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Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

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PHASE 4                                                                         GROWTH TO MATURITY

SESSION 1

THE ABSOLUTE DICTATOR OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

          Discipleship Minister, with this session you begin the final and polishing stage of this discipleship training. Your objective within the next 12 weeks is to turn your disciple loose. No! Your friendship and brother-to-brother assistance and caring should not end, but at the end of this phase your systematic discipleship efforts with this disciple will end. By the end of this phase, he should be able to do with someone else what you have done with him.

          An entry ramp has been included in this session. Your disciple should be aware of what is happening to him and of the desire to see him become a Discipleship Minister. He should share that desire and be actively working toward that goal. This ramp is designed to highlight that objective, cause the disciple to evaluate his progress and help him locate himself on the development graphic. He needs to seriously consider how he is doing at this point. He should be becoming very strong and gaining confidence.

          This ramp strongly suggests a good review at this time. Reviews are a great way to fortify and enhance learning. Being mortals, we all profit from repetition. Discipleship Minister, this would be a good time for you to take a little extra time with your disciple. Review with him. The review will give you a good look at the progress of your disciple and it will help you too.

          It is so important that your disciple does not stagnate. He should grow. As long as he lives he should grow...and he can. All healthy living things grow. You should be growing too. Your disciple should be able to observe that in you. Doing so will motivate him. Discipleship Minister, do not forget that you are teaching your disciple not only with the content of this course but also by your example.

          Learning determines growth. People who don't learn don't grow. The Bible goes to great length to sing the praises of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. It also soberly warns of the dire and bitter consequences of ignorance. The spiritual growth and effectiveness of your disciple (and you) will be directly governed by intake and application of the truths of God as set forth in His word. Those who neglect and ignore God's word stagnate and do not grow. They have no effective ministry even though they may be sincere and good people. Whether or not people give themselves to study and the learning of truth and the application thereof to their daily lives is a choice. People who fail and suffer through ignorance (particularly when they have had adequate time to learn) have no one to blame but themselves. At this point most of us are indited to some degree.

          Discipleship Minister, do your best to develop a growth mentality in your disciple. His future use to God and effectiveness in all areas of his life depends on it. His only hope to greater effectiveness is continuing growth in the knowledge and wisdom of God.

          Stay faithful to your task, dear brother/sister. Paul expressed my own sentiments when he said in Philippians 4:17, "I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Discipleship is the best way to ensure fruit that remains. You are doing a great work in mentoring another person. When you hear our Lord say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant," you will be very glad you did what you are doing with this disciple. 

        Thank you for being a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.  Arrival at this junction in your discipleship training is a significant achievement.

        With this session, you enter Phase 4, the final phase in this Basic Discipleship training course.  To this point, you have:

1.     Been exposed to a serious Evangelism study.    Phase 1

2.     Looked carefully at issues related particularly to young believers Phase 2

3.     Considered in detail your church and its major doctrinal positions Phase 3

        This would be a good time for a review.  Look again at the cycle graphic on the cover of your Disciple's Notebook, then go to your Table of Contents.  As you work your way through each session title, try and recall the content of each one.  If you find yourself weak at any point, simply turn to that session for a more in-depth review.  Remember that repetition is a great component of good teaching.  Someone has wisely said, "Practice makes perfect."  To get hold of these truths and to make them your very own, review.  After all, you are doing this for you, not for some teacher.  You want to become a discipler of others and do for them what some caring brother or sister has done for you.  Continued reviews help make these truths yours. Never forget Romans 14:11-12, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

        Phase 4 is designed to help you to become a Discipleship Minister. Yes! You can do it. By God's enabling grace, you can. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippines 4:13).  Do you recall the key verse for this entire discipleship study?  See if you can fill in these blanks from memory. "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).  Brother/sister, make this verse yours.

        In Phase 4 you will focus particularly on the fulfillment of God's plan for your life. He wants you to impact others for the better. That means (1) winning people to Christ and (2) helping them grow to spiritual maturity (which is what discipleship is).  Your success in this will be greatly affected by several factors, including your exposure to God's word, your attitude and your character.  In these final 13 sessions we will go to the word of God regarding each of these areas.  You should already be thinking about who you can help.

