LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Writing Assignment 2 – 5 Stages/ 4 Spheres
Submitted to Dr. Gary Waller
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500 – B03
Discipleship Ministries
By
David J. Miller
Introduction
Everyone physically matures at a different rate. There are individuals who may grow
taller at a faster rate than. In junior high some males may start shaving earlier than others, some
voices may change and get deeper. Some individuals may feel insecure about the pace at which
they mature but, at the end of the day all (male and female) mature towards adulthood. We all
make it to the wonderful world of adulthood.
In comparison, the idea of spiritual maturity is completely different. Where as in physical
changes depend on DNA and age, spiritual maturity is solely based on the individuals decision to
accept Christs love, and application of Christs teachings in his or her life with God’s love shining
through. In this paper we will discuss the 5 stages and 4 spheres of discipleship. We will then
identify what stage of discipleship I am currently in, giving evidence from my life with biblical
support. Also, we will identify what spheres I need to submit to the centrality of Christ by
referring to Bonhoeffer’s call to the cross. Finally, I will conclude discussing what it means to be
in submission to Christ.
5 Stages/ 4 Spheres
The Putman text shows the five stages of discipleship as being, stage one spiritually dead,
stage two spiritual infant, stage three a spiritual child, stage four a spiritual young adult and stage
five a spiritual parent. While the four spheres according to the text is the disciple’s relationship
with God, the church, family and the world.1 The stages take on a simplistic process in which a
disciple progresses, while the spheres are the disciple’s interaction with their internal and
external environment.
1 Putman, Jim, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. Discipleshift. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan, 2013.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines these stages. Within the first two stages of
being a disciple, a non-believer becomes a new convert. This is where there is a response to the
free grace of the Gospel or death to new birth. Mathew 5:3-4 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. In
this passage we see the spiritually dead realizing sinful nature being poor in spirit, and then
repenting from the sinful nature, mourning their sinfulness.
In stages two to three the child is the believer learning to submit to the will of God. Just
like it is the goal of a parent to teach a child to submit to their authority. This is not to make the
child’s life hard but it is to make the life of the child better. In the same way Jesus tells us in
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek,” in this scripture meekness is not a sign of weakness but a
submissive state to the will of God so that the disciple’s potential can be used to glorify God.
In stage four, the young adult is brought to light. In Matthew 5:6-8, it says; blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. In this section
Jesus is leading the disciple to maturity. Hunger and thirsting for the righteousness of Christ is
how the Gospel transforms the disciple from a child to an adult spiritually speaking. It is with
this hunger and thirst the disciple begins to replace the things of the world in the disciple’s life
with the things of Jesus Christ. As the selfish desires of the world fade from the forefront of the
disciple’s minds, the compassion for those around them become more apparent and the need to
be set apart or pure becomes paramount. The desire to life a life that is honoring to God, to live a
life that reflects whole life worship is all that matters (Romans 12).
The fifth and final stage is that of the adult. Matthew 5:9 says; blessed are the
peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. This is important because we all know that
we will face trials of discomfort and persecution. It is the true spiritually mature adult that will be
able to exemplify the true peace comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ when trials and
persecution come.
The four spheres of discipleship are how the disciple interacts with his internal or
external environment. The most import interaction occurs with how the disciple interacts with
God. This is most important because interaction with God is what leads us through the five
stages of discipleship. The next relationship is how the disciple interacts with the family. This is
important as well; this interaction is used in scripture as part of the qualifications of an elder or
deacon within the church (1 Timothy 3). The third sphere of influence for the disciple is the
church itself the relationship the disciple has with the church will directly affect the relationship
the disciple will have with the church (John 13:35). Finally the disciple’s interaction with the
world as described in Matthew 5:13-16: You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste,
how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and
trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works
and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
What Stage am I in?
In reflection and prayer, I want to be as honest as I possibly can in regards to the present
stage that I am. Immediate a person is tempted to be prideful and speak highly of themselves.
The last thing an individual wants to do is admit ones struggle. But, I must be truthful. I have
been very fortunate to have grown up in the church. I can stand before you and say without a
doubt that I do have the head knowledge. I know more about scripture than the average man.
But, with all that said, I do not always life out the word in my life and actions. There are times
when I bare much fruit and then there are times when I feel as though I am a withering branch.
John 15: 1-6 says; “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in
me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even
more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as
I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can
you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me
and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain
in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up,
thrown into the fire and burned.
It is easy to sway side to side. It is easy to get distracted and focus on yourself and family.
Like mentioned before, I have the head knowledge of a parent, but all too often I slide back to
immature actions of a child or young adult.
