Multiply

2 Timothy 2:1-10

2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2:2 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. 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2:4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 2:5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 2:6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 2:7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 2:9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Happy Memorial Day! I want to start by highlighting this federal holiday.

It originated during the American Civil War to honor and mourn military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces by placing flowers on the graves of those killed in battle. The first national observance was in 1868. After World War I, the name was changed to Memorial Day, and in 1971, it officially became a federal holiday. Today, the day is observed by visiting cemeteries, hosting ceremonies and parades, and placing flags in honor of our veterans and those we have lost. It is observed on the last Monday of May, and it is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer.

While some praised the establishment of this federal holiday, others opposed it, worrying it would become more about vacations, parties, and events. In 1911, there was a debate in Indiana about hosting an auto race on this sacred day. Some were vehemently opposed, while others thought it would bring more awareness to the holiday. Eventually, it was decided that the race—the Indianapolis 500—would be held on Memorial Day, a tradition that continues to this day.

There are a few reasons we observe this holiday. First, it is biblical to give honor where honor is due. These men and women paid the ultimate price to serve their country. Second, people will emulate what you celebrate. A nation needs people who are willing to defend it, to fight for it, and yes, to give their lives for it. Holidays and celebrations help create and pass this value down to future generations.

What you value, you naturally want to pass down to others. As Christians, we value our country and want that sense of honor and duty passed down. However, our first priority will always be the gospel of Jesus Christ. We want this gospel remembered, celebrated, and passed down to others.

The preservation and propagation of the gospel is vital to us. This Scripture passage teaches us both the importance of that mission and how to go about it. One of our primary goals for this year—and what we have identified as an essential ingredient to our discipleship—is that we multiply. We must multiply ministry. We must pass down the gospel, along with the beliefs and practices of the Christian faith. This passage speaks directly to that, and we are looking at it today to spur us on in this area.

The book of 2 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to his young protégé, Timothy. Timothy was a young man who traveled and ministered alongside Paul, and he ended up pastoring a church in the bustling city of Ephesus—one of the great cities of the ancient world. This letter is one of the Pastoral Epistles, meaning it is a personal letter where Paul advises Timothy on how to shepherd a local church. The letters of the New Testament consistently exude the absolute importance of the local church.

From this text, here are three points on multiplying ministry.

1. Strengthen Yourself in the Grace of God

2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

The first thing to notice is that Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the grace of God.

The Greek word used here is endynamoo, which means to empower, to put power into, or to increase in strength and vitality. The root word dynamis means power (where we get our word dynamite). The combination of these words points to "inserting power into something." Furthermore, this verb is in the present passive imperative form. It is a command, but it is written in the passive voice. Essentially, it means "be strengthened" or "keep on being empowered by God" (similar to its usage in 2 Tim 4:17, Eph 6:10, Phil 4:13, and 1 Tim 1:12). This command demanded Timothy’s continuous, active cooperation with God.

Why would Timothy need to be strong?

• People had abandoned him. As Paul notes in 2 Timothy 1:15, many in Asia had turned away.

• Paul was in prison. It makes ministry incredibly difficult when your primary mentor is sitting in jail. Try explaining that in your next job interview!

Look at what Paul says later in chapter 4: 2:16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 2:17 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... (2 Timothy 4:16-17)

Paul is encouraging Timothy to be strong in the grace of God because it would be very easy to focus on what has gone wrong and what isn't right. Instead, we need to focus on what God has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. We are never promised a hardship-free life. In fact, we are promised that there will be hardships, and it is precisely within those hardships that we realize our desperate need to be saved.

People spend so much time trying to ensure that their lives and decisions are perfectly aligned and risk-free. While there is a place for wisdom, that mindset roots our faith in our own carefully planned and executed strategies. That is a luxury no biblical figure ever had. Adversity forced them to root their faith and confidence entirely in God.

So, how do you become strong in the grace of God?

The best way I can explain this is by looking at how we talk about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. I cannot force God to strengthen me, but I can put myself in a position to be empowered by Him. If I want to sail a boat, I had better get to some water where the wind is blowing. If you want the empowerment of God, you need to position yourself around the things of God: the reading, preaching, teaching, singing, and daily living out of the Word of God.

As Ephesians 6:10 says: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."

There is no doubt that a massive part of being strengthened connects directly to the call to remember Jesus Christ.

2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 2:9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

This is the gospel—the good news. God has acted decisively in history. Jesus is the offspring of David. God made a promise to King David in the 10th century BC that He would send a King from his line who would reign forever. This was the ultimate fulfillment of what God promised to Abraham and Moses. God was doing something to abolish death, and in order to do this, He had to taste death Himself. Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world.

