Personal Growth: From Decisions to Disciples

Decisions

• Churches have reduced making disciples of Christ to counting decisions for Christ.
• The Great Commission calls us to make disciples — not converts.
• If there is a true profession of faith, there should be a true progression of faith.

Scripture: Colossians 1:27-29

• Our spiritual hope is not that we can live for Christ but that Christ lives in us (1:27).
• Discipleship is the post-conversion, life-long journey of increasing spiritual maturity (1:28).
• Our intentional discipleship efforts succeed because God powerfully works through them (1:29).‍
• Distinctive Discipleship: An Individualized Growth Process‍
• Delight (the hope of glory): What rival delight competes with your allegiance to Jesus, and what must you do about it?
• Disobedience (warning everyone): What sinful area do you need to address now?
• Doctrine (teaching will all wisdom): What one doctrine needs strengthening to understand or defend?
• Development (mature in Christ): What key area in your callings or surroundings needs to be developed?
• Discipline (labor for this): What pivotal spiritual discipline do you want to initiate or improve?
• Dependence (striving with His strength): What are you praying about that only God can accomplish?

Disciples

• None of us are spiritually in the same spot, so we can’t have the same next steps.
• If you don’t intentionally plan to grow this year, you may remain in the same stagnant spiritual state.
• Having a discipleship plan is good for an individual, better by a partner, but best with a mentor.
• No one is going to complain if you end up more like Jesus.

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