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Multitudes are coming to Jesus worldwide.

Many never become true disciples.

The Desperate Need for Discipleship Journeys with Jesus:

Churches are filled with “undiscipled disciples,” as Jess Moody has called them. Of course, there is in reality no such thing. Most problems in contemporary churches can be explained by the fact that members have never decided to follow Christ.

Dallas Willard

The great omission, p. 5.

This results in spiritually apathetic adherents who quickly deteriorate into dysfunctional gatherings or nominal Christianity. They easily become victims of aberrant doctrine, heresy, and deviant cults.  Although they wear the label “Christian” many are not Christ-followers at all.  They are superficial followers of “the way” in need of a genuine conversion experience.  This sad state has become the bane of the Church the world over .

Dr. Marvin J. Newell

Senior vice president of missio nexus (a network of evangelical mission agencies, churches, and training centers), but the task can be accomplished if we have a plan and carry it out.

Millions of Christians have grown older without ever growing up; they act as though spiritual growth is automatic. They may have a plan to save for retirement. They may have a plan for sending their kids to college. But they don’t have a strategy for enriching their souls. They leave the single most important facet of human existence to chance! Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen. You have to have a plan!

Pastor Rick Warren

Author of the purpose driven life and senior pastor of saddleback church, you can use the free journey lessons and disciple others with them..

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What Is Discipleship and How Does It Happen?

• Matthew 28 , Great Commission , Multiplication , Discipleship

When Jesus returned to heaven after His resurrection, He left His followers explicit instructions. They were both for the people who were there with Him that day and for every follower of Jesus who would come after them. He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20, New International Version).

This instruction is known as the “Great Commission” because these words represent a critical assignment for the church as His people await His return.

But what exactly is Jesus asking His followers to do? What does it mean to make disciples? What does discipleship look like?  

If you want to jump ahead, here’s what we’re going to look at:

How Did the Disciples Understand Jesus’ Instructions?

Christian community and discipleship, mentoring and discipleship, the spiritual key to discipleship, disciples create disciples.

A “disciple” is a kind of student. It is someone who follows the teaching of, learns from and models their life after someone else — in this case, Jesus.

The people whom Jesus gave these essential instructions to had a pretty good understanding of what it meant to be His disciples. They had left everything to follow Him, and for three years they soaked up His instruction, experiencing incredible highs and lows as they discovered what it meant to follow their Lord.

When Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, they wouldn’t have seen this as a casual assignment to squeeze between other interests. This would need to become their primary focus.

The disciples would have understood Jesus’ words to have some pretty important implications. Let’s look at each part of what He said.

“Go.” Disciple-making is not a passive activity. It requires intentional, strategic behavior. Christ’s followers couldn’t wait around for people to come to them and ask to become disciples. They would have to go out and make them, which speaks to strategic and intentional behavior.

“Make disciples.” To make other disciples, Jesus’ disciples would have to share the gospel message with people who had never heard it before. But that was only the first step. A disciple is more than someone who converts to a new religion. It’s someone who has committed their life to following Jesus. Communicating the gospel is a critical element of disciple-making, but it isn’t the end.

“Of all nations.” Jesus was a Jewish man, but during His ministry on earth, He taught that God was not only redeeming the people of Israel to Himself; He was redeeming the world. Around the same time that He gave the Great Commission, Jesus told His disciples, “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV). This is critical to understand. The Jews despised Samaritans, but Jesus was tearing down walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). His message of peace and reconciliation — of restored relationships — isn’t just for Israel and Samaria; it’s for the whole world. Everyone on earth can become a disciple of Jesus, and Jesus commands His disciples to go to everyone.

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is an inauguration into God’s community. A follower of Jesus should declare their allegiance to Jesus by identifying with His death and resurrection, which is what baptism illustrates. It’s clear from this instruction that Jesus’ commission includes people becoming his followers, but it’s not limited to it. It’s about identifying with and giving your life to the God who knows you, created you and loves you.

“And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This is where discipleship goes beyond evangelism. The discipleship process is more than teaching people the right knowledge about God. A disciple models him or herself after someone. Making disciples of Jesus goes beyond teaching facts about Jesus. It means teaching people how to know and  be like Jesus — to obey God and seek His best for their lives.

Discipleship is a journey of intentional decisions leading to maturity in your relationship with Jesus so that you become more like Him in your attitudes, focus and ultimately behavior. It requires a commitment from the potential disciple and the disciple-makers. It’s not something that happens by accident or overnight, and it can’t be completed in a six-week class. This is a lifelong commitment to follow God with your whole self and to both learn from and eventually teach others about how to follow Him.

In a letter to a group of Christians in a city called Ephesus, Paul, an early follower of Jesus who wrote much of the New Testament, explains that God gives His followers gifts to help them make disciples. He begins by encouraging them to do whatever they can to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). This is critical because discipleship is intended to happen among a community of fellow disciples, which the Bible calls “the church” or “the body of Christ.”

Paul explains that God has equipped His people, the church, with specific gifts and skills . These gifts “equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12–13, New Living Translation).

