The past few days we have focused on implementing 2 Timothy 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. (2 Timothy 2.2, NIV)

Encouraged by pastor and author Dr. Greg Ogden we have looked at:

• The mission: laser-focused on making reproducing disciples
• The method: micro-groups, the Holy Spirit’s hot house for transformation
• The materials: biblically-based curriculum as an empowerment tool for discipling others

What’s missing? it has to start with “m”: the men and women to do the disciple-making! Methods and materials don’t make disciples; people do! Jesus did not declare a shortage of anything except people.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9.37, 38, NIV)

Come on in, the water’s fine! If you don’t feel ready, you’re in good company: the disciples weren’t ready either when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10. And we serve in the power of the Holy Spirit:

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20.21 – 22, NIV)

I’ve been writing about Dr. Greg Ogden’s approach to making reproducing disciples beginning with his laser focus and his belief in transformational micro-groups. Today I’ll close with his argument for biblically-based curriculum, not just for bible knowledge but…

A curriculum that covers the foundation for a life in Christ and is the empowerment tool used to disciple others.

He argues that without a curriculum you have…

• No plan
• No intentionality
• No transferrable tool
• No sense of progress
• No structure

Naturally, he likes his book, Discipleship Essentials. I’m partial to discipleship tools developed by The Navigators including:

• The Navigators’ 2:7 Series (3-book series)
• Every Man a Warrior (3-book series)
• High Quest, Men on a Mission (3-track series, several books/track)
• Women of Distinction (3-track series, several books/track)
• Women’s Journey of Discipleship (3-book series)

These tools incorporate spiritual disciplines, encourage personal application, and require accountability. Leadership training and reproducibility are built in.

One of the first steps I wrote about on May 7 was finding someone to invest in. When we do, these are the kind of tools – curriculum – we will want to use. This is good news! The tools have been built. All we need to do is use them! I’ll talk more about that tomorrow.

I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20.27, ESV)

Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. (2 Timothy 2.14, 15, MSG)

I wrote yesterday about Greg Ogden, a pastor, encouraging pastors and churches to “keep laser-focused on making reproducing disciples.” It turns out the process isn’t all that hard, and it’s actually widely known. I wrote 8 months ago what my mentor the late Dick Miller said about small groups:

We believe in small groups in which people can grow into Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity through time and exposure to the Word of God and the people of God in a grace-filled environment of accountability, transparency, and vulnerability. – Dick Miller, Navigator (passed away in 2011)

Greg Ogden talks about the “hot house” where plants can grow much faster. Here’s how his “micro-groups” of 3-4 people work. He writes:

When we…

• open our hearts in transparent trust with one another
• around the truth of God’s word
• in the spirit of mutual accountability
• engaged in our God-given mission

…we are in the Holy Spirit’s hot house of transformation.

Other advantages of the micro-group are that leaders are developed in the context of the group. They need no more additional training. Groups of 3-4 don’t even have the “group dynamics” issues of larger groups of, say, 8 – 12, where one person might dominate while another is quiet. Handling such a group requires extra training.

However, micro-groups aren’t automatic. To achieve optimal results, we need the right curriculum. I’ll write more about that tomorrow.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10.24, 25, ESV. Bob’s note: these verses are often used to encourage attendance at Sunday morning services, but more “one anothering” goes on in a micro-group than in a large group.)

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18.20, ESV)

Yesterday I wrote that I believe in 2 Timothy 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. (2 Timothy 2.2, NIV)

Sometimes, in the church world, I think I’m the only one who does. Of course that’s not true, I quoted Jim Singleton, pastor and now seminary professor, just a few weeks ago. A few days ago I was excited to hear (via computer) Dr. Greg Ogden teach a seminar at the European Leadership Forum: Turning Your Church into a Disciple-Making Mission. Here’s a key point he made early on:

Keep laser-focused on making reproducing disciples.

He went on to quote C.S. Lewis:

The church exists for no other purpose but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose. -C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, pages 163, 169, 170.

And Greg is clear that he hasn’t made a disciple until that disciple is making disciples. He likes to have a baton-passing ceremony for the people who have completed his 25-session Discipleship Essentials course.

And here’s the point: the men are not just receiving the baton. They have been trained to pass it on. More about that tomorrow.

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. (Hebrews 7.23, NIV) [Bob’s note: best we train folks to replace us: none of us is going to be here indefinitely!]

[Jesus] appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach… (Mark 3.14, NIV)

What might it mean to “trust the gospels” as I wrote yesterday? “Oh yes, I believe the gospels are inspired, and I’m sure they are telling the story of Jesus accurately.” Will that do? Consider this verse:

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. (Psalm 119.66, ESV, emphasis mine)

What does it mean to “believe in” God’s commandments?

