5 Growth Stages of a Disciple

5 Growth Stages Of A Disciple DISCIPLESHIP 101 JUNE 1 2022 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple  Every Christian Is Called To Be A Disciple  Every Church Is Called To Make Disciples  We Need To Have A Path And A Means To Becoming And Making Disciples 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Jesus Initiated The Idea Of “Intentional Discipleship”  Intentional = Deliberate – By Design – Planned - Purposed We Are Called To Be Intentional In Discipleship  Without A Clear Strategy In Discipleship -- We Won’t Succeed  Discipleship Is The Lord’s Plan – He Wants Us To Be Intentional 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple  Achievements that happen in life – happen to those who have been intentional Intentional Disciples Get In It --- To Win It!  They get in the game  They determine what success is  They do all they can to make it happen  “We make disciples.” 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Intentional Disciples Evaluate How Discipleship Should Happen  We get our plans and purposes from the Word of God  We look at those whom they are discipling and see what they need to focus on – to get them to where they need to be as fully committed followers of Christ 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple  As intentional disciple-makers, we need to be able to evaluate where the disciples we are working with are at on their spiritual journeys.  In order to do this well, we must be in a growing relationship with them. 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Discipleship is not “automatic” or “push button” There are stages of spiritual growth in the life of a disciple Those 5 Stages Are 1. The Unborn 2. The Infant 3. The Child 4. The Young Adult 5. The Parent 5 STAGES OF GROWTH 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Stage 1: In The First Stage, A Person Is Spiritually Dead  Ephesians 2:1 (NIV) — 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins  At the moment of salvation, we are born again (John 3:3–5) 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Stage 2: Every new Christian starts out as a spiritual infant.  As we are born again  We begin as babes in the faith  Babes need spiritual milk are not ready for the meat  They are ignorant of the rules in their new spiritual life. – They need to be taught 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Spiritual babies are very dependent upon others  They need someone to help them to watch -- take care of -protect & teach them Many dangers lurk for spiritual babies:  False prophets, false teachers  Worldly attractions and traps of the enemy  Like lambs among wolves, they must be cared for 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Stage 3: As They Grow, Spiritual Infants Move Into The Spiritual Child Stage Of Development.  Ephesians 4:14–15 (NIV) — 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  They understand the basic language of faith.  They can be excited about their faith, are innocent and cute.  They act childishly and are often rebellious and self-centered 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Stage 4: As spiritual children grow up, they mature into the spiritual young adult stage.  Ephesians 4:11–13 (NIV) — 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Mature = full grown  They are eager to serve, think independently, and look much like adults;  They still have much to learn about responsibility and about how to care for the spiritual needs of others. 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple The Qualifications Of A Mature And Full-Grown Christian  A Growing Trust In God  Being Alive To Christ And Dead To The World  Connecting With God In Prayer And Bible Reading  Hunger And Passion For The Things Of Christ  Less Emphasis On Self; More Emphasis On Jesus 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Not Looking For The Praise Of Men But For The Praise Of God  A Sincerity Towards The Will Of God -- Finding It -- Doing It  A Maturity Of Calmness And Resolute Living Even When Afflicted  The Growth Of Patience When Provoked  A Joy Not Dependent On Everything Going Their Way 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Overcome the Temptation To Gripe, Complain, Criticize , Murmur  Overcome Resentment And Attitudes Of Retaliation  Refusal To Dwell Upon Trials And Troubles  Faith, Not Anxiety, For The Future  Charitable Speech Towards Others 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Willingness And Readiness To Forgive And To Forget  A Growing Ability To Treat People Kindly And Pray For Them  Sacrificial Living Becomes Common  A Desire For Depth And Revelation In Scripture  Growing Honor Of God & The Honor And Purity Of His Church  Adapted Charles Finney –”Growth in Grace” 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple Stage 5: In the final stage of spiritual development, we become spiritually mature enough to reproduce disciples—we become spiritual parents.  As Christians we are called to make disciples—to do our part to reproduce our faith in another  Many Christians have the ability to be spiritual parents and reproduce disciples – but they don’t make it a priority. 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple  The only way the Kingdom of God grows –  The only way the commission is completed -- is if we become spiritual parents and reproduce disciples  This Is God’s Plan “A” To Grow His Church 5 Growth Stages of a Disciple THE GOAL OF ALL DISCIPLES • The final stage of spiritual growth is parenthood. • Spiritual parents are characterized by the ability to reproduce disciples. • They feed themselves from God’s Word. • Spiritual parents need encouragement and accountability. • Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual: Equipping Disciples Who Make Disciples