A. I like the story told of the little boy who was confused about something and said to his Bible class teacher: “There’s somethin’ I can’t figger out.”
1. The teacher said, “What is it, Joey?”
2. Joey said, “Well accordin’ to the Bible, the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, right?”
a. “ Right,” said his teacher.
3. Joey continued, “And the Children of Israel defeated the Philistines, right?”
a. “Er – right,” said his teacher.
4. Joey continued, “And the Children of Israel built the Temple, right?”
a. His teacher said, “You’re right, again.”
5. Joey concluded, “So, the children of Israel wuz always doin’ somethin’ important, right?”
a. “That’s right,” said his teacher, “So what’s your question? What can’t you figure out?”
6. “What I wanna know is this,” demanded Joey, “if that’s what the children of Israel wuz doin’, then what wuz all the grown-ups doin’?”
B. What little Joey didn’t understand was that even though God’s people are always described as God’s children, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t the grown-ups.
1. Today, as we continue our series on discipleship, we want to explore the stages of discipleship.
2. When a person becomes a disciple of Jesus, they are born again into God’s family and will be known as a child of God for the rest of their lives.
3. And even though God will always be their Father and they will always be His child, God has created and designed His children to move through a progression of stages of growth.
4. I like the way Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington have defined these stages of growth in their book Discipleshift, and I will be borrowing their model and their descriptions to help us understand how we are to grow as a disciple and how we are to help others grow.
5. Putnam and Harrington suggest that there are five stages of discipleship; starting with a person being spiritually DEAD, then becoming an INFANT, a CHILD, a YOUNG ADULT, and finally a PARENT.
C. Before we look at these stages of discipleship more closely, let’s consider this illustration: Imagine you are a medical doctor in charge of a number of residents at a large hospital.
1. You know that your task is to teach these med students the knowledge they need to be a doctor, which includes appropriate empathy and compassion, as well as the best methods and practices for patient health.
2. This is a huge undertaking, right? How can this task be accomplished?
3. The process needs to be broken into manageable pieces and an appropriate sequence.
4. First, you begin by recognizing that an apprenticeship like this will take several years.
5. Next, you begin to impart the knowledge and training step by step, with each successive year building on the last.
6. The student’s advancement in the program is about more than just their grasp of the information, it’s about how they progress in overall development in the process.
7. Obviously, a third-year student should exhibit more maturity than one in the first-year, because that student has had more time to grow and develop in each key area of growth.
D. This process of becoming a doctor is similar to how people develop in all kinds of enterprises, from the military to sports programs, and is also the way Christianity works as well.
1. Discipleship is a process that works through predictable stages.
2. It might seem strange to categorize people into spiritual development levels and stages, but it is necessary for growth to take place.
3. We need to keep in mind that there’s a big difference between judging people and assessing a person’s spiritual development.
a. Judging implies that we are issuing a final verdict on their character or morality, or are condemning them.
b. Instead of condemning them or placing them in a category that they can’t move out of, spiritual assessment seeks to determine the stage of a person’s spiritual development in order to help them move forward and grow.
4. Jesus made it clear that you can know a tree by its fruit and that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
a. In other words, you can tell where a person is in the stages of their spiritual journey by paying attention to the things they say and do – these things reveal where they are on the road to maturity.
5. So, it is very important and helpful for us to name the stages of growth for a disciple, and understand the basic characteristics and the needs of each stage.
a. The goal is not to simply categorize or label people, but to help them grow.
b. When we understand how a disciple grows, we can be more intentional in the process of growing disciples who make disciples.
E. This concept of spiritual assessment is entirely biblical.
1. As we look at the twelve disciples, we observe that these were all men who went through a process of spiritual maturity.
2. Jesus chose them to follow Him, and while He spent time with them, He was helping them grow more and more into the followers of God that God desires.
3. It is both comforting and humbling to know that we are all in a process of spiritual growth and that no one fully arrives at the destination of perfection in this life.
4. As we grow by the grace of God, we can slip in and out of various stages at different times in our lives.
5. Each of us can get stuck in a certain stage and not progress, or we can slip back into a more immature stage if we are not careful.
