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Encourage
 Disciples are not
born mature; in reality, many disciples never grow beyond the infancy stage of their
relationship with Christ. Inherent to the journey of discipleship is the ongoing call to
mature in faith. Growth in faith happens as we are mentored and as we mentor and encourage
others. Christian education is the more formal way children of God are discipled in their
faith. Mentoring relationships are a less “institutional” way the building of
faith happens as more mature disciples become “stewards of the mysteries of
faith” with seekers. Encouragement happens between more seasoned disciples and those
growing, between friends at similar points in their journey encouraging each other to
growth, between key teachers such as pastors and congregational leaders and students of
the faith. In this process of exchange it is not only the learner who grows, but the one
who mentors and teaches. The maturing disciple knows she is never finished; that the path
of maturity continues to the day we exchange this life for the next. A biblical model for
this process can be Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8).
Part of the disciples’ job description is to pass on the faith.
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