06/04/2026
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim 2:1-2, ESV)
2 Timothy 2:1–2 may at first seem like a passing thought in Paul’s deeply emotional letter to Timothy. However, these verses provide a theological framework for intentional discipleship. They outline what intentional discipleship should look like within the life of the church. Biblical discipleship should be intentional, relational, and reproducible.
If you were to ask a church how they seek to fulfill Christ’s command to “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:20), the answer would likely include preaching during corporate worship services and participation in small-group Bible studies such as Sunday School classes or home groups.
When preaching is truly expositional—when the main point of the sermon is drawn directly from the main point of the biblical text, and the preacher faithfully explains and applies that passage within its context—discipleship is taking place. Likewise, when worship songs are chosen because they reflect and reinforce biblical truth rather than personal preference or popularity, the congregation grows in its knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. Discipleship also takes place through small-group Bible studies, which cultivate meaningful relationships marked by encouragement and accountability while remaining centered on the study of Scripture.
Intentional discipleship through expositional preaching, Scripture-saturated worship, and relational small-group Bible studies is essential. However, if our efforts stop there, discipleship remains incomplete. Biblical discipleship must move beyond programs and gatherings into intentional, personal discipling relationships.
Some leaders use a D-group model in which one mentor disciples two or three people in a closed group for a set period of time. Others focus on one-on-one discipleship. While there is no single “right” method, one thing is clear: this aspect of discipleship is often the most overlooked or neglected within the church.
However, we want to help you change that. We would love to partner with you to help your church develop a contextualized discipleship strategy that is intentional, relational, and reproducible, so your congregation can grow into mature, disciple-making believers. We can help you identify the characteristics you hope to cultivate in your disciples and establish clear pathways to help them grow toward spiritual maturity.
Partnering together to strengthen churches,
William Cofield
Associational Mission Strategist
Greenville Baptist Association