F. It is also important for us to keep in mind that the responsibility for spiritual growth never rests only on the disciple or on the disciple-maker.
1. In reality, there are at least three persons involved in the discipling process.
2. There is the part that the disciple must play – they must be engaged and put forth effort.
3. There is the part that the disciple-maker plays – they must be a good example and share what they know.
4. And, most importantly, there is God’s part – God is the one who transforms and brings lasting change.
G. So let’s turn our attention to the five stages of discipleship.
1. As we review the stages, let’s keep in mind that although growth typically doesn’t happen in a linear fashion (a straight line), there is a path of progress, a direction we need to move in order to grow.
2. These growth stages are fairly general and simple and can be seen in Scripture.
3. Also, let’s keep in mind that other than the stage of being spiritually dead, all the other stages of discipleship describe a person who has been born again and is saved.
4. When a person becomes a Christian, they stand justified in Christ and their position in Christ is immediately “saved” – they have moved from death to life.
5. All the stages from infant to parent represent the process of sanctification – the process of becoming what God has already declared us to be – as we grow our condition in Christ begins to match our position in Christ.
6. How wonderful it is that when we become a Christian, God gives us a new identity in Christ, and as saved disciples, it should be our goal to grow into our new identity.
H. Spiritual Stage 1 – Spiritually Dead
1. Paul tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
2. In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul describes our pre-Christian situation: 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
3. People who have not yet become Christians, disciples of Jesus are lost and are spiritually dead.
4. Two words that best characterize those who are spiritually dead are unbelief and rebellion.
5. And because they are spiritually dead, it should not surprise us that they act and talk like a spiritually dead person would act and talk with unbelief, rebellion and rejection of God’s will.
6. Here are some of the things we will likely encounter as we interact with those who are spiritually dead:
a. Some may shake their fists at God or be angry at God for some hurt or injustice.
b. Others may show some spiritual interest, while others may show no interest at all.
c. We shouldn’t be surprised by or put off by their worldliness and lack of morality – remember, they are spiritually dead, so we shouldn’t expect them to be alive!
7. If we listen to what the spiritual dead say, we will hear things like:
a. “I don’t believe there is a God, or the Bible is just a bunch of myths.”
b. “I’ve been a good person, and when I die, I will be okay – I will take my chances with the big man upstairs.”
c. “I don’t believe in absolutes – what’s wrong for you might not be wrong for me.”
8. Listening to these kinds of statements helps us to recognize what stage a person is in – not to judge or condemn them, but to know how to pray and to minister to them.
9. The key concept is that a spiritual dead person does not have the life of Jesus in them, because they don’t have faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
10. What are the needs of people who are spiritually dead?
a. They need believers to love them and reach out to them in friendship.
b. They need to be introduced to Jesus and the good news of Jesus.
c. They likely need answers to their questions about God, the Bible and Christianity.
11. The good news of Jesus is that those who are spiritually dead can be born again (Jn. 3:3-5).
I. Spiritual Stage 2 – Spiritual Infant
1. Scripture often uses the image of infants for the early stage of discipleship.
2. In 1 Peter 2:2-3, the apostle Peter suggests that people should be like newborn babies and crave spiritual milk so they can grow up in their salvation.
a. People at this stage are spiritually alive because they have made the initial commitment to follow Christ and become His disciple, but that’s about as far as they have gotten.
3. These people are likely very new Christians, but sadly they may also have been baptized years ago, but have not make progress.
a. The writer of Hebrews describes the people he is writing to as those still living on milk when in fact they should be eating solid food by now (Heb. 5:12-14).
4. The words that best characterize this stage of a disciple’s life are ignorance, confusion and dependence.
a. Ignorance – because spiritual infants don’t know much about biblical truth.
b. Confusion – because they don’t know how to replace old ways of thinking and doing with the new ways of a disciple of Jesus.
c. Dependence – because they cannot accomplish growth alone any more than a physical infant can feed and care for itself the day it comes home from the hospital.
