Now that I've introduced my picture of spiritual maturity, let’s unpack the 16 foundation areas or bins that characterize a Mature Disciple. Below are the 16 facets of the Mature Disciple and a description of each, together with Scripture references relevant to each description. The Scriptures given with each item are by no means exhaustive. They are only intended to give a sense of the area being described.
For now, you may want to go through and just read the descriptions. But later I urge you to take the time to read through the Scriptures associated with each description. To facilitate this, Appendix 2 restates the 16 descriptions and then quotes all of the passages below. (A few very lengthy references are not quoted in their entirety.)
I recommend that you read through Appendix 2 slowly and study the Scriptures. Take your time, perhaps using each section as a daily devotional, and journaling your reflections.
Here are the 16 facets that comprise my picture of spiritual maturity:
Surrendered to Jesus Christ – “Wholeheartedly abandoning my heart and will to Him as Lord and to His will as my command.” (2 Chronicles 16:9; 2 Kings 20:2; Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 9:23-26; John 14:21; John 15:1-8; Romans 12:1-2)
Biblically Measured – “Making choices in my life following the precepts and principles of His Word, the Bible.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Joshua 1:8; Matthew 7:24; Matthew 28:20; James 1:22-25)
Morally Excellent – “Making choices in my life that are consistent with the new life that I have in Christ.” (Psalm 51:6; Matthew 5:8; Psalm 24:3-5; James 4:8; Psalm 51:10; Ephesians 4:17-5:21; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:3; John 1:14; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 4:17-5:21; Colossians 3:5-17; 1 Timothy 3:2-13; Titus 1:6-9; 2:1-8)
Friend(s) Accountable – “Inviting other more mature Christian men (if I am male) or women (if I am female) to give counsel and speak into my life about my choices, motivations, blind spots, sins, etc.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Proverbs 19:20, 24:6, 27:9; Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20)
Gender Established – “Making choices in my life that are consistent with my design as an authentic man (if I am male) or woman (if I am female).” (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-9; 2:15-25; Romans 5:17-19; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; 1 Kings 2:2; Titus 2:1-8)
Uniquely Designed – “Making choices in my life that are consistent with my God-given unique design and that fulfill His purpose for my life.” (Psalm 139:13-16; Ephesians 2:10, 5:15-17; Romans 12:3-8)
Rightly-Related with Parents and Past Relationships (included in #10 below)
Rightly-Related with Spouse (included in #10 below)
Rightly-Related with Child(ren) (included in #10 below)
Rightly-Related with the Body of Christ - “Making choices in my life, consistent with my design, to live and grow in vital relationships with my parents, others from my past, my spouse, my children and grandchildren, and other Christians, according to God’s plan and purposes for marriage, the family, and Christ’s community.” (Matthew 15:4-5; Proverbs 23:22; Proverbs 20:20; Proverbs 30:17; Hebrew 12:1-2; 1 Timothy 3:2, 4, 12; Titus 1:6; Ephesians 5:18-33; Colossians 3:18-21; Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 22:6; Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 12:9-13)
A ‘Good Name’ Worker – “Maintaining cooperative, harmonious relationships with co-workers and, consistent with my design, performing my work with excellence so as to have a credible witness in the workplace.” (Proverbs 22:1, 22:29, 25:13, 10:4; Colossians 3:22-4:1; Ephesians 6:5-9; Matthew 5:16)
Financially Faithful & Generous – “Making choices in my life that are consistent with God’s gracious heart and being a good steward of all He entrusts to me.” (1 Chronicles 29:10-17; Psalm 37:25-26; Mathew 6:19-21; Luke 16:10-13; Proverbs 22:26; Proverbs 22:7; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15)
God’s Steward and Citizen – “Making choices in my life that are consistent with being a steward of God’s earth and a godly citizen of the community and country in which He has put me.” (Genesis 2:15; Romans 13:1-7; Mark 12:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Socially Responsible – “Reaching out to others in my sphere of opportunity with works of service...in His name.” (Isaiah 58:6-7; Matthew 25:35-37; Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 22:22-23; Proverbs 22:9; Job 29:12; James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:17-19; James 1:27; Galatians 6:9-10; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 5:16)
Evangelistically Bold – “As a lifestyle for the rest of life, reaching out to others in my sphere of opportunity with words of hope and God’s good news…in His name.” (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Peter 3:13-16; Romans 10:8-15; Revelation 12:11; John 3:1-4:42; Acts 23:11; Acts 24; Acts 26)
Intentionally Disciplemaking” – “As a lifestyle for the rest of life, reaching out to other Christians in my sphere of opportunity to intentionally and relationally facilitate their faith-based heart-transformation into God-scripted, servant-hearted, self-initiating, team-connected, difference-making, reproducing abiders in Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Isaiah 60:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 8; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-12; 3:2)
Now that we've talked through 4 different pictures of spiritual maturity, in our next blog, we will talk about my metaphor for a mature disciple.