How Do We Become a Disciple of Christ?
The Church will accomplish the mission of making disciples by calling all people to be:
1. Converted – A true disciple has placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 2; John 3; Titus 3; Rom. 1-8; 2 Cor. 5:17)
2. Committed - to God, to His Word, to discipleship, sharing our faith with others, to His Purposes, and to His people. (Acts 2; Luke 14). Some examples of His purposes: worship, evangelism, fellowship, ministry, missions, etc.
3. Connected – No Christian can grow without being a contributing part of a Church, living in community with the Body of Christ, giving and receiving love, being accountable to others, serving, and being nurtured and encouraged by other believers. The Church is the Body of Christ. A Christian who is not vitally connected to the Church is like a hand chopped off from the body. You can still be a hand cut off from the body, but not a healthy and helpful one. Being severed from the head, Christ, was not an option in the early Church. (Eph. 4-5; 1 Cor. 12)
4. Competent – In Biblical truth and doctrine that shapes your relationship with God and with all people. We need to be so rooted in the truth that it transforms our worldview, gives us knowledge and wisdom, molds our character, and equips us in our marriages, as parents, in our ministry to others, friendships, work ethic, and every other area of life. The Gospel serves as the framework for our lives. (2 Tim. 2; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18)
5. Contributing – We as believers are accountable to God for contributing our time, talents, and treasures to furthering the Kingdom of God in response to God's grace in our lives. All of life must be lived in light of the crucified, risen, and returning Lord, Savior, and King. (1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 8-9; Prov. 3; Rom.12; 1 Cor. 15; Titus 2; 2 Tim. 4; Rev. 19-22:12)
6. Compassionate – All Christ-followers are called by God to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the world. (Matt. 25; John 11; Luke 10; Matt. 5-7; Phil.2)
7. Christ-Like - This is the goal of the disciple: to be like Jesus in our character, thoughts, actions, and words, modeling Him in our relationship with God and others. For this reason we become Disciples of Christ. (1 John 2:6; John 13:15; 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Pet. 1:14-16)
1. Converted – A true disciple has placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 2; John 3; Titus 3; Rom. 1-8; 2 Cor. 5:17)
2. Committed - to God, to His Word, to discipleship, sharing our faith with others, to His Purposes, and to His people. (Acts 2; Luke 14). Some examples of His purposes: worship, evangelism, fellowship, ministry, missions, etc.
3. Connected – No Christian can grow without being a contributing part of a Church, living in community with the Body of Christ, giving and receiving love, being accountable to others, serving, and being nurtured and encouraged by other believers. The Church is the Body of Christ. A Christian who is not vitally connected to the Church is like a hand chopped off from the body. You can still be a hand cut off from the body, but not a healthy and helpful one. Being severed from the head, Christ, was not an option in the early Church. (Eph. 4-5; 1 Cor. 12)
4. Competent – In Biblical truth and doctrine that shapes your relationship with God and with all people. We need to be so rooted in the truth that it transforms our worldview, gives us knowledge and wisdom, molds our character, and equips us in our marriages, as parents, in our ministry to others, friendships, work ethic, and every other area of life. The Gospel serves as the framework for our lives. (2 Tim. 2; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18)
5. Contributing – We as believers are accountable to God for contributing our time, talents, and treasures to furthering the Kingdom of God in response to God's grace in our lives. All of life must be lived in light of the crucified, risen, and returning Lord, Savior, and King. (1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 8-9; Prov. 3; Rom.12; 1 Cor. 15; Titus 2; 2 Tim. 4; Rev. 19-22:12)
6. Compassionate – All Christ-followers are called by God to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the world. (Matt. 25; John 11; Luke 10; Matt. 5-7; Phil.2)
7. Christ-Like - This is the goal of the disciple: to be like Jesus in our character, thoughts, actions, and words, modeling Him in our relationship with God and others. For this reason we become Disciples of Christ. (1 John 2:6; John 13:15; 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Pet. 1:14-16)
