Your First Step of Discipleship

BY RICK WARREN — AUGUST 27, 2016

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“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love — like Christ in everything” (Ephesians 4:15 MSG).

God wants you to grow up: “We are not meant to remain as children” (Ephesians 4:14a Phillips).

Your heavenly Father’s goal for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up. 

They’re stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is because they never intended to grow. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ, and it always begins with a decision:“‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him”(Matthew 9:9b NLT, second edition).

When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation. 

That’s all you need to get started: Decide to become a disciple.

Talk It Over

• Think of the moment when you chose to follow Jesus. What did you understand about what it meant to be a believer?
• What are some of the characteristics of Jesus that God has been developing in you?
• How do you want God to work in your life? Take some time to pray, and ask God to grow you in these areas — and for trust and patience as he does it in his time.