The history of Christianity is a Relay Race

„You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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.“ – 2 Timothy 2:1-2

The apostle Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, calling him his spiritual child in both of them because he had a discipleship relationship with him and had taught him everything and prepared him comprehensively for the ministry. Timothy later succeeded the apostle Paul and became the bishop of the church of Ephesus and an entire region. The mission command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20 is a doctrinal command. “Go now and make disciples of all nations and TEACH THEM to keep ALL that I have commanded you.” Discipleship is the secret of spiritual growth and multiplication of Christians and of churches.

The key to the expansion and growth of the kingdom of God is the teaching and training of Christians as mature disciples of Jesus. A disciple is a disciple who systematically learns everything related not only to the teaching of all major subjects of the Bible, but also to the character, lifestyle and ministry of Jesus, the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God, and the life and building of the church.

Exactly for this purpose the ISOM Bible School was developed – to train Christians systematically and comprehensively as disciples of Jesus who are able to teach others who can teach others in turn. This is the blessed relay race, of which we can be a part!

Paul speaks to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 in four pictures and professions, about his task as a trainer and teacher of a new generation to describe by Christians. All four professions need preparation and training in order to be successful – without it it is not possible!

The Teacher

Paul instructs his long-time disciple Timothy to teach everything he has heard and learned from him so that they too may be empowered to teach again. Paul calls fidelity a basic criterion for discipleship. Timothy should choose faithful Christians who are spiritually hungry and disciplined enough to learn new things over a long period of time. These loyal and trained disciples will then be able to teach everything to another generation. Only when we have been taught thoroughly and well ourselves can we teach others in a good and healthy way.

The Soldier

Paul teaches Timothy that we are in a battle and that he must be ready to suffer and develop the qualities of a good soldier who does not get caught up in the unimportant and distractions of the world. His role model was the Roman soldiers, who were the most disciplined soldiers in the world and therefore the most feared and victorious army in the world. As Christians, we must learn that we have an enemy and that we are in a spiritual battle. The ISOM Bible School trains Christians to live victoriously in the faith, to know and use the enemy and their spiritual weapons, so that they can live as overcomers.

The Athlete

Paul changes the picture again, this time to athletes who were greatly admired for their discipline and fighting spirit. Paul also describes the race of athletes in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27.

A question that Paul asks indirectly is:

Do you want to train as a professional athlete and be victorious be or live as an amateur?

Athletes needed discipline and had to learn the rules of their sport exactly, otherwise they were quickly disqualified. The same is true of the spiritual life. We have to get to know and live the rules and principles of the kingdom of God, otherwise we will not be able to compete in the long term and will quickly be prevented from fulfilling our calling and bearing a lot of fruit.

The Farmer

Research shows that farmers were the best soldiers in the Roman army. Why? Because they were used to hard work and effort in every season of the year. Paul says the farmer struggles to produce a harvest. That means two things. The first field is our heart. All wrong thoughts (lies, weeds) and bad attitudes must be removed and replaced with God’s Word and truth in order to produce 30-, 60- and 100-fold fruit. The second field is humanity where we sow the seeds of the gospel of Christ. Both need discipleship and training. That is why the ISOM Bible School has courses on heart healing and sanctification, as well as courses on an evangelistic lifestyle.

Conclusion: In verse 7 Paul tells Timothy something amazing. “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” In other words, these four images contain the secret of how we train a victorious and fruitful generation of Christians. When we really understand these four images and apply them in training, THEN we are on the way to maturity and understanding of the life of a disciple of Jesus and the dynamic growth of the kingdom of God in this world.

All four professions need training and preparation – it is not possible without them – neither in worldly professions nor in the spiritual life and service in the kingdom of God! Jesus will be used mightily in this training process to train and prepare you and others for any good work!