Like most good things in life, discipleship doesn’t just happen. It’s a process that starts with intentionality, and it is a process.
Recently I preached a message on discipleship and reviewed some old notes from an ENLI class on Discipleship. The process laid out in the notes, and which I laid out in the message is simple, and straightforward but powerful. The progression is as follows:
1. Evangelize
2. Establish
3. Equip
4. Empower
These steps are fairly straightforward: Discipleship begins with a person coming to faith in Jesus, this happens through someone sharing the good news with them or “evangelizing“. From there a person needs to be established in God’s word, in the basics of the Faith, and in Christian community.
When established, they then need to be equipped for service. During this step a disciple is trained to make an impact beyond themselves. Lastly, the young disciple needs to be empowered. They need to be given opportunity and freedom to reproduce. Each disciple should make other disciples!
It’s quite simple, really. But this process, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is what turned the world upside down two thousand years ago.
Where are you at in this process personally?
Are you actively engaged in “making disciples”?
What step do those you are discipling need next? How can you help them move forward?