 morning class. I would like to request someone, maybe somebody who hasn't prayed in a while to please lead us in order to pray today. If you could volunteer, because I'm not sure if you're comfortable where you are, so I don't want to forcefully volunteer anyone. Anyone who, yeah, okay sir, please go ahead. You can pray. Father in heaven, we bless you. We worship you and adore you. Thank you for another time again to be equipped in your word, in the training of your word. Thank you, Lord, for your daughter, who you have been using a lot to inspire us, to instruct us, to teach us and to equip us. We pray that this time spent will be worthwhile. We pray for the Spirit's leading and understanding and wisdom to capture all that will be taught today, to be used for your glory. Thank you, Father, Lord, for a wonderful class and for your presence, O Lord, across the internet as we all listen. Thank you, Jesus Christ, for in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you for saying. So we had reached the last chapter of this course, chapter 10, which is about the raising of the next generation for Kingdom Service. And we talked about the importance of having successors and to also note that without successors, the ministry is not successful because once the leaders who have finished their term are gone, there will be nobody to carry forward whatever has been invested thus far. So it's really important to raise up and prepare to have these leaders carry on God's work. So that's something that we talked about. And then we also said that when we have labored, we are kind of wherever we are leaving, wherever we are leaving, that is the starting point for the next generation. So we saw how Paul had raised up many people and particularly we focused in on Timothy, his relationship with Timothy, and we saw how he had trained up Timothy to take over the work as God's destiny for him. So we said that the Timothes of today, we're using that term Timothy for the next generation, whom we are working with and whom we are preparing. So the Timothes of today will be the Paul's of tomorrow. And that the generation which currently is serving must not get all self-absorbed, but must have the wisdom to prepare that next generation and invest in it. So that's the introduction that we had kind of spent time in. And now we will talk about practical ways of raising up these Timothes and these lessons are from Paul's relationship with Timothy. Now Paul, we said that he understood that there is a divine connection which he had with Timothy. He found this young man called Timothy in Lystra in Acts chapter 16. And while there could have been several able, committed young men in Lystra, for some reason Paul picked only Timothy. So in the same way, you know, God may bring in people into our lives and excuse me, by the Spirit of God, we might sense a special connection with these people. So we too can discern by God's leading and then select these people whom we are going to invest in. So Paul identified Timothy, he realized that God wanted him to equip this young man and then we also see something special that Paul did for Timothy. What did he do? The passages here in our notes on page number 103 where we read that Paul took Timothy and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region. So why did Paul do that? You know, just earlier in Acts chapter 15, there was a council meeting where they decided that the rituals such as circumcision need not be carried on by Gentile believers. But strangely in contradiction to that decision, you find Paul actually circumcising someone and that is Timothy. The reason being the background of Timothy was that his mother was Jewish but his father was Greek and likely unbeliever. So Paul felt that Timothy would be regarded by the Jews if he were circumcised. So he took advantage of the fact that Timothy's mother was Jewish. So because of that he thought, okay, how about I go ahead and circumcise him that way in the long run, when Timothy goes around serving in different regions and he knew that predominantly Timothy's ministry, now how did Paul know that Timothy's ministry will be among the Jews are not very clear on that but it must be a leading of God. So he recognized that this person is going to serve among the Jews. So why not give him a little more of sort of paving the way, just giving him that platform where the Jews will stand up and listen to a person who is circumcised because he would come across as a Jew to the Jews and it would make Timothy more acceptable by the Jews and thereby Timothy's ministry more acceptable. So you see how Paul was thinking, Paul was thinking long term for that young person and that young person's ministry way into the future. Now that is how parents think, isn't it? They think long term for their children and they see what are the things that we can do today for my son or for my daughter so that they will be able to stand up and do what God has called them to do. So in the same way Paul actually thought about Timothy and thought about Timothy's future and that is why he even went ahead and it says took him and circumcised him. So if you look at the way that has been written in the Greek we will understand that he himself did it, Paul circumcised Timothy. So he was careful, he was awakened to the divine collections that God was making in his life and at the same time he was thinking about the future of this mentee of his. So what lesson do we learn from this? We learn that when God sends somebody into our lives we must pray for them and also see how God might want us to prepare that person for the future. There are a couple of other passages here in our notes. These are all talking about the relationship that Timothy has with Paul. So here we observe that Timothy was very much a part of Paul's missionary journeys and the mission work which he was doing. So he would have had an idea of how Paul is, what kind of decisions Paul is making, what goals and what plans Paul has and the principles that Paul is living by. So Timothy had a good exposure to the ministry that Paul was doing. So that's what we observe in some of these passages that are given here. So in Act 17 we read that Paul left behind Silas