Colossians 1:1-8
Disciples Keep Growing
Paul recognized the Colossian church as a group of disciples who had been changed and yet were still being changed by the gospel. Â As disciples, the gospel should be continually bearing fruit and increasing within us and through us.
9 Traits of Growing Disciples
Disciples keep growing if:
- their faith is in Jesus – Faith is banking your very eternity on the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to obtain God’s forgiveness.
- their love is for all the saints – Disciples don’t have the liberty to pick and choose which members of the Church they will love.
- their hope is in heaven – Hope allows us to be so heavenly minded that we are earthly good.
- their lives are bearing fruit – Deep roots in Christ produce mature fruit in life.
- their witness is spreading – We should be unable to contain the gospel and unwilling to keep our lives the same after being changed by it.
- their understanding of truth is advancing – Learning biblical truth is the endless pursuit of knowing the eternal God.
- their need for grace is acknowledged – Grace is acknowledging that the only reason I get to be a disciple is because Jesus wants me to follow him.
- their impact is multiplying – Disciples are disciple makers by default. You really haven’t learned truth if you haven’t shared it.
- their reputation is known – As a disciple, your reputation precedes you and glorifies God.
6 Components in the Life of a Disciple
- Event – Do you have a milestone in your life when the gospel changed you?
- Environment – What regular faith gatherings are shaping who you are today?
- Example – Who is the mentor you aspire to follow?
- Encourager – Who is the friend walking beside you and pushing you towards Christ?
- Equipment – What spiritual disciplines are training you to grow in godliness?
- Engagement – How are you intentionally investing in another with what you have learned?
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Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
This is awesome. Thanks a lot for sharing your wisdom brother.