        As has been the case throughout these studies, we will seek to let the word of God be our teacher.  The exercises will allow you to discover for yourself the great truths at hand.  More and more, you should be standing on your own.  After all, you will not always have a Discipleship Minister overseeing your progress.  Instead you will be a Discipleship Minister. Learning wisdom and the flexibility necessary to carry on, alone if necessary, is a great virtue and necessary ingredient in spiritual maturity and fruitfulness.

THE CONNECTION OF YOUR SPIRITUAL 
GROWTH TO BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE 

        This session is called The Absolute Dictator of Your Spiritual Growth. Earlier you looked at the importance of staying in the word of God. Every day you should read it and meditate in it. Wisdom comes with knowledge of God's word. You cannot expect a normal and healthy spiritual growth apart from an ever-increasing knowledge of the scriptures. The degree of your knowledge of God's word will be the absolute dictator of your spiritual growth. 

                Match the correct Bible passage with the concept or scripture statement.

  1.   Cannot routinely do that of which you have no knowledge   (  2) James 1:22-25     

  2.   Success comes in regular implementation of Biblical principles       (  3) 1 John 1:4-7 

  3.   Fellowship with God comes from walking in the light of known truths      (  4) 2 Timothy 3:14-17

  4.   "Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned"     (  1) Romans 10:14

  5.   Impossible to put on God's whole armor without knowing what is it     (  7) Colossians 2:7-8

  6.   Obeying the truth & speaking it in love requires knowledge of the truth     (  5) Ephesians 6:10-18

  7.   Rooting in the faith & strength against error comes from being taught    (  6) Ephesians 4:14-15

  8.   God's will is that each of His saints be strong in the faith     (10) 1 Peter 2:2-3

  9.   God's people are to seek growth in both grace and knowledge     (  8) 1Corinthians 16:13

10.   The "sincere milk" of God's word is designed to produce spiritual growth         (  9) 2 Peter 3:18

11.   Those who spend time with God in His word shall grow like a great tree      (12) John 13:17

12.   Joy results from knowing & implementing the principles of God's word      (11) Psalm 1:1-3

THE MERITS OF GODLY KNOWLEDGE
AND WISE UNDERSTANDING

        Knowledge is awareness and comprehension whereas wisdom is proper use or application of that knowledge to real-life situations. Read these passages from Proverbs that deal specifically with knowledge and wisdom, then answer the following true/false questions. Proverbs 1:1-9,20-33.   2:1-12.   3:13-24.   4:5-13.   5:1-2.   7:1-5.   8:1-3,11-36  Read also Job 28:12-20

