Week of November 22, 2024
“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Colossians 1:28, NKJV)
Christian discipleship is the process of following Jesus Christ in faith and learning to live according to His teaching and example. It involves a commitment to grow in spiritual maturity and to emulate the character of Jesus. The Apostle Paul said he would urge every person God placed in his life to come to a full experience of the person of Christ (Col. 1:29). He was not satisfied that people would become partially like Christ. He wanted the fruits of the Spirit to be expressed through their life.
We can mistake Christian activity with becoming like Christ, but Christian activity and Christ-likeness are not the same things.
Now, Christian activities should be an expression of our relationship with Christ. Encouraging someone to just attend Christian activities is not true discipleship. Our goal is to lead those around us who have come to faith in Christ to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
If God has put new Christians under your care, you have an obligation to minister to them until they have reached Christian maturity. Here are some steps you can take: live out your faith consistently, pray for them, invite them to study scripture, encourage them to take steps of faith, and be a mentor to them. God will be working in their heart.
God Bless, Pastor Rick