He is God’s solution to all human problems. In John Bunyan's The Pilgrim’s Progress, he describes the "Slough of Despond" as a place that cannot be mended because it is where all the scum, filth, fears, doubts, and discouraging apprehensions of a convicted sinner continually run and settle. That is the reality of human brokenness.

Knowing the gospel is key because you can never pass on what you do not understand, and you will never commend what you do not value. When you truly know the gospel, it becomes your heart’s desire to share it with others. You develop an internal conviction and a fire for honoring Jesus Christ—a fire that cannot be quenched.

You cannot pass on what you do not prize, and you will not prize what you do not know.

2. Entrust to Reliable People

When you value something, you naturally want to share it. You commend it, celebrate it, and want to teach it to others. We are called to naturally and intentionally do this with the gospel.

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

First, notice the content of what we are called to pass on. Paul says to pass on what you have heard me say publicly. This is not some esoteric, hidden, or secret material. It is the plain, open teaching of Scripture. It isn’t a new innovation, a secret handshake, or something Jesus only whispered to a select few. Paul is simply passing the baton of the gospel. He is passing on what is of utmost value—the very truth that consumed his life.

He explicitly says to pass it on to reliable or faithful (pistois) people. These are people of deep faith. Do we value faithfulness in our culture today? Not usually. Our culture celebrates "following your own heart." But it is incredibly difficult to depend on a person who is simply going to do whatever feels right in the moment. You cannot build a solid relationship on that. You cannot build a business on that, and you certainly cannot build a local church with that. To be trustworthy means you are worthy of trust; it means you have earned it and proved it over time.

People who minister to others must be faithful. Scripture places an immense premium on character and integrity.

Do you know who truly values faithful people? Someone who has been abandoned, like Paul. Someone who has seen fair-weather followers walk away. Many of you have been let down, abandoned, and forgotten in your life. Don’t let those experiences convince you that such behavior is acceptable. Choose to be different. Root yourself in the Lord and choose to be faithful to those around you.

We need more reliable people—people we can depend on through thick and thin. If that description resonates with your heart, let us know.

The key instruction here is to entrust the gospel to others. The word means to hand over or to commit to another with absolute confidence.

I am currently teaching a teenager how to drive. Frankly, it is terrifying! However, he is doing better than his older siblings did at this stage. Even though it's scary, I am handing over the keys, entrusting the car and my life to him. Why do we do this as parents? Because we don't want to be their volunteer Uber drivers for the rest of their lives! We also know that driving is a key component of growing up, adulting, and thriving. And I am confident that he will want to teach his own kids how to drive one day.

In the exact same way, it should be our burning desire as Christians for others to know the gospel. Here, Paul, the seasoned apostle, seeks to impart to Timothy, his foremost disciple, the exact same mentoring mindset that characterized his own apostolic ministry.

Look at the links in this chain. You can see four distinct generations of faith represented in this single verse:

1. Paul

2. Timothy

3. Faithful individuals

4. Others

What was Paul’s goal? To raise up faithful men who would teach others. What is our goal as church leaders? To raise up others who know, prize, and carry the gospel. What is your goal as an individual Christian? To raise up others who know, prize, and carry the gospel to the world around them.

Is this a goal for pastors? Absolutely. We want pastors who will faithfully take the message and teach it to leaders, who will then teach it to congregations. If that chain of transmission is broken anywhere, we have a major problem.

But we also need this to be the core culture of our entire church. We want ministry team leaders and small group leaders who are teaching the message and raising up other faithful people to do the same. We want to see groups start, grow, and multiply—moving from one healthy group to two. We want to see you leading your families, transforming your workplaces, hosting evangelistic Bible studies, and building into people who are younger in the faith.

If this work is left to just a couple of staff members, the ministry will eventually die out. It only takes one generation for the gospel to die out in a community. We are seeing this reality across our nation today. While our society has shifted, the gospel remains just as powerful today as it has ever been. However, we must cultivate a culture of discipleship, wrapping the life of our church around these principles. We need to raise the tide so that all the boats sit a little higher.

This requires competency. We need people who are "able to teach" and effectively reach others. This standard defines who the leaders of the church should be:

• Able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2)

• Able to manage his own house well. If someone cannot lead their own family to the Lord, how can they presume to lead the church of God? (1 Timothy 3:4)

• Do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5)

If you are here today and want to grow in your understanding of the gospel, learn how to pass it on to other leaders, or share it in your office, we want to make that happen. We need people who are hungering to learn. If you look at your life and realize you aren't seeing the spiritual fruit you desire, wouldn't it be incredible to acknowledge that and express a genuine desire to learn? We have a new vision statement as a church, but my biggest concern is that we roll it out without seeing a real need for personal change. We must actively participate in discipleship and work together as a church family.

