Daily Thoughts from Acts: Discipleship (Acts 16:1-5)

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.  (Acts 16:1-5 ESV)

Thus begins the tremendous partnership of Paul and Timothy.  Paul is looking for leaders who can help his team as they travel the empire.  The report on Timothy is a good one and Paul apparently saw in him a potential co-worker.  But Timothy’s mother was Jewish, so Paul has him circumcised.  The ESV Study Bible note says it well:

Paul never abandoned his Jewish heritage, and so he circumcised Timothy. It was all the more necessary if Timothy was to join his mission. He did not want to fight on nonessentials (1 Cor. 9:19–21). Paul always began in the synagogues, and to have an uncircumcised Jew with him would have made any witness to Jews much more difficult. (Since Timothy had grown up in this region, the Jews would have known of his mixed family background.)

Paul also continues using the Jerusalem council decision to help the churches be clear that circumcision is not required for Gentiles, that they do not have to keep the Law, in essence become Jews, in order to be saved.  As a result the churches are strengthened and so they increase in numbers daily as believers give testimony to what Jesus has done in their lives.  It is hard to underestimate the importance of that decision from the council in regard to Gentile converts.

It is also instructive that Paul was all about teams.  First he teamed with Barnabas and had an incredibly successful first missionary journey.  Then he teamed with Silas on his second missionary journey and picks up Timothy as well.  Paul is a discipler.  As Barnabas discipled Paul, so Paul disciples Silas and Timothy.  They too become disciplers.  Paul describes this multiplicational principle in 2 Timothy 2:1,2,

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,  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. (ESV)

If we were following this principle, discipling men and women on a consistent basis who would disciple others also, the growth would be phenomenal.  Discipling consists of parenting (many have had deficient parenting), biblical teaching (you don’t need to be a scholar but be able to handle the Scriptures accurately),  accountability (on your part and theirs), and ministry together (showing someone how it is done, not just telling them).  It may be the most important work you ever do.

Last week we gathered some of the men in our community together to host a “man night” for a young follower of Jesus who just turned 14 years old. This was a night set aside to speak blessing, advice and gospel into an up and coming man, future father and husband. It started with a blessing from his own father, a blessing that spoke life, instilled wildness, and a calling for this young follower to live into his manhood. This blessing was followed by a confession from his father, a confession of a life of guilt and religion. His father spoke freedom for his son, freedom from guilt, freedom from trying to earn his identity, freedom from his own expectation for his son. Instead of guilt, his father spoke Grace… “Grace to you, Grace in you, Grace for you… may you learn each day how to walk in Grace”. 

As the father and his son embraced you could feel a release from boyhood and a commission into manhood. Then this embrace was followed by the father looking around the table and telling his son,  “These men are here for you and believe in you.”  What unfolded next was a pure picture of the church taking responsibility for discipleship of this young follower of Jesus. These men who are all uniquely gifted were released to imprint their understanding of manhood on this young follower. The father then asked these men to help shape his son into a man and he called these men to help share the responsibility for his son’s manhood.  The father said to his son, “Listen to these men, they love Jesus and they love you.”

Then this community of men spoke truth, revealed their own failures and together embraced the gospel as they shared their journey of manhood with this young man. The man on his right spoke up… “Don’t just listen, think for yourself, you’re a smart young man and part of being a man is developing the ability to think. You can trust the Spirit of God inside of you to guide you into truth even if you and your dad don’t agree on everything. Trust your dad, he is a smart man but also grow into your own faith…” Laughter broke out as the man to his right spoke of the obvious differences between himself and the boy’s father. But in that moment this young man saw another stroke on the canvas, as another side of manhood was revealed. Then the recent college grad across the table spoke about high school… “In high school it feels like the only two things that matter are girls and sports, it’s not true. I followed the crowd and wasted my teenage years on things that don’t matter but don’t be like me. High school is just 4 years, 4 years! Keep your head up and don’t get stuck playing the identity game with your looks or your skills.”

The man at the end of the table spoke up and said… “write stuff down.” Then others around the table said, “Keep a journal?” (Laughter and hello kitty comments were made) But he spoke up again, “No, I mean just write stuff down. I’ve learned so much over the years about life and faith but because I have written it down I can look back and reflect and see growth in my life. Men write stuff down!”  The man sitting next to him said, “Wow, I have never thought of that? I need to start doing that tonight.” All of a sudden men were now not only speaking truth into this young man but men were learning about manhood from each other. As the conversation continued the college professor across the table spoke up, “Study hard, set high goals for your education, see yourself as a student preparing for a life not just studying for a grade”.  Then jokes were made about how some men are nerds and some are jocks but both are men. Again you could feel the picture of manhood being formed by another stroke on the canvas. Blessings and wisdom continued to flow from men from every seat at the table as words like these rang true:

“Men are quick to admit they are wrong, men fail, men ask for forgiveness, men need Jesus.”

(Another man spoke up) “Live into your identity as a son, a son of God the Most High, who loves you and gave his son for you.” 

(Another man spoke up) “Men struggle with sin. You’re not alone. Don’t believe the lie that what you are going through is unique to you. You can talk to any of us about anything. As you look around this table you will see that all of us have struggled with sin in the forms of addiction, porn, lust, idolatry and pride.”  

A call was put out to all present to raise their glass in admission of sin and struggle. As the glasses were raised this young man was able to see the transparency of his community and was invited to manhood with them, a manhood full of grace and truth.

The night ended with these profound words from one of the most respected men at the table… “You are now a part of the man club, we are just a few steps in front of you but we are on this journey with you. We have not arrived but we raise our glass today with you to the perfect man Jesus, our King. May our Father make us all more like Jesus together.”

This night was one of the most incredible discipleship moments of my life. You see I am the father in this story and the young man is my son. My son and I will not only remember this night but it was a night that impacted every man at the table. Life on life discipleship happened. The gospel was articulated, blessings were spoken and the canvas of manhood displayed the image of every man present. This night was more impactful than 100 sermons preached. Each man left changed and together we were unified in our journey to follow Jesus and make disciples together.

From <http://wearesoma.com/blog/disciples-make-disciples-a-story-of-life-on-life-discipleship/>