About RMI

Bible Reference

FAQ

Discipleship

Search

What is a disciple

 What is holistic disciplemaking

What is a functioning disciple?

How long does it take to become a functioning disciple.
 

 How to become a functioning disciple 

How do the 'gifts of the Spirit' fit into becoming a functioning disciple?

Bible Resources
 
 Bible study resources

Discipleship Links

(Note: enter some links here) 

REACH Ministries International, discipleship

What is a functioning disciple?

A functioning disciple is first of all a born again Christian. Then a functioning disciple is a person that is devoted to Jesus, and one that allocates time daily, and weekly to learning of Him and following his commands.

This usually means the person has committed themselves to a three or four year training program, where they have devoted 10 hours or more a week to complete Bible studies that give them a solid understanding of salvation, evangelism, forgiveness, leadership, stewardship, and many other life directing principles.

Usually during this training one discovers their spiritual gift, and develops the special tools to become productive in the Kingdom. Regardless of one's gifts the functioning disciple is one that has a life long pattern of personal Bible study, prayer, and service.

Top of page

How long does it take to become a functioning disciple?

Once a person has become a Christian and have decided to follow Christ in their daily life, they are in a certain sense a functioning disciple.

Yet there is more to learn and become.

Just as it takes dedication and effort to become a secretary, doctor, mechanic, lawyer, businessman, farmer, it takes dedication and time to be come a fully functional disciple of Christ.

A learning disciple us usually someone that is going to school, a full time mother, or has a full time job. This means they must allocate time to be discipled for Christ. Usually a learning disciple allocates 10 to 15 hours a week (some more some less) to becoming a functioning disciple.

To complete enough Bible study to learn the about savlation, evangelism, forgiveness, being a parent, sharing one's faith in Christ takes time. Added to this is learning the skill to study the Bible for one's self (after the formal training is over), memorizing a base set of scripture verses, and how to apply them to one's daily life.

Although a disciple is functional from the day they become a disciple, it will take two to four years to be grounded in the basics and to have a foundation to build on for the rest of one's life.

Top of page

This page will start with some 'fun' photos of people being discipled (Bible Study,        Scripture memory, trip to the beach, or eating in a restaurant, working) 

Then it will lay out a 4 year course of study and activities that will help a person identify their spiritual gifts and then mold them into the image of Christ, equipping them to serve Him with the gifts they have been given. Thus they will become a functioning disciple. 
 

• It will lay out the scriptures to be memorized month by month 
  
• It will define the study books to be completed each month 
  
• It will define some activities to be experienced each month 
  
•  It will require the 'Internet Disciple' get a disciple partner, so they can go through the course together, being accountable to each other.
   
• Each pair of Internet Disciples will be assigned a mentor. 
  
• The mentor will set a Chat schedule, so the Internet Disciples can log on, cover they study material, answer questions (just as if they were all  in the same room), ask questions, and be a cyber community as they shape their lives for the Kingdom. 

Top of page