The process of maturing in your faith and becoming more like Christ  is discipleship. Paul’s point is that discipleship happens as you are connected to other followers of Jesus. He says:

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 people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:14–16, NIV)

The process of discipleship in community protects you from false views of God, Satan’s attempts to isolate you with your own thoughts and feelings, and the constantly shifting ideas of culture.

God created His followers to follow Him and become more like Him in community. You will stumble and fall on your journey of faith. You will face difficulty, pain and loss. Jesus promised His followers they would. As that happens, you need others around you to remind you of the truth of the gospel: the good news of Jesus that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). The beautiful truth is that the righteous person falls seven times and gets back up (Proverbs 24:16).

When everything is going as it should, Christian community becomes a place where people are using their gifts to help each other grow, and the combined use of these gifts contributes to a culture that makes discipleship possible. And even when things become difficult, Christian community can be a place where we experience and live out forgiveness and reconciliation. In all of this, discipleship is a part of the process as we follow Christ together and as we are mentored and mentor others along the way.

Christian community is such a critical element of discipleship that the Bible says, in the Book of Hebrews, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NLT).

Discipleship happens as the members of the church serve and encourage one another as well as other people. When you opt out of Christian community, you’re opting out of a process that Jesus uses to encourage your maturity, assist the growth of others and impact the world.

Church attendance does not automatically translate to discipleship. It’s difficult for someone to grow as a disciple without some connection to a local church, but going to church doesn’t guarantee growing in maturity.

Christian growth requires a hands-on approach. The Bible frequently demonstrates the importance of mentorship. Paul mentored other disciples of Christ to help them be mature and effective at making disciples. In the New Testament letter called Titus, you can see Paul’s mentoring relationship with another disciple, named Titus. In this book, Paul emphasizes the importance of mature believers encouraging and guiding immature believers.

The mentoring that happens in Christian discipleship is different from the mentoring you see in other contexts. For instance, someone who mentors you in your career may let you drive the relationship. The career mentor makes themselves available to answer the mentee's questions and concerns.

Mentorship that creates disciples is different. In a discipleship context, the mentor has an agenda. It’s more than meeting regularly to discuss a chapter of a book just for the sake of the discussion. There is a purpose and deeper goal behind the task at hand.

A disciple-making mentor intentionally shapes someone’s understanding, attitudes and behavior. They’re modeling what a disciple looks like in word and deed. Like Paul, the mentor can say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthian 11:1, NIV). This doesn’t mean they are perfect or have it all figured out, but it does mean they are trying to follow God with their whole life. Part of that includes God’s commands to share Jesus with other people and to also teach the things they’ve learned about Him to others. Mentors have often been mentored by someone else. They may seek out mentors throughout their life.

A disciple-making mentor recognizes various levels of understanding and growth in the disciples they are mentoring and journeys with them, guiding them as they become more like Jesus. They create a safe space for the person they are meeting with to be honest. Mentorship doesn’t work if the two parties are at the same place on their discipleship journeys — though it is also helpful  to get accountability and community from people who are at the same place on their spiritual journeys. As someone grows in their faith, they reach behind them to others who are walking where they have already been, helping them become like Jesus too.

Community and mentorship are integral to discipleship, but you can’t ignore the centrality of spiritual empowerment.

Jesus didn’t immediately release the disciples into the wild after issuing the Great Commission. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Why? Because the Christian faith isn’t just a matter of human effort or intellectual belief; it’s a supernatural reality. If you are a follower of Jesus, it’s God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, living inside you who fills you and enables you to live out and grow in discipleship and disciple-making.

Paul explains it this way:

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14–16, NIV)

As Paul communicates here, without the Spirit’s leading, you cannot grow as a disciple of Jesus. You need the Holy Spirit to help you understand, believe and obey Jesus’ teaching. The Holy Spirit draws you to Jesus. And once you are aligned with the Lord, the Spirit takes up residence in you (1 Corinthians 6:19), empowering you to live out the Christian life.

Not long before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5, NIV).

It’s the Spirit who enables you to remain in Jesus so that His work can be accomplished within you. You are comforted, guided, instructed and convicted by the Spirit’s work in your life. This is why learning to walk in the Spirit is the central task of discipleship:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:16–17, NIV)

Followers of Jesus can walk alongside each other, encouraging each other to obey everything Jesus commanded, but they’ll never be able to accomplish that in their own power. It’s the Spirit of God who gives them the capacity to do so. And it’s the Spirit who produces what the Bible calls “fruit” — the natural results of having the Spirit in your life and seeking His will in what you do and how you live: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).

An essential element of discipleship is walking alongside other disciples as you learn how to live in the power of the Spirit in ever-increasing ways. Walking in the Spirit doesn’t come naturally. It’s critical that mature Jesus-followers model what a life of dependence upon the Spirit looks like to those who are less mature. They can demonstrate the practices and disciplines they have relied upon to follow God’s leading.

Jesus spent three years training his followers to create new disciples because, as the well-known pastor A.W. Tozer put it, “Only a disciple can make a disciple.” It’s Jesus’ game plan that disciples create disciples who, in turn, create more disciples.

