Discipleship In the Church Coming to maturity in Christ

Discipleship Discipleship is not a church program but a spiritual journey that leads to maturity. By providing sound Biblical teaching and facilitating transparent supportive relationships within the body, the church can help believers grow and develop on this journey. Discipleship is not a church program but a spiritual journey that leads to maturity. By providing sound Biblical teaching and facilitating transparent supportive relationships within the body, the church can help believers grow and develop on this journey.

Making Disciples “Making disciples” involves both an individual and group mentoring effort, in which those who have greater maturity in Christ encourage and serve those who have not traveled as far. Small groups provide a safe environment where believers can grow during the seasons of their discipleship walk. “Making disciples” involves both an individual and group mentoring effort, in which those who have greater maturity in Christ encourage and serve those who have not traveled as far. Small groups provide a safe environment where believers can grow during the seasons of their discipleship walk. Mt. 28:19

Our Discipleship Walk 3 seasonal areas of growth on the road to spiritual maturity Conversion period Learning the basics of salvation Process of Sanctification Growing in holiness to become strong in the faith Coming into Completeness Deeper walk of dying to self to live for God Conversion period Learning the basics of salvation Process of Sanctification Growing in holiness to become strong in the faith Coming into Completeness Deeper walk of dying to self to live for God

Following Christ: A spiritual Journey The Basics When we repent and believe, we are: Delivered from the power of sin & death Redeemed: forgiven Justified: made righteous Cleansed from the guilt of sin Consecrated: set apart as holy to God The Basics When we repent and believe, we are: Delivered from the power of sin & death Redeemed: forgiven Justified: made righteous Cleansed from the guilt of sin Consecrated: set apart as holy to God

Going Beyond the Basics “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” Heb. 6:1

The Way of Discipleship The kingdom of God operates on the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. Receiving the “implanted word,” we produce a spiritual crop through the transforming power of the Spirit. The pattern of seasonal growth is found in the harvest festivals of Israel’s worship. The feasts of Israel provide a thematic model or pattern for spiritual growth. Because Jesus fulfilled the feasts, and since we are in Christ, we also fulfill the themes of the feasts in our discipleship walk. The kingdom of God operates on the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. Receiving the “implanted word,” we produce a spiritual crop through the transforming power of the Spirit. The pattern of seasonal growth is found in the harvest festivals of Israel’s worship. The feasts of Israel provide a thematic model or pattern for spiritual growth. Because Jesus fulfilled the feasts, and since we are in Christ, we also fulfill the themes of the feasts in our discipleship walk.

The Feasts The feasts were divided into three seasonal harvest festivals: Passover, the spring barley crop Pentecost, the summer wheat crop Ingathering, the fall crop of grapes & olives These three festivals correlate with the seasons of our growth as disciples: Conversion, Sanctification, Completeness. The feasts were divided into three seasonal harvest festivals: Passover, the spring barley crop Pentecost, the summer wheat crop Ingathering, the fall crop of grapes & olives These three festivals correlate with the seasons of our growth as disciples: Conversion, Sanctification, Completeness.

The Seasons of Christian Growth Conversion: Coming into the relational knowledge of God Sanctification: Persevering in trials through the power of the Holy Spirit Completeness: The season of self- denial, of taking up our cross and serving those in need, bearing mature fruit for the kingdom of God. Conversion: Coming into the relational knowledge of God Sanctification: Persevering in trials through the power of the Holy Spirit Completeness: The season of self- denial, of taking up our cross and serving those in need, bearing mature fruit for the kingdom of God.

Scriptural Basis for the Themes of Discipleship Phil: 3:10: “I want to:  Know Christ…………..  The power of his resurrection…………..  The fellowship of his sufferings………………” Phil: 3:10: “I want to:  Know Christ…………..  The power of his resurrection…………..  The fellowship of his sufferings………………”  Conversion: Coming to know God  Sanctification: Overcoming in power  Completeness: Taking up the cross of Christ to bear kingdom fruit

Themes of the Feasts: a Model of Seasonal Growth Theme: Conversion Growing in the relational knowledge of God Growth Area: Appropriating the initial blessings of Salvation by faith: Deliverance, Redemption, Forgiveness, Justification, Cleansing, Expiation, Consecration. Theme: Conversion Growing in the relational knowledge of God Growth Area: Appropriating the initial blessings of Salvation by faith: Deliverance, Redemption, Forgiveness, Justification, Cleansing, Expiation, Consecration.

Themes of the Feasts: a Model of Seasonal Growth Theme: Sanctification Wielding the power of the Holy Spirit to persevere and overcome Growth Area: Walking in the power of our salvation that edifies the body and overcomes the world, evidenced in dual form. The gifts of the Spirit (Rom. 12) The armor of God (Eph. 6) Theme: Sanctification Wielding the power of the Holy Spirit to persevere and overcome Growth Area: Walking in the power of our salvation that edifies the body and overcomes the world, evidenced in dual form. The gifts of the Spirit (Rom. 12) The armor of God (Eph. 6)

Themes of the Feasts: a Model of Seasonal Growth Theme: Completeness Sharing in the sufferings of Christ Growth Area: Coming to maturity in Christ Repentance from works of the Old Man Self denial: Taking up the cross and developing the character of Christ in service to others Rejoicing and peace in the Presence of God Theme: Completeness Sharing in the sufferings of Christ Growth Area: Coming to maturity in Christ Repentance from works of the Old Man Self denial: Taking up the cross and developing the character of Christ in service to others Rejoicing and peace in the Presence of God

Some Points to Consider For believers to grow beyond the basics, there needs to be teaching on the armor and the gifts. Small groups are the appropriate forum to discover and exercise one’s spiritual gifts, and to recognize and respond in authority to spiritual battles; so the body can be edified, encouraged, and strengthened. Anyone who knows the basics of salvation can teach them to another. Those discipling others beyond the basics should be mature: knowing God, strong in spirit, overcoming the world and consistently expressing the love of Christ. For believers to grow beyond the basics, there needs to be teaching on the armor and the gifts. Small groups are the appropriate forum to discover and exercise one’s spiritual gifts, and to recognize and respond in authority to spiritual battles; so the body can be edified, encouraged, and strengthened. Anyone who knows the basics of salvation can teach them to another. Those discipling others beyond the basics should be mature: knowing God, strong in spirit, overcoming the world and consistently expressing the love of Christ.

More on the themes of the feasts and discipleship can be found at: More on the themes of the feasts and discipleship can be found at:

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