Brian Wachter
In one of Paul’s final letters to Timothy, he gives a passing-the-baton kind of charge:
“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 Timothy 2:2
We often read this verse with the spotlight on personal investment—and rightly so. Paul is discipling Timothy, and Timothy is to disciple others. But don’t miss the context: “in the presence of many witnesses.” Discipleship was never meant to be a private transfer of knowledge. It was rooted in community, seen and affirmed by others, embedded in shared life.
We need that reminder today, as Roger’s article did for us in this edition of Navigate. In an age where individual mentorship and one-to-one Bible reading are rightly emphasized, we can start to believe that’s the whole picture. But even the most effective one-to-one disciplemaking thrives in community—a small group, a local faith community, a missional team. It’s the environment where depth, accountability, shared
mission, and real transformation take root.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together, put it like this:
“The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him.” He adds, “The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure.”
For many from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, community isn’t just a preference—it’s part of who they are. Shared spaces, extended relationships, and collective identity often shape how people grow and thrive. If we want to reach them with the good news of Jesus or help them grow in their walk with Him, we must be willing to step into their world. Entering their community isn’t optional—it’s essential.
This is why we can’t go it alone.
In the same letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him that all Scripture is “breathed out by God and profitable”— not just for personal growth, but for shaping a whole community of disciples.
“…profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” —2 Timothy 3:16
Each of these practices assumes relationship. We need others to:
- Teach and model to us what we haven’t yet grasped.
- Rebuke us gently when we’ve strayed from the truth.
- Correct our course and help us take a new step of obedience.
- Train us in righteous living through shared habits, modelling, and encouragement.
No app or podcast can do that for us.
Discipleship isn’t just learning—it’s becoming. And becoming like Christ doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in relationships—through shared joys and honest struggles, over coffee and through conflict, expressing forgiveness when we’re wronged, in prayer and in practice.
God uses both the encouragement of friends and the stretching experiences of hard moments to shape us. Sometimes it’s someone’s gentle word that lifts us or encourages us to step out in faith. Other times, it’s a hard conversation or a shared burden that grows us. Discipleship isn’t an either-or between one-to-one and community—it’s a both-and that reflects how Jesus formed His followers. But it’s always through people— His people—that He matures us.
Jerry Bridges sums these points up well, “Biblical community, then, incorporates this idea of an active partnership in the promotion of the gospel and the building up of believers.”
So, if you’re pouring into someone, do so faithfully but don’t do it alone. Let them see your community and your family. Invite them into it. And if you’re being discipled—don’t stop at one-on-one. Plant yourself in community, seek to engage in relationships, and let God shape you through His Word and His people.
We grow together.
Reflection & Response Questions
- Who has God placed in your life that helps you grow in Christ—and how are you intentionally
staying connected to them? - In what ways have you seen spiritual growth happen more effectively in community than on your
own? - Are there any cultural values or personal habits that make it difficult for you to enter into or prioritize
community? - Who in your current relational circles might benefit from being invited into a deeper, more
intentional community of discipleship? - What small step could you take this week to invest more deeply in Christ-centred community—
whether through a group, conversation, shared prayer, or opening your home?