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Liberty University
Christ in Discipleship
Written Assignment 2
Brian Mclaughlin
DSMN 500 – Discipleship Ministries
October 14th, 2018
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Introduction
Salvation is the gift of God made available to His creation through the work of
redemption offered to humanity through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit causes conviction in the
heart of a man or women to help guide him or her decide to receive Christ as their Lord; after
this, the hard work begins. It is here that many new Christians lose heart and wander off and
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away from God. It is so often greatly misunderstood how the process of sanctification works.
The notion of being a disciple escapes the new believer, especially when many are not made
aware of the process.
Joerg Rieger writes, “If sanctification is the work of God and refers to real moments of
transformation, it encompasses quite naturally every dimension of human life, private as well as
public, including economics and politics.”1 Christians for a long time lack the depth of spiritual
maturity they should have or could have. Never trained up as a true disciple of Christ and have
fed on spiritual milk for most of their walk. Believers cannot expect to live on milk alone and be
productive in the things and ways of God.
The process of becoming a disciple as well as the process of making disciples, are
necessary ones, if a believer is to grow to full maturity in Christ. A Christian will never truly
attain fullness in Christ if not connected to Him in the intimacy of discipleship, nor in the
intimacy of discipling another. This process is a difficult one, one that will take time and expend
a great deal of effort. Greg Ogden writes, “disciple making is about relational investment. It is
walking alongside a few invited fellow travelers in an intentional relationship over time.”2
Five Stages and Four Spheres
According to Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, there are five
stages and four spheres in the process of discipleship. The five stages are: spiritually dead,
infant, child, young adult and spiritual parent.3 The four spheres are: relationship to God,
1 Joerg Rieger, "Sanctification." In Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology.
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011).
2 Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time,
(Westmont, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2010), 17.
3 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, Discipleshift: Five Steps that Help
Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 75.
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relationship to God’s family (church), home life and relationship to the world.4 Combined, these
stages and spheres are telling in that they reveal where a disciple is in their walk with God,
whether through progressing, and whether or not being ready to lead others in the disciple
making process.
Summary
Stage one is “spiritually dead.” It can be identified by any person who does not have a
relationship with Christ, regardless of their claim. Putman, et al, states “the key concept [here] is
that a spiritually dead person does not have the life of Jesus within.”5 Stage two is “infant.” This
can be identified by people that are alive in Christ and have received him as Lord but no more.
There can be new believers or more experienced believers, that have chosen to sit still in their
faith. There are people with tons of needs.6 Stage three is “child.” This can be identified people
that are growing in Christ and in relation to other believers. This type is in the beginning stages
of their walk but are still rather self-centered. Stage four is “young adult.” “Spiritual young
adults are making a shift from being self-centered to being God-and other-centered.”7 In this
stage the believer is moving to a place of thinking about and doing for others, it is no longer just
about themselves. They still need help (who doesn’t?) but they are well on their way to being
spiritual parents. Stage five is “parent.” At this point the believer has gone from spiritually dead
to becoming so God focused and dependent, that they understand how to live out their faith
enough, in so much to teach others how to live effectively as the Word of God teaches. They are
4 Ibid., 78.
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6 Ibid., 64 – 65.
7 Ibid., 67.
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certainly not faultless people, but they are walking with Christ very intentionally with a mind for
working with those that are still in their Christian infancy.
The four spheres are made up of the following: 1. The centrality of a relationship with
God. This is where the believer understands that his or her focus is their relationship to Jesus,
and that without being connected to Him offers no ability to disciple others. Thus, the believer
simply cannot bear good fruit if not attached to the vine of Christ. 2. Relationship within the
family of God, the church. Here the believer understands that God is his Father and that other
believers are his brothers and sisters; the two are connected writes Putman.8 3. Relationships at
home. So many believers can grasp living the Christian life outside of the home because it is
easy to put on the mask of a godly person, it is at home however that the Christian life is truly
realized, “the best place to make disciples is in our own families.”9 4. Relationships with the
world. Here the believer is responsible for living out his life in a way that represents God in the
best light in all he says and does. Putman writes, “in this sense, our work affects God’s
reputation.”10 The best excuse the unbelieving world has for not embracing Christ is the
Christian.
Analysis
8 Ibid., 86.
9 Ibid., 88.
10 Ibid., 89.
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The five stages of growth in the life of a disciple and soon to be disciple maker, are
important as they offer a solid gauge in understanding where the believer stands, in relation to his
walk with God. A new Christian would be hard pressed to begin discipling another, it would be
like the blind leading the blind (Matt. 14:15). Moving people from spiritual immaturity to
spiritual maturity is no easy task. To attempt to do so without having moved through the stages
discussed herein will leave the disciple maker frustrated, not to mention undiscerning. To grow
another person intelligently and effectively in Christ, the teacher or disciple maker must go
through the various stages and spheres themselves. In this, the believer can foresee the road
blocks ahead and help guide their disciple through the various terrains to better help avoid
common pitfalls.
The four spheres are essential in understanding the role of the believer in relation to his or
her attitude about the people around him, especially God. There are far too many Christians that
live for ministry and not for God or his people; they see opportunity only for their own
satisfaction rather than the opportunity to please God in their service towards others. It is a
spiritual checkup that all believers should ascribe too often.
