FOCUS
Pastor Frank Damazio
The Focus of Gospel-Centered Leaders
Gospel-centered churches keep Jesus at the
center of everything: reaching, preaching,
discipling, and service. Gospel-centered leaders
focus on building Gospel-centered churches
that keep in balance Jesus and Paul.
In the gospels, Jesus emphasized making
disciples and bringing individuals into a
relationship with Christ and the Cross. Paul,
in the epistles, emphasized building the
church - bringing individuals into
relationship with the church and its leaders.
Today, we are to make disciples and build
the church. This mandate is not an
“either/or” option. It is blending both
imperatives.
Paul’s epistles to young Timothy yield 26 targets on which leaders should focus as they do
ministry in today’s world.
1. Focus on the apostolic leadership
influence
I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment
for Christ, our living hope. Under God our
Savior’s command, I’m writing this to you,
Timothy, my son in the faith.
1 Timothy 1:1, MESSAGE
2. Focus on nurturing deep relationships
Under God our Savior’s command, I’m writing
this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All
the best from our God and Christ be yours!
1 Timothy 1:2, MESSAGE
3. Focus on the Jesus graces
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father
and Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:2, NKJV
4. Focus on a settled commitment to
divine placement
On my way to the province of Macedonia, I
advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven’t
changed my mind. Stay right there on top of
things so that the teaching stays on track.
1 Timothy 1:3, MESSAGE
5. Focus on exerting confrontational
strength
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—
remain in Ephesus that you may charge some
that they teach no other doctrine, nor give
heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes rather than godly
edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 1:3-4, NKJV
6. Focus on a pure spirit
Now the purpose of the commandment is love
from a pure heart, from a good conscience,
and from sincere faith…
1 Timothy 1:5
7. Focus on not allowing distractions
For some men, straying from these things,
have turned aside to fruitless discussion…
1 Timothy 1:6, NASB
8. Focus on your personal work of grace
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that
in me first Jesus Christ might show all
longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are
going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
1 Timothy 1:16, NKJV
9. Focus on the ability to use prophetic
words as weapons
Timothy, my child, I’m giving you this order
about the prophecies that are still coming to
you: Use these prophecies in faith and with a
clear conscience to fight this noble war.
1 Timothy 1:18, GW
10. Focus on making evident personal
progress
Let no one despise your youth, but be an
example to the believers in word, in conduct,
in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I
come, give attention to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate on these
things; give yourself entirely to them, that
your progress may be evident to all. Take
heed to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in them, for in doing this you will
save both yourself and those who hear
you.
1 Timothy 4:12-13,15-16, NKJV
11. Focus on giving and receiving
spiritual impartation
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which
was given to you by prophecy with the
laying on of the hands of the eldership.
1 Timothy 4:14, NKJV
12. Focus on wisdom in handling people
Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man.
Talk to him as you would your own father, and
to the younger men as your brothers.
Reverently honor an older woman as you would
your mother, and the younger women as
sisters.
1 Timothy 5:1-2, MESSAGE
13. Focus on raising up a team of elders
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy
of double honor, especially those who labor in
the word and doctrine. … Do not receive an
accusation against an elder except from two or
three witnesses.
1 Timothy 5:17,19, NKJV
14. Focus on keeping your gift at full
flame
You received a gift from God when I placed my
hands on you to ordain you. Now I’m
reminding you to fan that gift into flames. God
didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of
power, love, and good judgment.
2 Timothy 1:6-7, GW
15. Focus on finding Onesiphorus people
The Lord grant mercy to the household of
Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and
was not ashamed of my chain; but when he
arrived in Rome, he sought me out very
zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him
that he may find mercy from the Lord in that
Day—and you know very well how many ways
he ministered to me at Ephesus.
2 Timothy 1:16-18, NKJV
Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of
Onesiphorus.
2 Timothy 4:19, NKJV
16. Focus on a finding and sustaining
strength
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1
17. Focus on mentoring proven leaders
And the things that you have heard from me
among many witnesses, commit these to faithful
men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2
18. Focus on multi-level disciplines at a
high level
You therefore must endure hardship as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in
warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this
life, that he may please him who enlisted him as
a soldier. And also if anyone competes in
athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes
according to the rules. The hardworking farmer
must be first to partake of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:3-6, NKJV
19. Focus on a Word-based thinking process
Concentrate on doing your best for God, work
you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth
plain and simple.
2 Timothy 2:15, MESSAGE
20. Focus on staying fit to be used by God
In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only
crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste
cans and compost buckets—some containers
used to serve fine meals, others to take out the
garbage. Become the kind of container God can
use to present any and every kind of gift to his
guests for their blessing.
2 Timothy 2:20-21, MESSAGE
21. Focus on preaching the Word to a
fragmented culture
I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is
looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the
Judge, with the final say on everyone, living
and dead. He is about to break into the open
with his rule, so proclaim the Message with
intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn,
and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just
keep it simple. You’re going to find that there
will be times when people will have no stomach
for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual
junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their
fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and
chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on
what you’re doing; accept the hard times along
with the good; keep the Message alive; do a
thorough job as God’s servant.
2 Timothy 4:1-5, MESSAGE
22. Focus on willingness to give your
entire life
You take over. I’m about to die, my life an
offering on God’s altar. This is the only race
worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish,
believed all the way. All that’s left now is the
shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s
an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me,
but by everyone eager for his coming.
2 Timothy 4:6-8, MESSAGE
23. Focus on resilience from people who
hurt you
Get here as fast as you can. Demas, chasing fads,
went off to Thessalonica and left me here.
Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia.
Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark
with you; he’ll be my right-hand man since I’m
sending Tychicus to Ephesus. Bring the winter
coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books
and parchment notebooks. Watch out for
Alexander the coppersmith. Fiercely opposed to
our Message, he caused no end of trouble. God
will give him what he’s got coming. At my
preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all
ran like scared rabbits.
2 Timothy 4:9-16, MESSAGE
24. Focus on standing alone with God’s
help
But it doesn’t matter—the Master stood by me
and helped me spread the Message loud and
clear to those who had never heard it. I was
snatched from the jaws of the lion! God’s looking
after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of
heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!
2 Timothy 4:7-8, MESSAGE
25. Focus on recognition and gratefulness
for your team
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil
work and preserve me for His heavenly
kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever.
Amen! Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the
household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in
Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus
sick. Do your utmost to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus,
Claudia, and all the brethren.
2 Timothy 4:18-21
26. Focus on guarding the divine deposit
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your
trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings
and contradictions of what is falsely called
knowledge…
1 Timothy 6:20