and Timothy in the previous place of ministry and then he went ahead to Athens. So he allowed Timothy to be exposed to the work of the ministry which he had started in a previous city and he knew that that will build Timothy up and again in Act 18 Timothy was sort of brought to join Paul back in the missionary journey. So you have Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia and Paul was compelled in the spirit. So basically they come and join Paul. So he is very much a part of Paul's service and journeys. Acts 20 where again he talks about his several of the ministers who served together with him but there is a mention of Timothy as well. So Acts 20 verse 4 and Soprater of Beria accompanied him to Asia also Aristaakus and second is of the Thessalonians and Geus of Derby and Timothy and Taikikus and Trofimus of Asia. So what's happening? He's basically letting Timothy be exposed to the ministry which he's doing. So you find Timothy at various stages of the missionary journeys and he understands Timothy. He recognizes Timothy's work. So in Philippians 22 he says but you know his proven character that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. So one day Timothy is working with Paul and Paul is allowing him to be part of the journeys and the ministry assignments that God has given him and while this is going on you know he is also aware of the the attitude and the heart that Timothy has. So he's recognizing that here is a very faithful individual whose character can be trusted and so while he writes to the Philippines he kind of affirms that this person is a good person. He's a faithful person in the ministry and when he writes to Timothy for the continuation of his ministry work you know he does tell Timothy as well that he too must choose faithful men to carry on the work of the ministry. So you see here there's a lot of investment going into this person called Timothy. So Paul obviously was quite careful. He picked Timothy out of the crowd. Now why did he pick him? We see that you know when we read about in Acts chapter 16 we see that you know he he was he had a good report. Okay I'm his family so he kind of had an idea that this person is a faithful person and that God was making a connection. So he picked Timothy very carefully and that applies to us as well. When we are choosing to mentor someone we have to see for that divine connection and at the same time you know pick the people carefully because there's so much of investment that is really going into this person. The next thing is you know faithfulness is more important than ability. I know that you know even when human resource recruiters they recruit people for a job. They say the same thing you know skills can be taught but attitude cannot be taught. Now attitude is something that a person brings with them. So in the same way when it comes to the work of the ministry a faithful heart a faithful character it's very very important maybe the person is lacking you know in skill or ability in some way but those are areas which one can work on but if the character is not lining up you know with faithfulness then it's very difficult to change one's character. So Paul was careful to choose Timothy who had a proven character and while instructing Timothy as well he told him you need to pick faithful men to hand over or give them the work to continue of the ministry. So faithfulness is more important than ability and you know you see that in this journey as well because obviously when Timothy came on board he would not have known everything how to deal with people he would not have had sufficient knowledge of the scriptures but you know despite all those shortcomings Paul knew that hey the heart is right I can work with this young man called Timothy. So faithfulness is more important than ability yes and similarly you know condition of the heart is more important than the gifts that one has. So we have to be careful in choosing selecting the person that then next thing would be to develop a nurturing relationship now we are aware that Paul he didn't call everybody a son and he used that term very sparingly in his episodes but he did call Timothy a son so it shows us you know that there was a closeness in that fellowship there was that closeness in the relationship. So one Timothy one two he says to Timothy a true son in the faith grace mercy and peace from God our father and Jesus Christ our Lord so true son in the faith that's how he recognizes Timothy and again when he writes to the Corinthians this is what he has to say about Timothy I have sent Timothy to you who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord okay and look at this who will remind you of remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere in every church so Timothy was faithful he was dear to Paul so he calls him beloved and Timothy was very very familiar with the life of Paul now that again reveals to us the open and transparent relationship which Paul had with Timothy so in this manner you know when we have that nurturing relationship a special bond an open relationship the person whom we are trying to mentor will be spiritually nurtured okay so let's continue let's continue and see you know all these special features of Paul Timothy relationship so we need to identify someone carefully develop a nurturing relationship with them establish closeness and transparency okay so about Timothy no he when he writes to Timothy in in that letter this is what Paul says he says but you have carefully followed my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long suffering love perseverance persecutions afflictions which happened to me at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured endured and out of them and all the Lord delivered me so he has allowed Timothy to see his life for what it really is and in fact in all this whatever he lists out in Lystra itself you know when we study what happened to Paul they stoned him and it was really bad that he he was thrown out of the city and he was you know he was lying like it says we're not clear whether he really died or whether he was so injured that he was unconscious we don't know exactly what happened but the conclusion we can draw is it