Believe it or not…there are "5 Gospels instead of 4”…and the fifth one is ‘YOU’!  We all know the Apostles of the New Testament as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but you may be included with this most notable group of disciples, led by the words you speak and the actions you live by!  The Believer responds in repentance and Faith, develops consistent habits of scripture, prayer, and obedience that make your Christian character deepen, mature, humble, and dependable service in the church, and most of all, ‘investment of others in growth to follow Christ, as found in Matthew 28:19-20.

The "planting of the seed” is what this article is about! Spiritual growth is progressive! No Believer or those that want to be Believers, wakes up in the morning, and "Pooof”….are mature Christians!  Faith must take root, then it grows, much like the Apostle Paul’s description of those who believe and want to believe, moving from spiritual ’infants’ towards maturity in Jesus Christ’, as found in 1 Corinthians 3: 1-2.  This matters because maturity develops over time, not overnight!  Some Christians grow quickly through a season of their being hungry and the need to change, while others grow slowly, through years of steady quiet faithfulness. The phases of discipleship describe growth, not status, that no phase is more valuable or more spiritual than another.

The "Four Disciples Pathway” is a practical summery of the biblical journey of discipleship to following Jesus Christ through growing in spiritual maturity, serving faithfully, and multiplying the Scripture though disciple making:

Following Jesus Christ: The journey begins with repentance, Faith, and a personal commitment to Jesus.  This is the initial response to His call, as in Luke 9:23, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow ME” 

 

Grow in Spiritual Maturity:  Deepen your relationship with God through Scripture, prayer, obedience, and fellowship, as in John 28:31 -32, "If you continue My Word, you are truly My disciples”

Serve Faithfully:  "Live out your Faith through Humble, Dependable Service in your church and community, modeling Jesus Christ’s servant heart” Mark 10:43-45

Multiply Through Disciple Making:  "Help others become disciples, continuing the Great Commission, by teaching and guiding new Believers”  Matthew 28: 19-20 

How to walk this pathway:

 Start with a personal decision to follow Jesus Christ

Engage regularly in Bible study, prayer, and fellowship for growth

Serve your community and church, using your spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ

Mentor others by sharing your journey and helping them grow in Faith

 

A Believer already serving Faithfully might go through a season of grief or doubt that sends them back to basic lessons they thought they had already learned.  This is not failure! It is simply how growth works with real struggles, real distractions and real limitations!

 

Temporary setbacks do not erase progress already made.  God’s Grace covers everything we do or what we are faced with.  There are many times that worship and gratitude flow, a desire to read Scripture, our outgoing conversation with God, a decreasing need for recognition, looking for opportunities to help others while not waiting to be asked, patience and Grace towards people who are difficult to love, an encouragement to mentor to someone else.is there all the time! None of these signs require perfection!

 

When we are directed by God’s love, humility and faith, people who are humble in spirit invest themselves in what the world thinks is weakness, but is really strength!  ‘Christ’s power strengthens us to love God above all and our neighbors as ourselves’!  Sharing the "Good News” of God’s love and helping others in need, we will have the mind of Christ!   1 Corinthians 2: 15-16!

Is there something missing from your life……

By His Grace we are saved…by his Word we try to live… by His Will we live, love, help others