Last year, those of us in Colorado all knew the Denver Broncos existed, but most did not “believe in the Broncos.” We didn’t think the Broncos were winners or even had a chance at the playoffs. Some teams, especially surprise contenders often have an “I believe” slogan as the season approaches its ending climax. People who believe in their team pay more attention to it. They’re more vested in daily outcomes.

Here’s another example: COVID-19. Some people aren’t believers. They’re not changing their behavior. (Just as my daughter Melody believed in the existence of terrorists when she was in Israel. She stayed alert in airports while most Americans in airports ignored their surroundings.) Climate change is another. Some believe in it and are working to counteract it. Others don’t and aren’t. 

So do I believe in God’s commands? How does that belief drive my behavior? I believe in 2 Timothy 2.2. I still think it’s the best strategy for making and equipping disciples.

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 2.2, NIV)

Everyone who knows 2 Timothy has 4 chapters knows there is a 2 Timothy 2.2 in the Bible, but they don’t believe in 2 Timothy 2.2. They haven’t committed their lives to it as a strategy.

This would be true of all principles and commands in the Bible, would it not? Do I believe in them enough to act on them?  

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1.12, NIV)

Through the miracle of technology, I just sat in on the seminar “Can We Trust the Gospels?” by Dr. Peter Williams, Principal and CEO of Tyndale House, Cambridge (not to be confused with Tyndale House publishers in Chicago). Peter was speaking at the European Leadership Forum 2020 virtual gathering.

Tyndale House is a Cambridge-based research institute housing one of the world’s most advanced libraries for biblical scholarship. Through our in-house academic programmes we research the history, language and context of the Bible…We are located five minutes’ walk from Cambridge University Divinity Faculty and eight minutes’ walk from Cambridge University Library. – from the Tyndale House, Cambridge web site

I met Peter a few years ago when he paid a visit to Navigator Headquarters in Colorado Springs. I was particularly interested in this seminar since I just read A Life of Jesus by Endo. There were many interesting insights in the book by this well-known Japanese author, but I was a bit confused and/or put off by his frequent commentary about what was or was not true in the gospels. As in, “We know this was added in later.” In fact, we know nothing of the kind! That was the point of the seminar.

I can’t give you all the details, but suffice it to say that I came away encouraged. We can trust the gospels! From a lifetime of experience in conversations with all kinds of people, I can say there’s very little fruit from questioning the truth of scripture. We do best when we submit to it rather than critique it.

If you’re interested in tapping into Peter’s expertise, his book Can We Trust the Gospels? is available on Amazon. I’ve just downloaded it, and it’s not very long. For the rest, here are a few of my takeaways from the seminar:

• The gospels don’t come with numbers (i.e., dates), just names. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to date the gospels absolutely or with respect to Paul’s letters or the destruction of Jerusalem. We simply don’t know when they were written except within the lifetimes of Matthew and John, who walked with Jesus, Mark, who learned from Peter, and Luke, who learned from Paul and did his own investigation.
• Jesus did and said things more than once: for example, cleansing the temple, teachings. 
• The “Sermon on the Mount” should be called the “Lesson on the Mount” and may have been interactive. “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom. Now say that back to me.”
• Jesus spoke Greek just as the gospels were written in Greek. It’s not like we’re losing in translation from the Aramaic. Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic were spoken during that time. Jesus would have been able to speak Greek. 
• There is no reason to put Mark’s gospel as a source for Matthew and Luke. (Endo did that a lot)
• Were there two angels or one at the tomb? Angels move!

The gospels: read them, trust them, get to know Jesus!

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (Luke 1.1 – 4, NIV)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1.1 – 3, NIV)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15.13, ESV)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8, ESV)

Yesterday I shared Jonathan Evans’ revelation that in Jesus, prayers are answered yes and yes. Some recover from illness or other difficulties and go on to more fruitful service, some don’t. The writer to the Hebrews was clear about this some…others:

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about [those] who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames… There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning… (Hebrews 11.32 – 37, NIV, emphasis mine)

I wanted to make that clear before sharing my own experience. We’re at a point in our lives where a lot of the promises have come true. I wrote back on May 16 from Psalm 74, one of the psalms of lament. Someone said about 30% of the psalms are laments. But that would mean about 70% of the psalms AREN’T laments! Here’s an example:

A song of the stairway How joyous are those who love the Lord and bow low before God, ready to obey him! Your reward will be prosperity, happiness, and well-being. Your wife will bless your heart and home. Your children will bring you joy as they gather around your table. Yes, this is God’s generous reward for those who love him. (Psalm 128.1 – 4, Passion Translation)

We have reached the point in our lives that this has come true in every way. Prosperity by any definition, happiness, and well-being. My wife does bless our heart and home. The children bring joy as they gather around the table. Perfect? No. The children aren’t, and neither are we. But for now everyone is living together in peace. Praise the Lord. 

