Choose the Life - Discipleship

This is another post from the book 'Choose the Life' by Bill Hull.

In chapter 2, Hull states: 'The purpose of discipleship is to go deeper with God, to be shaped into the image of Christ, because character is developed in community. If we are following the New Testament model, discipleship should look like this today:

1. - A disciple submits to a teacher who teaches him or her how to follow Jesus.
2. - A disciple learns Jesus' words.
3. - A disciple learns Jesus' way of ministry.
4. - A disciple imitates Jesus' life and character.
5. - A disciple finds and teaches other disciples for Jesus.

...the most common characteristics are 2, 3 and 4'.

'The reasons characteristics 2 through 4 are most common is that they are the least challenging of the five. Frankly, people can do these without having to change. It goes back to the indictment that we have found ways to be Christian without becoming Christlike. Items 1 and 5 make it all work'.

'The frightening truth is that most Christians fail to even do 2 through 4, let alone 1 and 5. But what scares me more is that we can practice 2 through 4 alone and be considered mature Christian leaders. The fact that we avoid submission and seldom evangelize and disciple is a troublesome fact of the body of Christ'.

'Before we can make disciples, however, we must be disciples...It is a commitment to be transformed; it is a choice we make, an intention to live the way Jesus lived'.

Where are you in relation to the 5 characteristics?