EXPERIENCE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

Ephesians 4:11–14, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (NLT)

Many sincere Christians spend their entire lives earnestly searching for an experience, a conference, a revival or a book that will transform their lives. Their search is futile. Although we have instant coffee, instant potatoes, and now even instant weight-loss methods, there is no such thing as instant spiritual maturity. The truth is this: Spiritual growth, just like physical maturity, is a process that takes time. There are no shortcuts to maturity.

Discipleship isn’t just one of the things the church does; it is what the church does. It’s not just part of the advancement of God’s kingdom; the existence of serious disciples is the most important evidence of God’s work on earth.

Bill Hull writes about five dimensions of discipleship, which can be used to evaluate our spiritual growth over time.

1. Transformed thinking: Someone who believes what Jesus believed. This changes our thought life as we begin to think about the world differently and change our desires.
2. Transformed character: Someone who lives as Jesus lived. This connects our beliefs to our behavior and changes who we are in regards to humility, honesty, integrity, etc. 
3. Transformed relationships: Someone who loves as Jesus loved. This breaks down the walls that separate us and brings healing to broken lives.
4. Transformed service: Someone who ministers as Jesus ministered, responding to the needs around him. 
5. Transformed influence: Someone who leads as Jesus leads, taking on the role of a servant. 

(“Five Dimensions of Discipleship,” Bill Hull, (Choose the Life)

Based on Bill Hull’s five dimensions of discipleship, how do you evaluate your present condition of spiritual growth?

Based on Bill Hull’s five dimensions of discipleship, is there one particular area that the Lord challenging you in at the present time?

Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decision do you need to make?