Spheres and Stages of Discipleship

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Written Assignment 2: Spheres and Stages of Discipleship

Submitted to Dr. Rodney Dempsey, in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the completion of the course

DSMN 500 – D01

Discipleship Ministries

by

Robert Ortiz Jr.

Submitted: July 20, 2014

Introduction

Salvation is the free gift of God made available to his creation through the work of redemption offered to humanity through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit causes conviction in the heart of a man or women to help guide him or her to decide to receive Christ as Lord; after which, the hard work begins. It is here that many new Christians lose heart and wander off and away from God. It is so often greatly misunderstood how the process of sanctification works and the notion of being a disciple escapes the new Christian especially because many are not made aware of the process. And when it is made know it often times becomes too much to handle because so much is required. 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] This also explains why so many that have been a Christian for a long time lack the depth of spiritual maturity they should have or could have – they were never trained up as a true disciple of Christ and have, thusly, fed on spiritual milk for the whole of their Christian walk; one cannot expect to live on milk alone and be productive in the things and ways of God.

The process of becoming a disciple and consequently 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 he is 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]

There are no shortcuts to becoming a true disciple of Christ, especially that it will reveal many things about a person.

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, 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 his walk with God, whether he is progressing, and whether or not he is ready to lead others in the disciple making process.

Summary

            Stage one is “spiritually dead.” Here can be identified 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.” Here can be indentified people that are alive in Christ and have received him as Lord but no more. They can be new believers or long time believers that have chosen to sit still in their faith. They are people with tons of needs.[6] Stage three is “child.” Here can be identified people that are growing in Christ and in relation to other believers. They are 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 so to teach others how to as effectively as the Word of God teaches. They are 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 1. The centrality of a relationship with God – this is where the believer understands that her main focus is her relationship to Jesus and that without being connected to him offers no ability to disciple others, the believer simply cannot bear good fruit if not attached to the vine (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

            The five stages of growth in the life of a disciple and soon to be disciple maker are important in that 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 and to attempt to do so without having moved through the stages discussed herein will leave the disciple maker frustrated, not to mention undiscerning. In order to grow another person intelligently and effectively in Christ, the teacher or disciple maker must go through the various stages and spheres herself. In this she is able to foresee the road blocks ahead and help guide her disciple through the various terrains to better help her disciple avoid common pitfalls.

            The four spheres are essential in understanding the role of the believer in relation to his attitude about the people around him, especially his 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 his service towards others. It is a spiritual check up that all believers should ascribe too often.

Where I Am

            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. Worry is one such area. The 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 over and over again 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 seen fit 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, more so men and find myself not doing the very thing my heart yearns to do – be a disciple maker and world changer (God will help me overcome!). I have to remember however that “the 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 flowers and cupcakes when Christ enters into a life. Of course there are plenty of marvelous advantages to being 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.” He goes on to state, “the New Testament, however, makes very clear that the cross is not something reserved for Jesus alone.”[13] No, it is not. 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 she refuses to carry it. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”[14]  

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

            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 his 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 order to save 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 of 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 in order 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.”[15]

            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 his Lord. 

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[1] Joerg Rieger, "Sanctification." In Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011), http://www.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://literati.credoreference.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/content/entry/cupdct/sanctification/0, accessed July 20, 2014.

[2] Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time, (Westmont, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2010), 17, http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/docDetail.action?docID=10828094, accessed July 20, 2014.

[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.

[4] Ibid., 78.

[5] Ibid., 62.

[6] Ibid., 64 – 65.    

[7] Ibid., 67.

[8] Ibid., 86.

[9] Ibid., 88.                                             

[10] Ibid., 89.

[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, http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/docDetail.action?docID=10722501, accessed July 20, 2014.

[14] Mark 8:34 (NIV).

[15] Alan G Padgett, As Christ submits to the church: A biblical understanding of leadership and mutual submission, (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2011), 2, http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/docDetail.action?docID=10652959, accessed July 20, 2014.

Bibliography

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Geffrey B. Kelly and John D. Godsey, eds. and Barbara

Green and Reinhard Krauss, trans. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.

Camp, Lee C. Mere discipleship: Radical Christianity in a rebellious world. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2008, http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/docDetail.action?docID=10722501. Accessed July 20, 2014.

Ogden, Greg. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time. Westmont, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2010, http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/docDetail.action?docID=10828094. Accessed July 20, 2014.

Padgett, Alan G. As Christ submits to the church: A biblical understanding of leadership and mutual submission. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2011, http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/lib/liberty/docDetail.action?docID=10652959. Accessed July 20, 2014.

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, http://www.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://literati.credoreference.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/content/entry/cupdct/sanctification/0. Accessed July 20, 2014.