was a very difficult time for Paul he was you know bruised he was totally you know kind of injured to unconsciousness by the stoning and this happened in Lystra which is Timothy's city so Timothy has seen Paul go through all these things you know before his eyes and he has seen the commitment that Paul had for the gospel you know he has seen Paul's passion you know he has seen Paul's discipline okay despite this and then we see you know the believers came pray for Paul and the next day he went again on his journey so it just shows the discipline Paul had he knew hey this is what I need to do and this is what I'm going to do no matter what and come what may he had the the plans that God gave him and then he just went after it that's the kind of life Paul lived and obviously Timothy has seen that that's where Paul when he writes Timothy he says look you know me very closely you know my doctrine you know my manner of life everything my faith you know everything so just establishing a closeness and transparency I think it comes over time when we are working with someone when you know they they have ample opportunities to observe us okay and the same holds true if we are being mentored by somebody there's ample opportunity for us to observe you know sometimes it's those small things that really show how carefully they are serving God okay so I remember this once this was a we have a prayer group okay and on that prayer group every Friday we have these chain prayers that happen so we there are prayer slots that people choose so then like earlier on and all this was kind of happening somebody one of the one of the women and I really look up to this this particular person she had also signed up for the prayer slots and it happened to be her and another person for a one mass slot okay and she messaged me later because I was one of the coordinators at that point and she messaged me later and said hey I'm not able to take up this slot so please make a note of it I hope it doesn't inconvenience the the group and all so I just said no it's okay not a problem because I have two people on the group so it's fine you know mostly the other person will will pitch it and they will do the prayer and therefore the chain is complete because somebody else is praying so she asked me do you think I should inform the the group on the WhatsApp with the WhatsApp message and I said no I think you don't have to because no you've informed me and that should be fine so after a while you know she again kind of contacted me and she said hey wait a minute just the way I you know I have decided that I am not going to pray during that slot and I haven't informed others what if the other person also decides that I'm not able to pray and then you know if they don't inform you then even you wouldn't know nobody would know and the slot would just go you know empty if everybody thinks like this if everybody says yeah I'm not able to do it but yeah there are two people or three people on that slot it's okay they'll pray if everyone thinks they'll pray then who'll pray right so I never really thought about it in that way but you know I was really so impressed and blessed to see that you know to that extent she was so concerned that that slot should not go empty and we have to make sure that you know people are aware and if not me somebody else will sign up you know I should not inconvenience the group I should not inconvenience the chain so you know I kind of I took a lesson from that I thought oh wow this is like another level of seriousness for God's work yeah you know things like that so we tend to observe and it's not necessarily a message with somebody's preaching it's really their life it's those small choices it's those small decisions that people are making that really reveal you know the kind of commitment that they have and you know I've some of the people that I've worked with I've seen like you know sometimes they like all when we have Sunday services and you know over the weekends also you know pastoral ministry gets quite busy okay so there are some weekends where a lot of things happen maybe it's somebody's baby dedication but there is also a death that is that has just happened so there's a lot of back and forth communication between the team so now we're preparing for the sermon the previous day but early morning your communication is happening you know 5 a.m. 6 a.m. you just see what seriousness what commitment people have and that is a lesson something for us to learn from so that closeness and transparency that's what I'm saying you know when we are working with people we begin to see it starts happening like you begin to see their life for what it is more than their sermons I'm just listening to their sermons and what they have to say and these are the things that establish you know that that closeness the way they lead God's people the way they deal with us you know the respect and honor which they show you know people around even those who are serving in the ministry there's so many notes for us to take from that to really change our own attitudes and our lives and that's the way in which we find that Paul had opened up his life and beyond yes he says you followed my doctrine but beyond that Timothy had seen the faith Timothy had seen the reaction you know all these places auntie or guy called him he had he had like literally mobs he had you know so many Jews opposing him we don't know all the accusations that they made against him and the way they spoke about Paul and what he went through mentally but Timothy had seen it all Timothy had seen the reactions the responses so that's what he you know Paul is talking about and similarly so when it comes to fathering and mothering people it's going to take a lot of courage to be transparent it's going to take a lot of courage to establish that closeness with that special Timothy that God has put in our lives to learn and be equipped so yeah closeness and transparency make a huge difference because one realizes that it's about you know life it's about you know everyday decision making okay then what else what else really helped Paul mentor Timothy communicating specific instructions obviously you know Paul wrote to Timothy those