So if you find yourself wondering how you’re progressing as a disciple, ask yourself how driven you are to fulfill the Great Commission. Spiritual practices that you often hear about from followers of Jesus, like prayer, Bible reading or fasting, are vital for growing in faith, but you’ll know someone is mature when they recognize their responsibility to walk alongside others as they pursue Jesus.

The Christian life cannot be lived in a vacuum. It’s not just about you and Jesus. It requires investing in the lives of others. You learn to follow Jesus from those who have gone before, and you invest in others who are coming after.

In a letter to Jesus-followers in a city called Philippi, Pauls says, “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do” (Philippians 3:17, NIV). It’s through the example of others that you learn what it means to be a disciple — and it’s through your example that others learn from you.

For some practical ways to get started with mentoring others in their faith, check out some of the resources on our page “Helping Other Grow” . Be sure to visit our discipleship page while you’re there.

If you’d like to be mentored as you start to mentor others, consider contacting our mentor center .

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The Discipleship Journey: Four Examples of Growing with Jesus

This series explores four stories from the book of Acts about discipleship. Each person we will study exemplifies different stages of our journey of faith. We will explore what we can learn from each character about our own journey as disciples of Jesus, but also how we might invite others into the joyful life of discipleship.  this series on discipleship builds upon our yearlong emphasis on discipleship, while also in some ways connecting with the “Next Step Church” survey.

Prison Walls Falling

September 10, 2023 We explore the ministry of Paul and Silas in the Macedonian city of Philippi, particularly their interactions with the jailer where they are imprisoned....

Seeking Understanding

September 17, 2023 When Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who is seeking to understand the words of the prophet Isaiah. The eunuch actively asks questions and seeks...

Beginnings of Transformation

September 24, 2023 When Peter preaches sermon to a crowd of Jews and God-fearing Gentiles gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, there is a dramatic response. We are...

Growing and Growing

October 1, 2023 This week will explore examples of believers who move from initial steps of faith to a life of growing and deepening discipleship. We will...

True Discipleship: How Jesus Made Disciples

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Making disciples involves a deliberate and intentional process of nurturing Christ-followers in their relationship with Jesus Christ and equipping them to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Jesus’ method of discipleship was relational, intentional, and holistic. He invested more than three years (26,280 hours) nurturing the spiritual growth and development of 12 disciples. The following are the basic principles we discover in Jesus’ discipleship process.

Personal Relationship

Jesus built personal relationships with his disciples. He spent time with them, ate with them, traveled with them, and engaged in conversations with them. Through these interactions, he got to know them intimately and demonstrated care and concern for their well-being.

Key Point: Building authentic relationships with individuals is key to making disciples. Invest time in getting to know them, listen to their stories, and show genuine care and concern for their well-being.

Teaching and Instruction

Jesus taught his disciples through both formal instruction and informal conversations. He used parables, sermons, and direct teachings to convey spiritual truths and principles. Jesus’ teachings covered a wide range of topics, including the kingdom of God, love, forgiveness, servanthood, and the process of discipleship itself.

Key Point: Provide biblical teaching and instruction to help individuals understand the foundational truths of the Christian faith. Study the Bible together, discuss theological concepts, and explore practical applications for daily living.

Jesus didn’t just teach his disciples verbally; he also lived out the principles he taught. His actions, attitudes, and interactions with others served as a model for his disciples to emulate. Jesus’ life demonstrated humility, compassion, selflessness, and obedience to God, providing a practical example of what it means to follow him.

Key Point: Set an example of what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Demonstrate love, compassion, humility, integrity, and obedience in your own life, serving as a positive role model for others to follow.

Encouragement and Support

Throughout their time together, Jesus corrected his disciples when they misunderstood his teachings or acted inappropriately. He provided guidance, encouragement, and correction as needed, helping them to mature in their faith and understanding.

Key Point: Offer encouragement, support, and accountability to individuals as they navigate their faith journey. Celebrate their successes, offer guidance in times of struggle, and walk alongside them through both joys and challenges.

Equipping for Ministry

Jesus gave his disciples opportunities to apply what they had learned by sending them out on missions. He empowered them to preach, teach, heal the sick, cast out demons, make disciples, and perform other acts of ministry. These experiences allowed the disciples to put their faith into action and grow in their understanding of Jesus’ teachings.

Key Point: Help those you disciple discover and develop their spiritual gifts and talents, teach them that they can be empowered to use their God-given gifts to serve others and advance God’s kingdom. Provide opportunities for practical ministry involvement and leadership development.

Jesus prayed for His disciples. Pray consistently for the individuals you are discipling, asking God to guide them, strengthen them, and empower them by His Spirit.

Key Point: Prayer is essential in the process of making disciples because it acknowledges our dependence on God’s grace and guidance.

Multiplication

Jesus gave this command to the apostles just before He ascended into heaven. This command is for all His disciples:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

“Make disciples” is the primary command of the Great Commission. “Going,” “baptizing,” and “teaching” are how we fulfill the command to “make disciples.”

Key Point: Encourage those you disciple to replicate the process by investing their lives in the lives of others. Discipleship is not meant to be a one-way relationship but a cycle of growth and multiplication, where each disciple becomes a disciple-maker themselves.