3. Share in Paying the Cost

The gospel comes to us entirely free of charge, but living it out will cost you everything you have.

If you want to be a spiritual leader and make a difference for eternity, you must expect suffering. We live in a world that fundamentally opposes God, so serving Him will naturally bring you into contention with the culture.

Our Savior was handed over to Pilate and crucified. Interestingly, that phrase "handed over" is the exact same concept Paul uses to describe our work of "handing over" the gospel. Because Jesus was handed over for us, we have good news to share. And just as He gave His life, we follow Him by sacrificially serving God and others.

In this passage, Paul uses three distinct analogies to show Timothy how to approach this task. Each analogy explains what it looks like to share in suffering.

The Soldier (Focus)

2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2:4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

The soldier epitomizes the virtue of single-mindedness. A soldier is concerned with obeying his commander twenty-four hours a day, and Paul wants Timothy to display that same zeal for the Lord. To get entangled in "civilian affairs" means becoming dangerously distracted from your primary duty. As one commentator noted:

"Servants of Christ are not merely to be well-rounded dabblers in all types of trivial pursuits. They are tough-minded devotees of Christ who constantly choose the right priorities from a list of potential selections."

Active soldiers are not distracted by changing the color of their drapes, buying a new couch, tweaking their fantasy football drafts, or tracking player statistics. They are focused entirely on the battle. Now, I am not saying there is no place for hobbies or everyday responsibilities. But it does raise a diagnostic question: Are we genuinely focused on the spiritual battle around us? Are we focused on being faithful to our primary calling? Are we seeing the gospel passed on, people coming to Christ, and the church overcoming the enemy?

The Athlete (Discipline)

2:5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

An athlete must submit to rigorous training, which requires intense self-discipline and a willingness to forgo temporary earthly pleasures. They exemplify the commitment to compete according to the established rules.

They don't cut corners. One of our kids had a fantastic soccer season and made it all the way to the championship game. It featured two great teams, but one side started playing dirty and getting "chippy." Predictably, the other team started responding in kind. Listen, when the world starts getting chippy with you, do not lower your standards. Stay within the rules. Trust the Lord and refuse to compromise your integrity. Does our Christian life reflect an attitude of focus, rigor, and discipline—or one of complacency, distraction, and laziness?

The Farmer (Endurance)

2:6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Receiving a share of the crops here is not an appeal for a ministerial salary; rather, it promises a spiritual reward from God for a job devotedly done. This reward may manifest in this life or at the final judgment.

A hard-working farmer plows the land when he is supposed to, scatters his seed in the right season, waters and cares for the soil, and when the harvest finally comes, he gets to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Paul is telling Timothy to get busy ministering right now. In time, you will reap a reward. And what greater reward is there than seeing people come to faith in Christ and experiencing eternal salvation?

You can give yourself to that exact cause right now. It is the most significant work on the face of the earth.

• Soldiers stay focused.

• Athletes stay disciplined.

• Farmers stay faithful.

The mission is simply too important for spectators.

True ministry requires sacrifice; there is no magic pill. What is it going to take to grow the church? What is it going to take to reach your friend, your son, your coworker, or your spouse? It takes hard work, sacrifice, determination, and plenty of blood, sweat, and tears.

It is a demanding task, but it is also exactly what Jesus strengthens us to do, and it is deeply rewarding. Of all the things I get to pass on to my kids—driving, a strong work ethic, classic rock songs, and bad 90s comedy movies—there is no doubt that the greatest gift is the gospel. To talk about life, our struggles, our tendencies, and the ultimate solution found in Jesus Christ brings the deepest level of relationship possible. There is no greater joy, and there is nothing greater to give your life to.

Commit yourself to Jesus today, and commit yourself to His service.

Discussion Questions

1. What does it practically look like to draw strength from God’s grace instead of relying on your own abilities, plans, or circumstances?

2. In what specific areas of your life do you need to count the cost and demonstrate greater focus, discipline, endurance, or hard work for Christ?

3. Regarding passing on the gospel, who has invested most deeply in your spiritual growth, and who is God calling you to intentionally invest in right now?

4. Who are the people God has placed in your immediate life who need Jesus, and what is one intentional step you can take this week to share your faith or begin a gospel conversation with them?