Learning The Discipleship Process

Not known to many, Discipleship is a process. It goes round and round and round and so on and so forth.

The first person of discipleship cycle is the new discipler. New disciplers are the link to a new generation of disciples as they seek to pass on to others what they’ve discovered in their walk of faith. The new discipler is critical in developing a spiritual heritage that reproduces.

The Discipleship Process

The second person in the triad is the new believer. New believers who are becoming mature disciples are the new generation. They’re growing in their relationship to Christ as disciples in the context of a supportive community. Each person at this stage of maturity is establishing a personal faith relationship with Christ that is foundational, lifelong, and intimate.

The third person is this triad is the coach-the one who assists the new discipler as he or she disciples others. A coach in this concept of generations is much like a grandparent in a physical famil. He or she is primarily focused on helping the discipler be successful. The coach, discipler, and growing disciple form a spiritual unity promoted in Paul’s ministry through Timothy (2Timothy 2:2)

The process is more like a cycle. No one should be the last link of spiritual chain. It will continue to move on.

-Excerpted from The Adventure of Discipling Others by Ron Bennett and John Purvis