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How Does a Disciple Mature?

 Here is a blog post by Dr. Virgil Grant about how disciples grow.  I found it a good summary of how we want people to grow in their Christian walk.

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http://relationaldiscipleshipnetwork.com/how-does-a-disciple-mature/

God’s goal for a disciple is to reach full maturity and to be like Christ (Ephesians 4:14). How does a disciple get to this point? What is the process? What are the habits needed?

Spiritual maturity is the result of one’s commitments. At Eastside, our vision is to make disciples who can make disciples who can make disciples. If a disciple is going to become a disciple-maker than there are several commitments for the disciple to commit to. They are:

1. Accept Christ as his or her personal Savior. The pathway to being a disciple of Christ starts with salvation. Inviting Christ in your heart; asking Him to forgive you of your sins; and to be your Lord and Savior [Brandon’s note: and in baptism]. This commitment is often assumed or just taken for granted.

2. After a disciple has received Christ as his or her personal Savior, the next commitment revolves around becoming a growing disciple. I have found that every growing disciple has to make three commitments: Reading their Bible (feeding themselves from the Word of God); Praying (talking with God daily); and listening to and responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Without these spiritual disciplines active in a disciples life, he or she will remain an infant in Christ.

3. The next commitment involves serving in a ministry and a mission. Rick Warren says that every Christian should have a ministry (inside his or her local church) and a mission (outside the local church four walls). Part of being a growing disciple is to serve like Christ.

4. The final commitment is to commit all that you are, all that you have, and all that you do to Christ. A biblical disciple truly understands that his or her life exists for Christ and His kingdom.

What commitments would you add to this list? What is your next spiritual step? How do you see commitments playing a role in the life of a disciple?

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