Forging Disciples: The Church as a Spiritual Forge
Summary
In 1 Samuel 13, we see a sobering moment in Israel’s history: the Philistines, Israel’s perennial enemy, had so thoroughly suppressed God’s people that there were no blacksmiths left in the land. Without blacksmiths, Israel had no swords or spears—no means to defend themselves or advance God’s purposes. The Philistines’ strategy was simple but devastating: if you can keep your enemy from forging weapons, you don’t have to fight them at all. This is not just a story about ancient warfare; it’s a warning for the church today. The miracle of the USS Wisconsin wasn’t just that the ship survived decades of battle, but that the knowledge of how to run it was passed from one generation to the next. In the same way, the church’s survival depends on passing on spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and discipline to the next generation.
We are called to be blacksmiths—disciple makers—who forge and sharpen the next generation for spiritual battle. Too often, the church has become a place of entertainment or passive observation, rather than a forge where lives are shaped, challenged, and equipped. When we neglect discipleship, we end up spiritually stunted, lacking the tools and maturity to face the battles ahead. Worse, we may find ourselves relying on the world’s wisdom, just as Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their tools—paying their enemies for what should have been their own inheritance.
Mentorship and discipleship are not optional extras; they are essential for the church’s survival and fruitfulness. Paul’s instruction to Timothy was clear: receive the truth, teach it to others, and ensure they can pass it on as well. This is a call for every believer, not just pastors or leaders. Whether as parents, spiritual fathers and mothers, or simply as seasoned saints, we are all called to invest in others, to get our hands dirty, to be present and accountable, and to forge disciples who can stand in the day of battle. The church is not a cruise ship; it’s a boot camp. If we are not discipling, we are disobeying. Let us pick up the hammer, invest our lives, and become the blacksmiths God is seeking.
Key Takeaways
- The Enemy’s Strategy is Suppression, Not Just Confrontation
The Philistines didn’t need to defeat Israel in open battle; they simply removed the blacksmiths, cutting off the means to make weapons. In our spiritual lives, the enemy often works not by direct attack, but by subtly removing the sources of strength, wisdom, and spiritual formation. If we neglect the disciplines and relationships that sharpen us, we become easy prey, powerless to advance or defend the faith. [06:28]
- Discipleship is the Church’s Forge, Not Its Museum
The church is not meant to be a place where we merely remember past victories or admire spiritual artifacts. It is a living forge, where lives are shaped, challenged, and equipped for the battles of today and tomorrow. If we treat the church as a place of passive consumption, we forfeit the very process that prepares us and the next generation for spiritual warfare. [11:21]
- Relying on the World’s Tools Weakens the Church
When Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their tools, they were not only dependent on their enemies, but were funding them. In the same way, when believers look to secular sources for spiritual nourishment or formation, we sacrifice our distinctiveness and power. True spiritual sharpening happens in accountable, Christ-centered relationships, not through distant influencers or worldly wisdom. [17:54]
- The Absence of Mentors Leads to Spiritual Immaturity
When seasoned believers are too busy or disengaged to mentor others, the next generation remains untrained and unprepared. The result is a church full of spiritual infants—grown men in diapers, as it was said—unable to handle offense or responsibility. The call is for every believer to both receive and give discipleship, ensuring a living chain of spiritual maturity and multiplication. [22:29]
- Discipleship Requires Contact, Accountability, and Sacrifice
Iron sharpens iron only through friction, heat, and contact. Discipleship is not a clean or easy process; it requires getting our hands dirty, being present, and allowing others to speak into our lives. The most lasting spiritual impact comes from those willing to invest deeply, correct lovingly, and model faithfulness—whether in the home, the church, or everyday life. [37:11]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - USS Wisconsin: A Lesson in Passing Down Knowledge
[03:25] - The Old Salts Return: Training the Next Generation
[05:26] - The Miracle of Transferred Wisdom
[06:28] - The Church’s Ancient Technology
[08:00] - The Strategy of Suppression: No Blacksmiths in Israel
[11:21] - The Church as a Forge, Not a Museum
[13:30] - Substituting the Relying on the Enemy
[17:54] - The Shortage of Mentors and the Call to Discipleship
[22:29] - The Cost of Failing to Train the Next Generation
[25:00] - Paul’s Pattern: Four Generations of Discipleship
[28:46] - The Church as Boot Camp: Multiplying Disciples
[32:41] - The Power of Spiritual Fathers and Teachers
[36:19] - Where Are the Blacksmiths? The Call to Invest
[37:11] - The Dirty Work of Discipleship
[38:10] - The Call to Salvation and Spiritual Influence
[41:43] - Praying for Blacksmiths: A Church That Shapes Lives
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Where Are the Blacksmiths?