two episodes and there are so many things that he told him about he was quite you know particular to the situation of Timothy and you know his congregation their challenges and Timothy's personality you know it seems like Timothy was probably sort of what do you say the courage to pastor the church that courage could have been affected by the people around so Paul talks to that's why he tells him you know don't let anyone think that you're young or you know that you're not well equipped enough because at that time there were knowledgeable people around in that city and Timothy could have you know been overwhelmed by the fact that you know there are all these knowledgeable people outside but God has speak to me to read this congregation how can I do it you know I'm not better than them so Timothy could have had those insecurities but you find that you know Paul is addressing specific issues in the church Paul is specifically encouraging Timothy for the person that Timothy is and his temperament so we see a couple of things here specific instructions that he tells Timothy he says one Timothy 118 this charge I commit to you some Timothy according to the prophecies previously made concerning you that by then you may wage the good warfare so he's saying don't give up there are prophecies that have been made about you and your destiny I want you to stand firm in it how are you going to do it you know pray them through hold on wage a good warfare with those prophecies don't just give up because of your circumstances and then no he also says Timothy guard what was committed to your trust avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge so while Timothy is facing you know all these insecurities he's telling him no don't worry about that you hold on to what has been entrusted to you you know the doctrine of God's word truth of the gospel and don't don't worry don't worry about what others know and he goes to the extent of saying you know profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge so he's instructing him to stand his ground with what he has been taught and in encouraging in encouraging Timothy now he said fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses so basically Timothy it seems like you have not received the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind so Timothy probably was feeling timid and he was concerned whether you know he he would make a mess of the ministry that God had given him so you find Paul encouraging him you find for Paul telling him not to worry about the people around but to trust in what he has you know the truth of God's word just the way repeatedly God told Joshua be strong and be very courageous so just putting that courage into Joshua to lead God's people similarly you find Paul putting that courage back into Timothy and saying come on Timothy you can't give up yes all these things are happening around you but you have to be firm you need to stand your ground so you find Paul working closely with Timothy giving him instructions encouraging him and also bringing timely correction you know wherever it is required now Timothy you know obviously he had seen Paul's life and Paul never made it look like this is going to be you know very easy ministry is very easy or that you really you start off and you are going to see success and everything is absolutely fine with you so he never in that sense we talked Timothy okay but he was one to speak the truth in love and be firm whenever required so as you read the episodes and you know as you as you read the communication that Paul established with Timothy you also find that he was he was very clear and I don't know at any point Timothy felt like why is Paul being so stern but you know Paul had to do this part of even bringing in correction we already know the ministry correction could be one of those really difficult things you know in pastoral sort of a role and especially your mental relationship but you know it's so important so important and correction is like spiritual surgery and when we are dealing with someone we address matters that have to do with character or discipline or attitude it really hurts it really hurts even when somebody that is mentoring us brings up matters it says I have observed this in you and it's not correct you need to change it if we are not careful to correct ourselves in that manner then you know that can that can really become problematic in the future okay if there is no correction then one could carry that attitude throughout their journey throughout their role as a minister of God and as God takes them to greater heights you know things get worse because you know somebody hasn't dealt with that abusive attitude or somebody hasn't dealt with the the wrong way in which they're dealing with money today so it's a responsibility of a father a spiritual father or a mother to bring correction even if it even if it is going to strain your relationship with your mentee it's the right thing to do so do that spiritual surgery even if it hurts because we know surgically if you remove that that problematic tissue it is going to yield positive results for the person's physical health so the same way for the spiritual health okay we also observed that Paul clarified the cost to Timothy so you know he showed him everything that he was going through and you know he says fight the good fight of faith so even in that itself we we recognize that he was telling Timothy that it's not going to be easy if one has to fight to fulfill their purpose then it is a tough journey right there is a cost attached to it there is a price to pay so Paul was quite clear in that manner and he wanted Timothy to know that this journey is going to be like that of a soldier in fact 2 Timothy 2 verses 3 through 5 he says you therefore must end your hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ so he's telling him it's not going to be easy and that is what a real father or a real mother does they will they will be truthful you know about the price that has to be paid in God's work it's not going to be easy there will be many sacrifices you know there could be some personal sacrifices that one needs to make but you know how much are you committed to