7 Tips for Discipling the Next Generation: Lessons from Apostle Paul

What does it look like to invest in the next generation? The apostle Paul invested his life into Timothy. 

If we want to see disciples who are able to pass on what they’ve learned to future generations, we need to focus on these seven tips from Paul’s letter to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11: 

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” (NIV).

1. Teaching. It’s important that our convictions—the truths we believe in—be accurate and biblical. Our outward life is a reflection of our inward conviction. We teach the Word of God by investing in others through Life-to-Life® discipleship. We pray Scripture for ourselves and those in our circle of influence (see 2 Timothy 3:16). 
   
2. Way of life. We have to let people into our lives. When the disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you live?” He didn’t give them an address (see John 1:35-42). He told them, “Come and see.” Jesus didn’t change lives just by what He taught—but also by the way He lived. Are we approachable? 
   
3. Purpose. When you reach the end of your life, how will you define success? Paul knew his purpose in the Kingdom of God. Our long-term goals determine our short-term goals. How will you invest your life? If you have something worth giving your life to, maybe it’s worth someone else giving his or her life to it as well (see Ephesians 2:10). 
   
4. Faith. Faith is only as valid as its object. Where is your faith? Jesus taught His disciples about faith at midnight on a boat that appeared to be sinking in the middle of the lake in the middle of the night. A little bit of faith in the promises of God will carry you a lot further than a lot of faith in anything else (see Hebrews 11). 
   
5. Patience. Your patience—your inner quietness of spirit—with yourself, with others, with God, and with your circumstances, is a reflection of what you believe. There are times of waiting and praying, which is why patience is important (see Lamentations 3:24-26). 
   
6. Love. Read 1 Corinthians 13: 4–8 and substitute your name each time you come across the word love. Try it for seven days. Jesus spent the precious hours before His crucifixion washing His disciples’ dirty feet as a demonstration of love. People will not care what you believe until they believe that you care. You can’t disciple a person you do not love.
   
7. Endurance, persecution, and suffering. In Acts 14, you see some believed the gospel and some didn’t when Paul preached, but he didn’t give up. This is what Paul said about these persecutions and suffering, “The Lord rescued me from all of them” (2 Timothy 3:11). How do you handle failure, weakness, or enduring something difficult? These times are just as important for discipling another person as your successes, teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, and love.

Paul invested in Timothy; and Timothy knew Paul’s teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings. If you want to reach the next generation of disciples, you need to trust God to bring someone into your life with whom you can share all these “things” that He has entrusted to your stewardship.

Adapted from Skip Gray’s message “Multiplying Disciples” in Discipleship Library.

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