Where I Am
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I believe that I am a “young adult.” I have seen the glory of God in my life over the years
and know without a shadow of a doubt that He abides in me and I in him (John 15:4). There are
areas of my life that I have learned to submit to God because of his promises and my
experiences. Concerns of life is one such area. God’s word states that the believer should not
worry about what he will eat, or drink, or wear because it adds nothing to his life, rather trust in
God to provide for all his needs (Matt. 6:25-34). God has shown me repeatedly that this promise
is a reality for those he loves. My heart desires to share this truth, and others, with believer and
unbeliever alike. I strive to be a doer of God’s Word and not just a hearer and I want so much to
love, live for and serve my God in any and every way I possibly can. I thought I was ready to be
a “parent,” but God has seemed to place me in a metaphorical ‘land of Midian’ for now, so I wait
and deal with some stuff and pray to grow some more.
The sphere that I need to submit to is sphere number two: relationships within the family
of God, the church. Sadly, and I admit it is because of just a few people, I have become very
leery of people that claim to be Christians, especially leaders. I have personally experienced time
and time again how so called ‘parents’ in the faith can lie, manipulate, are jealous, are
hypocritical and use their authority to get their own way – men that have clearly had the spirit of
the Lord leave them and yet still lead the church and I do not mean simply imperfect people. This
has left me rejected and abandoned by people that were supposed to love me and care for me and
grow me, instead it has left me anti-church. Because of this I have leaned away from trying to
build relationships with other believers, Consequently, I find myself not doing the very thing my
heart yearns to do, be a disciple maker and world changer. I have to remember however, that “the
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call to discipleship is connected here with the proclamation of Jesus’ suffering. Jesus Christ had
to suffer and be rejected.”11
Bonhoeffer writes, “just as Christ is only Christ as one who suffers and is rejected, so a
disciple is a disciple only in suffering and being rejected, thereby participating in crucifixion.”12
It is extremely difficult to accept the pain, heartache, and loneliness that comes along with being
a true follower of Christ at times. The misconception is that all will be sublime when Christ
enters a life. Of course, there are plenty of marvelous advantages to be a child of God; God
himself being number one, but there is also a great cost. Jesus tells us in (Luke 14:28) that a
builder must count the cost of a project before starting to see if it can be done. Sadly, the cross of
Christ has become a way for many believers to distance themselves from having to take it up; the
thought is since Jesus died there for me, why do I have to? Lee C. Camp writes, “the cross is
looked upon as something Jesus does for us – he dies so we don’t have to…the New Testament,
however, makes very clear that the cross is not something reserved for Jesus alone.”13 The
Christian man or women will miss completely the strength and compassion, the love and the
sorrow, the submission and courage that is the cross of Christ, if we refuse to carry it. Jesus said
in (Mark 8:34), “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.”
For Christians, the cost of following Christ is massive and must be considered very
carefully. It is a decision the rich young man had to make and could not because it was just too
high a price (Matt 19:22).
Submitted to Christ
11 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, Geffrey B. Kelly and John D. Godsey, eds. And Barbara Green
and Reinhard Krauss, trans., (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001), 84.
12 Ibid., 85.
13 Lee C. Camp, Mere discipleship: Radical Christianity in a rebellious world, (Grand Rapids:
Brazos Press, 2008), 82.
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Being submitted to Christ is one of the easiest parts of being a true disciple; it is also one
of the hardest. So much was asked of Jesus, so much so that he cried out to His Father in heaven
and asked if he could refrain from having to do the thing that would cause Him His greatest
turmoil (Luke 22:42). Nonetheless, because of His great love for the Father and His willingness
to submit in utter obedience to Him; He did what was necessary to save the whole of humanity.
No one in Christendom will ever be called to save the whole of humanity but we will be
called upon to minister in our own mission fields as true disciples. In hopes to bring to salvation:
family members, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, and people in our communities. This will
take complete and utter commitment, obedience, and submission to our Lord as He was to His
Father. Christ knew that without absolute submission to His Father, His mission would not be
accomplished (John 6:38). Jesus had to model what would eventually be the manner of lifestyle
for all His disciples from the twelve onward (John 5:19). Without submission, we as His
disciples would not be able to fully appreciate all He has done, and all He desires to accomplish
through those who love Him.
Christians must be connected to the vine to reach parenthood. Submission to Christ also
teaches His disciples to be submitted to one another (Eph. 5:21). As participants in the family of
God we are to honor and respect one another in godly love. We are to attribute the fruit of the
Spirit of God to one another (Gal. 5:22-23) and please the Lord by humbly submitting to Him,
Jesus, Holy Spirit, our brethren, and the world to see it saved. Alan G. Padgett writes, “mutual
submission is the concrete action of Christian love working within the social structures of this
world.”14
14 Alan G Padgett, As Christ submits to the church: A biblical understanding of leadership and
mutual submission, (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2011), 2.
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Submission does not need to have the negative connotation the world would have us
believe it does. Submission to Christ and His will is the greatest show of love and appreciation
the believer can bestow on God. By humbling ourselves to Jesus, submission becomes a desire to
fulfill and not an obligation.
Bibliography
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Geffrey B. Kelly and John D. Godsey, eds. and Barbara
Green and Reinhard Krauss, trans. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.
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Camp, Lee C. Mere discipleship: Radical Christianity in a rebellious world. Grand Rapids:
Brazos Press, 2008.
Ogden, Greg. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time. Westmont, IL:
Intervarsity Press, 2010.
Padgett, Alan G. As Christ submits to the church: A biblical understanding of leadership and
mutual submission. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2011.
Putman, Jim, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. Discipleshift: Five Steps that Help
Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2013.
Rieger, Joerg. “Sanctification.” In Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2011.
The Holy Bible NIV
