If you ever wonder how you’re doing as a disciple – and a disciple maker, George Barna offers ten simple questions that we should thoughtfully consider:
1. Are you certain that your eternal salvation has been determined by your confession of sins and your acceptance of Christ’s gift of forgiveness?
2. Do you consistently (emphasis mine) obey Jesus’ teachings?
3. Do you always love other people in practical ways, especially fellow followers of Christ?
4. Have you put the attractions and distractions of this world in their proper place and focused on knowing, loving, and serving God?
5. Do you carry the burdens of following Jesus with joy?
6. Do you live in such a way as to show others what the Christian life looks like?
7. Do you relate to other Christians consistently, in a spiritual setting and for spiritual purposes?
8. Are you sharing your faith in Christ with those who have not embraced Him as their Savior?
9. Are you helping other believers to grow spiritually?
10. Do you consistently seek guidance from God in all you do?
The essence of these questions is simple: When you are true disciple of Jesus Christ, you will bear fruit worthy of a follower of the risen Lord. These questions are just mere reminders of the importance of maturing in the Christian faith. None of us would score a perfect ten every moment of every day; we all fall short some times. But as Paul instructed us, we must keep our eyes focused on the goal.
George Barna, Growing Disciples, (Colorado Springs, CO, WaterBrook Press, 2009), 28-30.