A disciple is someone who, desiring to be like their master, devotes him or herself to becoming like them.  At Kingdom First Ministries, we believe that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the greatest treasure a person could ever find.  It is so great in fact, that a life of complete surrender to Him, living life as His disciple, is the only response to the grace He has demonstrated for us.  It is our prayer that everyone who reads these words would grow to understand and experience the four postures of a fully-devoted Christ follower.

The Four Postures of Discipleship

1.      Face down before God in worship. In this posture our hearts are brought into alignment with God’s heart for us and the world. True worshippers are the only thing we are ever told the Father is “seeking” in Scripture. If that is what God is after, that is what we should desire to become. Extending well beyond just singing, worship is our bringing to God that of which He is worthy; ALL OF US.  Worship should permeate our entire being, such that the reflex of our heart is to assume a posture of being prostrate before the One from which our life originates and to whom our life will be called into account (Revelation 4:9-11).

2.      Kneeling before the Cross in surrender.  In this posture we recognize that nothing we have is ours, and surrender it all before the cross.  If we are a believer, then the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our body.  We are no longer our own to do with what we please.  As such, it is only when we submit all that we are to the Lord that we will find our true identity, discover our true assignment in life, receive the strength to embark on the journey of obedience He has set before us (John 15:5), and interact rightly with those he has placed around us.  Scripture declares that one day every knee will bow before Jesus, proclaiming His supreme lordship (Philippians 2:9-11). Our desire is that people would do so now rather than later.

3.      Seated around a table in the context of community. In this posture we come alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ, spurring them on towards the Lord as they do the same for us.  Just as athletes training for competition are able to achieve far greater heights when surrounded by running mates, so are we better able to attain the heights to which we have been called by our Savior when surrounded by fellowship. This is where we find the courage to live for Christ in the context of our daily lives, ultimately being refined in the process. Fellow travelers serve as a tailwind for our sails, as well as a file for our rough edges (Proverbs 27:17).

4.      On both feet going out in service. In this posture we surrender the things that we hold to be our rights and humble ourselves before others, recognizing them as bearers of the image of our creator.  Only from this posture can we make an impact on the world around us, and fulfill the great “co-mission” as ambassadors for Christ. The world will recognize us by our love and our love is made known through our service (John 13). We hold to the conviction that God is intentional with our lives, and therefore, our lives are meant to be lived intentionally.