Chapelwood envisions the discipleship journey with four stages. Each stage represents a response to an invitation from Jesus. One of them is your "home" stage.
Read the description of each stage below and find what seems to be your "home" stage. Compare that to the results from using the Next Step Map. Then click on the button for your "home" stage on this page to see the three action steps recommended for your growth.
Click here for an audio recording explaining the Stages of Discipleship.
COME AND SEE (JOHN 1:39)
What does discipleship at this stage look like?
Welcome! You are on the starting line of your faith journey. God's grace is leading you to recognize God's presence in the midst of life. Perhaps nature's beauty or the birth of a child causes you to be in awe of the Creator. Or, you may be experiencing some deep trauma resulting in your need of God. Quite possibly, you are looking for a reason to believe, but doubts and questions block your progress, as may past experiences with the church.
You are evaluating what Christianity is all about, and checking out the church as a community which claims to embrace those beliefs. This is a time of exploring whether this will make any positive difference in your life.
COME, FOLLOW ME (MATTHEW 4:19)
What does discipleship at this stage look like?
Having embraced Christ and basic Christian beliefs, you want a deeper connection with God and are beginning to follow Jesus. As this stage, you are learning from others. You are exploring personal spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, Bible study, giving, and accountability with other Christians to deepen your connection with God.
This is an active time of "doing" for God - going to Bible study, serving others, attending worship with increasing regularity and commitment including joining a local church. It is also possible to get comfortable and "stuck" in this stage. Many people do. It helps to remember the Christian life is a journey with twists and turns and changes to come.
BE WITH ME (MARK 3:14)
What does discipleship at this stage look like?
Your are going deeper, beyond the basics, to intimacy with Jesus at this stage. While still "doing," you cherish "being" with God in Jesus Christ.
You notice that you depend less on church programming to deepen your connection with God. Your beliefs, character traits, daily rituals, behaviors, experiences, and expectations change in ways that others begin to notice. Experiencing worship regularly, serving others, sharing your faith and tithing or moving toward it is your usual practice. It is easier to honestly express your doubts and victories at a personal level with others and to hear their responses.
ABIDE IN ME (JOHN 15:4)
What does discipleship at this stage look like?
Continuing to be powered by God's transformational grace, maturing disciples are characterized by one major development beyond the previous stage - the degree of their SURRENDER to Christ. Spiritual growth in this stage is deeply motivated by your love for Christ.
People at this stage are letting Christ be the "driver" of their lives. Their love for and trust in Christ is so deep that they obey Christ even without understanding "why" or "what's in it for me?" You have learned to feed yourself spiritually through personal spiritual practices. You are serving others on your own, without needing encouragement from a church program. You are deeply self-giving and generous with others as a mentor and leader.
WHEN YOU HAVE FOUND THE STAGE THAT FEELS LIKE “HOME" FOR YOU, CLICK ON THAT STAGE'S NAME ON THE blue BUTTONS. YOU WILL THEN SEE THE THREE RECOMMENDED ACTION STEPS FOR THAT STAGE.
If you would like some assistance with developing your own personal discipleship pathway, Teresa Rossy, would be happy to help you. Please feel free to contact her.