The Disciples We Must Leave Behind (2 Timothy 2:1–7) 9/14/2025
The Disciples We Must Leave Behind (2 Timothy 2:1–7) 9/14/2025
We are sharing from 2 Timothy, the final letter Paul wrote before his martyrdom in prison. The central theme of 2 Timothy is the answer to the questions – in the last days of the world and in the final moments of our lives, what will we leave behind on earth, and how will we stand before God?
Last week, in chapter 1, Paul spoke about Timothy, a disciple with genuine faith whom Paul deeply loved, thanked God for, and longed for.
This week, in chapter 2, Paul explains how to raise disciples and what kind of disciples we must leave behind. In verse 1, he first urges Timothy to be strong in grace. This is because, while disciples receive great blessings, they must also endure much suffering and persecution. Paul then urges Timothy to find truly faithful people and raise them as true disciples of Christ. So, how should we begin?
- I must first stand as such a disciple myself(Verse1).
1) Every saved believer is, from the moment of salvation, both a child of God and called to be a disciple of Christ. In fact, the Early Church referred to those who believed in Christ and were saved as “disciples” (Acts 2:41). The title “Christian” (those belonging to Christ) given later (Acts 11:26) also carried the meaning of discipleship. It was through them that the gospel reached us today.
2) But over time, the church lost hold of this blessing.
After surviving Rome’s brutal persecution, when Christianity became Rome’s state religion, people were able to live peaceful, prosperous lives (this was actually one of Satan’s strategies to destroy the church). For generations, people raised in Christian backgrounds (“faith from birth”) fell into this danger. Eventually, many degraded into mere churchgoers, then into formalistic Christians with only an outward shell, and finally into people who only clung to their positions and titles. The result was the thousand years of Medieval Church history.
3) Why did this happen? Believers must quickly escape from this state.
① They lost the knowledge of who Christ truly is (spiritual ignorance). They know the church, but they don’t know Christ. They live without knowing His meaning, His authority, or His power. That is why, even while living as Christians, many suffer from depression, panic disorders, suicidal thoughts, mental illnesses, and even get caught in shamanistic practices.
② They don’t know that the authority and power of Christ is within them (spiritual incompetence). They don’t understand what it means that we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood.” The authority of a king is to overcome Satan and to win in the world. Christ gave us His kingship. The authority of a priest is to set people free from sin, curses, and fate, and to bless them. He gave us this priesthood.
③ Because they neither know nor enjoy this authority and power, there is nothing they can do (spiritual corruption). God gave us this blessing and mission so that we could save others like ourselves, and all nations in suffering, but they do not hold that mission in our hearts. Israel lost this blessing, and that is why they fell into slavery, captivity, and colonization.
- How can we raise such disciples?
When I myself first stand as a disciple of Christ, then God will attach prepared people who can also be raised as disciples. In this passage, Paul emphasizes three kinds of disciples we must first become and then raise others to be the same.
1) Disciples trained as good soldiers of Christ(Verse3-4)
① Soldiers are prepared to guard what they possess and to take back what was stolen.
Since Genesis 3, humanity has lost everything and had it stolen by Satan. All failure, suffering, and death came from this.
② God sent His Son to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), and now calls us to fight this spiritual battle and save people. Revelation 12:17 says Satan will fiercely attack believers and the church to stop this. But Christ died, rose again, broke Satan’s authority, and made him kneel before us (Luke 10:19, Romans 16:20).
③ To live in this spiritual victory, believers must do three lifelong things. Build the bartizan of an unshakable foundation in God (blessing of 7 journeys, Romans 8:30–39). Be a watchman who always alert in prayer (blessing of the throne upon family, church, field, Isaiah 62:6–7). Be a warrior who knows Satan’s schemes and fights (work of Holy Spirit revealed, Matthew 12:28).
Though we may face failure, suffering, or injustice, those who fight to the end and win are the true soldiers.
2) Disciples trained as those who silently run the race set before them (runners), delivering the covenant(Verse5). Delivering the covenant not only saves me, but also raises disciples who will save the church, the field, and future remnants. What’s important is to “compete according to the rules.” It’s not about just running hard, it’s about running according to God’s promise (covenant).
① The eternal covenant is Christ. Make Him your “only.” He is the mystery to saving myself. He is the perfect, unique, and eternal answer, and the ultimate goal (Philippians 3:14). Through continually hearing and meditating on Christ’s message, the covenant is imprinted, rooted, and becomes our nature.
② The covenant of the age is world evangelization. Hold onto it as uniqueness. Only those with the secret of “only Christ” can do this. The end of the world will come only after the gospel is preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14). God will make everything into evidence to raise us as witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
③ The field covenant is for our own region and nation. We are recreating the flow of our field so that our families and children will also live. The current state of America is dangerous and dark. We must save it. This is why we must establish the model system of the “three courtyards” in the church. We must also pray for our nation and, especially, for the gospelization of world powers. That is why God placed us in America.
④ The covenant for the church that will be the center of this blessing. God gives us the covenant of the pulpit. This is the mystery by which we can have victory toady, this week, and this year (through the pulpit, God gives us comfort, renewal, and challenge) He blesses the entire church and all believers through the flow of the pulpit (Ezekiel 47). When we believe in this covenant, God works (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
3) Disciples trained like farmers who sow seeds and wait for fruit (Verse6). Disciple is a person who can wait for the future. We must also wait when it comes to saving people. All labor and dedication, when endured with patience, will ultimately come as eternal answers and blessings.
① Salvation is by grace, but reward and glory are reaped according to what we sow (Galatians 6:7, 9). That’s why we must dedicate our everything (time, talents, and finances) to the gospel.
② “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.” There is a special glory and blessing for those who labor. Jesus promised that if we sacrifice for the gospel, we will receive a hundredfold in this life and enjoy eternal things (Mark 10:29–30).
Conclusion – What will we leave behind on this earth? Disciples. A disciple of faith, a soldier of Christ, a runner, and a farmer-like disciple. May I stand as a true disciple of Christ, and may other disciples be raised through me.
9.14.25 The Disciples We Must Leave Behind
9-14-2025 Pulpit_Meditation_Forum