BuildingOne Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

I Thessalonians 5:11

Pass the Baton        

Dear Friend,        

The summer Olympics have been postponed a year. Hopefully, next year we will watch thrilling relay races in which the runners on each team pass their batons to their teammates.

So many of the essential truths of our lives and certainly of the Christian faith are transferable concepts, “batons” each of us has received from others and that we are to pass on to still others.

One of the great teachers in my life, Chuck Miller once said, “Discipling (encouraging others to grow as followers of Jesus) is reproducing in others what the Spirit of God is producing in you and enabling them to pass it to a third generation.”

What is God producing in your life? Your knowledge and your experiences of Jesus and his love for you are matters you may pass on to others, your “baton.”

We see this transferable concept idea many times in the New Testament:

  “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.” Romans 1:11*

 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you...” I Corinthians 11:23*

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people, who will be able to teach others also.” IITimothy 2:2

Ask yourself: What transferable concepts – what “batons”- have I learned about following Jesus and about other matters that I may share with others? With whom will I share those concepts? How will I encourage them to pass what they receive to still others?

“I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” – Jesus    John 15:15

Joy to you -- E. Stanley Ott            

© Copyright 2020 E.Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

Jot down some of the transferable concepts you have learned about following your Lord and the living of life. An illustration of transferable concepts are the titles of the episodes of Building One Another - found here: https://www.buildingoneanother.com/episodes

Be intentional about passing the baton - thinking less of "why I won't" and more about "how I will" pass what I have been given on to others - "franc" - friends, relatives, associates, neighbors and church people.