Ultimately, making disciples is about following the example of Jesus Christ, who invested in the lives of His followers, teaching them, empowering them, and sending them out to continue His mission. It requires love, patience, humility, and a commitment to walking alongside others as they grow in their relationship with God.

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This teaching is very needed for this End time Church. Thank you so much for all you are doing Doug through this great discipleship program in preparing the saints, making of true genuinely mature disciples of Christ’s. May the Lord continue to bless and unfold this great vision! Am one of the benefiteries to this great discipleship program

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A Discipleship Journey

A Discipleship Journey is a resource created to equip followers of Jesus to grow spiritually while being empowered to make disciples that make disciple makers. Whether it is grounding a young believer in core biblical truths or shoring up the foundations of veterans of the faith, this interactive resource leads Jesus followers through a dozen key discipleship themes over the course of a year.

ADJ is a practical guide to make disciple makers!    Each chapter builds on the one before to lead believers to an understanding of how what they have learned can be passed on and invested in others.  There are 12 themes covered in this manual, or as some have called it “a handbook for the Bible.”

• Knowing God
• A Call to Discipleship
• The Grace of God
• The Cross, Sin and Repentance
• Hearing the Voice of God
• The Disciple’s Disciplines
• Relationships
• Spiritual Warfare
• The Church in Acts
• Advancing the Kingdom
• Purpose, Passion and Gifts
• Making Disciple Makers

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Growing in Christ: The Essentials of Discipleship

Discipleship. It’s a word we often hear in Christian circles, but what does it truly mean? Discipleship is more than attending church services or simply believing in Jesus. It is a lifelong journey of growing in our relationship with Christ, surrendering our lives to Him, and becoming more like Him. It is about walking closely with our Savior, learning from Him, and allowing His transformative power to shape us from the inside out.

Today, we embark on a journey to explore the essentials of discipleship, using the powerful words of Jesus Himself found in John 15:1-8. In this passage, Jesus uses the analogy of a vine and branches to teach us profound truths about being His disciples. We will unravel the foundational discipleship principles and discover how to grow in Christ.

So, with hearts open and minds ready, let us dive into John 15:1-8, eager to uncover the rich wisdom and guidance it holds for our spiritual growth. Together, let us embark on this journey of understanding discipleship and discovering how we can become more deeply rooted in Christ.

The Vine and the Branches

Let us turn our attention to the central passage of John 15:1-8. In this profound teaching, Jesus paints a vivid picture of Himself as the true vine and His followers as the branches. Just as the branches draw their life and sustenance from the vine, we, as disciples of Christ, are called to remain intimately connected to Him. Through this vital connection, our spiritual growth and fruitfulness are made possible.

Jesus emphasizes the vital importance of abiding in Him for our spiritual growth. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own but relies entirely on the vine, we are utterly dependent on our relationship with Christ. Our connection to Him is the lifeline that nourishes us, empowers us, and enables us to bear fruit that brings glory to God.

As we explore this concept of abiding in Christ, we grasp the essence of discipleship. It is about surrendering our lives to Him, continually seeking His presence, and aligning our will with His. We find strength, guidance, and transformation through this deep and abiding relationship. In this divine union, we discover our true identity and purpose as His disciples.

Now that we understand the significance of abiding in Christ let us delve further into the marks of a disciple. What are the distinguishing characteristics that set apart those who wholeheartedly follow Jesus? Join me as we explore these traits and seek to embody them in our own lives.

Marks of a Disciple

As we delve into the teachings of Jesus in this passage, we discover the distinguishing marks of a disciple. First and foremost, love stands as a defining characteristic of discipleship. Jesus declares, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9). Our love for God and our fellow human beings sets us apart as disciples of Christ. Through this love, we reflect the very nature of our Savior and demonstrate the authenticity of our discipleship.

Furthermore, discipleship is not merely an abstract concept but a practical outworking of our relationship with Christ. Jesus emphasizes that a disciple will bear much fruit (John 15:2, 5). This fruitfulness manifests in our actions, attitudes, and character, bringing glory to God and serving as evidence of our discipleship. Through our fruitfulness, the world witnesses Christ’s transformative power in our lives.

However, the journey of discipleship can be challenging. Jesus mentions the pruning process in John 15:2, symbolizing the necessary discipline and refinement that takes place in the life of a disciple. Just as a gardener prunes the branches to ensure their growth and productivity, God, in His love, prunes and shapes us through various circumstances and experiences. This process may involve challenges, trials, and even moments of discomfort, but it is essential for our growth and conformity to Christ’s likeness.

Having explored the marks of a disciple, we now come to a pivotal question: How can we actively grow in Christ through discipleship? Join me as we uncover practical steps and essential principles that enable us to cultivate a profound and transformative discipleship journey rooted in love, bearing fruit, and embracing the refining work of the Master Gardener.

