Becoming a disciple

For the past year I have been intrigued by Jesus’ story about the Kingdom of God being like a man who discovered a treasure in a field, and immediately, joyfully ran to sell all he had to buy that field (Matthew 13:44). I yearn to experience my relationship with Christ as that kind of treasure. There is an element of surprise, glee and excitement at the discovery, and tons of anticipation, freedom and joy in trading in everything he has, to be able to purchase the field and therefore own this most valuable, worthy, sought-after treasure.

My experience is more often one of hanging on, grasping, and sorrowing over what I might have to give up, or wanting an easy, massive one-time sell-off without the daily need to continue choosing Christ. As Randy Alcorn writes in The Treasure Principle (I’m paraphrasing), “It’s not that I value ‘things’ too much, but that I don’t treasure what Christ offers enough!”

Recently my husband and I spent an hour stargazing in northern Ontario. There was so much more to see away from the light pollution of the city; the night sky was so much clearer. We were spellbound. Almost unconsciously, we began to hum “God of wonders, beyond our galaxy . . .” The constellations and galaxies we could observe are always there, but we suddenly had a whole new perspective on our universe.

God wants to give us a new, compellingly clear vision of who He is, to help us resist the temptation to be comfortably complacent or religiously dutiful in our relationship with Him. Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus describes the kind of discipleship that could result: “I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him – endless energy, boundless strength!” Ephesians 1:17–19 (The Message).

Some time ago, the Christian Education ministry of the Canadian MB Conference was looking for a way to challenge adults to this life of increasingly devoted discipleship. We were very sure that we did not want a series of “check-lists” with merely external behaviours. Jesus accused the Pharisees with, “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8). Our quest was to describe how a person whose heart was close to God would look.

As we sorted through various writings and poured over many Scriptures, the “Description of a Discipled Person” (DDP) was born. It described six qualities of a discipled person.

Now, seven years later, with thousands of copies of the DDP given to churches and individuals across North America, it was time for a re-write. The “Description” needed fresh language for ongoing practical application. The DDP evolved into the “Description of a Growing Disciple,” or the DGD. The name change signifies that none of us have ever arrived, but that we are invited to continue growing until the moment we begin our life in eternity.

Each quality of the DGD is named by two adjectives, like two sides of a coin. It is further elaborated in a descriptive statement, Scripture references, and “evidences” for practical evaluation. Something new is a “God’s Initiative” line for each quality, which emphasizes that growth happens because of what God has done first.

The DGD is a tool we can use to ask ourselves, “Am I growing? Is there an area where God wants me to focus my attention over the next few months?”

Here, in abbreviated form, is the Description of a Growing Disciple.

A Growing Disciple is someone who is . . .

1. Captivated and Committed: a person who believes in Jesus and loves Him with “heart, soul, mind and strength” . . .
2. Thriving and Thirsting: a person who determines to abide in Christ and . . . to cultivate a growing relationship with God . . .
3. Bonded and Building: a person who engages with a community of faith . . . and develops as a contributor to a local congregation.
4. Inviting and Influencing: a person who develops an invitational lifestyle . . . attracting others to Christ.
5. Discerning and Disarming: a person who is being transformed into the spirit and character of Christ, able to interact with religious, political and societal systems with increasing discernment . . .
6. Purposeful and Persevering: a person who knows that discipleship is a lifelong journey of increasing responsiveness to God . . . and that heaven is our real home.

As I was working on this project this summer, I found my own desire to grow as a disciple of Jesus intensified. I realized what needed more intentional cooperation with God on my part. I experienced pleasure over the journey God and I were on together. At the beginning of a new year, I invite you too to take some time for evaluation and then heed God’s gracious invitation to keep growing.

Copies of “Description of a Growing Disciple” are available at minimal cost from the Adult Ministries office (call 1-888-669-6575 x.398 or write Adult Ministries). The full text of DGD can be viewed online.

Sharon Johnson is director of Adult Ministries for the Canadian MB Conference. She lives in Kitchener, Ont. and attends Glencairn MB Church. She is launching “The Raft,” a free monthly e-mail newsletter to equip and connect Adult Ministry leaders across Canada, (January 2004). Sign up at the Adult Ministries website.