the call of God on your life how much are you committed to the to the to the truth that you believe so Paul needed to awaken Timothy to that and say it's going to cost you are you ready to pay the price if you're ready to pay the price then yes this is for you so Paul was clear on that he revealed to him he clarified the cost of ministry that God had called Timothy to and also you know we see that Paul was careful to place honor okay on Timothy's life so we see how he he spoke about he spoke highly about you know what happens when we are in a mentoring relationship and we are working with a mentee who's just you know improving in different areas of ministry attitude and all of that we know their weaknesses isn't it so it is easy for us to look at that person as you know somewhere that person is not as good as us or look at them they're full of weaknesses look at them this could have been done very easily but that person is not able to do it well oh so and so lacks discipline so we can come up with all these judgments and really look down on the people whom we are building but Paul always had a positive word of recommendation for Timothy I'm sure Paul knew the weaknesses of Timothy now I'm sure maybe you know even much better than Timothy Paul was aware and yet he always put a good word about Timothy you know when he spoke about him 1 Timothy 611 but you even do Timothy he says but you oh man of God flee these things and pursue righteousness godlyness okay once again yeah faith love patience gentleness so you see how he's addressing Timothy here he did say hey you or you know you young man oh man of God okay so when Paul is understood yeah this person he is also committed and he will make for a good minister he's a faithful minister of God he will you know pursue this journey and he will serve God what how does Paul begin to address Timothy he says oh man of God coming from a mentor it's a big deal that a mentor calls a mentee oh man of God but that's the honor that Paul is placing on Timothy for journey along in this in in this path of ministry so oh man of God that's how Paul calls Timothy and then when he writes to the Corinthians he says Timothy our brother okay that's again you know something that we don't expect he could have said I'm sending you that that boy Timothy our brother okay so there is honor in that the way Paul is addressing Timothy uh Philemon he says uh Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy our brother you know again he says Timothy our brother in the book of Romans he says Timothy my fellow worker so these are all the ways in which you know Paul is uh uh addressing Timothy and you know when somebody like Paul recommends a person like Timothy you know as a brother as a fellow worker my son what happens in the sight of others you know they're also like wow this guy must be something you know for Paul to call him uh my son and my brother and all of that so no he is talking of Timothy as a son and earlier when we talked about mentoring he said that when we treat people like servants you know uh they will grow up to be servants and they will treat uh us as masters okay however when one is treated like a son then they know that they grow up to um serve that family of believers as if it were their own household so they bear responsibility in that way uh and we see that uh uh you know that son mentality son mentality where one knows that by serving what is my reward what am I going to get I'm really going to get that spiritual inheritance which is a blessing uh and uh it's not about me getting recognition or the position in this place or uh you know any of that or even uh being spoken of highly by my mentor that's that's not the the result uh what I'm looking for and I'm looking to really grow in God to really fulfill my ministry and to serve the the people of God and to serve the the the fathers and mothers who have poured into me and to bring honor to God's kingdom so that is the son mindset when we treat people like sons they will turn out to be some sons and daughters but when we treat people like servants so they will develop that servant mentality so you know jokingly uh we uh say this that sometimes you know in ministries the Timothy's they they just become some sort of assistance for the pastor you know like if you can imagine there's a there's a pastor and then he's coming up to the pulpit to uh share his sermon and then there are these two Timothy's walking behind them one Timothy's holding the briefcase one Timothy's holding the mobile phone uh you know and basically they're just like these bodyguard assistants for the pastor and if the pastor treats them just with that much uh if he looks at them as yeah okay you know you're good enough to hold my bag and you're good enough to hold my mobile and you're just good enough to do all the things that I'm telling you to do that's what they will end up uh you know growing into but uh mentoring fathering uh developing sons and daughters is way beyond this way beyond this and it's a it's really a wake up call for us as uh you know people in the kingdom whoever it is that god sends us as as younger people in in his house whom we have to nurture but never treat them like a servant like hey you do my job or i'm delegating delegating it till you do it you know that servant attitude must must uh we should get rid of it because that's not how paul treated Timothy we definitely treated him with a lot of respect and with honor yeah so we come to the next uh aspect here delegating empower so one of the ways in which we can really equip uh the people that god has um given given us to mentor is by uh equipping them okay is by um helping them discover their own gifts their own strengths you know the grace on their lives and all that for that they need exposure so uh we can we can help them discover their own strengths by showing them know where they can serve so delegation is helpful so we what delegation means you give somebody an assignment to do or you give them a task to work on you give them a work you know to to perform so what happens when that person is doing if they realize wow hey i'm actually i'm on it for this or it could be the other way around they figure out that this is