Next Step Discipleship

The Christian's Handbook for Walking the Pathway to Missional Living

by David Daniels on June 20, 2022

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WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? The goal of the Christian life is not just heaven, but a call to join God's global purposes. Discover a simple spiritual pathway to lead you along the road to greater missional living. In Next Step Discipleship, learn what it means to Belong, Become the person God designed you to be, and go Beyond in the world for the glory of God.

Next Step Discipleship Book Cover SM.jpg

Read it online here or order a print copy.

Also see the accompanying workbook, Next Step Journal.

1

Introduction: On the Road to Mission

Article · 13 min read

Next Step Discipleship is an invitation for you to join a journey. To be a missional disciple is to organize your life around God’s great missional purposes.
2

The Spiritual Pathway

Article · 10 min read

The pathway toward missional living can be described by three simple steps: Belong (connection), Become (transformation), and Beyond (mission).
3

Belong: To Christ (1) - Believe the Gospel

Article · 10 min read

When we place our trust in Christ, we become “a people belonging to God." This is the first step of our spiritual journey.
4

Belong: To Christ (2) - Tell Your Story

Article · 7 min read

Those who belong to Christ should be prepared to share their personal story of hope.
5

Belong: To Christ (3) - Be Baptized

Article · 4 min read

Just as a personal testimony is a verbal witness of the Christian’s faith, so baptism is the visible witness. Baptism symbolizes cleansing, resurrection, surrender, and family unity.
6

Belong: To Christ (4) - Be Assured

Article · 8 min read

Ten reasons Christians may be assured that they are saved, safe and secure in the Father’s hand.
7

Belong: To Christ (5) - Share the Good News

Article · 6 min read

Those who have been saved are sent into the world with a saving message to the world in need. Includes reflection questions for the chapter.
8

Belong: To Community (1) - Principles of Community

Article · 15 min read

God intended people to live in community. Biblical communities model unconditional love, sacrifice, mutual concern, kindness, impartiality, generosity, faith and blessing—all virtues rooted in the Gospel of Jesus.
9

Belong: To Community (2) - Functions of Community

Article · 9 min read

Biblical community has both inward functions, directing the group’s attention to one another, and outward functions, directing the group’s attention to others.
10

Belong: To Church (1) - What Is the Church?

Article · 8 min read

The church of Jesus is the unity of believers all over the world manifesting itself in many local expressions. And, what we can see with our eyes as Christians gather is not the totality of the church.
11

Belong: To Church (2) - Unity, Community, Ministry

Article · 10 min read

Membership is a means by which church leaders may discern which attendees have the capacity for spiritual maturity and may be held accountable for their new life in Christ. Member responsibilities of unity, community, and ministry are discussed.
12

Belong: To Church (3) - Generosity, Authority, Accountability

Article · 9 min read

Church member responsibilities of generosity, authority, and accountability are discussed.
13

Belong: To Church (4) - Reconciliation

Article · 7 min read

Through Christ we have the power to be reconciled to one another, and reconciliation is essential for the church.
14

Become: Transformation (1.1) - Made New

Article · 8 min read

When we place our faith in Jesus we are made new, with new vitality, identity, ability, liberty, and destiny.
15

Become: Transformation (1.2) - Ongoing Work of the Spirit

Article · 9 min read

The believer's transformation is ongoing and produced by the Holy Spirit, who produces in us character, conviction, confidence, conentment, comprehension, and compassion.
16

Become: Transformation (1.3) - Changed on Purpose

Article · 11 min read

Our transformation as believers is patterned after Christ and is for the glory of God. While some of this life change is incidental, Christians should also pursue intentional transformation.
17

Become: Transformation (2.1) - Joining God in His Work

Article · 14 min read

Christians work out our salvation, rather than working for it, beginning with God working in us. Life change requires our response and responsibility.
18

Become: Transformation (2.2) - What Must Change

Article · 15 min read

Those committed to spiritual growth must be mindful of their public image, private life, blind spots and unknown potential. The goal is for the disciple’s public image to become more and more of who they truly are.
19

Become: Transformation (3.1) - Vision

Article · 8 min read

The fundamentals of the spiritual life for the greatest life transformation include vision, knowledge, character and skills. This section discusses vision.
20

Become: Transformation (3.2) - Knowledge

Article · 11 min read

Knowledge is what a disciple understands to be true. 10 Core Beliefs are discussed, as truths that should take priority for the growing believer.
21

Become: Transformation (3.3) - Character

Article · 9 min read

While there are dozens of character traits God wishes to refine in the Christian, the 11 Core Character Traits discussed here are especially important.
22

Become: Transformation (3.4) - Skills

Article · 12 min read

Skills are the practices or aptitudes of the spiritual life. The 10 Core Skills discussed should be normative for the Christian.
23

Beyond: Into My Church (1) - Mission and Gifts

Article · 13 min read

To understand the mission of the church, we must understand the mission of God: to extend His blessings into the world so the world may come to know and worship Him. Believers are charged to use their spiritual gifts to accomplish this mission.
24

Beyond: Into My Church (2) - Discovering Spiritual Gifts

Article · 13 min read

Because spiritual gifts are so important to the building of Christ’s church, it is important for Christians to know what gifts they have been given. We must also avoid certain dangers relating to those gifts.
25

Beyond: Into My Neighborhood (1) - Loving Our Neighbors

Article · 7 min read

The missional church and missional disciples begin with their nearest neighbors, impacting people in their immediate community. As Jesus transforms the church, the church transforms the world.
26

Beyond: Into My Neighborhood (2) - Shining Light

Article · 12 min read

Five words will help direct those who wish to go beyond into their neighborhoods: Love, Initiative, Grace, Hospitality and Sacrifice.
27

Beyond: Into My Neighborhood (3) - Serving Our Neighbors

Article · 8 min read

Suggestions to help you think about your and your church’s local mission, and how you can minister in your community.
28

Beyond: Into My World (1) - Blessed to Bless

Article · 14 min read

God's plan from the beginning was for His blessings to His people to flow through them to the nations. Every church has a mandate to go beyond into the world, sharing the gospel through proclamation and demonstration.
29

Beyond: Into My World (2) - Missional Strategies

Article · 9 min read

Five good strategies to prioritize in global missions sending and spending: disciplemaking among the most unreached, Bible translation, leadership training, global justice, and multiplying healthy churches.
30

Getting There From Here (1) - Your Next Steps

Article · 12 min read

Questions to ask yourself and practical suggestions to implement to to help you take the next steps in your life with Jesus.
31

Getting There from Here (2) - Finish the Race

Article · 9 min read

An example of how the spiritual pathway works in real life, and an exhortation to finish the calling God has on your life.

About the Author

Dr. David Daniels (D. Min. Dallas Theological Seminary, M. Div. Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor of Central Bible Church and author of Next Step Church, Next Step Discipleship, Next Step Journal, Wonder, and An Unexpected King.

Collection Topics

Discipleship (Spiritual Growth ) Missional Discipleship (Values) Discipleship (Equipping Leaders)

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Next Step Discipleship

The Christian's Handbook for Walking the Pathway to Missional Living

by David Daniels on June 20, 2022

Books

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Collection Topics

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Additional Resources

The Spiritual Pathway

Next Step Discipleship, pp. 21–26

Introduction: On the Road to Mission

Next Step Discipleship, pp. 13–19

Next Step Journal

The Christian's Workbook for Walking the Pathway to Missional Living