And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)
Our Pathway
Every disciple is on a journey, pursuing Christlikeness. The Discipleship Pathway is a guide that provides definition for how Jesus followers grow up into spiritual maturity. It identifies key stages of spiritual growth and how those stages continue to build upon one another and deepen as we mature.
Spiritual formation is a process that starts with God in conversion. Formation is sustained by God through submission, devotion, comprehension, and replication, and completed by God when we reach saturation, “the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Our Process – Observe
Disciple makers have an aim. They actively discern their disciple’s next step and an edifying pursuit that builds toward Christlikeness.
Our Process – Add, Expand, Restore
Disciple makers have an aim. They actively discern their disciple’s next step and an edifying pursuit that builds toward Christlikeness.
Prayerfully and with discernment, disciple makers observe the fruit that is in the disciple’s life and help to:
- Add what is missing,
- Expand what is growing, or
- Restore what is neglected.
My Plan
Disciple makers have a plan for helping a disciple take a next step toward Christlikeness. Disciple makers help and walk alongside a disciple in pursuing an edifying activity.
A Discipleship Plan answers these three questions:
- Who am I discipling?
- What is their next step?
- How will I help them get there?