The Stages of a Disciple's Growth
Lectures On Discipleship • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Text - Matthew 10.24-25; John 21.18
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
Background
Background
What is a ‘disciple’?
a disciple is a follower (of Christ)
a disciple has 3 important tasks
learn from the master
follow the ways of the master
bring more disciples to the master
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Growing Disciples - why?
growth is a must - Jesus expected Peter to become “old”
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
growth is possible - where there is life, there is growth
growth is intentional
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
be careful that you do not fall
grow so you will not fall
growth is measurable
in the natural, we can identify a person stage in life - baby, toddler, child, adolescent, teenager, young adult, adult, senior
but age does not define everything in a person. Other factors include, intellect, emotion, abilities
Our Measuring Sticks
Our Measuring Sticks
How do we measure growth?
Paul gives us a number of ideas
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
the carnal can only digest milk, no solid food
children and adults can be identifid by their talks, understanding, and way of thinking
Three Measuring Sticks
Three Measuring Sticks
Knowledge
Behavior
Habits and Skills
Disciples must grow in knowledge
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Disciples must grow in behavior
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
envy, strife, divisions - are childish behaviors
Disciples must develop habits and skills
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
12 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.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 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.
15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
16 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.
The Four Stages of Growth
The Four Stages of Growth
The basic - 2 stages only: young and old
Jewish tradition - bar-mizvah initiates the young to adult life
Paul’s 2-stage Christian life - carnal and spiritual
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Problems with 2-stage
not all children behave, think and learn in the same way
same with adults
Modern stages of life
infant, toddler, betweener, adolescent, teenager, young adult, adult, senior
Optimum number of stages is 4
Infant
Child
Young Adult
Parent
The Four Stages of Disciple’s Growth
The Four Stages of Disciple’s Growth
Infant Disciple
Characteristic
Ignorance - a new believer like a baby: zero knowledge and habits and skills
Needs
connection with God
connection with church family
understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith
basic Christian habits and abilities
Habits & Skills to develop
Bible reading
prayer
worship
fellowship
NOTES ON INFANT DISCIPLES
begin to aspire for spiritual growth
establish your habits
Child Disciple
Characteristic
Self-centeredness
Needs
connection to purpose
advanced understanding of the Scripture
More basi Christian habits and skills
Habits & Skills to develop
personal devotion
sharing the faith
participation in church activities
contribute financially to ministry
NOTES ON CHILD DISCIPLES
enjoy childhood, but no too much
develop skills
Young Adult Disciple
Characteristic
Service
God-centeredness
Other-centeredness
Needs
training and equipping for ministry
opportunities for ministry
advanced habits and sills
Habits & Skills to develop
personal Bible study
prayer and fasting
leadership skills
preaching/teaching; communication skills
apologetics
evangelism
service related ministries
attend ministry conferences
NOTES ON YOUNG ADULT DISCIPLES
men - develop skills in the word of God
women - develop skills in communication and service
Parent Disciple
Characteristic
Strategy
Intentionality
Reproducibility
Needs
discover opportunities for ministry inside/outside church
freedom to respond to God’s call
opportunity to disciple new believers
Habits & Skills to master
personal Bible study
prayer and fasting
leadership skills
preaching/teaching; communication skills
apologetics
evangelism
service related ministries
attend ministry conferences
disciple-making
NOTES ON PARENT DISCIPLES
Focus on “reproducing”
winning souls, teach them, train for ministry
impart your learning, practice and skills to new believers and other disciples
establish yourself in a ministry that reproduces
pastoral work
teaching work
community service
mission work
master your habits and skills with a goal to reproduce disciples
Identify your place. How?
You are somewhere in those 4 stages.
Make a personal assessment based on the three measuring sticks
Participate in our NLH Discipleship Process
you will be assessed
you will be assigned a ‘mentor’
you will grow!
Learn, Improve and Develop
Learn the Word of God
Improve on your behaviors
Develop your habits and skills
Conclusion
Conclusion
Christians do not grow automatically.
Life desires, thirsts, hungers, aspires
Christians grow best when they have a plan
parenst plan their child’s meal, education, time, etc.
Jesus planned His disciples’ growth.
He called them
He trained them
He empowered them
He guided them