Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity

Today, we have many ways of defining success in life. Some define it as being a sports hero, others as being wealthy, others as being popular and well liked, and still others as being happy. How does God define success? He defines it as being spiritually mature!

Discipleship is in a state of crisis today! Many Christians are not growing in Christ and are stuck in the process of reaching spiritual maturity. Sadly, what discipleship meant in the time of Christ is vastly different than what it means today. Moreover, the importance Christ and the apostles gave to discipleship is also stunningly different than the importance many Christians and churches today give it.

Unlike the disciples who had much of Scripture memorized, a whopping 81% of Christians today don’t read their Bible regularly. Unlike Christ’s disciples who were “Fishers of Men,” 61% of believers today haven’t shared their faith in the past six months. And sadly, unlike Christ and the apostles who made discipleship the central focus of their ministries, 81% of pastors today have no regular discipleship programs in their churches. Discipleship is being neglected today, and the consequences are crippling. This book hopes to change that!

Chapter 1 focuses on the state of discipleship in the lives of Christians and churches today and exposes the sad truth that it’s in crisis mode. Chapter 2 reveals 14 key factors contributing to the lack of discipleship today and how they’re affecting our lives. Chapter 3 defines biblical discipleship based upon central phrases Christ used in His ministry. Chapter 4 unfolds 14 essential components of the discipleship-making process that must be understood and practiced in order to attain spiritual maturity. Chapter 5 provides practical help on how to grow in each of the essential components of discipleship. It contains encouraging news and functional steps on how to grow in Christ. It also includes self-assessment tests to measure our level of spiritual maturity in each essential component of discipleship and gives hands-on, useful ideas on taking steps toward spiritual maturity. Discipleship is a command for all believers and is our highest calling.

This book provides biblical help for fulfilling this calling and seeks to discover what God says about genuine growth in Christ and provide practical help for attaining it. So, are you ready to grow? Would you like to be pleasing to God? Would you like to fulfill the reason for which you’ve been created? Would you like the full blessing of God in your life? If so, this book is for you.

1123145727
Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity

Today, we have many ways of defining success in life. Some define it as being a sports hero, others as being wealthy, others as being popular and well liked, and still others as being happy. How does God define success? He defines it as being spiritually mature!

Discipleship is in a state of crisis today! Many Christians are not growing in Christ and are stuck in the process of reaching spiritual maturity. Sadly, what discipleship meant in the time of Christ is vastly different than what it means today. Moreover, the importance Christ and the apostles gave to discipleship is also stunningly different than the importance many Christians and churches today give it.

Unlike the disciples who had much of Scripture memorized, a whopping 81% of Christians today don’t read their Bible regularly. Unlike Christ’s disciples who were “Fishers of Men,” 61% of believers today haven’t shared their faith in the past six months. And sadly, unlike Christ and the apostles who made discipleship the central focus of their ministries, 81% of pastors today have no regular discipleship programs in their churches. Discipleship is being neglected today, and the consequences are crippling. This book hopes to change that!

Chapter 1 focuses on the state of discipleship in the lives of Christians and churches today and exposes the sad truth that it’s in crisis mode. Chapter 2 reveals 14 key factors contributing to the lack of discipleship today and how they’re affecting our lives. Chapter 3 defines biblical discipleship based upon central phrases Christ used in His ministry. Chapter 4 unfolds 14 essential components of the discipleship-making process that must be understood and practiced in order to attain spiritual maturity. Chapter 5 provides practical help on how to grow in each of the essential components of discipleship. It contains encouraging news and functional steps on how to grow in Christ. It also includes self-assessment tests to measure our level of spiritual maturity in each essential component of discipleship and gives hands-on, useful ideas on taking steps toward spiritual maturity. Discipleship is a command for all believers and is our highest calling.

This book provides biblical help for fulfilling this calling and seeks to discover what God says about genuine growth in Christ and provide practical help for attaining it. So, are you ready to grow? Would you like to be pleasing to God? Would you like to fulfill the reason for which you’ve been created? Would you like the full blessing of God in your life? If so, this book is for you.

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Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity

Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity

by Dr. Todd M. Fink
Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity

Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity

by Dr. Todd M. Fink

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Overview

Today, we have many ways of defining success in life. Some define it as being a sports hero, others as being wealthy, others as being popular and well liked, and still others as being happy. How does God define success? He defines it as being spiritually mature!

Discipleship is in a state of crisis today! Many Christians are not growing in Christ and are stuck in the process of reaching spiritual maturity. Sadly, what discipleship meant in the time of Christ is vastly different than what it means today. Moreover, the importance Christ and the apostles gave to discipleship is also stunningly different than the importance many Christians and churches today give it.

Unlike the disciples who had much of Scripture memorized, a whopping 81% of Christians today don’t read their Bible regularly. Unlike Christ’s disciples who were “Fishers of Men,” 61% of believers today haven’t shared their faith in the past six months. And sadly, unlike Christ and the apostles who made discipleship the central focus of their ministries, 81% of pastors today have no regular discipleship programs in their churches. Discipleship is being neglected today, and the consequences are crippling. This book hopes to change that!

