Defining Growth Biblically
(this is a continuation of the topic 'On Shepherding and Discipleship')
You may have noticed that there are many varied definitions of spiritual and church growth floating around these days, but which are truly biblical, that is, growth as God has defined it? Certainly we would say that we would want to grow 'with a growth that is from God' (Colossians 2:19) and reject any other kind of 'growth' as inferior and false.
As you can see from our main texts, it all revolves around the words and works of Christ.
(See previous blog entries on the centrality and cost of Christlikeness.)
The background of these terms has been study and collaboration with a plurality of elders in local church settings. The goal of these terms is not to come up with something new, but to unfold in a useful way what the Scriptures tell us on these matters.
So, without further ado, we seek to answer two questions today:
‘What are the fundamentals of discipleship?’
‘What does a disciple look like?’
A disciple is a follower of Christ who is on the path of discipleship, spiritual formation, maturity, and discipling. His or her lifestyle is characterized by certain godly disciplines which are God given means of yielding godly results:
• Prayer (John 15:7)
• Fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Witnessing (Matthew 4:19)
• Good Works (Colossians 1:10)
• Discipling Others (Proverbs 11:30)
Our church, Jacob's Well, recently went through a series on the spiritual disciplines called 'Core Rhythms', which you can enjoy here.
Next time, Lord willing, we will seek to answer the following question: What is the path of discipleship?’
We plan to look at the biblical pattern that is a cycle sometimes described as Win -> Build -> Equip -> Multiply.
In the meantime, may you fully participate in God's work in His church, the only earthly institution that He Himself has promised to build! (Matthew 16:18)
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
(Jesus, Luke 14:33 ESV)
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
(The Apostle Paul, Colossians 1:28-29 NASB)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
(The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10 NASB)
(Jesus, Luke 14:33 ESV)
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
(The Apostle Paul, Colossians 1:28-29 NASB)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
(The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10 NASB)
You may have noticed that there are many varied definitions of spiritual and church growth floating around these days, but which are truly biblical, that is, growth as God has defined it? Certainly we would say that we would want to grow 'with a growth that is from God' (Colossians 2:19) and reject any other kind of 'growth' as inferior and false.
As you can see from our main texts, it all revolves around the words and works of Christ.
(See previous blog entries on the centrality and cost of Christlikeness.)
The background of these terms has been study and collaboration with a plurality of elders in local church settings. The goal of these terms is not to come up with something new, but to unfold in a useful way what the Scriptures tell us on these matters.
So, without further ado, we seek to answer two questions today:
- What are the fundamentals of discipleship?
- What does a disciple look like?
‘What are the fundamentals of discipleship?’
- Discipleship - Responding to Christ’s call to become His follower, resulting in obeying His teaching and patterning life after Him. (Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23)
- Spiritual Formation - The Spirit empowered process that changes the inner life of the disciple to become like Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 2:12-13, Galatians 4:19)
- Maturity - Experiencing a growing fullness in your relationship with Christ, exhibiting His character, and participating in the spiritual growth of others. Maturity is the goal of discipleship. (Ephesians 4:12-16, Colossians 1:27-29. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Colossians 2:6-7)
- Discipling - ‘.. an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other disciples in order to encourage, equip, and challenge one another in love to grow in maturity in Christ. This includes equipping the disciple to teach others as well.’ – Greg Ogden (2 Timothy 2:2)
‘What does a disciple look like?’
A disciple is a follower of Christ who is on the path of discipleship, spiritual formation, maturity, and discipling. His or her lifestyle is characterized by certain godly disciplines which are God given means of yielding godly results:
- Disciplines
• Prayer (John 15:7)
• Fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Witnessing (Matthew 4:19)
- Results (‘Bearing Fruit’)
• Good Works (Colossians 1:10)
• Discipling Others (Proverbs 11:30)
Our church, Jacob's Well, recently went through a series on the spiritual disciplines called 'Core Rhythms', which you can enjoy here.
Next time, Lord willing, we will seek to answer the following question: What is the path of discipleship?’
We plan to look at the biblical pattern that is a cycle sometimes described as Win -> Build -> Equip -> Multiply.
In the meantime, may you fully participate in God's work in His church, the only earthly institution that He Himself has promised to build! (Matthew 16:18)
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