Growing in Christ through Discipleship

Discipleship is not a stagnant state but a dynamic process with immense transformative power for our spiritual growth. As we commit ourselves to following Christ wholeheartedly, we embark on a journey of becoming more like Him. Through discipleship, we are shaped, molded, and renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The practice of spiritual disciplines is key to our growth in Christ through discipleship. Prayer, Bible study, and worship are integral components that nourish our souls, deepen our understanding of God’s Word, and foster intimacy with Him. Engaging in these disciplines allows God to speak to us, reveal His truths, and ignite passion within our hearts.

In addition to personal disciplines, fellowship, and accountability play a significant role in discipleship. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who share our journey of following Christ strengthens and encourages us. Through meaningful connections and relationships, we can spur one another on in our faith, provide support during challenges, and share in the joys and struggles of discipleship. Moreover, accountability partners help us stay aligned with our commitment to Christ, challenging us to grow and holding us responsible for our actions and attitudes.

It is crucial to recognize that while discipleship holds incredible blessings and rewards, it is not without challenges. In the following segment, we will address some common obstacles and struggles disciples face and discover how we can overcome them. Together, let us face these challenges head-on, relying on the strength and guidance of our Savior as we continue our journey of growing in Christ through discipleship.

Overcoming Challenges in Discipleship

Though deeply rewarding, discipline can also present various challenges along the way. As disciples, we may encounter obstacles that test our faith, doubts that assail our beliefs, temptations that entice us, and spiritual warfare that seeks to hinder our progress. Yet, in the face of these challenges, we are not left defenseless.

When doubts arise, we can pray to God’s Word for assurance and seek His guidance. In moments of temptation, we can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength found in community and accountability. Recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare, we put on the armor of God and stand firm in our identity as disciples of Christ.

In the midst of these challenges, we are encouraged to persevere in discipleship. We are reminded that God’s grace is sufficient, His promises are true, and His faithfulness endures. Even when the path seems difficult, we are called to press on, relying on our Savior’s strength and leaning on our fellow believers’ support.

Discipleship in Action

Discipleship is not a theoretical concept confined to church walls; it is a lived experience that permeates every aspect of our lives. In the practical application of discipleship principles, we truly reflect Christ to the world around us.

In our daily lives and relationships, discipleship calls us to live out the values and teachings of Jesus. It means demonstrating love, forgiveness, humility, and grace in our interactions with others. By living as Christ’s representatives, we become living testimonies of His transformative power and draw others closer to Him.

Moreover, discipleship compels us to go beyond ourselves and engage in acts of service. As we grow in Christ, our hearts are stirred to love and care for others, meeting their needs and extending a helping hand. We embrace the call to make disciples, invest in the lives of others, share our faith, and guide them on their journey of following Christ.

Furthermore, discipleship fuels our passion for evangelism and for sharing the life-changing message of the Gospel. As we grow in our understanding of God’s love and salvation, we are compelled to proclaim it to a world in desperate need. Discipleship ignites a fire within us to reach the lost, share our testimonies, and lead others into a personal relationship with Jesus.

As we conclude this sermon, let us take a moment to recap the essentials of discipleship that we have explored. From abiding in Christ and bearing fruit to navigating challenges and engaging in discipleship, these principles form the foundation of our growth in Christ. May we carry these truths in our hearts, allowing them to shape our lives, and continually seek to grow deeper in our discipleship journey, always rooted in the essential truths of God’s Word.

As we close, let us remember the importance of discipleship. Through discipleship, we experience Christ’s transformative power, bear fruit that glorifies God, and impact the world around us. May we embrace this calling, actively applying discipleship principles in our daily lives, serving others, sharing the Gospel, and making disciples.

Now, as we depart from this place, let us go forth as committed disciples of Christ. May the Lord empower, guide, and strengthen us in our discipleship journey. Let us walk closely with Him, abiding in His love and allowing His Spirit to shape us into His image. May our lives testify to the power of discipleship, and may we bring glory to God in all that we do.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of discipleship and the privilege to grow in Christ. We ask for Your grace and wisdom to live out the principles we have learned today. Empower us to be faithful and fruitful disciples, shining Your light in the world. Bless us as we go forth, and may our lives be a testament to Your love and transforming power. In the name of Jesus, our true Vine, we pray. Amen.

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Discipleship Resources

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7 Tips to Help Others Grow in Christ

Digital discipleship journeys, how to save the world – online video course, soul care for hard times, trusting god in the storm, 7 days of hope-filled promises, 5x5x5 new testament bible reading plan, bible study 101.

• Navigators Bible Reading Plan

Discipleship 101

Fight on your knees: prayers for spiritual warfare, how to face anxiety with hope in god, how to memorize scripture, how to study the bible, journey through the psalms, praying the names & attributes of god, praying through your neighborhood, preparing for christmas: a 4-part study, scripture memory intensive, topical memory system for kids, dicipleship resources: email series.

Inviting someone to follow Jesus with you doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. It could be the most natural thing you do each day.

What if you discovered you already have what it takes?

It’s true! You have what it takes to grow in Christ and help others do the same! What you need is just what God has given you—your gifts, heart and uniqueness.

Each of the next seven days, we will email you a tip to boost your skills and confidence as a disciplemaker. Each one will be simple and easy to fit into your life.

