Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries
2 Timothy 2:2 reads: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (ESV).
Paul is reaching the end of his life, and he wants this precious message to continue to be passed on.
“Entrust” indicates responsibility and stewardship. “Faithful” means those who will treasure what they have and handle it as God intended.
We, as disciples of Jesus, are the only way others will learn about Jesus and why He came to earth. We have been given a mission, and in John 15, Jesus shares His plans with His disciples.
Jesus paints a word picture of Himself as the Vine and His disciples as the branches that bear the fruit. Some of His statements are:
Verse 2: “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Verse 4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
Verse 5: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Verse 8: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Verse 16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
When a branch bears fruit, it provides the way by which other fruit can be produced. The branch that does not bear fruit is considered dead.
If you have ever grown a garden or fruit trees, you know an important part of having a healthy plant is to cut off dead or diseased limbs, so they do not weaken the healthy branches. Likewise, Jesus says He will remove those branches that are not bearing fruit.
Some of Jesus’ last words were, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28:19).
There is joy in seeing someone you have taught become a follower of Jesus.
“Each one teach one” is a common saying among believers, indicating each of us is responsible for reaching someone who can then reach someone else, just as 2 Timothy 2:2 says.
Teaching about Jesus should be a normal part of our lives. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 emphasizes the importance of teaching when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise.
Some ways to reach out to others are:
- Invite someone to VBS, gospel meetings, or a Bible study.
- Invite your friend for coffee and tell her you have good news you want to share… Then share your faith story and the path that led you to be a Christ follower (to discipleship).
- When you are with a friend, ask what she believes, then listen. Be ready to share your common beliefs, but if she mentions something not in Scripture, gently ask where she gets the authority for what she said.
- When you are asked a question, turn to Scripture instead of sharing your opinion.
- Stay “on target” in your study with others.
If you do not know how to teach someone, find a friend who does and ask them to help you learn. It may be that you are like Andrew and can seek people out and invite them to a Bible class or worship services, leaving the more formal teaching to someone else.
It is important to be alert and realize when a friend may be receptive. Life changes often create an interest that has not been present. When a new family moves into the neighborhood and is making new friends can be an excellent time to set up a study.
For us, it is important to:
- know who our authority is.
- know what and why we believe.
- be willing to search if asked a question we don’t know.
Are you willing to put 2 Timothy 2:2 into practice in your life?
