Have You Discovered NDI’s Five Core Principles?

Nazarene Discipleship International’s mission is to carry out the Great Commission to children, youth, and adults in preparation for a lifelong journey of being and making Christlike disciples in the nations. This path of disciple making, and the church’s co-mission with Jesus Christ, is to reach the lost, establish new believers in their faith, and walk with them into the joyous experience with God called entire sanctification. This vision took shape in the presentation of A Journey of Grace a few short years ago. However, the vision for discipleship did not stop there.

The Question and Next Steps

Nazarene discipleship leaders from all six global regions asked the question: “What are the principles, practices, and behaviors of Nazarenes and Nazarene churches who make disciples along a journey of grace?” In other words, what activities should Nazarenes be doing on a daily basis if we hope to accomplish the mission of making Christlike disciples in the nations?

Through recommendations of a strategy team of 30 global discipleship leaders, Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI) is now encouraging the church to double-down on five discipleship-centered activities. We also refer to these as our NDI Core Principles.

Our 5 NDI Core Principles are:

            Fervent Prayer

            Compassionate Outreach

            Comprehensive Biblical Learning

            Intentional Mentoring and Equipping

            Authentic Relationships.

These core principles are an important part of the new NDI Bylaws. Let’s briefly look at each one.

Prayer is an essential part of discipleship. In fact, prayer is the bedrock upon which all other ministry efforts are built. As we pray, God inspires us to be actively engaged in the world. Through prayer, we participate in the Holy Spirit’s transforming power, both for ourselves and for our neighbor.

God is continually reaching out to prepare people’s hearts to receive salvation. Compassionate outreach reveals God’s love for humanity. It is a disciple’s care for non-believers, both local and global, that places a face and hand to God’s grace and love.

Learning the Scriptures through individual and group study helps disciples to become more like Christ. When we study the Word of God, which is active and living, we uncover who God is, how God loves, and how we are to love others.

Mentoring and equipping is a discipleship process that introduces new believers to Jesus and reveals how to follow Him personally and fully. Also, mentoring and equipping others on the journey of discipleship is essential to Christian growth and maturity.

The core of our faith and life is to love God and love others. Everyone committed to the Great Commission should be engaged in relationships that honor God and edify the Body of Christ. Loving relationships help us walk the path of holiness as we receive both encouragement and loving correction.

Moving Forward Together

We are confident that as these core principles of NDI are promoted and modelled in each region, field, district, and local church, we will develop Christlike disciples of every age and in every culture. As we live out these principles in the life and ministries of the local church and in the practices and behaviors of every Nazarene, we will accomplish the mission of making Christlike disciples in the nations.

We recognize that discipleship will look different as cultural needs shape our methodologies, but our global mission, purpose, and core principles remain the same. We will look more closely at these in the upcoming editions of our Journey e-newsletter. If you would like more information and resources that support the five core principles, click here.