Category Archives: local church

HAVE YOU TRIED TO KNOW HOW MUCH of an impact discipleship could make in our world? The effect could be overwhelmingly huge, and yet it could also be felt in a personal level.

Let me highlight this truth as we look at these amazing verses in the second letter of apostle Paul to Timothy — verses that show us these three-pronged approach of discipleship.

HOME FRONT. Yes. Discipleship isn’t suppose to be detached from the comfort of our homes. No matter what situation we are in our relationships at home, discipleship could still work. Look at this verse.

2Tim. 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you (Timothy) also.

If you examine closely the family background of this young man Timothy, you would conclude that he didn’t really have a perfect family set up. His mother Eunice, who was described readily by the Scriptures as a ‘believer’, presumably was married to a Greek husband, which we can safely assume as unbelieving.

Acts 16:1b where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.

Yet this ‘sincere faith’ was passed down unhindered generationally. There must have been some form discipleship even at the home front.

WORK PLACE. Remember where most of Jesus’ disciples were called? In their respective work place. Peter and John were fishing in Matthew 4.18. Matthew was collecting taxes in Matthew 9.9. Simon was pretty much involved in the political life of the nation. That’s why he was referred to as a Zealot. Mark 3.18, Luke 6.15, Acts 1.13. I could imagine the rest of the ‘gang’. So check this out.

2Tim. 2:2 And the things you (Timothy) have heard me (Paul) say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to 3reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

So whether you’re in the campus, in the church, in the community, or even in your company, discipleship could be expressed in every level of relationships.

Could we also safely say that there was a 360 degree discipleship? It might be a little stretch to say that the ‘many witnesses’ could be his colleagues in (peer) discipleship too.

WORLD WIDE. Yes. Discipleship can be done domestically (2 Tim 1.5), locally (2 Tim 2.2), and globally, of course.

2Tim. 4:17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

It took time for it to happen globally, but it did move! First to the Jews in Acts 2, then to the Samaritans in Acts 8, then finally to the Gentiles starting in Acts 10. That movement was the fulfillment of Jesus promise in Acts 1 that says:

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The movement of this disciple-making mandate is outward. And no barrier or trap of the enemy can stop it. White fences like in the States won’t work. Cemented hollow-block walls with broken glasses on top like in the Philippines won’t work. A wrought-iron fortified cement walls like that in Germany won’t work. Or even a well guarded electric iron wire fences like that in Korea and South Africa could work.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is, for me, like an orange hot lava furiously flowing out of a volcano that could consume any element that’s on its path. Unstoppable!

So now, imagine your siblings, your parents, even your grand parents, nephews and nieces, coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Your colleagues, bosses, and clients at work. Students, professors, and teachers in your campuses.

And then at the same time, to every nation of the world!

Disciples in every area of life.

Disciples everywhere!

So know this that—

Disciple-making Knows No Bounds.