Stages Of Discipleship Research Paper

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Spheres and Stages of Discipleship
Submitted to Dr. Lowman in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course

DSMN 500-D11 LUO
Introduction to Seminary Studies by Angela Smalls Lopes
November 9, 2014

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………3

Five Stages of Discipleship………………………………………………………………........3

Spiritually Dead…………………………………………………………………………...3-4

Infant……………………………………………………………………………………...4-5

Child ……………………………………………………………………………..............5-6

Young Adult……………………………………………………………………………...6-7 Parent ……………………………………………………………………………………8-9

Four Spheres of Discipleship………………………………………………………………….9
Spiritual parents live out
God’s Word in their daily lives, They are kingdom-centered and God dependent.” [11]
Becoming a spiritual parent does not mean that he or she lives a perfect life. The person strives to live a Christ-like life. He or she lives his or her life intentionally. He or she strives to build his or her own, ongoing relationship with Christ. He or she allows Jesus Christ to be his or her guide not relying on self. He or she continues to hide God’s word in his or her heart so that the relationship remains consistent and real. It is at this stage, he or she realizes the importance of a family bond and the need to remain humble in order to continue to hear God’s voice and fulfill God’s will. It is also at this stage that the spiritual parent clings to peer relationships with other spiritual parents. He or she also understand the need for peer accountability and participate in ongoing training to perfect his or her skills. The spiritual parent has taken up his cross to follow Christ. He or she has been crucified with Christ. He or she no longer lives, but understands that he or she lives in Christ. The live