Timothy and Titus Training 101

There is little disagreement about the fact that our churches, our local, state and national governments are in a serious leadership shortfall. There are not enough trained leaders to LEAD…Loving Excel in ADministration of what God is calling us to do as leaders…to TRAIN others to lead. This should probably be about 80% of our work as leaders…to train, to mentor, and to take joy in passing on what you know and has been given to you as a leader.

We need to be willing to let go of our present position by training someone else to take over, who might do the job even better than we did it! Do you really think God won’t have something else for you to do when you pass it on? Seriously, there is so much to accomplish on this journey! God is GOD! We need to constantly be looking for potential leaders that we can pass on what God has so graciously given to us.

We need to mature in our leadership and faith to the point that we actually take more joy in seeing someone else do what we did better than the way we did than in doing it ourselves! (Read this about three times until it soaks into your thinking and behavior!)

I have personally been “preaching” the following passage for many years in a variety of ways to help people understand the importance of what Paul is commanding Timothy to now do…”PASS ON what you heard from me…to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.”

2 Timothy 2, The Message

1-7 So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.

THE MESSAGE WE PASS ON…

8-13 Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It’s what you’ve heard from me all along. It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now—but God’s Word isn’t in jail! That’s why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:

If we die with him, we’ll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there’s no way he can be false to himself.

THE METHOD WE USE…

4-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.

What do we learn?
–LEAD and teach in the most excellent way so that others may follow your example.
–TRAIN others to lead others, to lead others, to lead others…
–God is always with You.
–Throw ourselves in the work, FOR Christ.
–Concentrate on doing our best for God.
–Godly words must be backed by living a Godly life.
–Pious talk just wears everyone out without teaching anyone anything.
–When the going gets rough…think of what Jesus did for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word challenges us once more and stir our hearts and minds to living even closer to You, looking full into your face and watching for your command this morning. Thank you for Your abiding Presence in our lives. Thank you for saving our souls. Thank you for teaching us to teach others to teach others with Your love in our hearts, words on our minds and fiery passion in our souls. Thank you for the joy we see when others serve You well. I’m Yours, Lord. I’m listening and watching for You as You work in us for today.
In Jesus Name, Amen