A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. No one knows who first imagined the idea of interlinking circles to form a single chain but we know from archaeology that chains are at least as old as Iron. Once a single link is broken the chain ceases to carry its load. In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul passes on an important piece of strategic advice to his son in the faith, “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.” Paul is leading by example. He is doing exactly what he is teaching Timothy to do; pass on the things that were passed on to you. Paul was trained as a Pharisee by master teachers of the Law. After he was confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul was called to be an evangelist and church planting missionary. He took all of this experience and continued to learn and debate, to write letters (many became New Testament Scripture) and to further hone his skills in understanding and communicating God’s truth. Imagine if Paul had not passed the things he learned to others. What if the knowledge he had died with him? How tragic that would be? Thankfully, this is not the way the story goes. Paul always passionately taught and communicated the truth to those around him. He always had a Timothy or a Titus, a John, Mark or an Onesimus. Abraham had Eliezer. Moses had Joshua. All of what we know about God’s redemptive work including our own knowledge of the gospel, was passed on to us from someone else. God’s plan for the Church is that we would be disciples who make disciples. We are not a group, we are a movement. Like a chain you represent a connection between those who went before you and a link to those who will come after you. What happens when a Christian fails to pass-on what they have learned? The chain is broken. All of the energy and sacrifices made to get the gospel to you stop with you. Instead of being disciples who make disciples, we can become disciples who consume discipleship. Have you “entrusted the things you have heard to reliable people who will be qualified to teach others?” At Trinity Church we desire to be a place where multiplication is the expectation. Think about the things you have heard and then think of who you could pass these things on to. That is what Kingdom Building looks like.
“Trinity International Church is a safe, welcoming, community of Christ-followers who uphold a high view of Scripture, celebrate unity in diversity and participate fully in the abiding Christian life as described in the Bible. We are united by the principle that in the essentials there should be unity, in all else there should be charity.”
Pastor Dan
