I heard Andy Stanley recently at the Orange conference and he had some great stuff to say about discipleship. Basically he talked about the question all churches ask: How do you help people grow to maturity in Christ?? He said the goal is to help people become “Self Feeders”.
Making Disciples should be natural–just ask anyone there testimony and you will always find the same 5 ingredients. In all models of Discipleship and in every spiritual growth story here is what you find…
1. Practical teaching
2. Providential Relationships
3. Private Disciplines
4. Pivotal Circumstances
5. Personal Ministry
So if maturity is getting to a place where your able to feed yourself—then as you put together your system or program of discipleship it should fan the flame in these areas. This also is very helpful if your leading a small group to know what to look for and how to encourage people as you see them somewhere in this process.
Filed under: Church, Leadership
Jeff,
Self-feeding is a great goal. And not bottom-feeding either!
What are pivotal circumstances? Is it taking the growth opportunities that are presented to us? ie — Andy Stanley is coming to speak at a conf in a city near me and I make the effort to hear him first hand or read a great book written by a discipler or … or…?
We are chasing after discipleship here in NY too!
Thx,
Mike
PS — I am an online friend of Paul Peterson’s — I found your link there! Remember to send a thank-you note to him or a $5 to block/screen guys like me from visiting the blog!
Great blog on self-feeding. We are a new church and I just sent an email to our elders about this very topic. Great posts and I am glad I found your blog. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Larry Wilson
http://www.larrywilson.wordpress.com