Date
10-16-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Paul Esswein
Keywords
Discipleship, Transformation, Individual, Reciprocal, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Maturity
Disciplines
Christianity | Religion
Recommended Citation
Whitley, Scott M., "1-2-1 Reciprocal Discipleship: A Transformation Strategy for Effectively Growing Mature Disciples of Jesus Christ" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7540.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7540
Abstract
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are called to be transformed into the image of Christ through the intimacy of knowing the Father (Eph. 4:13; 2 Cor. 3:18; John 17:3). This can be taught and experienced through one-on-one discipleship, thus fulfilling the Great Commission. Unfortunately, many different discipleship models have become the prevailing stratagem, leaving one-on-one discipleship less emphasized or wholly abandoned. This has resulted in significant transformation through intimacy being lost in many churches and leading to a departure from scriptural discipleship. Therefore, this action research project assumed that consistent participation in the 1-2-1 Reciprocal Discipleship: A Transformation Strategy program is necessary to develop an intimate relationship with the Father that will produce a permanent, ongoing transformation into the image of Jesus Christ. Moreover, this program assumes that participants will develop a reciprocal means of conveying one-on-one discipleship to others as they learn this strategy. This research project comprised three essential points: developing intimacy with the Father, discovering one’s identity in Christ, and becoming love. Quantitative data were collected by the program participants completing the pre-course and post-course surveys. In addition, qualitative data were collected through participants' journaling, weekly questionnaire prompts, and the researcher’s observation notes at the end of the program. The research results indicated a significant increase in spiritual formation and a comprehensive increase in understanding of one’s identity in Christ with an impetus of change due to a transcendent intimacy with the Father. This affirms this action research program. Therefore, local churches are encouraged to provide their church members with this type of Transformation Strategy program to help fulfill the Great Commission.
