4 Key Steps to Effective Discipleship: Know, Grow, Go, Show

by Diana Alvarado

Know. Every renewed Christian has a calling story. What was yours? I have “known” Christ

since I was young having been grown by practicing Christian parents. Instead of enrolling to summer classes, my siblings and I have been sent to youth camps and youth prayer meetings. Worshiping in tongues and singing loud praises were not alien to me while growing up. I can say, however, that my faith was different then. After all, I was young

and insecure. I went to find what I wanted and what felt cool for me. Although I had a lot of fun growing to adulthood, I realized that at the end of the day all those was fleeting. It had no meaning. I had no true friends. I had no real purpose. My insecurities grew. It felt tiresome. I was looking for something that is different and permanent. I realized I was wrong all the while. I was looking for the world to fill what’s lacking inside. I should have looked from the eyes of the One who created me, my Father in Heaven. I finally said yes to an invitation from my cousin who constantly nags me to attend their Christian community Friday sessions. I attended one and found myself attending the next one and the ones after. This time I came with a better heart and passion to "know" Christ. Knowing Christ must have been the best decision I have ever made in my life. It has inner peace. It feels in place. It feels right. It is the beginning of a new life of purpose and impact that I would

have never known otherwise.

Grow. You may ask, where do we go from knowing? Like a tree, we need to allow our roots to grow in depth in order for us to grow in size. We root ourselves in Christ in order for us to grow in faith. Our relationship with Him needs a lot of help to grow. It is impossible to fulfill alone. Christ understood this. Thus, He gave us a helper in the form of the Holy Spirit. He is our conscience and source of supernatural power. He has also given us five (5) tools for Spiritual Growth: prayer, scripture, sacrament, service, and community. Thus, it is important that we stay true to our commitment of prayer time with scripture reading, and that we take the sacraments. In the aspect of community, I am happy to have found Household of Christ Community. HCC provides the knowledge through teachings. It also provides shelter by being in a community of service. If we lack in these key areas of growth, we will find it hard to follow Christ in a true relationship.

Go. Growing strong is awesome, but what good is being strong when you lack purpose? What is our purpose, anyway? Christ said it himself in His last conversation on earth. [Acts 1:8] He directs us to go out and spread the seed that has been planted in us. We are called to be His disciples. We are to plant seed in Jerusalem (our homes), in Judea (our schools and workplaces), in Samaria (places we do not want to go), and the ends of the earth (places we can only dream of going). This may seem like a daunting task, but the Holy Spirit will empower us with knowledge, words, boldness, and abilities that we never thought we possessed. Remember, we do the work but it is still the Lord who cause it to flourish. [1 Cor 3:6-7] I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

Show. Evidence your discipleship. [Mt 7: 20] Therefore by their fruots you will know them [Luke 6:45] The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good... for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Be a disciple making disciples. When we make disciples, we are completing the task that Christ has set before us.

A call to each one of us is to Knowk Christ, Grow in our faith with Him, Go, Show and make disciples. The choice is yours to make too.

** first published in Ang Panimalay 1Q 2020