“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these great truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others (2 Timothy 2:2, NLT).”
This is the classic verse on discipleship — teaching people in such a way that they will be teach still others the gospel truths. My copy of the NLT slips an extra word in (without ancient manuscript support, unfortunately): great. Teach GREAT truths, which your students will teach to others.
How much consideration do you give to teaching and re-teaching the GREAT truths of the gospel? Some people spend so much time trying to tag onto society’s latest fad that they neglect the GREAT truths of the gospel. Personally, my distraction is my problem-solving orientation. Much of my teaching is a response to the personal and corporate problems people face.
I have met people who were discipled with Biblical trivia. They knew a few Biblical facts and fourteen ways to apply them. But they had no clue about the big themes of scripture. I want to be controlled by the big themes of scripture. I want my students to hear from me the GREAT truths of scripture — and I pray that they will teach others the GREAT truths of the gospel.