach, guide and challenge me to be a disciple-maker myself. During high school in Johnston, Rhode Island, I met Ildofonso, a naval engineer passionate about apologetics and being rooted in Christ. He was not your typical Sunday school teacher! He intentionally discipled me and weekly challenged me to be an imitator of Christ.”
“I can’t tell you how many times he said, ‘Stop by my house for a meal and we’ll go over this topic in more detail.’ A few times, I even had the opportunity to see him ‘in action’ when we went out to share Christ with those in the neighborhood. At those times, I would go home thinking, ‘We Christians have nothing to fear since we do have the truth and can present it with gentleness and boldness.’”
“A few years later, I would find myself in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, pursuing my college degree. Through the campus ministry there, I met Josué, who pastored a small country church two hours away. He had heard about this campus ministry that focused on reaching leaders for Christ through evangelism and discipleship, and he wanted to check it out. I was struck by his humble spirit and desire to hone his disciple-making skills.”
“Eventually, he invited me to assist him in implementing discipleship to his church and the daughter church he had recently launched. It didn’t take long for me to become part of his family. We ate most of our meals together, prayed together and drank lots of cafezinho (Brazilian coffee) as we discussed Bible passages and spiritual formation books. Frankly, I don’t remember the curriculum he used, but I do remember doing life together and being molded daily into the image of Christ.”
“Eventually, I ended up in Cabo Verde Islands (West Africa), where my family is from. While visiting one of the Northern islands, I met the Smith family, BMAA missionaries in the country. I was extremely impressed with their knowledge and fluency of the Portuguese and Capeverdean Creole (official and national) language. It was very evident that they had invested countless hours to learn the culture and language of their host country.”
“It did not take long for us to become good friends, and soon he began to pour into my life and train me for ministry. From the very beginning, the expectation was quite clear. He was discipling me so that I could in turn disciple others.”
“Consequently, I’ve not only had the privilege to imitate and be discipled by these ‘Pauls’, but I’ve also been a Paul myself and poured into my ‘Timothys’. Before leaving Cabo Verde, I discipled a few young men. In fact, Olavo, one of the young men I discipled, currently leads the church plant that I started. I sure hope that he is raising up and pouring into some ‘Timothys’ and ‘Tituses’ today. Currently, I am discipling a few men and would love to see them put into practice 2 Timothy 2:2.”
Discipleship is talked about and discussed a lot but are we actually making disciples who are making disciples? The process can include large groups, small groups, triads, and one-on-one relationships. We need corporate worship together with other believers and we also need smaller groups for accountability. Jesus spoke to the masses, sent out the 70, spent life with 12, and invested heavily in 3. Who are you discipling and who are they discipling?