There is no doubt whatever that the devil opposes our approach to God in prayer, and does all he can to prevent the prayer of faith. His chief way of hindering us is to try to fill our minds with the thought of our needs, so that they shall not be occupied with thoughts of God, our loving Father, to Whom we pray. He wants us to think more of the gift than of the Giver.
Unknown Author

Stages of Discipleship

You are currently viewing Stages of Discipleship

I. STAGES OF DISCIPLESHIP (Matt 28:19-20) [go into world and make…]

a. Comparison of Christ's Discipling with Rabbinic and Greek Patterns

  • Jesus took Initiative (Luke 5:1-11) [choosing Peter’s boat]
    *contrast to voluntary decision to seek master.

  • Jesus saw discipleship as a matter of trust and allegiance to him
    as a person (John 6:66-69; Matt 16:13-18)
    *contrast to simply mental ascent to philosophy. [who do men say I am?]

  • Jesus conceived of discipleship as all to serve (Mark 6:7-13;
    Luke 10:1-12)
    *focus on personal needs. [take nothing with you, God will provide]

  • Jesus' discipleship was marked by servant-heartedness and sacrifice
    (Matt 12:46-50; John 13:1-17) [washing disciples feet]
    *Greek student envisioned one day learning relationship with master
    as peer.

b. Stages of Discipleship in Christ's Ministry – a process

  • Following as inquirers (Matt 4:25; Mark 3:7-8)
    – interested [multitudes following]

  • Following as would be disciples (John 4:1; Luke 6:17)
    "come and see"

  • Following as disciples who occasionally travelled with Christ to
    be taught by Him (Matt 28:20) [to observe his commands]
    "obedient witnesses" (Luke 24:48; John 21:24)

  • Following as disciples who continuously travelled with Christ
    so that they might be trained by Him (Matt 4:18-22)
    – 120 pre-Pentecost disciples (Acts 1:15)

  • Following as disciples chosen by Christ to be trained for a
    special role in His ministry
    – the Apostles (Mark 3:13-15) [the twelve specially chosen]

c. Stages of Discipleship in Program of Church

1. Outreach ministry to inquirers

  • worship

  • personal witness

2. Ministry to would-be disciples

  • New Member Class

3. Equipping for ministry – low commitment

  • Sunday morning classes

  • Lenten academy

4. Equipping for ministry – high commitment

  • Couples' Leadership

  • Lay Pastors

5. Equipping for ministry – intensive training

  • Small Group and Accountability

 

CONCLUSION:

  1. Discipleship is more than making converts.

  2. Discipleship is more than personal spiritual growth.

  3. Discipleship is more than single-level commitment to learning,

 

II.  THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP: MATURITY

 

a. What is Maturity?

"teleios: = complete, perfect (Phil. 3:15, Col 1:28)
A. W. Tozer – "Spiritual Man"

  • a desire to be holy

  • a desire to honor God

  • a desire to carry one's cross

  • seeing life from God's viewpoint

  • a desire to die rather than live wrong

  • a desire to see others advance at our expense

  • making eternal judgments rather time judgments

Richard Haberson:

"increasing awareness of one's need, an
increasing lack of self-confidence and
increasing sense of one's dependence on God"

b.

Can Spiritual Maturity be Intentional

Richard Foster – the farmer – creating environment

[can’t make yourself grow just as the farmer can’t make corn grow]

  1. application of truth

  2. discipling methodology

  3. model of pastoral leadership – actions speak louder…

 

c. Can we measure Spiritual Growth

  • I COR 3:1-3 [babes]
  • HEB. 5:12 [children | teachers]
  • JOHN 14:9 [knowing Jesus (God)]
  • MARK 6:52 [hardened hearts]