The process of maturing as a Christian has four parts as found in the end of each of the gospel accounts.

1. Mark 16:15 tells us to make converts—preach and baptize. As a convert, the commitment to Christ is of importance hence, baptism, which is the physical sign of giving one’s life to Christ. Signs and wonders follow evangelistic endeavors because they are for the unsaved. Miracles seal the deal and show the wonders of God. Is there a part of your that life still needs to be converted to Christ and sealed with signs & wonders?
   
   
2. Matthew tells us to make disciples. Have you been discipled and by whom? Matt 28:20 says, “teach them to observe all things I have taught you. Lo, I am with you until the end of the world”. Teaching takes more time, dedication, and discipline on the part of the teacher and the student. Paul spent years in one place making disciples. He made disciples through teaching and modeling. He worked as a tentmaker while living an exemplary life. That is what qualified him to say “follow my example.”
   
   
3. Luke 24:49 tells us to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. After one’s commitment to Christ is strengthened, sculpted, and refined, the power of the Holy Spirit is needed to do the work of the Kingdom. The apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be bold, and come through trials that they would face. Notice, he told them to wait for it not work or manipulate to get it. It is in the Father’s timing that the Holy Spirit is given. Are you waiting in God’s timing?
   
   
4. John 21:22 keeps the focus of “Follow me.” God has a different destiny for each one of us. To avoid the chance of being waylaid or tangled up in someone else’s destiny we need to stay focused to follow him. Are you following him to your destiny or to someone else’s destiny?

It is interesting to me that though these are stages of growth, they don’t always follow the same order. Often a new convert is empowered by the Holy Spirit immediately and is involved in signs and wonders thus converting others. I have also noticed that if one does not go through the discipleship phase, he soon crashes and burns. Skipping the discipleship phase is not an option. Our characters have to be developed and tested before God can promote us to the next level of destiny. Wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Trying to “follow him” without the power of Holy Spirit will end up in the flesh and the flesh will soon wear us out or take over. How can we expect to follow a supernatural God without his supernatural power?

Although the steps of Christian growth can unfold differently, I would surmise that all are necessary to grow into maturity on the level at which the Christian can produce seed and reproduce the Christian lifestyle. A mature Christian is converted, disciplined, obedient and empowered.