Discipleship – Growth in Stages
Jesus clearly calls us to make disciples—but interestingly, He doesn’t give us a detailed blueprint for how to do it. There are no architectural drawings, no step-by-step manuals, no clearly defined pathways. What we do have is His life. We watch how He prioritised people, walked with them, asked questions, shared meals, had long conversations, challenged assumptions, and stretched faith. But He never handed His followers a checklist titled “How to Make a Disciple.”
That leaves us doing what the early church did: looking to the rest of Scripture for wisdom and insight. And this is where the Apostle John brings some beautiful clarity.
In 1 John 2:12–14, John describes discipleship in terms of growth stages—much like human development. He outlines four stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This is not accidental imagery. John is intentionally helping us see that disciples grow over time, and that growth looks different at different stages.
Unfortunately, many English Bible translations blur an important distinction. John uses two different Greek words—”Teknia” (infants or very little children) and “Paidia” (children)—but they are often translated simply as “children.” While that isn’t technically wrong, it does hide an important nuance. For discipleship to be effective, recognising these distinct stages really matters.
John doesn’t just name the stages; he also identifies marks that characterise each one. These marks aren’t meant to be exhaustive, but they do give us clear insight into what spiritual growth looks like at each stage—and what we should reasonably expect to see in a disciple who is maturing.
For the infancy stage, John highlights forgiveness. This makes perfect sense. Understanding that we are forgiven by God sits at the very heart of salvation. It involves grasping sin, repentance, and our need for a Saviour. At this stage, disciples are learning not only that they are forgiven, but also how forgiveness begins to flow through them toward others.
For the childhood stage, the key mark is knowing the Father. This is more than head knowledge—it’s relational. It involves experiencing God as a loving Father who provides, protects, guides, corrects, and brings security. Just as healthy parenting shapes a child’s identity, knowing the Father is essential for a disciple’s sense of belonging and confidence in God.
In the adolescent stage, John identifies three marks: God’s Word lives in you, you have overcome the evil one, and you are strong. This strength isn’t physical—it’s a settled inner confidence rooted in our identity in Christ. God’s Word being alive in us means we don’t just know Scripture; we live it. Overcoming the evil one speaks to growing mastery over sin through God’s grace, learning to resist temptation, and recognising spiritual opposition with discernment rather than fear.
Finally, in the adult stage, John says the mark is knowing “Him who is from the beginning.” This is a deeply profound statement. Spiritual maturity doesn’t lead to arrival or complacency. Instead, it draws us into a lifelong pursuit of God—seeking to know Him more deeply in His glory, greatness, and mystery. Mature disciples never stop seeking; they never stop growing.
This, then, is John’s pathway of discipleship. It provides a framework that helps us recognise where we—and those we disciple—are in the journey. In the weeks ahead, this pathway will guide our exploration of discipleship, as we connect these stages with the core elements discussed in the previous blog.
Reflection Questions
Looking at John’s stages of discipleship, which stage do you most identify with right now? What evidence supports that?
What marks of growth do you see—or not yet see—in your own life at this stage?
Thinking about the people you disciple, what stages are they in? How does that awareness shape the way you walk alongside them?
What might it look like to help someone intentionally move from their current stage into the next one?
A Closing Prayer
Father God,
Thank You that You are patient with us as we grow. Thank You that discipleship is a journey, not a race. Help us to recognise the work You are doing in us at every stage and give us wisdom to walk well with others as they grow. Teach us to nurture life, encourage maturity, and remain humble learners ourselves. Draw us ever deeper into knowing You and let our lives reflect Your transforming grace.
Amen.
Call to Action
This week, take time to honestly assess your stage of discipleship and that of those you are discipling. Ask God to show you one area where He is inviting growth in you and in them. Remember, discipleship flourishes when we walk with clarity, patience, and purpose.