What Spheres do I Need to Submit to Christ?
There are two specific areas (spheres) in which I need to submit to Christ. The first thing
is my interaction with my family, the second is my interaction with the world.
First and foremost, I love my family with all my heart. I have an amazing wife and three
boys. I make it a point to make sure that they all have a better life than I did growing up. I would
do anything for them. With all that said, I do tend to struggle with anxiety from time to time. I
get frustrated over little things and may tone when speaking is not always inviting. If you do not
know me, you would think that I am very serious person, even rude. This is not acceptable. I
need to give my anxiety to God, have His love consume me and flow out to my family.
When it comes to the world, I easily get caught up with keeping up with the Jones’. I
want the best for my family, I want the best for me and my image. I am sometimes a very
prideful person. I will seek approval from man through what I drive to where I live and how I
dress. Of course this is not me all the time. There are many times when God speaks to me about
how I am living within the world. I am immediately convicted and repent of my sins. But just
like the nation of Israel, I fall right back into my old habits and living for the world because
living for Jesus can be really hard. At the end of the day I guess it begins and ends with pride.
Pride of course is a very dangerous thing if it is left unchecked.
Bonhoeffer said, “So Jesus has to make it clear an unmistakable to his disciples that the
need to suffer now applies to them, too. Just as Christ is only Christ as one who suffers and is
rejected, so a disciple is a disciple in suffering and being rejected, thereby participating in
crucifixion. Discipleship as allegiance to the person of Jesus Christ places the follower under the
law of Christ, that is, under the cross. When Jesus communicates this inalienable truth to his
disciples, he begins remarkably by setting them entirely free once more.2
I know that I am not under physical torment, but there is a constant struggle of letting go
of what the world describes as being successful. Lack of trust that God will always provide/make
a way has put me in a vicious cycle. I have to let go! Stop relying on self and rely solely on God.
Submitting to Christ
2 Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 4: Discipleship. Edited by Geffrey B. Kelly, &
John D. Godsey. Translated by Barbara Green, & Reinhard Krauss. Vol. 4. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress
Press, 2003. 85
Matthew 19:16-24 says; “and behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good
deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is
good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said
to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, you shall
love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I
still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me. ”When the young man heard
this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” “He fails to attain his goal because
the cost of discipleship is too great. In both cases the demand functions to determine whether or
not the individual is a worthy candidate for discipleship.”3 As mentioned in the previous section,
I struggle with this. I do enjoy the comforts that I have in life. I struggle with the idea of giving
everything up, putting my family in an unfavorable situation. I then start to worry how God
would provide. Fortunately, Gods word addressed that in Matthew 6:25-33.
Dr. Bob Utley professor of Hermeneutics at East Texas Baptist University says in his
commentary of the scripture this; “This referred to the physical and normal needs of life. God
will not leave believers stranded. This is a general principle, which cannot always answer the
specific questions of why this individual or that individual suffers loss or is in need. Sometimes
God will provide a time of need in order for believers to trust Him, turn to Him, or to improve
their character. This statement is much like the book of Proverbs in the sense that it states general
principles. They are not meant to explain every individual, particular occurrence.4
3 Talbert, Charles H. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MIchigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Pg. 237
4 Utley, Dr. Bob. “You can understand the Bible! The First Christian Primer: Matthew.” 2013.
Jesus commands his disciples to follow, pick up and leave everything to follow him. This
submission to Jesus is absolute to New Testament Theology. It is not just a head knowledge of
the scriptures that makes a disciple but the act of applying these things to life. “The writings of
others were valued, but the early Christians saw uniqueness in the witness of those who stood in
immediate relation to Jesus.”5
Conclusion
In conclusion submitting to Christ is putting the teachings of Christ into action through
your life. Belief is the first stage but the fifth stage is acting out your faith. James 2:14-25 says;
what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that
faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you
says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the
body, what good[b] is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But
someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your
works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well.
Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith
apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up
his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was
completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it
was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person
is justified by works and not by faith alone.
5 Stagg, Frank. New Testament Theology. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1962. Pg. 7
Bibliography
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 4: Discipleship. Edited by Geffrey B.
Kelly, & John D. Godsey. Translated by Barbara Green, & Reinhard Krauss. Vol. 4.
Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003.
McCartney, Dan G. Baker Exegetical Commentarry on the New Testament: James. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.
Putman, Jim, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. Discipleshift. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan, 2013.
Talbert, Charles H. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MIchigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
Utley, Dr. Bob. “You can understand the Bible! The First Christian Primer: Matthew.” 2013.
http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL01/VOL01_06.html
(accessed May 29, 2016).
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