not for me you know media is not for me uh i'm meant for something else maybe i i'm meant for the administration so you you're delegating you're giving them responsibility and we've already seen in building people by the spirit we said that uh we have to recognize what is god's call on that person's life now if that person is called for administration then you try to give them tasks in line with their grace so then what happens it builds confidence they keep doing the small little tasks and then you know they find out that they're good at it god has given them a vision for this you know uh and and god is bringing in more people to serve in that ministry so there's actually growth there's flourishing and what does what that does to them is that it really empowers them it empowers them it equips them and then you know before you are gone they are in a better position they've had enough and more experience in that area and uh whether you're there to give them instructions are not they're kind of comfortable they know what needs to be done and they are able to carry out god's work so delegate or give them responsibilities we've seen how paul took akimati along in his missionary journeys there it's not that key finally handed over the church and said okay timothy you'll be the pastor it didn't happen like that but throughout the journeys we saw with sylas he left timothy in one of the churches that he had planted so obviously timothy would have done the groundwork he would have figured things out made some mistakes all of that had some exposure and even developed some confidence and then you know again on the journey paul invited sylas and timothy came and joined paul in one of the other cities when he was ministering so again for timothy gets to observe paul and paul would have given him tasks to do so in this manner over a period of time he was actually empowering he was delegating tasks and empowering timothy and that really made a difference in timothy's life so we must excuse me we must delegate um and give responsibility to people that is the way in which you know people will grow and mature so one of the things that you know we do here at apc is um there's lots of opportunities lots of opportunities to volunteer as the lord leads you know we kind of encourage people hey why don't you do this why don't you do that and it's not because you know we need people to get work done that's the last reason but it is more like hey this person if if they get this exposure they will grow okay in what god has called them to do so lots of responsibility lots of opportunities are there and constantly we need to think okay how can i how can i correctly connect you know these people a person to a particular task so that they will discover their own gift grace and be empowered so that that is one thing and also you know mission trips we have mission trips and we'll see like in the next year those who are here in india and who can travel comfortably and maybe be a part of our missions to let's see if we can do something about our bible college students as well so just in discussion with pastor about that so these mission trips we invite people from church to go on mission trips uh generally there is a a pastor or a ministry leader who's also a part of the team uh and you know the young people join along uh people who've never been on a mission strip or so but there is a training there is a some guidance that we take people through because we want them to have the right mindset when they go on these mission trips but we take them along so when we take people along what happens when they get to see the the actual circumstances under which ministry is done okay many of these places some of us on the scholar so if you went to a mission strip you know you land up there and one of the mission strips there was no water so can you imagine not having water uh and uh you just have to manage with the bare minimum so many people have come for a conference it's not easy sometimes it's so hot you know i remember one mission strip where we went with our young people the moment we landed there they were exhausted are you telling me this is the weather like we have to we have to survive in this weather for three days you will like yeah this is what missions is all about you know and i remember another place where the the water in the um uh bathrooms was overflowing like you couldn't go you couldn't go in it was such a mess uh people who are used to living a very comfortable city life you go to some of these rural places and you're shocked you're like this is crazy i i i don't know if i'm ready to deal with all this but you see these are the circumstances under which you know ministry is being done at the end of the day you know we're able to um like the the people who are serving there we're able to show people that hey come on we can still preach the word we can still relate well with people we can still build people up don't worry about the the you know the comforts around you we are here to serve god know that or what and we can do this so there are young people who have been part of these mission trips and sometimes even now when they when they talk about their journey they say when they talk about the exposure to a mission site and they say wow you know just wonder i learned so much i observed how how uh you know those those who are serving god are serving in those difficult situation so the point is paul took timothy along he wanted timothy to experience and you know serve he delegated responsibility he wanted timothy to figure things out right as he was doing those assignments so all these things really help when we are building people up if it's just okay i'm lecturing you and i will preach sermons to you someday after someday a part of the impartation is done through that but you know there is this other aspect of really uh you know letting people have that hands-on experience uh and it's when people get into stuff they are serving they are volunteering they are going on mission strips you know they're preparing to share you know god's word they recognize and realize wow this is this is something god has really called me to do and i can uh experience the anointing you know