We all need at least one or two people in life to come alongside and encourage us to be all that God made us to be.  

Has someone ever done that for you? Have you been that person for a friend? Now is your chance to learn how.

Your free Digital Discipleship Journey will include:

• A series of eight to 13 weekly emails  designed to help you grow spiritually, curated based on your answers to some brief questions about your walk with God.
• Access to newly designed versions of  our most popular discipleship resources  and some brand new ones!
• Advice on how to use these easy-to-use resources to help friends  become gripped by the gospel and begin their own adventure with God.
• Power-packed biblical truth  that will boost your faith and help you bring others on the journey.

Do you wonder if you’re qualified or if you’ve even followed Jesus long enough to be  that person f or someone else? Or do you look at your schedule and doubt you have the time? We want to help you take that next step and show you how disciplemaking doesn’t have to be complicated.

In this FREE online video course based on Alice Matagora’s book,  How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple,  you’ll discover you have what it takes to be a disciplemaker wherever God has placed you!

In the  How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple  – Online Video Course you will receive:

• How to Save the World  eBook:  In this eBook you’ll receive exclusive sample content from the NEW book,  How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple,  by Alice Matagora.
• Complementary Video Content:  Grow in your confidence as a disciplemaker as Alice and her friends share their discipleship stories and encourage your next step.
• Practical Next Steps:  Each segment includes reflective questions helping you unpack the material from both the  How to Save the World  eBook and complementary video. 
• Self-paced Course:  You can decide whether to go through the course all at once or at your own pace. Or you could even invite a friend and complete the course together.

This course is completely free and is offered by The Navigators as part of our mission to inspire and equip disciplemakers. 

Be refreshed with daily email devotions written by your favorite authors, including: Eugene Peterson, Jerry Bridges, Jean Fleming, Robert Gelinas, Cynthia Heald and Dawson Trotman.

Learn to trust God in hard times with this free online course.

Each session includes a brief introductory video, a scripture reading, a devotional thought, questions to consider, and a short quiz to keep you on track. The sessions are designed to be spread over 9 weeks, but can be completed at any time that is convenient for you.

Discipleship Resources: eBooks

God gives us amazing promises of hope in the pages of the Bible. They encourage, uplift, inspire, and comfort. Each of us would be blessed to read, meditate on, and memorize these promises. 

How would your perspectives and actions change if the hope-filled promises of Scripture were foremost on your mind?

In 7 Days of Hope-filled Promises , we challenge you to spend the next seven days contemplating seven Scriptures of hope.

Bible Reading Plans

• Provides an easy to remember method: five minutes a day; five days a week; with five ways to go deeper. 
• Offers a journey through the entire New Testament in a year.
• Easy-to-take first step for those wanting to build Bible reading habits, but who have trouble finding the daily time.

Imagine this time next year, looking back on the ways God’s Word impacted you and those around you through  The 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan.  Here’s your opportunity to get started today!

The last time you tried reading the Bible you didn’t understand what you read or how it applies to your life.  Is there an easier way?

We want Bible study to be inspiring and not overwhelming. This is why we created the FREE  Bible Study 101  eBook.

• Ideas for where to begin your Bible reading
• How you can create a Bible study habit
• Discover how Bible study can transform your life

Imagine the difference Bible study will make in your life. The more time you spend with God in His Word the deeper your relationship will go.

The Navigators Bible Reading Plan

The Navigators Bible Reading Plan  gives you: 

• A flexible schedule:  Start whenever you like; no need to wait until January 1. 
• Free days:  There are only 25 readings per month, which gives you space to stay in a Scripture longer or time to catch up. 
• Variety:  There are selections from both the Old and New Testament every day!
• Strength for your next step:  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105 (ESV). Through His Word He will illuminate the path in every area of your life.

Imagine this time next year, looking back on the ways God’s Word impacted you and those around you through  The Navigators Bible Reading Plan.  Here’s your opportunity to get started today!

Jesus calls us to both  be  disciples and  make  disciples, but what does discipleship look like today? Is it more than just believing in God?

To dispel any confusion about what discipleship is and how it can impact your life, we’ve created a brief yet powerful eBook that takes a look at this topic, giving several examples and plenty of scriptural support.

If you have a desire to grow in Christ and help others do the same then Discipleship 101 will give you the confidence that you have what it takes to get started.

Spend the next two weeks concentrating your prayer life on the spiritual war being waged against you, and find encouragement in the fact that with God, you are more than an overcomer.

Find victory in the battle with these fourteen short but powerful prayer prompts and accompanying Bible references.

Do you personally feel overwhelmed or know someone who’s overwhelmed by anxiety? Jesus made it a special point to talk about worry and anxiety in His teachings.

In the eBook How to Face Anxiety With Hope in God , this free week-long devotional plan based on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 will help you take a few minutes each day to discover how the best way to face anxiety is to know God more deeply.

Do you want to memorize more Scripture? Our  Topical Memory System  is a proven process of memorizing passages of Scripture that edify, encourage, and exhort you to live the best Christian life you can. Through this condensed eBook version of the  Topical Memory System , you’ll be able to store dozens of the Bible’s most helpful Scriptures in your heart and mind. 

