LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Discipleship Makin Plan: Part 1- Final
Assignment
Submitted to Dr. James Sulfridge,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN500 – D05
Discipleship Ministries
by
William C. King
July 20, 2025
Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Discipleship Passages......................................................................................................................1
Principles (Core Values)...................................................................................................................3
Philosophy.......................................................................................................................................5
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................8
Introduction
When focusing on the process for discipleship, it becomes critical that one has an
intentional path they guide others down. This mentorship is one which cannot be just a
laissezfaire mentality but rather must be an intentional commitment to develop one into a deep
follower of Christ. Often times, this is the area that churches struggle the most in. With a very
basic understanding of my driving motivations, the reader will be able to understand how and
what Scriptures are guiding principles for my discipleship development, the core values of what
principles are important and why, and finally, the philosophy of key ministry perspectives.
Discipleship Passages
First and foremost, the biggest passage driving discipleship for me is Matthew 6:33. “But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(Matt. 6:33, NIV). Authors Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, reveal the
spheres of discipleship as being: “four main spheres of life: in his relationship to God, in his
relationship with God’s family, in his home life, and in his relationship to the world.”1 In
agreement with their first sphere, I believe everything in life should center around Christ.
Nothing in life will ever go right unless Christ is in it. Discipleship is no different. The first area of
focus needs to be on strengthening the disciple’s relationship with Christ.
The second area of focus for a disciple is in family. The second verse is from the Apostle
Paul. “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household,
has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Tim. 5:8, NIV). To me, the disciple
should provide not only physically, but spiritually as well. Part of the growth they will need to
experience is teaching those at home. While I believe the necessity for growing in church life as
1 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to
Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013), 78.
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expressed by Putman et al, I do not believe this should be the next focus as they reflect. God
instituted the family before He did the church (see Genesis 2:24 and Acts 2:42–47). The family
institution was centuries before the establishment of the church. This shows the hierarchy of
needs in discipleship. If the family balance is out of alignment, the church family will be out of
alignment as well. Therefore, this is necessity before moving to growth for the church body.
The third is discipleship itself. As the disciple is aligning themselves, they need to be
outward focused. Therefore, the scripture issuing the Great Commission is paramount to keep in
one’s mind (Matthew 28:19). As one grows, they must develop in their desire to reach beyond
the walls of the church and to others.
With discipleship, I believe that anyone can become a disciple. I do not think it is
necessary to close off my reach to a particular region, demographic, group, or age. I do feel that
I am personally equipped to reach adults better than I am with children or teens. I have
experienced a lot as an adult that I can help with in regard to life struggles and even ministry.
My childhood was okay for the most part. I had great parents but was bullied. That is the only
issue that I feel would be able to connect me with younger generations. I am not biased or racist
in any form so ethnicity does not and will not matter. I will say, however, there are some
limitations when it comes to mentoring women. I will not encounter one- on- one with women.
So, this may become somewhat of a limiting factor. But, my wife and I together can and will
disciple other women. It does not matter to me the background one comes from. It does not
matter the region nor the economic construct. God can and will use anyone He sees fit. I strive
to keep the same mindset. The only real hard stop is in how much they are will to chase after
God. I can teach with no issues. But, if someone is not willing to apply outside the classroom,
there will never be any true discipleship. If someone is not willing to apply outside and grow
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with God on their own, I will only put as much into their growth as they will embrace. I will
match their spiritual energy. If they desire to chase and grow, I will give them and teach them.
This can be reinforced by the words of Jesus. He said: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen
to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” (Matt. 10:14, NIV).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains that “The call goes out, and without any further ado the obedient
deed of the one called follows. The disciple’s answer is not a spoken confession of faith in Jesus.
Instead, it is the obedient deed.”2 I will empower all to grow by giving them the tools. Yet, I
focus on those willing to grow and who desire to become more like Christ and willing to put in
the effort. I believe just as Christ is not a respecter of persons, I cannot be either and must treat
all with the same opportunities, whether they choose to pursue or not.
Principles (Core Values)
Principles can become a topic that requires much discussion. However, it is paramount
to understand a few critical features. The core values of everything that I do fall back on seven
key items. They are: Christ- centered, Spirit-led, scriptural authenticity and authority, mission,
accountability, integrity, and discipleship. Each of these are important in every decision that I
make in regard to ministry. Christ centered, all others are achievable through Him. This is how I
guide others. But, in regard specifically to discipleship, the plan mostly comes from three areas:
Christ- centered, accountability, and mission.
Christ- Centered
At the core, everything must be Christ- centered. As discussed earlier, all other things will
falter without being based on Christ. “Spiritual formation is not merely doing spiritual
disciplines. It is not merely about reading more chapters of the Bible or keeping a better
2 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, ed. Martin Kuske et al., trans. Barbara Green and Reinhard Krauss, vol. 4,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003), 57.
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spiritual journal. Those are merely means of helping us gaze into the face of Jesus so we may be
transformed to think, act, feel, and look more like him.”3 The ultimate goal is to become more
like Christ. So, my discipleship principles are to help others become more like Christ.
Accountability
The second is accountability. Spiritual growth is a great part, built on accountability.