there have been young people they uh they we when we ask them okay come now you minister suddenly they get a word of knowledge and they're like wow i never knew that god can use me to um you know share a word of knowledge so delegate give them responsibilities because if we just make people uh sit on the pews and only listen listen listen uh learning doesn't happen you know in a complete way and paul knew that and that is why he he did teach timothy but he also let timothy learn many things on the job okay so let people be exposed to uh all these things oh i have over short time but please bear with me i'll i'll quickly finish i think we will not have another hour because we are almost done with this chapter now and yes the next thing here is to recommend positively when we speak about the people that we are mentoring you know we we speak uh good of them okay we don't put them down uh before others and when it is the right time to release them we see paul do that it was time for timothy for paul to uh go away and you see that in paul's writings to timothy he says my time has come i have to go quickly and i've already um you know i've fought the good fight but i want you to fight it now so release them into their destiny when it is time then they will take over and they will lead from that point so whenever we are working with our timothy's we have to bear that in mind we are preparing them to stand you know by themselves and uh not really you know just giving them tasks to get something down that's not the idea okay and when uh one as a father or a mother spiritual father or a mother uh is you know done with the work that god has called them to do so in the sunset years it's always good to share wisdom now the experiences that one has had in the ministry so that it'll be so valuable to you know uh impart that to the younger ones so that is also something that we must keep in mind and uh you know when let's say a senior pastor is retiring so he could probably engage a lot more in meeting with young people meeting with younger ministers or you know sharing his experience uh in different ways maybe in a conference or a book or you know this way or that way just imparting it to others so that the others also uh you know can learn from it and run well and of course uh when one is done with their time of ministering um it doesn't mean that the anointing is gone isn't it maybe there's a different kind of a grace in that season of our lives and a different anointing so we can keep that fire alive and serve god in a in in a way uh which god has called us to do in those you know old age years or are in uh you know sunset years uh and we can still continue to bear fruit because scripture tells us that in saab 92 and verse 14 they shall still bear fruit in old age they shall be fresh and flourishing so a mentor or a father or a mother can still continue to give from their lives and be ready to depart with grace okay so grace meaning uh having done an honorable work having been true to the call of god on one's life so we will leave um in a in a way that glorifies god give very gracefully we are willing to step out of our role let the younger ones take over and let the kingdom of god continue so we come to the end of uh this last chapter here and actually I had in mind that we can all uh I posted some questions for the second assignment on the uh google classroom uh with the last day so you could work on it I had in mind that you know you can write the assignment and maybe you can share as well in the class uh but you know what do you all say for that uh having something it's not a presentation but just sharing there are four questions so you could pick any one of those and uh very briefly maybe a maximum of five minutes you could present to the class uh but then I know we're all from different time zones if connecting to the class is somewhat cumbersome it's okay to just write the assignment and submit as well but I wanted to know your uh you know your view do you think uh sharing it speaking it uh is a good thing or what would you prefer just writing the assignment and submitting good morning first uh yes yes I'm happy I'm happy with speaking because it gives me opportunity to practice speaking before people okay okay all right uh fine fine fine fine fine fine okay yes Charles uh even me speaking speaking is better speaking uh regardless of the famous ones who have been doing it we did it we in the uh the new testament survey we have done it with biblical preaching we've been doing it so uh it's it's good it's good if you continue to give us more guidelines on how it can be done then you would love to do that okay okay okay all right um okay so uh I just want to know uh how many of us are comfortable with speaking if you don't mind could you just do the raising your hand uh could you press that so I see how many hands are raised how many of you prefer to speak so if that's the majority then we will go with speaking okay I'm looking at it yeah how many for speaking um I would also like to speak to yes Isaac I will also choose speaking speaking okay so you could raise your hand that's a symbol for raising of the hand could you please uh click on that because I'm counting here two three four five six seven eight eight okay so eight hands are raised and the others are not there's 27 of us on the call here okay that's a nine nine people who else can I rejoin the team I think so okay okay it looks like uh some of you want to speak and the others don't so I'm just wondering how to do this speaking is more appropriate for me okay okay all right ma'am yes I'm me you know we we will be able to know each other's perspectives here from everyone's and we learn like a lot because assignments we give it to you and we don't know what is the other person sharing about that particular thing their perspective their inputs so through sharing you know we we can exponentially understand everyone's overview that's that's one thought that I wanted to share not yeah sure okay so in that case uh uh shall we see I've given four questions there the Google Classroom um but if you're going to speak it okay uh so let's do this it will be a little uh you know tedious for for you out of the four