Unstoppable! 'Finding Help Jesus' Way' — Acts 16:1-3

When we look at Jesus' ministry, we notice that the Lord did not let people volunteer or choose for themselves to be his apostles, his closest missionary traveling companions. He decided who his closest disciples would be with great care and all night prayer.* In the Jewish world of rabbi and disciple, disciples did not choose the rabbi by whom they would be trained. Instead, the rabbi chose his disciples who were going to be his leadership-partners - the future rabbis of his school. Paul followed this model with the help of faithful people when he chose Timothy. Timothy was a young man who had both a Jewish heritage - with at least two generations of strong faith (2 Timothy 1:5) - and a Gentile background through his father. His faithfulness, along with his experience and good reputation, made him uniquely suited for Paul as his "son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2) whom he could nurture into a leader trained at his feet just as Paul had been trained by Gamaliel and Barnabas.* The point is essential: Based on biblical examples, leaders should seek out and train qualified new leaders.

* See the Related Scripture Readings.