Chapter 1 focuses on the state of discipleship in the lives of Christians and churches today and exposes the sad truth that it’s in crisis mode. Chapter 2 reveals 14 key factors contributing to the lack of discipleship today and how they’re affecting our lives. Chapter 3 defines biblical discipleship based upon central phrases Christ used in His ministry. Chapter 4 unfolds 14 essential components of the discipleship-making process that must be understood and practiced in order to attain spiritual maturity. Chapter 5 provides practical help on how to grow in each of the essential components of discipleship. It contains encouraging news and functional steps on how to grow in Christ. It also includes self-assessment tests to measure our level of spiritual maturity in each essential component of discipleship and gives hands-on, useful ideas on taking steps toward spiritual maturity. Discipleship is a command for all believers and is our highest calling.

This book provides biblical help for fulfilling this calling and seeks to discover what God says about genuine growth in Christ and provide practical help for attaining it. So, are you ready to grow? Would you like to be pleasing to God? Would you like to fulfill the reason for which you’ve been created? Would you like the full blessing of God in your life? If so, this book is for you.


Product Details

BN ID: 2940152526240
Publisher: Dr. Todd M. Fink
Publication date: 04/15/2016
Sold by: Smashwords
Format: eBook
File size: 4 MB

About the Author

Dr. Todd M. Fink is founder & director of Go Missions to Mexico Ministries, Holy Land Site.com Ministries, and Selah Book Press. He received his Bachelor of Theology Degree from Freelandia Bible College, did Master of Divinity studies at Western Seminary, received a Master of Theology Degree from Freedom Bible College and Seminary, and a Ph.D. degree in theology from Trinity Theological Seminary. Currently, he is working on a Master of Biblical Studies Degree from Trinity Theological Seminary. He served as youth/associate pastor for 12 years at an evangelical church in Oregon, (1987-1998). Todd is currently serving as pastor and missionary with Go Missions to Mexico Ministries (1998-present), is an author, and has a passion for the Holy Land.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement vii
Endorsements viii
Foreword 1
Introduction 3
Chapter 1: The State of Discipleship Today 5
1. God's View of Discipleship Versus Today's View of Discipleship 6
2. The Lack of Discipleship Today 11
3. The Consequences of Neglecting Discipleship 15
Chapter 2: Key Factores Contributing to the Neglect of Discipleship Today 19
1. The Distractions and Cares of Life 20
2. Materialism and the Pursuit of Wealth 35
3. The Refusal to Pay the Cost of Discipleship 44
4. The Lack of the Fear of the Lord 48
5. Being Ashamed of Total Devotion to Christ 66
6. The Effects of Prosperity Gospel Theology 85
7. Misunderstanding Heavenly Rewards 92
8. Misunderstanding the Purpose of Discipleship 98
9. The Lack of Church Discipline 101
10. The Belief in Salvation Without Discipleship 111
11. The Belief in Salvation Without Obedience 117
12. The Belief in Salvation Without Works 123
13. The Belief in Grace Without Effort 129
Chapter 3: Defining Biblical Discipleship 135
1. The Meaning of Biblical Discipleship 136
2. The Meaning of Follow Me 146
3. The Meaning of Deny Self 152
4. The Meaning of Take up Your Cross 156
5. The Meaning of Save Your Life and Lose Your Life 165
6. The Meaning of Hate Your Father, Mother, Wife, and Family 173
7. The Meaning of Hate Your Life 177
8. The Meaning of Gain the World and Lose Your Soul 181
9. The Meaning of Being Ashamed of Christ and His Words 185
Chapter 4: The Essential Components of Discipleship 189
1. Knowledge of God and Discipleship 195
2. Self-Discipline and Discipleship 207
3. Obedience and Discipleship 213
4. Abiding in Christ and Discipleship 217
5. Prayer and Discipleship 220
6. Mentoring and Discipleship 230
7. Church Involvement and Discipleship 234
8. Evangelism and Discipleship 238
9. The Inner Life and Discipleship 243
10. Spiritual Gifts and Discipleship 247
11. Serving and Discipleship 253
12. Spiritual Attitudes and Discipleship 256
13. Character and Discipleship 260
14. Stewardship and Discipleship 266
Chapter 5: How to Grow in Christ 277
1. How to Grow in the Knowledge of God 284
2. How to Grow in Self-Discipline 289
3. How to Grow in Obedience 293
4. How to Grow in Abiding in Christ 297
5. How to Grow in Prayer 301
6. How to Grow in Mentoring 305
7. How to Grow in Church Involvement 310
8. How to Grow in Evangelism 314
9. How to Grow in Your Inner Life 320
10. How to Grow in Spiritual Gifts 324
11. How to Grow in Serving 328
12. How to Grow in Spiritual Attitudes 332
13. How to Grow in Character 336
14. How to Grow in Stewardship 340
15. Overall Spiritual Maturity Chart 346
Conclusion 349
Bibliography 351
About the Author 360
Connect with Todd (Mike) 361
Look for More Books by Todd (Mike) 362
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