Four Processes

Acknowledging that growing personally as a disciple and helping others to grow occurs in community, this discipleship model includes four cyclical processes.

Three processes describe the disciple’s journey while following Jesus:

Connecting

with God, self, and others.

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Christian discipleship occurs in relationships. It begins with responding to Jesus' call to connect with and abide in Him. Through this transforming connection with Him, we come to know ourselves as Jesus created us to be, we appreciate our infinite value to Him, and we grow in a more balanced view of our strengths and weaknesses. We are then able to connect with those around us in more healing and redeeming ways.

As a growing disciple, a dynamic and deepening relationship with Jesus through His Spirit is the number one commitment. Further commitments include developing an individual identity complete in Christ, developing Christ-centered relationships within our families and within the local and global body of Christ, and developing positive relationships with those outside the body of Christ with whom He wants to be reconciled. We become avenues for administering God's grace in its various forms, as we continue to strengthen our connections with God and all of His creation.

As a growing community of believers, a dynamic and deepening relationship with Jesus through His Spirit is also the number one commitment, which is expressed primarily through the corporate worship experience. Further commitments include developing a corporate identity complete in Christ, creating an environment in which deepening of relationships can take place between believers as well as with those whom we invite into our midst to experience His Spirit and His grace.  

Understanding

Jesus and His teachings.

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Relationships grow through deepening our understanding of who each other is at their core. It’s the same in our relationship with Jesus. Through Scripture we encounter God and come to understand more clearly the character and mission of Christ. Thus, disciples need to learn how to study the Bible, find Jesus in its pages, hear Him speak, and follow Him. Reading, contemplating, praying, and obeying the Scriptures are methods used by the Holy Spirit to teach us to know God and to transform us into His image. In the broadest sense, we learn through the Word what God intends us to be and to do. We come to understand how the story of our life fits into the Great Story of God and His salvation.

As a growing disciple, encountering God through Scripture and learning of Jesus’ invitation to be His disciple is the number one commitment. Further commitments include understanding that: 1) God, as the source of life, creates the world and its inhabitants; 2) Humans reject Him and suffer death; 3) God inaugurates His plan of redemption; and 4) God provides everything needed to restore human beings to their original perfection of reflecting Him. This biblical worldview is foundational to knowing God and to being transformed into His image.

As a growing community of believers, we encounter God through Scripture by our number one commitment to preach and teach according to this biblical worldview. Further commitments include providing opportunities for believers to discover what being a disciple means, learning to hear God through Scripture and speak to God through prayer, and following Him through obedience to His Word. 

Serving

in God’s mission of revelation and reconciliation.

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In response to God’s love, disciples minister to others by participating in God’s mission of revelation, reconciliation, and restoration. As they connect with Jesus and learn of His unfailing love, they are eager to invite others to share in the joy that they experience as His followers. They are compelled to share the story of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives and of their blessed hope of salvation through faith in Jesus.

As a growing disciple, seeking opportunities to minister to others in daily life is the number one commitment. Other commitments include recognizing and responding to the needs of God’s suffering children locally and globally; sharing their story of Jesus with community members, friends, and co-workers; supporting ministries of the local and global church with their personal resources; embracing the evangelistic mission of the church.

As a growing community of believers, creating an environment that fosters ministry is the number one commitment. Other commitments include recognizing and responding to the needs of God’s suffering children locally and globally, sharing the story of Jesus with those in our sphere of influence, supporting ministries of the local and global church with our corporate resources, embracing the evangelistic mission of the church. 

The fourth process describes the disciple’s journey while making disciples:

Living in Community

to help one another know, love, and serve God.

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Christ described the church as His body to show the influence of the health of one part on the health of all other parts. This metaphor helps disciples understand their role to walk alongside one another to support, nurture, and strengthen one another. It is within the church that we are discipled, and then are equipped to disciple others. The Connecting, Understanding, and Ministering processes are nurtured and supported through the Equipping process.

As a growing discipler, helping other disciples to engage in a transformational devotional life is the number one commitment. Other commitments include helping other disciples to: build Christ-like relationships, study and obey God’s word, live a contagious, holistic Christian life, discern where God is working in His world and in their lives, and use their spiritual gifts in fulfilling a personal call to mission and ministry.