Study 21 "Principles of discipling"

The FFMC Disciplemaking Handbook (yes, we have one!) defines disciplemaking in the words of Edmund Chan as: "the process of bringing people into right relationship with God, and developing them to full maturity in Christ through intentional growth strategies, so hat they might multiply the entire process in others also".

Disciplemaking, then is the whole process from conversion to spiritual growth to maturity. Disciplemaking is the mission of the church (Matt 28:19-20) which every Christian, no matter how young a disciple, is called to participate in. We do this in different ways (e.g. evangelism, teaching/preaching), not necessarily in a way that involves walking alongside individuals.(c.f. 1 Cor 3:5, Jn 4:37)

So when Ian Malins mentions spiritual maturity, commitment, relationship and spiritual formation as key factors applied to the lives of a few as the principles of discipling. I thought that the way he used 'discipling' was more akin to what we would call 'mentoring'. We said that mentoring was a means of disciplemaking that involved a commitment for a mentor to walk alongside a mentoree.

I asked if there are other ways to look at this issue with 4 questions into:

• What are the prerequisites for disciplemaking for the disciplemaker?
• What are the prerequisites for disciplemaking in the one to be discipled?
• What are the core indicators of Christian maturity?
• What are the intentional growth strategies we can use?

We said that the disciplemaker needs a vital relationship with God. Also, although a young disciple can certainly share his or her faith with others, he or she will not have the capacity to grow disciples. We cannot bring people to where we ourselves are not. (Lk 6:39-40 ³⁹ He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.)
The mentor and mentoree should certainly both have commitment to the mentoring relationship. A spiritually hungry mentoree is important to a successful mentoring relationship. There also has to be a good match in terms of how to get along. Commitment is measured in time spent with one another. Without adequate time (so precious in busy Singapore) we cannot grow the relationship and we cannot engage in activities together that enable modelling.

How are we to identify if a Christian is mature?
We mentioned 'faith' (e.g. Stephen in Ac 6:5 and Barnabas in Ac 11:24). This is a quality of absolute trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God towards us despite all circumstances.
We mentioned 'love' (Jn 13:35, Jn 15:13, 1 Jn 3:16) as the self-sacrificing quality shown when we put others' interests above our own
We mentioned a deep knowledge of the truth of God in terms of Scripture.

We mentioned other things that Edmund Chan identifies 4 core areas of Christian maturity:

• Perspective - reoriented to Scripture
• Posture - humble because as recipients of grace we have no cause to boast, yet bold in our identity in Christ. There is both brokenness and restedness.
• Pragmatics (skills) - thoughtful, skilled competence to deal with life challenges to act rather than react.
• Power from the Holy Spirit. All the above can be a product of human effort, but the Divine Spirit enables us to do what flesh alone cannot.

FFMC has identified the pulpit ministry, the small group and mentoring as the main disciplemaking strategies of the church. Different ministries will also need different ways to do the disciplemaking task for their members. As mentors we can take part in meals (always a good symbol for fellowship - Rev 3:20) and participate together in activities where modelling can occur.

So we should be encouraged to make disciples:
1. All of us are able to make disciples regardless of the stage of our growth.
2. All of us should keep growing in maturity so we can makes disciples more effectively.
3. All of us should look for people to mentor in the faith.
4. All of us should plan intentional strategies to make disciples.