Studying the Bible helps to make passages come to life in new ways, it deepens your understanding, and it makes God’s Word part of how you think, act, and live. But what’s the best way to go about studying the Bible?

We’d like to share our proven system of study by giving you a free digital copy of  How to Study the Bible: A 7-Step Method for Inductive Bible Study .

We hope it enriches your Bible reading immensely! 

Tricia Lott Williford felt distant from the Scriptures after the loss of her husband’s early death, but the deeply honest, occasionally dramatic, emotions of the Psalms drew her back to the scriptures and into a deeper relationship with God. 

In her eBook  Journey Through the Psalms , Williford shares the truth she found in the Psalms to encourage you through the ups and downs of life.

When it comes to prayer, do you ever wonder where to start? Would you like to pray confidently — both personally and when you’re praying with others?

In  Prayer 101 , explore prayer and next steps to deepen your relationship with God and others as you pray for and with them. 

Pray the names of God this month!

Each day in this month-long devotional features one aspect of God’s character to reflect on and pray about, along with a Bible verse to describe that characteristic. It’s a fantastic way to learn more about the Lord and draw closer to Him.

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Would you like to build relationships with your neighbors? Even have spiritual conversations with them?

Whether your neighbors are in the apartment next door or the house down the road, there is a simple next step you can take to join God’s heart for transforming your neighborhood.

If you would like to build relationships with your neighbors and be a part of what God’s already doing in your community, but aren’t sure where to start, we want to help!

When you celebrate something, do you find that the preparations and to-dos for the party or big event can distract from the meaning behind the celebration? If this can happen when preparing to celebrate a birthday, wedding, graduation, new baby, anniversary, or even retirement, then it can also be true as you prepare to celebrate Christmas.

In  Preparing for Christmas: A 4-Part Study  you’ll explore both Old and New Testament passages, reflecting on Christ’s first coming, and how anticipating His second coming impacts your life now and forever. This study can be used individually, with your family, or even in a small group setting.

This eBook to help you commit four key Bible passages to memory. Each week for four weeks, you will focus on one verse, contemplating its meaning and reciting the verse repeatedly so that you internalize it and make it your own.

We’re offering this new eBook,  Hide God’s Word in Your Heart , to you for free as part of our mission to help strengthen God’s people and make disciples of all nations. We pray that it is a practical help and a blessing to you!

Help your child begin a lifetime of hiding God’s Word in their hearts

In a new book from NavPress,  Topical Memory System for Kids , help your children discover the power of God’s Word in their lives. In easy-to-learn games and made-for-kids-lessons, you’ll work with your children to memorize Scripture and “hook” it into their minds for a moment when they need it most.

You’ll learn right alongside them too, filling your own mind and heart with the power of Scripture. This resource is our gift to you as part of the Navigators mission to equip people all over the world with the truth of God’s Word.

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Home   »   Faith Foundations   »   The Basics   »   The Discipleship Journey

The Discipleship Journey

Peter Amsterdam

How you love God and how you live your faith are personal matters. Your relationship with God is yours. If you know the principles laid out in the words of Jesus and throughout the Bible, and you apply those principles—you live them—then you will build a living personal relationship with God. It will be your personal relationship with Him based on applying His words, the principles He put forth for those who choose to follow Him. If you follow the principles He put forth through His teaching and His personal example, then He will show you how to apply those principles in the situations you come across in your life. The key is that you love Him and that you live your faith in the way He shows you to, based on the principles He has given in His Word.

The same holds true for preaching the gospel. There’s not only one manner in which to witness to others. God’s call is to preach the gospel, to share His love and life with others, and that’s part of being a disciple; but where and how and to whom you preach the gospel depends on where God has you, the life He’s called you to lead, and the people He’s placed in your path.

When Jesus calls, He says, “Follow Me.” He leads some to minister to the multitudes, others to their circle of friends and acquaintances. Some He leads to a foreign land, others to their neighborhood, others to their own children. His call is to preach the gospel in the realm He has called you to. Obedience to that call means reaching those He brings across your path.

A person’s spiritual life is like a journey. The place each person is coming from will be different. The pace at which they travel will be different. The Lord might call you to walk alongside someone for a while, to impart His love and truth and Word and share fellowship. You may be sowing or watering, helping them toward discipleship, or helping them grow within discipleship if they are at the place on their journey where they are ready to commit more of themselves to God. You’re there to help, to give them counsel when they ask, to share God’s principles with them, to help them understand His Word and ways, to encourage and support, to share your discipleship life journey with them.

Teaching and discipling someone takes time. But when we effectively disciple even one person, it’s time well spent. We may be inclined to view our success in teaching others based on the number of people we are teaching, but that isn’t the way it works. You just need to do what God has called you to do, and witness to and teach those whom He brings across your path, and you will make a difference.

Francis of Assisi said, “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” Our strength and our motivation for sharing Him starts with our loving Him, our being connected to Him. Then because we are loving Him, we will also be living Him, and others will feel Him through us. How you live your life, how you project Jesus, will make a difference in how the Great Commission is accomplished in your neighborhood, city, province, or country.

