Skills
Skills are what a disciple can do. These are the practices or aptitudes of the spiritual life. Just as a child learns how to walk, ride a bike or drive a car with age, so the Christian develops skills that help their spiritual growth and make them more fruitful in their service to God. Historically, many skills have been called “disciplines” of the spiritual life. As opposed to “works” which people do to gain favor with God, disciplines are healthy spiritual habits inspired by grace. They are practices which overflow from a person’s relationship with God.
Just as the vision, knowledge and character mentioned above are normative for the Christian, so these skills should be normative as well. If I were invited to someone’s home for a meal and they were feeding their 13-year-old son, I would form one of two conclusions: Their son was lazy or their son had a developmental difficulty that prevented him from being able to feed himself. Similarly, we must conclude that Christians who do not pray, share their faith or practice financial stewardship, for example, are either lazy or spiritually deficient. A growing disciple becomes increasingly proficient at spiritual skills.
Similar to the other competencies, there are dozens of skills that God wishes to develop in the Christian. The following 10 Core Skills are especially important:
Bible Study — The disciple studies God’s Word, seeking to understand spiritual truth as an authoritative guide for their life.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (Psalm 119:18)
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)
Biblical Community — The disciple meets regularly with other Christians for mutual encouragement, accountability and ministry. A commitment to community also means that the disciple actively seeks reconciliation.
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Compassion — The disciple seeks to serve the last, the least and the lost in their community by meeting needs with time and resources.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Disciple-making — The disciple intentionally seeks to multiply their vision, knowledge, character and skills in others to help them in their spiritual journeys.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. (John 15:16)
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
Evangelism — The disciple can articulate their salvation story and shares the Gospel of Jesus through personal demonstration and proclamation, both in their neighborhood and around the world.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. (Acts 13:47)
Generosity — The disciple gladly and generously gives their resources to expand God’s Kingdom through their church and beyond.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38)
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48)
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
Prayer — The disciple seeks God in prayer, confessing sin, declaring God’s praises, showing gratitude for God’s blessings and trusting God for His will for themselves and others.
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Single-mindedness — The disciple practices simplicity of life in order to focus on God’s priorities for their life and others.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. (Psalm 119:10)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Spiritual Gifts — The disciple serves their church through the exercise of their spiritual gift(s).
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:11-12)
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:5-7)
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Worship — The disciple exalts God, both privately and publically, for who God is and what God has done.
My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. (Psalm 71:8)
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (Psalm 105:1-4)
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
No doubt, the reader will ask, “But, what about _____?” and will wonder about some foundational truth, some character trait, or some skill not mention in these lists. Where is the imminent return of Jesus, or faith, or fasting? Remember that none of the lists are intended to be exhaustive. They are foundational. More important is that the disciple has a list—a core set of essential truths which become the focus of their spiritual development.
SUMMARY
In this final chapter about spiritual transformation, we have learned about vital dimensions of discipleship. Vision is what disciples “see,” knowledge is what they know, character is who they are and skills are what they can do. Each is important for the formation of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. The disciple wishing to grow in their life with Jesus will welcome this holistic transformation.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
- In your own words, describe God’s central vision for your life.
- Without looking back through this chapter, identify 10 core truths (knowledge) you think are essential for every disciple. Next, compare your list with the list in this book. What changes might you make to either list?
- Without looking back through this chapter, identify 10 core character traits you think are essential for every disciple. Next, compare your list with the list in this book. What changes might you make to either list?
- Without looking back through this chapter, identify 10 core skills you think are essential for every disciple. Next, compare your list with the list above. What changes might you make to either list?
- What is the most important thing you learned from this chapter?
For related reading on these skills, see the devotional book Essential Provisions.