The Marks of Discipleship

One of the resources I plan to use in the Discipleship University is a book by Michael W. Foss, who until recently was Senior Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, Minn. Entitled Real Faith for Real Life: Living the Six Marks of Discipleship, Foss details the aspects of following Jesus in daily life utilized at Prince of Peace. I have developed my own titles, but they basically coincide with the marks he lists.

Passionate Prayer: There are many kinds and a ways of praying, but the goal is to make prayer a daily part of our lives. My goal is to tie this into a wider consideration of Spirituality, utilizing our Spiritual Direction Pastor, Scott Haasarud, as a resource in this area.

Faithful Worship: The goal is weekly worship, as we receive the Means of Grace through Word, Sacrament, and the Body of Christ Gathered, and open ourselves to the ongoing gift of revelation and strengthening from God.

Searching Scripture: The goal is daily Bible reading. This includes the devotional reading of the Bible by individuals, as well as encouragement to be in some kind of group Bible study.

Gift-Based Serving: Our lives are given deep meaning as we follow Christ in a life of loving service to others, both inside and outside our congregations. The goal is regular involvement in some kind of serving mission that is based not so much on the needs of the church or others, but on the gifts God has given us.

Reconciling Relationships: This area of discipleship focuses on all of our relationships: marriage, parenting, family, friendship, the body of Christ, and those outside the church (evangelism). A goal here is to participate in some kind of a Small Group that strengthens our faith as we bear one another’s burdens and share our faith.

Generous Giving: The goal is Growth Giving leading to Tithing, as well as discovering the great joy that comes with generously sharing not only the resources with which we have been blessed, but our love and care for others.

In addition to these six basic marks of discipleship, there are other dimensions I intend to include in the Discipleship University that would take one even deeper into faith and discipleship. If the above is Discipleship 101, the following would be Discipleship 202.

In addition to reading the Bible on a daily basis, and participating in a Bible study, brief courses would be offered on Biblical Interpretation (how we go about relating what the Bible says to the world today), Biblical Ethics, Theological Themes of the Old and New Testament, Principles of Lutheran Theology, Witness and Evangelism, and the relation of Church to World (politics, economics, development, etc.). This would also include a study of our church’s Social Statements.

This level would also include an experiential dimension, such as participating in a workshop on diversity and multiculturalism, going on a mission trip, or participating in a weekend retreat on such topics as spirituality, evangelism, or peacemaking.

The overall goal is a deepening of faith, a life of greater meaning and purpose, and the sending forth of compassionate disciples into a world longing for love, hope, healing, and significance.