Growing to Maturity

A Messianic Jewish Discipleship Guide

Daniel C. Juster

• Publisher: Messianic Jewish Communications
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9781936716425
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

This discipleship guide presents first steps of understanding and spiritual practice, tailored for the Jewish believer, but applicable to anyone.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Author’s Note

Preface: Growing to Maturity as a Discipleship Guide

Introduction: The Call to Discipleship

I. THE PLAN OF SALVATION—GENERAL OVERVIEW

Section A—Creation to Abraham

Section B—Israel: Law, Priesthood, and Sacrifice

Section C—God’s Provision Through the Messiah

II. GOD AND THE MESSIAH

Section A—The Existence and Nature of God

Section B—The Person of the Messiah

Section C—The Work of the Messiah

III. THE CALL TO HOLY LIVING

Section A—The World, the Flesh, and the Devil

Section B—The Spirit and the Word

Section C—The Word of God

IV. HOLINESS AND POWERFUL PRAYER

Section A—The Marks of Holiness

Section B—Prayer and Faith

Section C—Applying Faith and Prayer

V. THE CALL TO COMMUNITY—BODY LIFE

Section A—The Congregation as the Manifestation of God’s Spirit

Section B—Gifts and Ministries

Section C—The Marks of the Body

VI. AUTHORITY AND DISCIPLINE

Section A—The Word and Authority

Section B—The Body of Believers, a Theocracy

Section C—Coordinating Body Life: How Leaders Arise

VII. TO LIVE AS A JEW

Section A—Living as a Jew

Section B—Jewish Feasts and Practices

VIII. IMPORTANT ISSUES

Section A—Judaism and Christianity

Section B—Judaism and Christianity: Issues

Section C—The Future

DEDICATION

Since this is a book on discipleship, the author wished to acknowledge those who have had the greatest mark upon his discipling.

Foremost is the late Chaplin Evan D. Welsh, of Wheaton College, my spiritual father; Dr. David L. Wolfe of Gorden College; Dr. Stuart C. Hackett of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Dr. Kenneth S. Kantzer of Trinity as well. They were my mentors in integrating faith and learning.

Author’s Note

Because Growing to Maturity was first published in 1982, it has been the most widely used book that summarizes the basic biblical doctrine and practice for Messianic Jews and has been used for countless membership classes, basic Bible doctrine classes, chavurah groups, and one-on-one mentoring sessions. The book was translated into Russian, and thousands have been distributed for use in the Russian Jewish movement in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Germany. There is a Hebrew version in Israel, and this book will soon be available in Spanish. In addition, many Christians have used the book for doctrine and discipleship simply because they have trusted it as an accurate source of information to be used for basic instruction in our faith.

The new editions of Growing to Maturity did provide some corrections and updating, but these changes were minor. Many years have passed since 1982, and although sales are still good, a major revision was needed. World conditions have changed, contemporary illustrations are no longer relevant, and some new issues have to be addressed.

Scholarship has tended to confirm the theology of Growing to Maturity. Developments in scholarship and new discoveries in ancient Judaism have made some revision necessary. I trust that this new edition will be a continued source of enrichment to the movement.

Preface

Growing to Maturity as a Discipleship Guide

For Disciplers Using This Book

Discipling is one of the most important functions of a congregation. Yeshua says, “Go and make disciples.” A disciple is someone who has learned to be like the Master in essential spiritual and moral qualities. It is someone who lives according to the lifestyle exemplified and taught by Yeshua and his disciples. Discipling is therefore not merely imparting intellectual knowledge, but also helping a person live rightly.

The discipler is someone who gives his life in care of the disciple. This involves several important things:

Meeting regularly for Bible study.

Keeping regular contact to show care and personal interest.

Praying with and for the disciple so that he may come to maturity of faith.

Exhorting and lovingly correcting the disciple.

Spending time with the disciple in your home so he may observe the lifestyle of believers.

Seeing that the disciple gets to know a variety of mature believers in the congregation; establishing him in fellowship with and regular participation in the congregation.

The disciple is your special responsibility; your goal is that he becomes a committed part of the congregation and receives leadership from the elders. Even after he achieves this goal, you should maintain a special relationship with him. As the disciple grows in the Lord, you should help him to:

Be consistent in having a regular quiet time and developing a real love relationship with the Lord.

Overcome problems through biblical solutions.

Discover his primary spiritual gifts and secondary gifts.

This leads to helping him find his area(s) of service in the body according to a prayerful response to God’s Spirit.

