Many believers long for a clear discipleship checklist, but true spiritual growth can’t be measured by curriculum completion or certificates. Discipleship is less about finishing a program and more about faithfully investing your life in someone else’s spiritual journey.
The path of following Jesus provides ample opportunities to do amazing feats, but they typically are completed by simple steps along the way. As we help others, we must provide them with achievable goals as they progress.
Christians understand the importance of discipleship, but few actively practice it. We need to move beyond ministry programs and prioritize personal disciple-making.
In our fast-paced, independent, result-oriented society, we seem to grow frustrated if something doesn’t happen instantaneously as we desire. Oftentimes, the change we seek in multiple areas of our lives is much slower than we ever desire it to be.
Mentoring will not happen by accident. You must be intentional in helping others follow you as you follow Jesus.
Hebrews 13:7-8 – If we simplify discipleship to mere information transfer, we miss much of what is necessary for transformation. We all need mentoring relationships worth imitating as we seek to follow Jesus.
Colossians 1:27-29 – We often minimize Christianity to a momentary decision, but if we are following Jesus, we should still be moving. A disciple of Jesus continues to pursue thorough spiritual maturity.
Love God and love others, and you don’t have to make sacrifices to prove it. Your life is proving it every single day.
If there is a true progression of faith, there should be a true progression of faith. Those who receive the gospel should continue in discipleship throughout their lives.
1 Peter 2:1-3 – To see consistent spiritual growth, we must be careful to avoid interpersonal drama and pursue biblical truth. A failure to do either will cause spiritual stagnation.
Count Me In is a guide for students that helps them see Jesus’s display of discipleship through the Gospel of Luke. Written with Alex and Stephen Kendrick, I pray this book serves as a catalyst for teenagers to live a daring life as Jesus’ followers.
In order to follow the Lord, we must continually make progress in the areas that matter most. Consider how you are using the church’s opportunities for your sanctifying growth.
All of us are not as spiritually mature as we desire to be, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay that way. You must decide if you will stay stuck or get intentional about the next ways you need to grow.
Jesus spoke of His way being a narrow path that few find themselves upon, and our world is full of people who create their own paths of distorted Christianity. If the religious way is popular, it’s probably not the Jesus way.
Being a disciple of Jesus is more than adherence to a set of beliefs or acceptance to a momentary call; following Christ in this world changes everything. To say “yes” to Him might mean saying “no” to other things that we love.
John 15:1-8 – We cannot settle for a human intermediary to regulate our relationship with God. Jesus has invited us to know Him and to abide with HIm closely.
Jesus did not reserve the Great Commission for those with special degress or extensive experiences. He plans to use ordinary people to fulfill the task of discipleship.
Psalm 119:97-112 – Just because someone is seasoned does not mean they are scriptural. We need personal commitment and committed disciple-makers to follow God’s ways for the long haul.
When I was younger, I thought that this photo on my grandmother’s wall was a photo of my deceased grandfather. I later found out that he was a symbol of what so many were longing to see: an older, faithful disciple of Jesus finishing strong.
When someone receives the gospel, that individual starts the journey of discipleship. We often classify such new believers as spiritual infants. But what happens if those young in their faith never grow past their initial faith commitment?
We can only fully mature in Christ by acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. As we observe the rough edges of our spiritual conditions, we can work with Christ’s power to see progress in the most critical areas of our lives.
In the midst of many opportunities for spiritual growth, we can lack a needed sense of alignment. What if we are guilty of widespread efforts that only provide shallow understanding? Focus might be the component we’ve been missing.
Jesus wanted disciples – not converts. He discipled men who would continue to grow, not just men who would maintain an undeveloped faith.
Once someone has received the gospel, our job is incomplete. Jesus has called us to baptize those individuals and disciple them into mature faith.
This anonymous writing describes a passionate devotion to live for Jesus. Are you a part of “The Fellowship of the Unashamed?”
No one seeks to experience suffering, yet many of us could testify that it was necessary for our personal sanctification. As we struggle through life, we see that the trials we experience drive us to need spiritual growth.
Many Christians can quote the Great Commission, but that doesn’t mean they are fulfilling it. Start today by taking what you have and sharing it with another.
Mark 1:40-45 – Not only is Jesus willing to meet us in our problems, but He is able to change our lives in the midst of them [Sermon at Anderson University Campus Worship].
Hebrews 13:7 – Successful discipleship hinges upon accessible and imitable mentors. Many of us never reach our full spiritual potential because we overlook our need for those farther down the path.
God uses others in our stories of salvation and utilizes relationships in our processes of sanctification. We are gifts to one another to grow closer to Jesus.
You can’t make it far in life without having wise guides pointing out good directions on uncertain paths. I pray you have had parents, pastors, coaches, teachers, and bosses who have guided you, but are you following their instructions?
Just because the process of discipleship requires specific work does not imply that it is too complex to undertake. The task is undeniably simple: discover what is most broken within any given individual and get to work in that exact area at this specific time.
While I have many prayer requests to share, the consistent prayer need is my own spiritual growth. Instead of trying to work in my own strength, I would be wise to admit to God, through prayer, how much I need His help.
Christians should be undoubtedly convinced that we are called to make disciples, but we are often unapologetically cautious to attempt to join Jesus in the process. Don’t allow these excuses to rob you of one of the greatest joys in life –– making disciples.
Many Christians feel great discouragement by the lack of spiritual progress in their lives. While we can gripe about the pace, regret the past, and disagree about the process, are we praying about our growth?
Christianity is getting a bad reputation because too many disciples fail to show any distinguishing characteristics from the world. Jesus has saved us from sin but also to a new way of living.
The job is incomplete when someone comes to faith in Christ. Discipleship – and not conversion – is the goal.
We often miss development to grow, not because we lack opportunities, but because we aren’t putting in the required effort. God gives us gifts, but we have to use them.
Our church desires to take the Great Commission seriously and do our part to make disciples with all the opportunities given. We are prayerfully working toward some milestones in the coming year for the gospel’s sake.
John 21:1-25 – After Jesus’ resurrection, He regathered His disciples to reinstate and redirect them. We must remove substitutes from our lives to ensure we are following after the truly Matchless One.