Disciples of Jesus Christ are expected to continue to grow in obedience, in holiness, and in usefulness from their initial conversion to Christ until the day that the Lord calls them home (Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Hebrews 5:11ff; 1 Peter 2:2; Romans 8:29). The challenge of discipleship is to continue pressing toward the prize for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14) in the monotony and trials of life. The following are questions that can help the disciple assess their spiritual progress. For each question, the disciple should be able to answer in the positive and then give evidence for that answer. “Why would you say that? What is your basis for that answer, your evidence?”

• Would you say that your understanding of Scripture and your understanding of how the whole Bible fits together is greater now than it was two years ago?

• Have you memorized more Scripture now than you had two years ago? (Psalm 119:11; 1 Peter 2:2)
  
• If you are married, do you love your wife better now than you did two years ago? (Ephesians 5:25ff)

• If married, do you live with your wife in an understanding way more often than you did two years ago? (1 Peter 3:7)

• Are you more “above reproach” in your behavior and your thought life than you were two years ago? (1 Timothy 3:2)

• Do you give a greater percentage of your gross income to the Lord’s work (church tithe, missions and gospel-focused ministries) than you did two years ago? 2 Cor. 8-9

• Are you using your spiritual gifts more now than you did two years ago? 1 Corinthians 12, 14; Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:6-8

• Do you understand the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and the Lord’s call in Acts 1:8 better now than you did two years ago?

• Do you intentionally engage in evangelism more now than you did two years ago?

• Has your prayer life deepened in the last two years? In what ways?

• Do you pray for the lost more now than you did two years ago?

• Are you more aware of your own sins than you were two years ago? (Psalm 51; Matthew 5:6)

• Do you see more victory over your own sins than you did two years ago?

• Do you have a clearer vision now than you did two years ago as to why God put you here on earth and what your specific mission is? (John 17:4)

• Are you more of a threat to Satan’s kingdom than you were before? In what way?

• Are you increasing in usefulness to Christ and to His kingdom? How are you useful?

• Are you accomplishing the work for which you were created?

• Are you increasing in holiness by the ongoing subduing of the flesh?