Disciples Path - The Philosophy
THE DISCIPLE'S PATH IS PROGRESSIVE.
We are going somewhere—to maturity. This is not aimless wandering. These studies build on each other progressively.
THE DISCIPLE'S PATH IS DISCIPLINED.
What happens between meetings is more important than what happens during them. We are to teach those we're discipling "to observe," that is "to do" what is commanded. The greatest growth takes place when a disciple does what is commanded in Scripture, not just learns what Scripture says. That is why the end of each session in the Disciples Path series has a set of expectations that the growing disciple agrees to accomplish between meetings. At the outset of the following meeting, there is time for processing what has been experienced.
THE DISCIPLE'S PATH IS RELATIONAL.
For a person to become a mature disciple, he or she must journey alongside the person discipling them. As this journey toward spiritual maturity is experienced, the disciple sees the lifestyle and practices of this disciple-maker, asks important questions of that person, and is taught specific skills, truths, and principles that will be exercised for the lifetime of the disciple.
THE DISCIPLE'S PATH IS REPLICABLE.
Paul had in his mind that a disciple-maker disciples someone who disciples someone who disciples someone. It's an ongoing process. The Disciples Path series was created with this principle in mind. The goal of every disciple-maker should be that the person who has been discipled then uses the series to disciple someone else. By using the same resources, even the first-time disciple-maker will be comfortable taking on this important but sometimes intimidating role.