---
### Bible Reading
- 1 Samuel 13:19-20, 22
*“Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, ‘Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.’ But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle... So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.”*
- 2 Timothy 2:1-2
*“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”*
- Titus 2:1-5
*(Paul instructs Titus to teach older men and women to live godly lives and to train the younger generation.)*
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Samuel 13, what specific strategy did the Philistines use to keep Israel weak?
[[06:28]]
2. In the sermon, what was the significance of the USS Wisconsin story, and how did it relate to the church?
[[05:26]]
3. What does Paul instruct Timothy to do in 2 Timothy 2:1-2, and how many generations of discipleship does he mention?
[[25:00]]
4. In Titus 2, what are older men and women specifically told to do for the next generation?
[[17:54]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the Philistines chose to remove blacksmiths instead of fighting Israel directly? What does this reveal about the enemy’s tactics in our spiritual lives?
[[06:28]]
2. The sermon says, “The church is not a cruise ship; it’s a boot camp.” What does this mean for how we view church and our role in it?
[[28:46]]
3. What are the dangers of relying on “the world’s tools” or secular sources for spiritual growth, as described in the sermon?
[[13:30]]
4. How does the absence of mentors and disciple-makers affect the spiritual maturity of the church?
[[22:29]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The Philistines’ strategy was to quietly remove the blacksmiths, not to fight openly. Are there “blacksmiths” (sources of spiritual strength, discipline, or wisdom) in your life that you’ve neglected or lost? What would it look like to restore them?
[[06:28]]
2. The USS Wisconsin survived because knowledge was passed down. Who has passed spiritual knowledge to you, and who are you passing it on to? Is there someone you could intentionally invest in this month?
[[05:26]]
3. The sermon warns against treating church as a place of entertainment or passive observation. In what ways have you been a “spectator” rather than a “blacksmith”? What is one step you can take to become more active in discipling others?
[[11:21]]
4. When Israel had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their tools, they became dependent on their enemies. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you are relying on “the world’s tools” instead of Christ-centered relationships? What needs to change?
[[13:30]]
5. Paul’s pattern in 2 Timothy 2:2 is to teach others who can teach others. Are you currently being discipled by someone, and are you discipling anyone else? If not, what is holding you back?
[[25:00]]
6. The sermon says, “If you’re not discipling, you’re disobeying.” Does this challenge your current approach to church and faith? What practical changes could you make this week to start investing in someone else’s spiritual growth?
[[28:46]]
7. Discipleship is described as “dirty work” that requires contact, accountability, and sacrifice. What is one uncomfortable or sacrificial step you could take to help someone else grow in their faith?
[[37:11]]
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Prayer Focus:
Pray that God would give you a vision to be a blacksmith—to invest in others, to be sharpened, and to help shape the next generation for spiritual battle. Ask God to show you who you can disciple and who you can learn from.
Devotional
Day 1: Passing the Torch: The Necessity of Spiritual Blacksmiths
The miracle of the church is not just its survival through the ages, but the faithful passing of spiritual knowledge and experience from one generation to the next. Just as the USS Wisconsin needed seasoned sailors to train a new crew, the church desperately needs spiritual blacksmiths—mentors and disciple-makers—who will equip, train, and prepare the next generation for spiritual battles. Without these blacksmiths, the church risks losing its edge, becoming powerless and ill-equipped to face the challenges of the world. Every believer is called to be both a learner and a teacher, forging others in faith and being forged themselves, ensuring that the ancient truths and the power of God are not lost but multiplied. [06:28]
1 Samuel 13:19-20, 22 (ESV)
Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle... So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
Reflection: Who in your life has passed on spiritual wisdom to you, and who are you actively investing in to ensure the next generation is equipped for spiritual battle?
