- Biblical
- Transformational
- Missional
Biblical
Biblical means relating to, or being in accord with the Bible. The heart of a disciple at New Beginnings Church is reading the Bible, studying the Bible, memorizing the Bible, meditating on the Bible, living the Bible’s precepts, and obeying the Bible’s commands [Hebrews 4:12, Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17]. A genuine encounter with the truth of God's Word will result in spiritual growth and transformation of the heart and soul.Transformational
Transformation is the act, process, or instance of transforming or being transformed. Transformation is the operation of change. New Beginning's disciples understand that they will be intentionally and continually changing - growing toward spiritual maturity. New Beginning's disciples have a vision of being transformed from a born-again spiritual infant [1 Peter 2:2-3], into a strong, influential force for God [2 Corinthians 5:17-21].The emphasis of the New Beginnings disciple is not only understanding the teachings, precepts, truths, and commands of the Bible, but applying this biblical understanding to everyday life. Time in the Bible is of no use unless disciples are being transformed by the truths God reveals. Disciples will never really know the Bible until they are willing to be changed by it. All biblical knowledge must result in practical action and personal application. Engaging with scripture will transform a disciple and revolutionize the way a disciple lives. "As complicated as life may become, discipleship is simply walking with Jesus in the real world and having him teach us moment by moment how to live life His way."1
The Bible guides the disciple to discover, learn, and practice biblical spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are biblical practices which transform the disciple into the image of Jesus. Dallas Willard has identified the critical value of spiritual disciplines. He says, “The aim of disciplines in the spiritual life, specifically in following Christ, is the transformation of the total state of the soul. It is the renewal of the whole person from the inside, involving differences in thought, feeling, and character that may never be manifested in outward behavior at all.” Willard warns that focusing on outward behavior to the exclusion of the inward transformation is fraught with dangers. He says, “Focusing on outward behavior will only make a Pharisee out of you and sync you into layers of hypocrisy. Instead you have to be transformed in the functions of the soul so that the deeds of the law are a natural outflow of who you have become.”3 This is the value of becoming a transformed disciple.Missional
In order to become transformed, disciples must be guided by the Holy Spirit to find ways of embodying the gospel that draw upon their own unique God-giftedness (Ephesians 2:10), while remaining faithful to the witness of Scripture. Developing into a growing disciple encourages obedient care-giving and service. The mission of effective disciples is not to become an educated group of elite Bible students. Rather, the disciples are to take on the characteristics of Jesus: healing, loving, and sacrificially serving. Although Bible skills and Bible knowledge are worthy pursuits, the mission of the growing disciple is to accomplish the redemptive mission of God in the world.- Priscilla Shirer, He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear from God (Nashville: Lifeway, 2005) 23
- Michael J. Wilkins, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004) 425
- Dallas Willard, The Great Omission (New York: Harper Collins, 2006) 152
