A Framework for Discipleship

Can we use research to discover the core attributes of a disciple? Or is this a purely biblical matter?

In a previous post, I shared different methods that we use to filter whether or not someone is a disciple of Jesus. The only problem with those common methods is that they are often anecdotal, and purely based on situational experiences.

Take Greg Ogden’s list, for example. He presents a biblical standard for discipleship by outlining how disciples:

• Are proactive ministers
• Live a disciplined way of life
• Understand that discipleship affects all of life
• Are a countercultural force
• Are an essential, chosen organism
• Are a biblically informed people
• Are people who share their faith

This is a fantastic list, and very difficult to disagree with, since it is biblical. The problem with his list and everyone else’s is that they are merely anecdotal good ideas and frameworks. There is no evidence that these ideas, when transformed into a discipleship pathway, will actually produce the attributes of a healthy disciple.

In 2007 and 2008, a longitudinal study was done on 2500 Protestants who attended church on a regular basis in order to determine their spiritual maturity and their spiritual progress over time (Waggoner). Brad Waggoner conducted the study using his Spiritual Formation Inventory (SFI). His SFI was developed from extensive research, using Scripture, articles, books, and commentaries related to the nature of a New Testament disciple.

In 2010, LifeWay elaborated on Waggoner’s SFI and his seven domains of spiritual formation for their Transformational Discipleship project. They had the purpose to gather data regarding the spiritual lives and level of maturity of believers. They gathered their data in three phases. First of all, they interviewed a wide range of discipleship experts, taking culture and context into high consideration. Secondly, they surveyed one thousand Protestant pastors in the United States in order to discover the different ways discipleship is happening in local churches. Lastly, they surveyed four thousand Protestants in North America using a customized survey built on Waggoner’s SFI. Through this entire research project, the LifeWay team discovered an eighth domain or attribute of discipleship – unashamed transparency – that builds on top of Waggoner’s seven domains.

The point of the Transformational Discipleship project was not to discover the eighth attribute, but it was to figure out what kind of discipleship was truly transformational. After all, through their research, they confirmed the argument that there is, in fact, an absence of disciples in the church today.

Nevertheless, the research from these two projects present a solid framework that can be used to discern or measure whether one is or is not a disciple of Jesus. This framework is not anecdotal, but it is incredibly biblical and heavily grounded in research.

The research reveals that the following eight biblical attributes, or “discipleship attributes,” consistently show up in the life of maturing believers:

• Bible engagement
  • ex. Personally reading the Bible, thinking about biblical truths, reading a spiritual growth related book
• Obeying God and denying self
  • ex. Making personal sacrifices to better obey God, having self-awareness to avoid bad decisions, confessing and repenting, adjusting one’s negative attitude
• Serving God and others
  • ex. Putting one’s spiritual gift(s) to use serving God and others, serving others in the community who have tangible needs, giving sacrificially
• Sharing Christ
  • ex. Inviting an un-churched person to attend a church service or program, praying for non-Christians, letting others know that one is Christian, sharing how to become a Christian
• Exercising faith
  • ex. Trusting God in difficult circumstances, expressing praise and gratitude to God in difficult circumstances, believing God has a purpose for every good and bad event in one’s life, believing that God can change the lives of non-Christians
• Seeking God
  • ex. Daily seeking God through prayer, worship, and thanksgiving, living in a way that pleases and honors God
• Building relationships
  • ex. Getting together with other Christians mid-week, participating in a bible study or small group, being discipled or mentored by a more spiritually mature Christian, discipling or mentoring another Christian
• Unashamed transparency
  • ex. Praying with others, sharing your personal story or testimony with others, confessing sin to others, being interdependent

What benefit would it bring to your church’s discipleship process, if you actually integrated these attributes into a grid, to ensure that every element of your pathway is intentionally building up these attributes?

This is what I’ve done with my church’s discipleship pathway, and it has been a revolutionary process.

Let’s talk.