The process of discipleship is remarkably simple. It is a simple life of faith, hope, and love marked by obedience. It is a relationship in which both we and God have a part. In my mind, it constists of four rather arbitrarily delineated steps:
- Hear a word from God
- Understand the word from God
- Live the word from God
- Share the word from God
God started this before all of creation. All of creation shows the glory and nature of God (Romans 1:19-20). In other words, since the beginning God has been communicating himself through all of creation. In just the same way that we communicate in multiple ways (speaking, body language, sign language, writing) so, too, does God. We are, after all, created in his image (Genesis 1:26-27).
And this word or communication is needed before we can ever begin to follow God. In Romans 10:17, the writer says that “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” This is a great chapter. You might want to read the whole thing to see if I’m just messing with you.
This leads me to some questions:
- How does God speak (communicate)?
- How can we hear from God?
- What is our responsibility in this?
- How can we know that it’s God that we’re listening to?
The Holy Spirit will teach us about God (Romans 16:7-15). We can trust the Holy Spirit to reveal, remind, and convict of sin (where we’ve fallen short), righteousness (being right with God), and judgement (justice). In doing so, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. And he will show us the things that belong to Jesus. In other words, God will help us to understand.
So…some more questions:
- What does it mean to be convicted of sin?
- What does it mean to be convicted of righteousness?
- What does it mean to be convicted of judgement?
- How do these three elements help to guide us into all truth?
- How does having the things of Jesus made known to us bring glory to Jesus?
- Do you believe that the Holy Spirit convicts, teaches, and guides us into all truth?
- If so, how does (or might) this affect your life?
OK, now. Talk amongst yourselves…
