Introducing The Stages  -  Ministry and Personal Development

Now that our believer has decided to make a life commitment to enter into a personal relationship with the Lord, it is time to ensure that they are equipped to live independently as an active member of the Church, the Body of Christ. As has been said before, obtaining a relationship with Christ is not the final objective of discipleship - spiritual independence is. As the student moves through the Personal and Ministry Development Stage, they need to learn and practice the life and spiritual skills and habits necessary to foster and maintain their faith victoriously.

Stage Objective:

The 2 areas where skills and habits need to be developed in the life of our believer are:

1.

Life skills and habits, some of which are:

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A Christian World View

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Christian Financial Concepts and Management

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Conducting and maintining Christian interpersonal relationships (including dating)

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Etc.

2.

Spiritual skills and habits, some of which are:

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Inductive bible study

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Reflective journaling

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How to conduct successful spiritual warfare

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Identifying and practicing spiritual gifts and giftedness

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How-to worship

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Etc.

Mentor Focus:

If the disciple has gotten into this stage of spiritual development, then the mentor is beginning to really reap the fruit of their labors! Our not-so-young believer has made their faith their own. Salvation is assured. Now he is beginning to really make strides in growing into an independent follower of Christ.

Mentors at this point need to be intentional about starting to “cut the umbilical cord”. Instead of always providing the answers to questions, the mentor needs to encourage the disciple to find them out for themselves. Instead of always dragging the student along, it’s time to raise the expectations for the growing believer to be independently motivated. Now is the time for the eaglet to be pushed out of the nest, so to speak. In this stage, mentors need to:

1.

Begin to make the change from being a mentor to becoming a coach.

2.

Encourage the growing believer in practicing his new life and spiritual skills and habits by assisting with goal setting and review.