4. The 5 Areas of Discipleship
Discipleship Area 1 – Faith
We need men and women who will be dedicated to growing in their faith.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:1–6)
Hebrews 11 is worth reading in full. The writer stresses the importance of faith and shows that every person who pleased God did so through faith.
Faith is the outworking of trust. When we sit on a chair, we have faith that it will hold us. Our faith in the chair is an expression of trust in its maker or provider.
Everyone exercises faith all the time. We exercise faith when we trust a process, person, or possession. When we press “transfer now,” we put faith in our banking app. When we take advice from an information desk, we put faith in that person. When we make a purchase, we put faith in the product to perform as promised.
But to please God, we must learn to exercise faith in Him. Jesus demonstrated how lavishly God rewards faith. Throughout Scripture, faith exercised by ordinary individuals was met with extraordinary miracles:
The woman who had been bleeding for twelve years—Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 8:43–48)
The blind men who wanted to see—Jesus said, “Let it be done according to your faith.” (Matthew 9:29)
The Samaritan woman whose persistence amazed Jesus—He marvelled and said, “Truly, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matthew 8:10)
The centurion who trusted Jesus’ word—again, Jesus said, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matthew 8:5–13)
Faith was never limited to Israelites; Jesus rewarded faith from anyone.
Faith can be learned, borrowed, and imparted. The faith of others can ignite our own. This is why sharing testimonies is powerful—faith spreads like seed, growing in the hearts of those who hear.
We can also “borrow” faith when others carry us. When the friends of a paralyzed man lowered him through a roof to Jesus, Scripture notes that Jesus saw their faith (Mark 2:5). Faith can be plural—it can be exercised by a family, community, church, or even a nation. When your faith feels weak, the faith of others can help carry you until, together, the mountain moves.
Discipleship Area 2 – Family
We need men and women who are dedicated to building healthy family life.
God designed the family. When God sent His Son, Jesus lived and served His earthly family for most of His life. He had a great relationship with His parents and siblings. He loved His mother right up to the cross (John 19:26–27), and His brother James—who grew up with Him—later led the church in Jerusalem and wrote the book of James. That would hardly have happened if they had not shared a deep relationship.
Family was so important that Jesus needed to clarify its place:
“Anyone who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)
He wasn’t dismissing family but emphasising that our love for Him must come first. If Jesus gave us a list of priorities, it would be faith in Him first, then family.
Marriage creates a new family, and it’s significant enough to warrant the great celebrations that accompany it. The union of husband and wife is so important that it requires both to leave their parents—something precious—to form something new. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
Family life should be modelled for others. No family is perfect, but every family can positively influence others. We must avoid thinking too highly or too lowly of our own families—each is a work in progress. Stay humble, always learning and always willing to impart.
Honouring parents remains a valid command even after marriage. At times, there may be tension between “leaving father and mother” (Genesis 2:24) and “honouring father and mother” (Exodus 20:12), but one does not cancel the other. We must seek God’s wisdom to navigate that tension (James 1:5–8).
Discipleship Area 3 – Finances
We need men and women who model lives free from the love of money.
In the last days, many followers of Jesus will encounter wealth, especially as the largest transfer of wealth occurs from the baby boomer generation. Yet this prosperity brings danger.
The church in Laodicea, described in Revelation, represents the final church age. It was materially rich, but Jesus said they were “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). The riches of the world can make the Church poor in spirit, powerless, and blind to God. The only hope is to master money rather than be mastered by it. Those who conquer greed and use their wealth for God’s purposes will inherit true riches and rule with Christ (Revelation 3:21).
We may not be the last church, but if we ever gain wealth, we must use it to serve the Lord, not ourselves. The tragedy of the rich young ruler—who turned down Jesus’ invitation to follow Him—is one that repeats often. Unless believers decide that money will not rule them, many will walk away sorrowful.
The love of money is one of the biggest reasons “hot” Christians grow lukewarm or cold. Every year, countless young believers drift away after entering the workforce. There must be men and women who overcome greed and let money serve them, not the other way around.
Money itself is not evil—it is a tool, a means of exchange. It can be used to live out the command to love one another. Sadly, many Christians either cling too tightly to it or squander it carelessly. We must model financial stewardship so that our children and grandchildren learn to make money a blessing, not a curse.
Discipleship Area 4 – Fitness
We need men and women who dedicate their bodies as temples of God for multi-generational impact.
Every year after age 33 is a privilege—Jesus only lived 33 years on earth. Who are we to expect more? But if God grants us more years, we should steward our bodies for His glory. To love God fully, we are commanded to love Him with all our strength (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), so it makes sense to grow stronger in order to love Him more.
If elite musicians and athletes train their bodies to perform their craft without hindrance, how much more should we strengthen ours for the ministry God has prepared for us? “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Even if a fit lifestyle cannot guarantee freedom from illness or accident, it is far better to face adversity knowing we have done our best to honour God with our health. The guilt of suffering from neglect is unnecessary and avoidable.
We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Bodies that have endured self-inflicted abuse are poor offerings. Yes, God loves us as we are—but He loves us too much to leave us that way. Even earthly parents expect their children to grow and mature; how much more our heavenly Father?
There is no joy in being dependent. We were not designed to be perpetually served but to serve others. With whatever health and ability we have, we should strengthen and multiply it, presenting it back to the Lord. Health is not to be idolised—it is to be utilised for God. Use your strength to make more strength, and love God with all your strength.
Discipleship Area 5 – Friendship
We need men and women who know how to make and sustain friendships.
The disciples were not Jesus’ childhood friends; they began as strangers. After three years together, Jesus called them His friends for the first time:
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)
Jesus didn’t call everyone His friend—only the twelve. Friendship is reserved for a few. We are called to be kind to all but close to some. It is good and healthy to have favourites—those you can depend on, grow with, and grow old with.
Friendship should be a goal in life. People often set goals for fitness or finances, but rarely for friendships. Some friendships come naturally—like John’s disciples who were sent to Jesus—while others must be intentionally initiated, as Jesus did when He called His own disciples.
Friendship requires intentionality and effort. It rarely happens by accident, and even if it begins that way, it must be nurtured. Friendships are essential to discipleship because they help shape us into Christ’s likeness. Too many leaders are lonely; unlike Jesus, they do not keep their three close friends. Jesus often took Peter, James, and John—just the three of them—up the mountain to encounter God.
Following His model, a healthy person has about three people with whom they share “mountaintop” experiences. If it’s true that we are the average of our five closest friends, then (1) we need to have friends, and (2) we must choose them wisely.
Everyone needs friends—leaders, elders, fathers, and mothers alike. Unless one wants to die alone and have a poorly attended funeral, friendship investment is essential. Friendships endure when finances, fitness, or family fail. They are God’s provision for the highs and lows of life.
Friendship matters regardless of personality. Even introverts are energised by the right friend at the right time, and even extroverts need the depth of one true friend who offers undivided attention. Friendship is like a blanket—you may not think you need it, but when the night comes, you’ll be glad it’s there. We must learn to create, sustain, and cherish our friendships.