Within the church there are all kinds of responses to the word ‘discipleship’.

For some, it is an exciting term that conjures up adventure or an invitation on a journey. For others, it’s a term implying togetherness - of practical lessons learned. It may be something we feel we went through ‘back in the day’ or after a recent conversion experience. For some, it’s an uncomfortable term- a reminder of how we ‘should’ be living, or a standard expected of us.

At Mercy, we have developed the Discipleship Confidence Matrix as a way of intentionally considering the practices that Jesus gave his followers to live by. These practices benefit not only us, but automatically benefit those around us.

When we’re living healthily- as Jesus shows us through his example on earth-we’re more in touch with who God says we are- who he created us to be- and with those around us. It’s also in this place that we’re able to be fully ourselves- authentically ‘us’ without any airs or graces.

With that in mind, the confidence matrix covers the following areas… and, as you read, consider you own response to each area, NOT as a ‘must do better’ but as a ‘if I confidently lived out this area, how different might my life look?’ and ‘what areas would I like some support to grow in?’

recognising the voice of God.

If God is indeed relational, then it stands to reason that his interactions with us are going to be unique and personal. Do we feel able to recognise how God personally interacts with us? Do we notice anything getting in the way? What are our expectations in this area? (could write loads on this)

If we are in relationship- with the creator of the universe, no less- then there exists the possibility for relational connection, not just co-existing together. The Bible tells us He speaks to us and we can speak to him, so if it’s 2-way, an aspect of discipleship looks like understanding how this uniquely works for you.

If we were able to confident in this area, imagine the difference this could make to the direction of our lives and the comfort and experience of the presence of God.

recognising and replacing my beliefs and behaviours.

This area requires us to consider our level of self-awareness. Do we really know who we are and how we exist in the world? Am I aware of the belief systems I hold and how I interact? Often as Christians, we can use our ‘born again’ status to ignore or bury our old beliefs and start trying to believe new beliefs…but that’s simply not how it works. Because we then end up with a list of what we should believe, living alongside a subconscious list of what we in fact do believe, that are entirely at odds with each other. Discipleship in this area looks like understanding who we are and exploring God’s perspective before we healthily start to dismantle old ways, where there is congruence between what we believe and what we do, without shame or judgement.

Forgiveness

Jesus’ emphasis on forgiveness is fascinating. Why would he place such emphasis on it unless he knew it was something we would need often! But the teaching is so often misunderstood.

Do we have clarity on what forgiveness is and what forgiveness isn’t? (loads on this too)

How often we can use our forgiveness to suppress and bury our pain, rather than using it as a way of healthily expressing our pain and partnering with God, inviting him in to gently unburden us of the pain that has been caused.

To confidently forgive is significant. Whether that’s forgiving others, yourself, or even God! To fully understand the depths (and completeness) of God’s forgiveness for us will surely impact this.

Emotional comfort and healing

Aside from what we know of God and how he comforts his people, it can be a whole other world to actually be familiar with feeling his closeness and connection. Again, we believe God is a relational God who wants to relate to his people, so do we know what it feels like to have a felt sense of closeness and comfort with God?

The significance of this area cannot be underestimated. When we tell others about how great it is to belong to God, does our experience of him actually match up to what we’re saying? If we can sit and allow ourselves to be authentically real in answering this question, from there we can begin to explore our own life experiences of comfort and connection and barriers that may prevent that experience.

Authority as a believer

There are two components to authority; the right to rule, and the power to rule. Authority can often be misunderstood as control, and too many times, the biblical example of Godly authority has been misrepresented. When Jesus died on the cross as Son of Man, he reclaimed the right of our authority on this earth which was given to humanity but lost through Adam and Eve. When he rose again as Son of God, he also empowered us by sending the Holy Spirit to us. The Bible teaches that we are co-heirs with Jesus which means, in partnership with Him and surrendered to His will, we can walk in the same authority that He died to re-establish for us and live empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Our privilege as Believers is to walk in this authority and bring realignment in the areas of our lives to His perfect will. As we experience healing and growth in our relationship with God, self and others, we learn how to protect those breakthroughs by applying a sense of, and understanding of authority in our prayer life, our thought-life and in our choices.

Boundaries

Serving others is at the core of faith in Jesus. We follow the servant-king, and we seek to wash feet just as he did. But somewhere along the way, the interpretation of the important teaching of servanthood can actually work against us and the freedom Jesus promised us if driven by other factors.

The starting point for this is knowing where we end, and others begin. If we can understand that we can avoid burnout, avoidable stress, and can avoid unhealthy relationships. As Jesus modelled taking time for himself and times of refreshing, can we confidently follow him to do the same? What factors may push us into an un-boundaried life? How can setting boundaries increase our ability to follow Jesus’s example in loving and serving others healthily?

Needs and Desires

How are our needs and desires relevant to discipleship? Well, expressing our needs is a key element of relationship, both with God and with each other. Knowing how we were made, what we love and what we desire is fundamental to human and spiritual living!

In order for us to fully understand and embrace the biblical concepts of God being our Father who provides, meeting all our needs according to the riches in Christ, and giving us the desires of our heart, how familiar are we with our own needs? How confident are we expressing those needs to others without feeling like a burden? What does the idea of God satisfying our desires reflect of his fatherly goodness?

Discipleship enables us to be healthy and well, to model what Jesus did to stay healthy. Jesus knew who he was, he knew what we needed, he knew how to steward his power and he felt- not just knew but felt- God’s closeness. Ultimately, what does that look like for us in our world? What do you think?

We would love for you to access the tool for yourself and hear your own thoughts and what the impact of living these principles could be - for ourselves and for those around us.