A Tool for

Church Discipleship

“A Guide to Spiritual Parenting and Spiritual Multiplication.”

IMUS CONSERVATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Training Members to help every Christian grow to Maturity and Fruitfulness in Christ.

Colossians 1:28-29

EACH LOCAL ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS SHOULD SEEK TO

PRACTICE BALANCED DISCIPLESHIP

(BOTH Personal & Corporate discipleship are needed for healthy spiritual growth)

PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP (Vitally needed,

but frequently neglected)

CORPORATE DISCIPLESHIP (Needed, but typically insufficient

by itself to produce the desired results)

TEACHING GOD’S WORD

PERSONAL

CORPORATE

Commitment

Modeling

Individual Attention

Bible Study

Preaching

Seminars &Training

Small Groups

OVERVIEW…Balanced Discipleship Diagram Explanation

A PROBLEM…

IS THERE A SOLUTION???

THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE PERSONAL MODEL

1.) God’s Word

This is eternal life, that they may know You, … (John 17:3)

2.) Commitment

3.) Modeling

4.) Individual Attention

A BIBLICAL MODEL FOR “DISCIPLESHIP”

Salvation

Before Christ

Child E

Child

2.)“Spiritual Parenting” (Personal Discipleship)

Adolescent

Adult

Anticipated Results of Discipleship are: Spiritual Maturity, Increasing Spiritual Fruitfulness and Spiritual Reproduction

B

D

1.) Corporate Discipleship (over the lifespan of the believer)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Bible Studies Preaching Seminars and Training Small Groups

B = Birth D = Death E = Evangelism

NOTES:

It’s important to make a 16-Lesson commitment – There will always be unexpected illnesses and/or circumstances, but, if possible, please make a 16-Lesson commitment - just between you and the Lord.

3.) We use this portion of the apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the believers in the city of Thessalonica as a model for “Spiritual Parenting” (a.k.a. “Personal Discipleship”).

THEY WERE SINGLE-MINDED IN PURPOSE :3-6 … we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness — nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

(1 Thessalonians 2:3-13)

1. THEY CARED FOR THE BELIEVERS AS A MOTHER CARES FOR HER CHILDREN (:7-8)

(1 Thessalonians 2:3-13)

2. THEY BECAME “ROLE MODELS” TO THE NEW BELIEVERS (:9-10)

3. THEY GAVE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND INSTRUCTION AS A FATHER (:11-12)

4. THE WORD OF GOD WAS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF DISCIPLESHIP (:13 )

A Tool For Personal Discipleship

PHASE 1

UNDERSTANDING THE

CHRISTIAN LIFE

Important: Carefully read the weekly assignment before each session, and write down questions.

Important: Most believers would greatly benefit from having a personal mentor during this Phase, in addition to the class.