Jesus trained a handful of ordinary people to follow Him as He established God's kingdom on earth. His primary training method was intimate, personal conversations on a friend-to-friend basis. As they walked along, in the daily routines of life, He taught them the practical principles of the Kingdom. He then commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations by teaching others what they had learned.He still calls believers today to accept this 'great commission', but at times it seems that the work of discipleship is more about public proclamation than personal relationships and...

Followers of Jesus are on a journey of spiritual growth. Their goal is to become more and more like Christ, not only reflecting his character, but doing his work in the world. The process of transformation, from unbelief to faith and from faith to Christlikeness, takes place (ideally) in the context of a healthy church. That church, as a channel of God's grace, enables faithful disciples to take one step at a time toward spiritual maturity, effective ministry within the church, and useful service to the wider community. Every level on The Ladder of Faithfulness requires a different set of...