questions you can decide to speak anyone okay there's a question I'm mentoring there's a question on you know what you have learned uh about kingdom building and what you would like to follow so uh that there's a question on partnering in the kingdom of god and there is a question on citywide church so there are four questions I will just leave it open to you whichever question you uh want to speak instead of instead of right uh then you can please you can please do that so the rest of the three questions you will need to write and submit is that okay everybody one question can be answered through a presentation is that okay or is that doubling up your work because you have to write also and you have to speak also yeah I think people are okay with that okay so whichever question you choose to speak I will mark you as per the marks allotted over there I will mark you uh you know for your speaking suppose somebody is okay let's make this mandatory everybody has to speak one uh to answer one of the questions if you're unable to speak then please write me a private note as to why you are unable to speak okay and then I can figure out individually with you but otherwise one question out of the four you need to speak okay and we will begin in the next class so those of us who are ready please post on the google classroom you know that you're ready so then I can schedule people so we we have an idea otherwise you know we on that day we'll try to schedule and it'll be a big mess so if you're ready time limit can be six minutes five five plus one so you speak for five minutes uh and uh suppose you know there is a little more you want to add to it you can make it six minutes okay all right so yeah let's let's go with that then okay so the the second hour today we will not have since we've completed uh I would suggest that you look at the questions you can spend this next hour by thinking about the questions and those of us who are ready please post on the google classroom and say that I would like to share in the next class which is next Tuesday so then I can share you so ninth ninth of November those of us who are ready kindly post on the google classroom so we'll schedule those who are ready and the rest will do it on the following and we'll try to wrap it up we'll try to wrap it up on the 16th so only two more Tuesdays we will have presentations not more than that so we'll close it on the 16th okay all right so uh anything else class anything you wanted to share discuss okay Samuel is asking how long at time five plus one Samuel five minutes if you go over slightly maybe six minutes so yeah that's how much time you have when do classes resume uh but for this course we are the classes are done the lectures are done the next two Tuesdays is going to be the presentation time oh the next course huh next course uh I think first week of January usually we we start off the first week one second let me see the calendar so in any case there'll be an announcement yeah I I think first or second week of January and you'll be informed better yeah is that okay sure yeah right okay okay class so if there are no questions uh we are good to wrap up any questions I think it's quite clear okay so I would like to request someone to please pray before we end this call who would like to pray shall I preman yes yes Avni father god almighty with a thankful heart and father with a with a joyful heart father as we complete our semester here father we thank you for leading us through father helping us with your grace and mercy to go through learn such profound things father and whatever we have learned father made grow in us the seed that has been sown father made be watered well and by the grace and mercy of your power of your holy spirit and by the uh the the everything that you have provided everything that you give us father it helps us father and we just want to thank you for that this platform our teachers their burdens father the the content that we have learned father a lot of hard work has been put in father and father help us to be nurtured in faith as we read it as we meditate on it as we grow in it father let y'all will be done father through each of our lives let the lives be used for your glory in every area in every city in every nation in every locality wherever we are father we may all be used for your glory father and let every word and seed sown in us yield multiple fruit for your kingdom purposes for your glory father lead each of us fill each of us fresh this morning father as we prepare for our assignments give your grace and mercy father that we would be able to do well father and understand things more than just doing it for the sake of it father but understand things in deeper sense and a lot father be able to encourage each other help each other and father continue to grow the local church and serve in the local church with a heart full of gratitude and let your kingdom be spread on this earth through each of our lives father bless everyone we thank you for all our teachers especially ma'am that she has been teaching us with so much of joy and so much of patience and lot father we just want to bless her with the more and more anointing to touch the lives that come across father once again we thank you for this platform we thank you for your presence amidst us while we were learning father thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit and thank you for every promise that we stand upon and Lord lead us and guide us in days to come in like never before father and as we finish father let this fellowship continue in the spirit as you are leading us father we give you glory honor and praise for who you are and how you're leading us we thank you once again for APC Bible college for all the teachers and our pastor and we thank you for everyone father who is part of this beautiful journey and beautiful mission we give you glory honor and praise and ask this prayer in the precious name of Jesus our Savior amen and amen amen thank you thank you for me and thank you everybody God bless you yeah so glad we reached the end of this book but yeah I would love to hear your insights from the next class onwards so take care all the best for your preparation bye for now