Mileposts on a pathway may not be the ultimate destination, but they are very important. Mileposts remind us we are on the right path. They also help us stay on the path and headed in the right direction. They serve to help us determine the location of the people we are discipling. When we hear someone say something that corresponds with a step or stage in the discipleship journey, it will reveal to us some valuable information;
Mileposts remind us we are on the right path. They also help us stay on the path and headed in the right direction. #discipleship Share on X- The first piece of information a milepost gives us is whether they are headed in the right direction – on the right path. I cannot express how important this knowledge is as you are discipling someone. One small shift off of the path, though barely noticeable at the time, can cause a huge shift from the final destination later down the line.
- Another thing a milepost will show you is where your disciple is in their spiritual growth. This will give you insight on how to encourage and equip them for the next step. It will be a chance for you to encourage them and point out their growth, or find an opportunity to give feedback so they gain an awareness of an area they may still need to work on.
Here is a list of 7 of the mileposts you can expect someone to encounter along the pathway of discipleship. They will be found in the attitudes, conversations, and actions you see taking place in the person you are discipling as they move forward in their Spiritual growth. If you keep an awareness of these mileposts, you should be able to recognize them as they occur. This will give you valuable insight into the people you are leading, and where they need to go next.
Seek:
This person is searching for something more than the life they are currently living. They may have been trying to fill an empty place inside without success, or they may have reached a place where they realize they have made a mess of their life and those around them. Whatever emotion or experience has brought them to this place, they are actively seeking a change.
Discover:
This person has heard the gospel and is ready to turn their life over to Jesus. They don’t know the full extent of what that means yet, but they are ready to surrender. They are born again and ready to begin a new life as a baby in Christ. They are excited and full of energy and questions.
Experience:
This milepost comes at the point when someone is beginning to drink spiritual milk. He is learning how to read God’s word and probably has lots of questions about it. He is beginning to talk to God through prayer. He is beginning to look at his life and this world through the lens of God – his worldview is changing.
Live:
This person has begun surrounding himself with a group of people that share his belief in God – he may be connecting with a small group at his church to grow deeper in knowledge and relationship. His relationships and activities begin to reflect the position God is gaining in his life.
Serve:
This is an important milepost – it marks a shift where the disciple is moving away from self-focus towards becoming other-focussed. He is looking for areas to get in the game at church. Areas where he can help and serve. He is taking ownership of his part in the body of Christ. He is placing his own preferences aside and looking at what is best for the others around him.
Lead:
At this milepost, a disciple is beginning to change his thinking from that of a team player to that of a coach. He is beginning to cast vision to the people around him, and they are beginning to respond. He is taking on the responsibility to help people connect with God and with others, and walking out life alongside them to model and show the direction they need to go.
Reproduce:
At this point in the discipleship journey – a disciple has walked alongside someone through their discipleship journey, and they are ready to release that person to disciple others on their own. This is when the multiplication really starts happening. The disciple has gone through the discipleship process, and not only understands it but is living it out in his life. He now carries the DNA of discipleship into every culture he interacts with.
These mileposts also correspond with the Stages of Spiritual Growth that are found in the Real Life Discipleship Training Manual – you can read more about them in the book and in the following posts:
The Process Of Disciple Making – The Discipleship Wheel
How Can You Recognize A Mature Disciple? Look For These 5 Character Traits