There are things we’ve prayed for over the years that have been fulfilled: promotions, educational goals completed, overall excellent health, ministry contributions. At this stage it’s fun to look back (even while going forward!) and remember…

King David experienced this fulfillment and recorded it in Psalm 18, a very long psalm of specific victories. He opens:

Praises sung to the Pure and Shining One, by King David, his servant, composed when the Lord rescued David from all his many enemies, including from the brutality of Saul Lord, I passionately love you and I’m bonded to you! I want to embrace you, for now, you’ve become my power! You’re as real to me as bedrock beneath my feet, like a castle on a cliff, my forever firm fortress, my mountain of hiding, my pathway of escape, my tower of rescue where none can reach me. My secret strength and shield around me, you are salvation’s ray of brightness shining on the hillside, always the champion of my cause. (Psalm 18, introduction and verses 1 and 2, Passion Translation)

I’m enjoying reading some of the promises and saying, “Yes! God did do that!”

Don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way. (Hebrews 10.35 – 39, MSG)

¹  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
²  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
³  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
⁴  who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵  who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103.1 – 5, ESV)

Maybe it’s a function of our getting older, but we seem to have had a lot of deaths among our circle of friends and family, including June’s cousin Steve passing away suddenly at age 58 to Sally Dennis at age 90.

Sunday our pastor was talking about suffering and told the story of his wife’s brother who was in El Salvador a number of years ago during a particularly violent period. The brother’s roommate was killed…the brother lived. In answer to the question, “Where was God during that time?” our pastor quoted Jonathan Evans, son of well-known pastor Tony Evans, whose wife, Lois (Jonathan’s mother), passed away last December. Jonathan also asked that question, augmented with, “We prayed the promises…people around the world were praying…” Here’s a snippet of what Jonathan sensed God telling him. You can read all of it here.

There were always only two answers to your prayers—either she was going to be healed or she was going to be healed. Either she was going to live or she was going to live. Either she was going to be with family or she was going to be with family. Either she was going to be well taken care of or she was going to be well taken care of. Victory belongs to Me because of what I’ve already done for you. The two answers to your prayer are yes and yes. Because victory belongs to Jesus. -Jonathan Evans on what he heard from God

While listening to our pastor read these lines, I wrote down two names: one, Pam, a lady about our age, one of June’s adult piano students, who had the last two years or so transitioned more to discipleship conversations than piano lessons. She was diagnosed with serious cancer after a fall last August. The other is the 82-year-old mother of a good friend of mine diagnosed with COVID-19. Two days later, Pam was gone. (My friend’s mother is still doing fine!)

Some recover. Some don’t. In Acts 12, James is martyred, Peter lives. But the good news is, for believers it’s a win either way.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith… (Philippians 1.22 – 25, NIV)

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”…But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15.54, 55, 57, NIV)

Did you see the article in the NY Times, May 15, 2020, about the 92-year-old Denver piano teacher who continues to teach during the pandemic? She uses FaceTime to call the students at their homes, at their appointed lesson times, whereupon she expects them to be at the piano. warmed up and ready to go. When it came time for spring recitals, she used Zoom.

So many lessons (no pun intended)!

• “I’ve never done it that way before” doesn’t stop her.
• “I don’t know how to do that” is no deterrent.
• The main objective is still there. She said:

I believe strongly in continuity. My students learn to be persistent in what they are doing. I try to teach them not only how to learn, but how to work.

• She even found advantages to the new format:

It helped me know more about my students — what kind of life they have. It’s not much, just one room, but it is illuminating to me because I know where they come from. I know a little bit better who they are.”

• And the final lesson is clear, isn’t it? She’s 92 years old, still practicing her craft, finding new and creative ways to do things, and seeing pluses. What’s stopping us?

My son Mark is a fan of Marcus Aurelius. He sent me this quote when the lockdowns began:

If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself, do not think that it is impossible for a man: but if anything is possible for a man and conformable to his nature, think that this can be attained by thyself too. – Marcus Aurelius 6.19

[Bob’s translation] Just because you can’t do it, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And if it can be done, you could do it, too.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4.13, NKJV)