5. Think about what we typically expect from a physical infant.
a. Babies are messy, loud, and need a lot of care and attention.
b. We know it will take time and training for them to grow and mature.
6. If we listen to spiritual infants, we can expect to hear them say things like this:
a. “I didn’t know the Bible said that.”
b. “I need someone to teach me and take care of me, please don’t leave me on my own.”
c. “I got baptized last week, but I am still giving into temptation. What is wrong with me?”
7. The key concept with spiritual infants is they don’t know much.
a. They have a lot to learn about what it means to follow Jesus.
8. So what are the needs of spiritual infants?
a. They need someone to care for and feed them so they can grow and thrive.
b. Eventually, they will learn to feed themselves, but at this point they don’t know how to.
c. They need the personal attention of a spiritual big brother or sister, or a spiritual parent.
d. They need protection and guidance during this vulnerable stage of discipleship.
e. They need the truths of the Christian faith to be taught and modeled for them.
f. They need to develop new habits that form new patterns for living as a disciple of Jesus.
J. Spiritual Stage 3 – Spiritual Child
1. The apostle John often referred to the early Christians as his children (1 Jn. 2:12).
2. In 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, the apostle Paul described himself as a spiritual father who ministered to his spiritual children: 11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
3. People in this stage of discipleship are growing in their relationship with God and with other Christians.
a. They are beginning to apply God’s Word in their lives, but even though they are growing, much of their spiritual lives still revolves around them – their needs, desires and interests.
4. A person at this spiritual stage may be a relatively new Christian, or they may be someone who has been a Christian for many years, but is stuck in this stage.
a. It’s not the amount of time that passes that marks the difference between the mature and the immature, it’s what has happened or not happened in the discipleship process.
b. And it’s about how much the person has cooperated with the Holy Spirit in growing and shaping them into the likeness of Christ.
5. Think about the characteristics of a typical child.
a. A child can do some things for himself, and yet he are still dependent on their parents.
b. A child may be unaware they are self-centered; that they are focused on their own needs without regard for others.
c. A child can be overconfident and prideful, or they may be insecure and self-loathing.
d. Children crave affirmation and approval, and will usually do the right things if they are rewarded in a way that pleases them.
e. Likewise, a spiritual child may serve in ministry, but they usually do, because it is expected and will do so as long as the benefits outweigh the costs.
f. Children often think in concrete and black and white ways; and a spiritual child is also likely to think about spiritual things in a rigid and unsophisticated way.
6. We would expect a spiritual child to say things like:
a. “Don’t branch my small group into two, I won’t get to be with all my friends.”
b. “No one ever says ‘Hi’ to me at church.”
c. “I was helping in the children’s ministry, but no one seemed to appreciate what I was doing, so I quit.”
7. So what are the needs of spiritual children?
a. They need to continue to be connected to mature disciples so they can continue to grow.
b. They need to learn to trust God more and to walk in obedience.
c. As they grow, they will learn to do the right things for the right reasons, and to have a servants heart.
K. Spiritual Stage 4 – Spiritual Young Adult
1. In 1 John 2:13-14, John describes people who are spiritual young adults – he refers to them as “young men,” in contrast to those he addresses as “fathers” and “children.”
a. John says these young adults have overcome the Evil One, and the Word of God abides in them.
2. Spiritual young adults are making a shift from being self-centered to be God-centered and other-centered.
a. They are beginning to reorient their lives around God’s Word, God’s people and mission.
b. They are involved in ministering to others, putting the needs of others first, and being doers of the Word.
c. They have learned to serve for the right reasons and even when people fail them, they continue to serve because Jesus has never failed them.
d. They are becoming mature in their faith and are learning to focus on fitting their gifts and passions to God’s kingdom purposes.
3. Spiritual young adults say things like:
a. “In my devotions, I came across something awesome.”
b. “I really want to go on a mission trip next summer.”
c. “I have three friends I’ve been witnessing to, I’m afraid our small group will be too big if we add them, can I branch our small group so they can come?”