The ability of the Christian to witness, to live the life of a disciple, to preach Jesus, to teach Him, comes from doing those things that God has called disciples to do. It starts with the individual—the individual loving Him and living His principles, and then also having the conviction, the drive, the desire to witness, to win, to preach, to teach. Every one of us has some opportunity, some network, some realm in which we can be connecting with others and strengthening their faith, their hope, their spirits, through living our discipleship and bringing discipleship principles into our relationships.

The commission that Jesus has given to His disciples is to bring the gospel to all the world. Wherever the Lord has called you to is your mission field, and you are called to reach those He puts in your path. On an individual basis, you will most likely engage in the mission one on one with the people that you meet, work with, and come in contact with. Then, there’s also the aspect of combining your efforts with those of others. It could happen by joining forces in mission endeavors, or by meeting and praying together.—And ideally by bringing others into that meeting and praying together. That spiritual community becomes the seedbed, so to speak, from which the mission in your city or country can grow. Working within and expanding a spiritual community helps foster discipleship. It helps you as a disciple to stay spiritually connected to God and others, as you share your faith and grow in faith   together.

Every nation on earth has people who need Jesus. Every city and every neighborhood contains those who need Him. You can be an instrument to bring Him to them. They need the unconditional love of God. They need disciples who can not only help them find salvation in Jesus, but also walk alongside them on their path in Christian growth and discipleship.

The job of the disciple is to win others. If you feel you can’t do much, just do what you can. The Lord will bless your efforts. Like the quote from Saint Francis, “make your walking your preaching.” Even if you can’t devote much time, or any time, to preaching right now, your life can be an example of Jesus’ love.

Be a disciple. Bring Jesus to others. Do what you can to propagate the mission. Propagating the mission is a key aspect of discipleship, and it’s the commission of God. Someone brought the gospel to you. Someone led you to Jesus. You have eternal life. You’ve been called to share that with others. Find out how to best do it where you are, in your city, in your neighborhood, among the people that you know, or to a wider audience through the Internet or e-mail, or through taking mission trips from time to time. Reach whomever God is calling you to reach in the manner He’s showing you to reach them. Work to change your part of the world, to change those that God has brought across your path.

Be instant in season and out of season. Share the gospel with those He brings you in contact with. That’s what Jesus did. That’s what His early disciples did. That’s how Christianity has continued to grow. And that’s how you, as a disciple, are fruitful.

For more writings by Peter Amsterdam, visit Directors Corner .

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Journey with Jesus

Together the 5 spiritual disciplines comprise the great commandment expressed by jesus.

In this step we Journey with Jesus through the Gospel of John, pausing along the way to reflect upon five spiritual disciplines presented in the form of a cross and supported by five key Scripture verses.

The Spiritual Disciplines are depicted in the form of a cross with Worship the Lord at the center.

Hear His Word / Pray His Will depict our relationship with God.

Join His People / Tell the World depict our relationship with people.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” -Matt. 22:37-40

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Discipleship Journey

Gospel-Driven, Life-on-Life, Multiplying

Interested in the Journey?

Whether you would like to join others who are already on the Discipleship Journey, get started with your own friends, or have questions, let us know!

You can start at any point!

The Discipleship Journey revolves around personal discipleship relationships.

This is our vision for personal discipleship: gospel-driven, life-on-life relationships, in which followers of Jesus invest in a few others so that—by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God—participants become maturing followers of Jesus, able to shepherd others to maturity in Christ.

Guiding Convictions

We believe every man was created by God and for God, to be in an intimate relationship with him and to serve him with his life.

We believe discipleship relationships are a primary means through which God saves , matures , and equips men to reproduce other maturing disciples of Jesus. When, by God’s grace, Christian men intentionally invest in each other’s lives, a few at a time, with the aim of maturing in Christ and then multiplying, ripples for God’s Kingdom will be created that extend beyond our line of sight and into eternity.

We believe that while many churches do a good job of offering teaching and programs for helping men grow in the knowledge of their faith, there remains a need for men to be involved in personal discipleship relationships—where abiding in Christ, spiritual maturity, and multiplication are the primary goals.

Four Key Steps to Deepen Your Discipleship Journey | All In - Week 1 |Pastor Jimn Kyles Anchor Bend TX

• Religion & Spirituality

This week, Pastor Jimn kicked off a new message series, "All In," to help us grow in our relationships with God and experience all He has for us. Our Next Steps, or discipleship, is how we grow after our decision to follow Jesus. Salvation is a gift, but after we’re saved, it’s time to get to work, and develop what God has put inside of us. When we’re living the life God designed for us to live, we’ll find that we’re living the life we’ve always wanted! Today, let’s choose to go all in, discover what’s next, and start living God’s best! If you'd like to be apart of what God is doing at Anchor Bend or visit one of our services, you can join us using the information below: Join us in-person or online! Sundays: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM CST 1400 FM 2218 Richmond, TX 77469 https://live.anchorbend.com/ MORE INFO Website - http://www.anchorbend.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/anchorbendtx Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anchorbendtx

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