What is the motivations that drive someone to do daily devotions? The reality is, they made
need someone to remind them initially. Accountability also entails holding individuals to an
expectation. This may be through study, prayer, meetings, sharing with others, or just by things
to do or not do. But, this is based on individual needs.
Mission
The understanding is paramount that believers are not recommended to go into the
world and make disciples rather, they are given a direct order to Go! “The slow process of
raising multiplying leaders is the fastest way to fulfill the Great Commission.”4 I want to not only
train people to become more like Christ, but teach them to train people to become more like
Christ. As each replicate, more and more have the desire to grow in Christ. As the disciple comes
to the place they are moving into more of a leadership capacity, my leadership pathway directs
them to develop others.5 The necessity still resides with the individual to grow others on their
own as they continue to learn for themselves.
Philosophy
Ultimately, the goal of being a disciple of Christ is to become a spiritual parent to others.
“The word character comes from the Greek word kharakter, meaning “an engraver’s mark or
3 Dave Earley, “The Process of Being Changed to Be like Jesus,” in Spiritual Formation Is...: How to Grow in
Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018), 7.
4 Dave Earley, “Discerning the Power of Multiplication,” in Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great
Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2013), 118.
5 For more information on my leadership development pathway, visit https://cogconquer.wordpress.com/about-
us/leadership-development/
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stamp.”6 The leader is the engraver which makes his mark on the ones that follow him and bear
his mark. The goal is to rip apart all presuppositions of Christianity is and show them who Jesus
really is. “Mentoring [discipleship] is different. There isn’t a curriculum per se. You can get dirty
mentoring people. They bring real issues to the table. And those issues require mentors to get
personal, transparent, and exposed.”7 Further, someone must be willing to talk about the hard
things in order to deal with underlying problems.
When looking at the people involved, the burden does not reside on only the individual
or even just myself. The local church, the pastor, other saints, and spiritual gifts all play an
important role. In Acts, it reads ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42, NIV). The disciple needs to be a
part of the local body of believers in order to receive from other spiritual family members.
Additionally, the pastor is also a huge part of this. A faithful pastor leads not only
through instruction but also by example—demonstrating prayerfulness, humility, integrity, and
love in daily life. Their investment in one-on-one mentoring, counseling, and encouragement
reinforces the truth preached from the pulpit.
Furthermore, the other saints in the church also offer help in the spiritual formation
process. Paul exhorts the believers at the Ephesian church to understand the roles of a pastor.
“So, Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to
equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Eph. 4:11-12,
NIV). As the pastor helps others grow, they are to in turn help disciple others. Older Christians
6 Gary Bredfeldt. Great Leader; Great Teacher; Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership. Chicago: Moody
Publishers, 2006. 89.
7 Regi Campbell. Mentor Like Jesus: His Radical Approach to Building the Church. Atlanta, GA: RM Press,
2009.23.
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are called to guide the younger (Titus 2:3–5), and peers are called to “encourage one another
and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Finally, spiritual gifts play a part in the spiritual formation as well. “Now to each one the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Just as a body, though one, has many
parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Cor. 12:7,12, NIV). Each
spiritual gift has its place. These gifts are not meant for personal status but for building up
others in the faith. Teaching, exhortation, wisdom, mercy, leadership, and hospitality are just a
few of the gifts that serve discipleship in action. Discipleship flourishes when the gifts are
identified, cultivated, and sent out in love.
It is critical for a person to understand that discipleship is not a program; it is a lifestyle—
formed in community, empowered by the Spirit, and anchored in Christ. The local church
provides the environment. The pastor gives guidance and instruction. Fellow believers offer
encouragement and accountability. Spiritual gifts supply the means. Together, these
components fulfill God’s design for spiritual formation. So, although this is a philosophy that I
use to grow others, this is not a mere checklist of do’s and don’ts. It is a compass by which
decisions of growth can be steered, the knowledge of how to grow can be attained, and the
application can be grasped through searching and allowing the Holy Spirit to approach how He
wants to grow an individual. Ultimately, it is in the hands of the disciple how far they want to
approach and chase after a close relationship with Christ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reader has discovered the plan of which I incorporate into my church
growth processes. The reader has covered a very basic understanding of my driving motivations,
and the reader is now able to understand how and what Scriptures are guiding principles for my
discipleship development, the core values of what principles are important and why, and finally,
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the philosophy of key ministry perspectives. No matter how much we prepare, the growth will
come only when applied by each individual to their specific growth processes and needs. It is
not a cookie cutter template but a compass needle to stay on track.
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Bibliography
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Edited by Martin Kuske. Translated by Barbara Green, &
Reinhard Krauss. Vol. 4. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003.
Bredfeldt, Gary. Great Leader, Great Teacher: Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership.
Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2006.
Campbell, Regi. Mentor Like Jesus: His Radical Approach to Building the Church. Atlanta, GA: RM
Press, 2009.
Dempsey, Rod. "Comprehending Spiritual Leadership." In Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the
Great Commission with Passion and Confidence, 195. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic,
2013.
Earley, Dave. "The Process of Being Changed to Be like Jesus." In Spiritual Formation Is... How to
Grow in Jesus with Passion and Confidence, 4. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018.
Putman, Jim , Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your
Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013.
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