TDM Mission Statement · The Disciple Machine

TDM Mission Statement

The Great Commission given by Jesus to be disciples and to make disciples is our quest. Finding souls to join our ranks is our mission. And the message below is our Mission Statement.

Enlisting Others

by Pastor Joseph Cortes

There is something deeply compelling about Paul’s words to Timothy in II Timothy 2, especially when we consider the setting in which they were written. The church was under persecution, pressure was mounting, and yet Paul does not direct Timothy toward retreat—he calls him into strength. “Thou therefore, my son, be strong [endunamoo in the Greek; be strengthened] in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” This is not a command to muster human effort, but to be continually strengthened from a divine source. It is a reminder that what we need for endurance and faithfulness is already supplied in Christ, if we will draw from it.

And that strength is not meant to remain within us. Paul continues, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach [instruct] others also [literally one another].” Here we see the pattern—truth received is truth passed on. The Christian life was never intended to stop with us; it is meant to multiply through us. There is a living chain here: Paul to Timothy, Timothy to faithful men, and those men to others also. This is the heartbeat of participation in the body of Christ—not passive belief, but active investment in others.

Then comes the sobering call: “Thou therefore endure hardness…” The Greek word kakopatheo carries the weight of suffering hardships, troubles, and afflictions. “Thou therefore endure kakopatheo, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” The Christian walk is not insulated from difficulty; it is marked by it. But this hardship is not without purpose—it is part of the calling. A soldier does not expect ease; he expects resistance. And in that resistance, his focus is sharpened, his resolve strengthened, and his loyalty proven.

Paul then brings a powerful clarification in verse 4: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs…”—and in the Greek, it is unmistakably referring to the things of this life. This speaks directly to the condition we so often find ourselves in. How easily we become entangled. The events of recent years—especially during the height of COVID—demonstrated just how quickly we can be drawn in. We were glued to the news, searching, analyzing, trying to make sense of everything. The more overwhelming the situation became, the more it demanded our attention. And yet Paul’s instruction, inspired by the Holy Spirit, cuts through all of that: do not become entangled.

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” There is a higher focus here. When we see the bigger picture, we recognize that our lives are not meant to be consumed by the temporary concerns of this world. We are called to be engaged in something greater—the cause of Christ. To become overly wrapped up in the world’s problems is to lose sight of our true mission. And the question becomes: are we truly pleasing Him when we are consumed by these things?

That phrase—“that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”—goes even deeper. In Greek, the meaning carries the idea of enlisting others into active service. This is more than personal faithfulness; it is about multiplication. It is about drawing others in, calling them up, and engaging them in the work. Unfortunately, many overlook this depth, but it brings us right back to participation. We are not called to be idle, not “lumps on a log,” not Christian spectators, but active soldiers who understand their duty.

And how do we do this? It is not complicated. It can be done personally, through relationships and conversations, or by actively participating in a work that is advancing the Gospel. It begins with willingness—with a heart that is aligned with God’s purpose and a recognition that we have a role to play. Every believer has the opportunity to enlist others, to encourage, to build up, and to bring people into active service in the Lord’s army.

Returning again to verse 1, we are reminded: “be strengthened…” This is the foundation. None of this is possible apart from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. But when we are strengthened in Him, everything changes. Even the state of the world, as troubling as it may appear, becomes something different. Instead of discouragement, there can be a sense of expectation. Because as conditions worsen, opportunities increase. People will find themselves searching, questioning, and needing answers.

And that is where the encouragement lies. There is nothing that the world produces that can ultimately discourage the one who understands this calling. Instead, there is purpose. There is urgency. There is opportunity. We are living in a time where more than ever, people will need the truth rightly divided, and we have been entrusted with it.

So we press forward—not entangled, not distracted, but focused. Strengthened by grace, enduring hardship, and committed to the mission, we take seriously the charge that Paul gave to Timothy—a charge that still stands today: to enlist others into active service in the Lord’s army, so that the truth continues to spread and others come to inherit what God has prepared.

Want more Pastor Joe? Visit www.TeachingFaith.com

POLL QUESTION:

DID YOU READ THE MISSION STATEMENT?

If you answer "Yes", please give us your gut response while it's fresh on your mind. Make YOUR mission statement about being here in the machine.

Yes

I'm voting "yes" but no, I don't care to read it.

No, I'm just an NPC for the cause of Christ.

I'm afraid to read it.

This is a trick to get me to be real.

5 votes

4 comments