Spiritual Growth, Growing to Maturity in Christ

SPIRITUAL FORMATION DYNAMICS

INTRODUCTION

Mathew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2

Every believer is called to learn of Christ and grow in Him to maturity. In other words he/she is called to be a disciple of Christ and to make disciples of Christ. Disciples are Christ's followers who let God use them to multiply the number of disciples in communities. We have been given a go ahead (mandated) through the great commission of our Lord Jesus to make disciples of all nations (Mathew 28:18-20). The Lord Jesus is therefore the reason we reach out to others and multiply the number of followers of Christ. As was originally commanded in Genesis 1:28, He has commanded us to multiply and fill the earth with people who obey God.  As a church, we want to be obedient to this command. Obedience to God attracts His blessing and favor. God will overtake us when he finds us doing the right things (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Our Lord Jesus modeled the power of multiplication. Christ committed himself to making 12 disciples whom he commissioned also to make disciples. Through the disciple making movement, despite wave upon wave of resistance, the Christian faith has a strong presence and influence throughout the world today. We are believers today because past generations of believers multiplied themselves. Paul taught his disciples to pass on what they had learnt from him to faithful people who would also pass it on to others (2 Timothy 2:2). This approach is a spiritual multiplication process, the only method God is using to win the world and to grow churches.  Anything else can be enjoyable, exciting, beneficial, popular events but will not win the world and generations for Christ. Spiritual multiplication mobilizes the whole church to reach the whole world with the whole gospel.

Never despise the days of small beginnings. Multiplication tends to be slow at first but gathers momentum with patient and  consistent application of right principles. The result is exponential growth. The power of multiplication of disciple makers is evident when one compares spiritual addition to spiritual multiplication.  An example of spiritual addition: one person evangelizing 1,000 people per day needs 16,500 years to evangelize the world. An example of spiritual multiplication: one person multiplying himself once (reach at least 2 and equip and motivate them to reach at least 2) per year needs 32.5 years to evangelize the world.

APPLICATION at FMC

When every member is developing and operating as a disciple maker we will be a healthy church that grows. We will inevitably grow in testimonies, influence, numbers and resources. We will implement the following process with every church member. A register will be maintained showing where each person is in the following five spiritual development stages:

A. New Birth - Have you received Christ as your savior and Lord?

B.  Early Support - Assurance of Salvation - Do you know why you can be  confident you are now saved? Do you have an adopter or someone to help you master the foundational principles of the Christian faith?

C. Growth - Dynamics of Faith (Basic Principles for Christian Living)

1. Knowing your New Identity- including water baptism and freedom from the power of sin. 

2. Faith - Knowing and Trusting God. Gods Word and character, Freedom from bondages, etc

3. Personal Devotions

4. Fullness of the Holy Spirit. Fruit and gifts.

5. Fellowship among believers.

6. Stewardship - giving and harvesting

7. Prayer Principles - thanksgiving, worship, praise, intercession etc

8. Sharing Christ and serving. Helping others and being involved in church. Reaching out to people so that they can know Christ. Find people of peace or influence in your relationship circles to reach. Have you mastered the basic principles for Christian living enough to be able to teach others?

D. Ministry – Cell group and Ministry area participation, Timothies and Joshuas

- Do you practice the dynamics of faith?

- Do you participate in your Faith Life cell?

- Do you have a personal pastor (not necessarily your adopter)?

- Do you have a personal development plan?

- Have you gone through the Timothies and Joshuas

- Do you know your gifts and calling?

- Are you operating and developing your area of gifting?

E. Further Training (optional). Finding opportunities for comprehensive Bible studies.

ORIENTATION NOTES:

The church's discipleship process will be explained  in every department/ministry area so that every member can evaluate their spiritual progress by it.

Every ministry area leader will drive participation of ministry area people in the church’s discipleship agenda. We will not be effective when we are disjointed streams but when departments become tributaries pouring into one giant river. Lest apply our energies towards the church’s master agenda.

Through the Faith Life Cells every believer should be able to answer three questions.

a.       Who is helping you in your walk with Christ?

b.      Who are the three people you are helping in their walk with Christ?

c.       What stage of the discipleship process are you?

Qualities of a Multiplier

The context of 2 Timothy 2:2 makes reference to the disciplines a disciple maker must have. He/She requires the character and attitudes of an athlete, a soldier and a farmer (2 Timothy 2:1-10) because the process requires patience, diligence, focus, obedience and courage. To be a multiplier:

Ø      Be confident in God.

Ø      Pray.

Ø      Build a relationship with the person

Ø      Clarify Expectations (theirs and yours) e.g.  openness, time/set up appointments, commitment, growth outcome

Ø      Ask questions about the person’s church history  and general background

Ø      Discern the person’s needs.

Ø      You have to be very patient with imperfections of others.

Ø      Don't look for perfect people but for potential in people. It is the multiplier/disciple makers task to nurture Christ likeness and competency in the disciple over time. We are not looking for stars but making stars.

Ø      Look for potential, faithfulness, availability, teachability, and spiritual hunger.

Ø      Keep material simple enough to be easily passed on (transferrable).

Ø      Understand the big picture. What is the spiritual development framework you are mentoring within? What is the overall purpose?

Ø      Understand your limitations and biases. You can refer certain issues to someone better able to help.

Ø      When using the notes provided refer to the Bible and draw focus to it as the authority. 

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa