We live in exciting times in history. Recent advances in technology have improved our quality of life in many ways. Travelling around the world is faster and easier than ever before. In many ways, we have a better life now than rich people did hundreds of years ago. While many things have changed, the Gospel message remains the same. As Christians, we are all meant to share the Gospel, and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) still applies to us today. Missionaries have a challenging job: spreading an old message in today’s advanced society. That might seem hard enough already, but there is one more problem: in times when people are more and more self-centred, where everyone looks out for their own interests (Philippians 2:21 NIV), why would someone be willing to sacrifice their time and comfort to serve others and share the old message of the Gospel?
Two thousand years ago, this was the case of Timothy. When Paul writes to the community in Philippi saying that he would send Timothy there, he describes Timothy as the best choice for two reasons: Timothy would naturally care for their state, and the community knows the proof of him because of his work with Paul (Philippians 2:19-22). The assembly in Philippi could be considered an ideal church — strong, generous, and having a good reputation. The Philippians helped Paul financially and supported the spreading of the Gospel.
The apostle says he had no one else like Timothy. How did Timothy become the right hand of the most influential missionary of the Early Church?
We will explore three steps that applied to Timothy then and are essential for every Christian today.