“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2.2).
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4.11-12).
A primary duty of every pastor is to disciple faithful men so they can become pastors, teachers and leaders. Yet pastors should also make disciples of everyone in the church. To disciple believers is: “the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” so the local church and every Christian can bring the maximum amount of glory to God. A pastor’s lips “should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 2.7). He is to feed the flock so everyone thirsts and longs for the Word (John 1.1) as a newborn baby cries for milk:
“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2.2).
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42.1-2)
“O God, Thou are my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63.1).
“I stretch out my hands to Thee; my soul longs for Thee, as a parched land” (Psalm 143.6).
As believers are discipled, they will grow in faith, and be able to give an answer to everyone who asks them what they believe:
“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3.15).
Husbands and fathers need to be discipled so they can disciple their wives, sons and daughters:
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children'” (Deuteronomy 4.9-10).
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6.6-7).
“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 11.18-19).
“Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” (Psalm 78.3-7).
Mothers need to be discipled so they can assist their husbands:
“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1.8).
“My son, observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother” (Proverbs 6.20).