This document provides an overview of a church's approach to discipleship. It emphasizes the importance of both personal and corporate discipleship for spiritual growth. Personal discipleship involves spiritual parenting through commitment, modeling, and individual attention focused on God's word. Corporate discipleship occurs through preaching, bible studies, seminars, and small groups. The goal is spiritual maturity and reproduction through this balanced approach across one's lifespan as a believer. A 4-part model of personal discipleship is outlined based on 1 Thessalonians, emphasizing care, becoming a role model, instruction, and God's word.

1. A Tool
for
Church Discipleship
“A Guide to Spiritual Parenting and Spiritual Multiplication.”
IMUS CONSERVATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

2. Training Members to help every
Christian grow to Maturity and
Fruitfulness in Christ.
Colossians 1:28-29

3. EACH LOCAL ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS
SHOULD SEEK TO PRACTICE
BALANCED DISCIPLESHIP
(BOTH Personal & Corporate discipleship
are needed for healthy spiritual growth)

4. PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP
(Vitally needed,
but frequently neglected)
CORPORATE DISCIPLESHIP
(Needed, but typically insufficient
by itself to produce the desired
results)
TEACHING
GOD’S
WORD
P
E
R
S
O
N
A
L
C
O
R
P
O
R
A
T
E
Commitment
Modeling
Individual Attention
Bible Study
Preaching
Seminars &
Training
Small Groups

5. OVERVIEW…
Balanced Discipleship Diagram Explanation
A PROBLEM…
IS THERE A SOLUTION???

6. THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE
PERSONAL MODEL

7. 1.) God’s Word
This is eternal life, that
they may know You, … (John
17:3)

8. 2.) Commitment

9. 3.) Modeling

10. 4.) Individual
Attention

11. A BIBLICAL MODEL FOR “DISCIPLESHIP”

12. Salvation
Before Christ
Child
E
Child
2.)“Spiritual Parenting”
(Personal Discipleship)
Adolescent
Adult
Anticipated Results of
Discipleship are:
Spiritual Maturity,
Increasing Spiritual
Fruitfulness and
Spiritual Reproduction
B
D
1.) Corporate Discipleship (over the lifespan of the believer)
Bible Studies
Preaching
Seminars and Training
Small Groups
B = Birth
D = Death
E = Evangelism

13. It’s important to make a 16-Lesson
commitment – There will always be
unexpected illnesses and/or
circumstances, but, if possible, please
make a 16-Lesson commitment - just
between you and the Lord.

14. 3.) We use this portion of the apostle Paul’s 1st letter to
the believers in the city of Thessalonica as a model for
“Spiritual Parenting” (a.k.a. “Personal Discipleship”).
THEY WERE SINGLE-MINDED IN PURPOSE
:3-6 … we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who
examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering
speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is
witness — nor did we seek glory from men, either from
you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we
might have asserted our authority.
(1 Thessalonians 2:3-13)

15. 1. THEY CARED FOR THE BELIEVERS AS A MOTHER
CARES FOR HER CHILDREN (:7-8)
(1 Thessalonians 2:3-13)
2. THEY BECAME “ROLE MODELS” TO THE NEW
BELIEVERS (:9-10)
3. THEY GAVE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND INSTRUCTION
AS A FATHER (:11-12)
4. THE WORD OF GOD WAS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
OF DISCIPLESHIP (:13 )

16. A Tool For
Personal Discipleship
PHASE 1

17. UNDERSTANDING
THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE

18. Important: Carefully read the weekly
assignment before each session, and write down
questions.
Important: Most believers would greatly
benefit from having a personal mentor during this
Phase, in addition to the class.