Adopt a lifestyle of obedience to God.

A big problem for many people in their service to the Lord is time management. They simply do not organize their priorities according to the values of God’s kingdom. Instead of praying about how to spend time, most people are creatures of impulsive responses and end up producing little of value for the Lord. This is a central area in which the discipler can help and care for the disciple. The discipline of devotions/quiet time is a first key in this regard.

Using This Book in Discipleship

The discipler should meet with his disciple weekly or even more often until the discipleship course is complete. Meeting at the same time every week is a big help in developing consistency and discipline.

The discipleship course is divided into eight chapters with three sections in each. At times these sections are divided into subsections. Italicized material denotes things that the disciple should particularly remember. After each of the twenty-four sections, you will find Study Questions and Verses for Memorization. This is to help both you and the disciple. It helps provide an outline for the weekly discussion. The Study Questions can also be discussed and a test of the memorized verses given. A typical session might include:

Finding out how the disciple is doing. Has he established a daily quiet time? This is important. Also discuss any concerns the disciple might have.

Praying together before the lesson.

Going over the material for the week by:

a. Reviewing the main points section

b. Discussing the Study Questions

Testing the memorization of verses.

Having a period of prayer together. Teaching by example that the disciple should learn to really seek God in prayer.

For the disciple, reinforcement in learning is provided by:

Reading the sections.

Answering the Study Questions.

Memorizing the verses connected to the section.

Discussing with the discipler:

a. The material in general

b. Any questions

c. Any further explanations

d. The Study Questions and memorization verses

For the discipler, the outline and main points provide an order of presentation while also ensuring that the disciple has accomplished the goals within the book (e.g., confession, forgiveness, quiet time, body life, etc.). Step by step, the disciple will be adding to his life the basic building blocks of a fully biblical lifestyle.

If the disciple has answered the questions, seems to understand the basics, and is in accord with the basic flow of a biblical lifestyle, he is ready to be formally received by the congregation (if this is the community’s tradition). If not, he can be seen as ready to take his full place as a committed member. Memorizing the verses is a real key. The disciple should be encouraged to make memory cards. This is a lifelong task. The discipleship course is only a beginning of the discipline of Scripture memorization.

The key to true discipleship always comes down to love—love expressed in caring for, praying for, praying with, and spending time with the disciple. May God give you lasting fruit in discipling.

The Growing to Maturity Primer

The Growing to Maturity Primer is a supplement to Growing to Maturity. It is an extensive compilation of questions and answers following the chapters and sections of the book. The primer is helpful as a supplement for anyone who desires a deeper course in memorization for establishing basic biblical teaching. The answers to the questions are mostly by Scripture quotation. This is an ancient method of teaching. The primer is also helpful to bar mitzvah preparation.

Introduction

The Call to Discipleship

For the Disciple: The Nature of Discipleship

Yeshua says, “Go and make disciples.” A disciple is someone who is like the Master himself. Yeshua’s command is the first reason for discipleship. Our concern is that Jewish followers of the Messiah be under his Lordship, be grounded in the Word, and know the truth and live by the truth as it is revealed in Scripture.

Discipleship is a lifestyle of “walking in his steps.” It is a life of godly service, prayer, and fellowship in the household of faith. Therefore, this series of lessons is only a first step in discipleship. Let us press on in knowing the Lord and living in the constant presence of the Spirit.

Yeshua says, “Why do you call me Lord, and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). In Matthew 7, he makes it clear that accepting his salvation means yielding our lives without reservation. We might not know the total will of the Lord, but “not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father.” Salvation is by God’s grace; a person who truly accepts God’s grace is willing and able to do God’s will.

This discipleship doctrine book presents these first steps of understanding and spiritual practice tailored to the Jewish believer. It hopefully will be an aid in living according to Yeshua’s will as a disciple, someone who has learned by his teacher’s example.

The Method of This Book

The discipleship book you are using in this course is structured according to recent advances in individualized educational instruction. Discipleship is serious business, and this material is geared for serious study and reflection.

Each chapter is divided into short sections followed by Study Questions. These questions are to be answered in the book. Memory verses are assigned after the Study Questions. These should be written on index cards and memorized. They are key aids to building faith and maturity. After answering the sectional Study Questions, you should check your answers by studying the italicized portions of the text.

Following Yeshua is a new world; there is a new language and new ways of thinking to be learned. Learning is crucial to real discipleship.

Chapter 1

The Plan of Salvation: General Overview

The goal...