4. The key concept with spiritual young adults is that they are orienting their lives around God and His purposes.
5. What are the needs of spiritual young adults?
a. They need a ministry where they can learn to serve and lead.
b. They need a spiritual mentor who will coach and debrief them on their ministry experiences.
c. They need help identifying their gifts and they need to receive skills training.
L. Spiritual Stage 5 – Spiritual Parent
1. Putman and Harrington clarify the fact that God is the one who births people spiritually, but they use the term spiritual parent to reinforce the concept of spiritual reproduction and mentoring.
a. God’s plan for the church includes the role of spiritual parents guiding and training their spiritual children.
b. Spiritually mature people make and mentor disciples who can make and mentor disciples.
2. In last week’s sermon, we looked at 2 Timothy 2:1-2, where Paul wrote these words to his spiritual son, Timothy: 1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
a. In that passage, Paul describes the multiplication of ministry that takes place as spiritual parents mentor disciples who can become spiritual parents to others.
3. A spiritual parent is someone who has a solid understanding God and spiritual things, a deep abiding relationship with God, and a desire to be involved in raising up other disciples.
a. Spiritual parents live out God’s Word in their daily lives; they are kingdom-centered and God-dependent.
4. It is important to clarify the fact that spiritual parents are not perfect or perfectly mature.
a. There is always room for growth and refinement.
b. What marks a person as a spiritual parent is their intentionality – they are intentional in building their ongoing relationship with the Lord, and they are intentional in their relationships for the purpose of discipleship.
c. Spiritual parents are so seasoned in the ways of discipleship that they are able to recognize where a person is in his or her spiritual journey, know where the person needs to go, and know how to help them get there.
5. They key concept for the spiritual parent is a mindfulness of the needs of the less mature disciples.
6. What are the needs of spiritual parents?
a. They need to have close peer relationships with other spiritual parents who are involved in making disciples so they can have encouragement and accountability.
b. They need ongoing feedback and training to increase their ministry and mentoring skills.
c. They need assistance in learning how to delegate responsibility and they need to learn to take time to rest so they avoid burnout.
d. They need to be celebrated and honored for their ministry of spiritual parenting.
M. As I bring this sermon to a close, I want to end with a few things to keep in mind.
1. First, we need to remember that no stage of discipleship is more important than any other.
a. Spiritual parents are not more valuable than spiritual children.
b. Spiritual young adults are not more significant than people who are spiritually dead.
c. All people are loved by God and God wants all people to be saved.
d. All people are created in God’s image and are precious in His sight.
e. Readiness and capabilities to be used in God’s mission may differ based on giftedness and spiritual development, but our value to God is equal and does not change.
2. A second thing to keep in mind, is that a person rarely goes through the stages of spiritual growth in a straight line and at a predictable pace.
a. People are complex and growth is multifaceted.
b. Disciples at the infant or child stage can say and do things that display significant maturity or Christlikeness at times and in some areas.
c. Mature disciples at later stages of discipleship can often slip back into immaturity at times and in some ways.
3. The delineation of stages simply reminds us that inherent in discipleship is the understanding that disciples of Jesus need to grow and mature.
a. We start the discipleship journey with a commitment to trust and follow Jesus, and then, over time, we are changed by Him and we become more mature and complete in Christ.
4. So how can each of us start on the road to spiritual maturity that eventually leads us to become disciple makers and spiritual parents?
a. It starts with us making an honest evaluation of where we are right now – are you spiritually dead, or a spiritual infant, child, young adult, or spiritual parent?
b. And as I mentioned last week, we can ask God to lead us to the three people we need in our lives: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy – A Barnabas to encourage us; A Paul to mentor us; and a Timothy for us to mentor.
c. Then we need to make the effort and investment into growing as a disciple.
d. And a part of making the effort involves looking to and yielding to the power and the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
5. I hope that all of us will grow up in our salvation and will move through the stages of discipleship until we are fully mature disciples of Jesus.
Resources:
Discipleshift, Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington, Zondervan, 2013.
Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual, Jim Putman, Avery T. Willis Jr., Brandon Guindon, and Bill
Krause, NavPress, 2010.