  1.  T      A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.

  2.  T      For those who will recognize it, wisdom is everywhere in the natural world.

  3.  T      Fools hate knowledge.

  4.  F      There are many things in life more important than knowledge and wisdom.

  5.  T      Those who harken to wisdom will have the best success.

  6.  F       Because of grace there are no consequences to those who ignore God & His wisdom.

  7.  T      Wise people will seek wisdom as for silver and hidden treasures.

  8.  F       When people reap the consequences of their ignorance, God will bail them out.

  9.  T      The reality of God's natural world is a great teacher to those willing to pay attention.

10.  T      Wisdom produces discretion and discretion shall preserve thee.

11.  T       Knowledge and wisdom deliver people from many harsh and grievous things.

12.  F       Miserable is the man that findeth wisdom and getteth understanding.

13.  F       Ignorance is bliss.

14.  T      Wisdom and understanding are more valuable than silver and fine gold.

15.  T      Wisdom and discretion are like ornaments around the neck, attractive to bystanders.

16.  F       Many desirous things can be compared to wisdom and understanding.

17.  F       Young people should drop out of school for education is of little value.

18.  F       Learning & understanding are not work the hard work & sacrifice it takes to get them.

19.  F       A man's time on earth is set of God & nothing he does will change it.

20.  F       Wise people are seen as conceited & they are universally held in dishonor.

21.  T      Wisdom has the potential to make one wealthy.

22.  F       Knowledge & understanding produce unpleasantness and strife.

23.  F       The natural world is a cosmic accident.

24.  T       Everything you see in the natural world reveals enormous wisdom and design.

25.  T      By wisdom & understanding shall you walk in your way safely and not stumble.

26.  T      Obedience to the wisdom & knowledge of God produces great confidence

27.  T      Forsake not wisdom & she shall preserve thee; love her & she shall keep thee.

28.  T      Wisdom is the principle thing.

29.  T      With all thy getting get understanding.

30.  F       Wisdom shall bring thee to honor whether or not you embrace her.

31.  T      Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

32.  F      Wisdom and understanding will have no bearing on what you say or how you act.

33.  T      God's laws are the foundation or base of all true wisdom.

34.  T      Wisdom can keep you from making a public or a private fool out of  yourself.

35.  T      Wisdom cries out everywhere, but many are too blind to notice.

36.  T      Wisdom dwells with prudence & understands many witty inventions.

37.  F      Wisdom is shrewd and cunning and the friend of pride, arrogance and every evil way.

38.  F      Wisdom loves a deceitful tongue.

39.  T      Knowledge and understanding are power.

40.  T      People of knowledge and understanding ultimately rule and control the simple & ignorant.

41.  T      Wisdom loves those who love, seek and give themselves to her.

42.  T      By great wisdom that is still largely unknown, God created the universe.

43.  T      God is the ultimate source of all wisdom.

44.  T      Wisdom is daily God's delight.

45.  T      Hear instruction, and be wise and refuse it not.

46.  T      Blessed is the man who pursues and obeys wisdom.

47.  T      Whosoever findeth wisdom and understanding findeth life.

48.  T      Those who find wisdom and understanding find the favor of God.

49.  T      Those who disregard & sin against wisdom and understanding wrong their own souls.

50.  T      Those who hate knowledge, learning, wisdom & understanding love death.

51.  F       People succeed because they are lucky.

52.  T      Anyone in his right mind can learn.

53.  F       One's ability to learn depends more on his money than upon his application to learning.

54.  T      Whether or not you learn God's word will have a direct bearing on your spiritual growth.

THE CHOICE TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OR 
REMAIN IGNORANT IS YOURS

                Read Hosea 4:6, then fill in these blanks. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." 

Food for Thought

  1.   How can you implement godly principles, if you do not know them?

  2.   What happens to people who are ignorant of sound financial principles?

  3.   What happens where ignorance & neglect prevail in a marriage?

  4.   Do employers long pay good wages to and retain incompetent employees whose ignorance and lack of know‑how make them unable to perform their work?

  5.   What do you think keeps many poor people in their poverty?

  6 .  What would you project the future to be for school drop-outs who fail to gain an job skill?

  7.   How can you win someone to Christ, if you do not know how to present the plan of salvation?

  8.   How can you give godly advice or counsel to anyone when you do not know it?

  9.   Is the Bible our sure source of sound knowledge and wise counsel?

10.   How can one expect to neglect the word of God and still become expert in what it teaches?

11.   If spiritual growth comes as a direct result of knowing and implementing the great truths of God's word, how can one neglect the word of God and still expect growth?

12.   Who but you decides how serious and faithful you will be to exposure to and intake of the word of God?

13.   Who but you is really going to determine your spiritual growth and its rate?

14.   If you remain spiritually weak or where you are today in a spiritual sense, whom can you blame?

15.   If you know any spiritual giants, how do you suppose they got there?

16.   If you would like to be in a position to help others in the Lord as you have seen done, how could you become qualified to do so?

17 .  Consider how long it takes a child to grow physically to maturity, then equate that to growth in the spiritual realm.

18.   Can you identify specific areas in your life where you are weak and hurting? Would it not be a wise move on your part to seek the knowledge of God that could help you and offer cure in these specific areas?

19.   Are there people in your life who really need help?  Have you considered equipping yourself with the knowledge of truth that could help you minister to them?

20.   Have you considered that your commitment to the truth of God as set forth in His word is going to absolutely dictate your spiritual growth, maturity, level of ministry and success or failure in all areas of your life?

Competence & Convictions are Possible Only 
Through Knowledge & Understanding

                Read these key passages and  match each one to the correct concept. 

1.     Knowledge & understanding come to us only through study      (4) Proverbs 4:5-7

2.     It is Biblical principles consistently applied  that bring about positive results     (1) 2 Timothy 2:15

3.     Destruction is sure where ignorance prevails      (5) Proverbs 1:25-33

4.     Whether or not you get wisdom & understanding and grow is your choice     (2) James 1:25

5.     God will not violate His own laws & rescue those who ignore His counsel     (3) Hosea 4:6

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"