The process of discipleship in Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17 was Jesus' call to vocational fishermen to become "Fishers of Men". We see that time and time again as the disciples followed Jesus' example as he grew them to himself in the discipling process.
We need today to speak regarding Spiritual Parenting and Spiritual Grandparenting. In the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later the Apostle Paul), when on the road to Damascus, he is blinded and needs to have Ananias lay hands on Saul as the scales come off and Saul receives his sight. From Damascus to Jerusalem Saul continues to get his "spiritual" feet wet by preaching to the Jews in the synagogues. When in Jerusalem, he wanted to fellowship with the disciples, but they were afraid of Him (Acts 9:26). But in Acts 9:27 Barnabas (name meaning "Son of Encouragement") begins to do what everyone else is afraid to do and that is DISCIPLE SAUL OF TARSUS!!! Then in Acts 13:2 at Antioch the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul were set apart for the first missionary journey, but along the journey (Act 13:9) Saul takes the name he will be known as from this point forward-Paul! Further, it's now Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:42 ff). On the journey, John Mark, known as Mark, leaves the journey at Perga. The reason is not stated, but Paul and Barnabas got in a team-splitting disagreement regarding the issue. Therefore Barnabas and Mark, his cousin, set out to minister together and Paul sets out with Silas. Paul mentions Mark in a positive tone (1 Thessalonians 4:10). So up to this point we've seen Barnabas disciple Paul and his cousin John Mark.
Next we see Paul with those whom he has come in contact: Silas, Silvanus and others . But the one most prominently mentioned---including two epistles to him--- is Timothy! So this is how this ties together:
1) Barnabas disciples Paul
* Barnabas also continues to disciple Mark
2) Paul disciples Timothy
* Paul also disciples Silas and other
3) Timothy gets his marching orders from Paul:
* The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also...2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB)
So you have:
Barnabas-the Spiritual Parent
Paul- the Spiritual Child
Timothy- The Spiritual Grandchild
GO THOU AND DO LIKEWISE
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