Day 2: The Enemy’s Strategy: Suppression Through Distraction and Dependency
The enemy’s tactic is not always open confrontation; often, it is subtle suppression—removing the means for God’s people to be strong and effective. Just as the Philistines withheld blacksmiths to keep Israel powerless, so too does the enemy today seek to distract believers, making it difficult to access the Word, prayer, and true spiritual mentorship. When the church relies on secular sources for spiritual nourishment, or substitutes true discipleship with entertainment and online influencers, it sacrifices its power and effectiveness. The call is to return to the forge, to the place of real spiritual sharpening, accountability, and growth, refusing to let the enemy dictate the terms of our spiritual strength. [11:21]
Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Reflection: What distractions or dependencies have dulled your spiritual edge, and how can you intentionally seek out true spiritual sharpening this week?
Day 3: Generational Discipleship: The Mandate for Mentoring
God’s design for His people is a living chain of discipleship, where older men and women train the younger, modeling godly living and passing on wisdom. This is not a side ministry but the very means by which the church survives and thrives. When seasoned believers neglect to mentor, the next generation remains immature, and the church becomes a spiritual nursery rather than a boot camp. Every believer, regardless of age or gender, is called to both receive and give discipleship, ensuring that God’s purposes are transferred and multiplied, not lost. [17:54]
Titus 2:1-5 (ESV)
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Reflection: Who is someone younger in the faith you can intentionally encourage or mentor this week, and what is one practical way you can do so?
Day 4: Multiplication, Not Maintenance: The Pattern of Discipleship
The church is not called to simply maintain what it has, but to multiply disciples who can make disciples. Paul’s instruction to Timothy reveals a pattern of generational teaching—truths passed from one to another, so that each can teach the next. This multiplication is essential for the survival and growth of the church; without it, the church becomes stagnant and powerless, with only a few equipped for battle. Every believer is called to be part of this chain, both receiving and passing on the faith, ensuring that the fire of the gospel never goes out. [28:46]
2 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Reflection: What is one truth or lesson God has taught you that you can intentionally share with someone else this week?
Day 5: The Cost and Reward of Getting Your Hands Dirty
True discipleship is not a clean or easy process—it requires getting your hands dirty, investing time, energy, and sometimes even facing discomfort or rejection. Blacksmiths work with fire and iron, shaping and sharpening through heat and friction, and so it is with spiritual mentoring. The most valuable work in the kingdom often happens in prayer closets, living rooms, and quiet moments of encouragement and correction. Jesus calls every believer to pick up the hammer, to invest in others, and to be willing to serve, correct, and encourage, knowing that this is how lives are truly shaped for God’s purposes. [37:11]
John 13:14-15 (ESV)
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
Reflection: What is one “dirty” or inconvenient act of service or mentorship you can do for someone this week, following Jesus’ example of humble investment?
Quotes
Israel without blacksmiths was a nation without weapons, unable to fight the battles that it was called to, and in the same way a church without discipleship is ill-equipped and unequipped to fight the battles that God has called us to. Without discipleship we just make noise, no fire, no real spiritual fight. [00:35:04] (26 seconds)
Where are the blacksmiths? They're not on conference stages. They're in prayer closets. They are bringing new converts with them. They're in living rooms, prayer meetings, shaping lives. Can you get a vision to be a blacksmith tonight? You know, you can't be a blacksmith without fire. You've got to heat some things up. No blacksmith has ever stayed clean. It's a dirty job. [00:36:37] (34 seconds)
There are very few, very few things in the kingdom that are more useful than this, is getting our hands dirty, washing some feet like Jesus did, making time for prayer. Remember, women teaching women, men teaching men, I want to challenge you, forge a disciple. [00:37:11] (21 seconds)
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