Spheres and Stages of Discipleship - Essay Example

SPHERES AND STAGES OF DISCIPLESHIP Five stages of discipleship are, phase one spiritually dead, phase two is the spiritual infant, level three a holy child, level four a religious young adult and finally a spiritual parent. On the other hand, four spheres according to the paper is the disciple’s deeper relationship with God, the world, family and the church. The levels take a gradual process in which the believer grows; however the spheres are the disciple’s relationship with their internal and external environments. Jesus outlines in the sermon on the plain did outline these stages (Putman, 2013). The initial first two stages the disciple is a non- believer and tries to be a convert by all means i.e. attempts to acquire a new birth. First stages of discipleship are those who are not physically dead, but considered dead outside Jesus Christ. It consists of individuals who have not come to Christ by whichever excuse they may have. Due to the fact they don’t know the truth. Those also included in the category are those individuals who lack knowledge of the Gospel, those who demand to be Christian but disdain the Christ-like approach of life, or just broadly, those individuals who are seeking Christ but are yet to find Him (Putman, 2013). The biblical the relevant biblical verse that is applicable to such group according to the Sermon on the plain is Mathew 5:3-4 The second stage of discipleship is spiritual infants. Persons at this stage are not spiritually dead they know Christ. The believer is ever learning to submit to the true will of God. The believer needs nurturing to grow in good discipleship of Christ. It is the will of the parent to let the infant develop in accordance with the truth of life. In the 1 Peter 2:2-3 and Matthew 5:5 both verses acknowledge the fact that it is not bad being an infant in discipleship but the most important strength that comes with the stage is proper development that allows even more spiritual growth (Bonhoeffer, 2001). The third stage of discipleship the person has matured but still a lot more discipleship is required. The discipleship growth here is better than in other initial stages. The person is not growing his relationship with God but in the same time growing his relationship with other Christians as well. What this person requires is a mature Christian to focus them and guide on the Kingdom development program because of their self-centeredness at this stage. 1 John 2-12 is relevant in giving an insight of this critical stage of discipleship. The next stage of discipleship is a young adult. Young adult in Christ is well on their route to being champions for Christ in the feeling that they have gotten to a stage that they are concentrating more on God and the rest and learning their role in the world. The young adult in this stage is ministering to the rest, and there has been a shift from self-centeredness to serving others in the Christ way and obedient to God’s commandment (Putman, 2013). This is never because the believer needs to have a self-righteous emblem of honor, but since the disciple’s admiration has been changed by the righteousness of Christ living in him. This holy living is how individuals will know the disciple as a true Christian. The final stage of discipleship is that of an adult. In the Sermon on the plain Jesus referred to this stage as the peacemakers. True peace only comes from the gospel of Christ, and it is the established disciple that can reproduce these kinds of disciples. In this adult stage, a lot more is expected of a disciple maker in the logic that they are responsible for guaranteeing the development of all the aforementioned persons mentioned in the previous level of discipleship. The Kingdom of God development plan is initially in the lives of the spiritual parent, but it must be acknowledged that the spiritual parent is doing nothing more than acting in submission to Christ in spreading Gospel. Spheres are the disciple’s relationship with their internal and external environments. The first sphere is centrality of a relationship with God. The most important interaction is disciple’s interaction with God since it is what leads to the five stages of discipleship the paper had looked at above. For instance, people trust in His message and the Holy Spirit has been solely provided unto us for His purpose. The second sphere is relationship with family, God and church. This sphere in the discipleship development process is all about the relationship with other believers and laboring toward similar goal of being submissive to Christ and working together in kingdom expansion (Putman, 2013). Being a follower of Christ is an important event in an individuals life that requires essential changes, and this will mean disliking your old ways and leaving closer commitments behind to follow Christ. The third sphere is relationship at home, and it focuses at home life. Being a follower of Christ and his doctrine is a complete change in life and should be seen in one’s life in all ways and every relationship. This is significant as well; this interaction is applied in Bible as part of the qualifications of a deacon or elder within the church referenced in (1st Timothy 3). The fourth and the last sphere is concern with the aspect of living in the world and as such, we as Christians and Disciples of Christ are to still ourselves and act in submission to God. Just because we inhabit a space in time of this world does not necessitate that we should be of the world. The forth Sphere focuses on the necessity of our Christian lifestyle in the ever changing secular world. How our lifestyle is to represent Christ as beacons of the light that God has given us (Harnish, 2012). As a person, am transitioning from young adult to parent. God has led me out of the path of pride taught my submission, and in faith and humility despite all this there are thing about true discipleship that I need to learn (Bonhoeffer, 2001). I am a work in progress and through guidance of a spiritual parent I know I can achieve and be an adult. What glad me as a person is that despite all these Jesus Christ still uses me and has hope for me? Matthew 5:9 best fits my stage of discipleship as being striving to be a peacemaker someday. Submissions to Christ as a disciple is a submission of all aspect of life even the physical requirements which every Christian struggles with. Jesus commands his followers to follow, pick up and leave all to follow him. This submission to Jesus is in totality to New Testament Theology. It is not just a head learning of the verse that makes abut the act of relating to these things to life. Standing with Christ does not just imply learning of teachings but living them out while submitting to what God has taught us. As a conclude submission on the section of the Disciple is applying the teachings of the bible. Belief is the first stage of submission but acting is being fruitful. James puts it that way in Chapter 2:14-25.The submission of Christ as a disciple reflects dissimilarity in function, not in essence. This assists us to see the poise of submission to Christ in our context. The scriptures requirement to submit does not imply inferiority or superiority. It only reflects a difference in role (Bonhoeffer, 2001). Admittedly, individuals whom submission must never be rendered action in a way that is worthy of obedience or respect (Wilkins, 1992). We can take relief in the knowledge that Christ will someday call all those who exercise authority to explanation. They must answer to God. Proverbs 3:5-6 also advocates true discipleship and complete trust in God. References Boice, James Montgomery. Christs Call to Discipleship. [S.l.]: Kregel Pubns, 2013. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Geffrey B. Kelly, and John D. Godsey. Discipleship. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001. . Harnish, James A. Disciples Path Daily Workbook. Abingdon Pr, 2012. Putman, Jim, and Bobby Harrington. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples,2013 Wilkins, Michael J. Following the Master Biblical Theology of Discipleship. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan Pub. House, 1992. Read More