As many of you know, the heart of our 10:04 Worship Service is centered on discovering and deepening our relationship with Jesus. Discipleship, at its core, is a vital part of that vision. It’s not just about coming to church each Sunday; it’s about living a life fully devoted to Christ, growing in our relationship with Him, and helping others along the way. Today, I want to introduce you to our Next Steps Discipleship Pathway, a practical guide to help you and others walk this journey of faith. Each step builds on the one before it, taking us deeper into a life of following Jesus and guiding others to do the same. Here’s how these five steps come together to help us live out that vision.
The 5 Next Steps of Effective Discipleship
1. DISCOVER Your Relationship with Jesus Discipleship begins with discovering a personal relationship with Jesus. This is the foundation—everything else builds on this crucial step.
2. CONNECT with the Body of Christ The next step is to connect with others in community. Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Building relationships within the church helps us grow and stay accountable. We need each other to live out our faith and encourage others on their journey
3. SERVE in the Church From discovering to connecting, the next natural step is to serve. Romans 12:6-8 reminds us that we each have unique gifts. Serving others helps deepen our relationship with God and strengthens the church. This step also prepares us for greater leadership.
4. LEAD Others As we serve, the next step in the pathway is to lead. 1 Peter 5:2-3 encourages us to be shepherds of God’s flock. Leadership is a critical part of discipleship, and it's not just for pastors. Whether it’s mentoring someone or leading a small group, guiding others deepens your faith and helps build a stronger community. This step is key to fulfilling our +1 Mentality, helping others discover their faith in Jesus.
5. DEEPEN Your Relationship with Jesus Finally, discipleship requires us to continually deepen our relationship with Jesus. Hebrews 6:1 calls us to move beyond the basics and into spiritual maturity. This step involves daily disciplines like prayer, Bible study, and worship that keep us growing.
Applying Next Steps in Our 10:04 Community
Each of these five steps builds upon the one before it, creating a clear pathway for personal and spiritual growth. As you progress through the Next Steps Discipleship Pathway, here are some practical ways to do this:
1. Discover Heritage: This one-hour class introduces the vision, values, and mission of the Heritage. Attendees learn about the heart behind Heritage Church: Discovering and Deepening Faith in Jesus and how they can play a role in God’s story.
2. Connect at Heritage: Connect Groups - These groups will meet weekly in homes or on campus and focus on fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. Groups range from Bible studies to special interest groups.
3. Serve at Heritage: Finding your Fit - This workshop helps participants identify their spiritual gifts, passions, and talents through assessments and prayerful reflection.
4. Lead at Heritage: This program equips participants with the skills and spiritual foundations needed to lead others well. Consider mentoring someone or leading a group as you grow in your own faith.
5. Deepen Your Faith: Next Level - These courses cover various topics such as biblical theology, prayer, spiritual disciplines, evangelism, and mission. They are designed for people who want to go deeper in their walk with Jesus. Led by Jim Porter and Scot Jones.
Reflect and Take Action
Where are you in your discipleship journey? Whether you’re just starting out or ready to take on leadership, I encourage you to take your next step. Remember, 10:04 is a safe place to learn more about what it means to know God and grow closer to Him. Let’s commit together to following this pathway, step by step, and help others discover and deepen their faith in Jesus.
Pastor John Joiner
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