v 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
So here is another strand to Paul’s work. He felt the responsibility of training and equipping others to carry on the work he was doing. Years before writing this letter, Paul had taken Timothy under his wing and had encouraged him in his service for Jesus. You can read about that in Acts 16 ‘Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, .. so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. ’ and then later in chapter 19 ‘He (Paul) sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia. ‘ Clearly, Timothy had been trained to share in Paul’s work of spreading the Good News. So now in this letter to Timothy Paul encourages him to train and equip others to continue the work.
This is an aspect of Christian Ministry that we have always tried to encourage at The Hub. One of our former Pastors – Chris Voke – left Beeding and went on to become the Vice-Principal at Spurgeon’s College in Croydon and so shared in the work of preparing young men and women for leadership in local Churches. We continue to help the College in that work by gifts that enable students to study. Then in every local congregation Ministers are always involved in equipping others as leaders of various activities. That is a job that is every bit as important as getting on with the work itself. All leadership in organisations of many different kinds aim to ensure that work will continue when the existing team retires.
Please pray today for a continuing flow of younger people to sustain the work of local Churches.
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