Stages and Processes of Discipleship

The Diamond of Discipleship Rick Warren: Purpose Driven Life First Base (101) Committed to membership The process of knowing Christ Second Base (201) Committed to maturity The process of growing in Christ Third Base (301) Committed to ministry The process of serving Christ Home Plate (401) Committed to missions The process of sharing Christ

A.B. Bruce: Jesus’ Staged Discipleship (The Training of the Twelve, 1871) Come and See Characterized by: Establishment Come and Follow Me Characterized by Preparation Come and Be With Me Characterized by Mission Remain in Me Characterized by Empowerment

Wesley’s motif: “States of Man” (“The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption”) NATURAL STATE LEGAL STATE EVANGELICAL STATE Man sleeps in death Is awakened Is a child of God Neither fears nor loves God Fears God Loves God Has no light in things of God Sees the painful light of hell Sees the joyous light of heaven Has false peace Has no peace Enjoys true peace Has fancied liberty Is in bondage Enjoys true liberty Sins willingly Sins unwillingly Does not sin Consequence… Neither conquers nor fights Fights but does not conquer Fights & conquers; is more than conqueror

Wesley’s motif: “States of Man” (“The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption”) Evangelical State divided into Stages (1 Jn 2:12-14) First Stage: “Babe in Christ” Little child having experienced birth in Spirit They are so far perfect as not to commit outward sin by way of their saving grace renewing them in the image of God Next Stage: “Young Man” Disciple of Christ becoming aware of remaining sin Last Stage: “Adult Son or Father” When entirely sanctified and heart purified by expulsive power of love cleansing inborn sin.

Wesley’s Process Motif of Salvation The idea of sanctification in Wesley Narrow sense, sanctification finds its place between justification and glorification Broader sense, it can refer to the whole process of remaking the image of God in us Gradual advance is a key concept in Wesley’s soteriology Often expresses our relationship to God in idea of “degrees” Wesley interspersed instantaneous grace within gradual growth Ascending step model of salvation applied to Methodist societies

Wesley’s Ten Stages of Salvation Prevenient grace Convincing (convicting) grace Saving Grace follows Assurance of Salvation follows Growth in Grace Second Repentance Entire sanctification by grace Assurance of entire sanctification Continued growth in grace Glorification is final stage

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (by Dr. David Cubie) THE PROBLEM—SIN THE TRANSFORMATION THE PERFECTION AS REBELLION/DEED Sin “properly so-called” (Wesley) Willful transgression of known law of God “Dead in trespasses and sins” SALVATION Initial sanctification Acquired depravity eradicated at justification “To the saints which are in Christ Jesus…” “To those sanctified in Christ Jesus” (I Cor. 1:2) “Partakers of the divine nature” (I Pet. 1:4) REGENERATION Spiritual new birth/babes No willful transgression Victory over the deeds of sin He …does right…loves brother (I Jn 3:4-10) AS DEPRAVITY/NATURE “Death” “Mind of the flesh” “Hostility” “Inability” ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION “cleansed their hearts by faith” Acts 15:9 “sanctify you entirely” (I Thess. 5:23) HEART PURITY Matt. 5:6-8, 43-48 Luke 6:32-36 John 7:37-39; 17:17 James 1:8; 4:8 AS SYSTEMIC conditioning / deprivation / effect The result of sin Heb. 12:1 (lay aside every weight and the sin which clings closely) Rom. 12:2 (be not conformed…) RECONDITIONING Transformation of character Ongoing maturing Made into his likeness “He disciplines us…that we may share his holiness” (Heb. 12:10) Rom 12:2; I Jn. 3:2-3 CHRISTLIKENESS The perfection of suffering and glory – Fletcher Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:10-11; I Jn. 3:1-3 Heb. 5:8 “made perfect through sufferings Heb. 12:23 “the spirits of just men made perfect”

McDonald’s Dynamic Marks of Authentic Discipleship McDonald, G. (2007) McDonald’s Dynamic Marks of Authentic Discipleship McDonald, G. (2007). The disciple making church: From dry bones to spiritual vitality. Grand Haven, MI: FaithWalk Pub. A Heart for Christ alone A Mind Transformed by the Word of God Arms of Love Knees for Prayer A Voice to Speak the Good News A Spirit of Servanthood and Stewardship