Jesus didn't call us simply to believe certain things, attend church, or become better people. He calls us to follow Him with our whole lives—and eventually to help others do the same.
Discipleship is increasingly surrendering all of life to the empowering presence and Lordship of Jesus our Savior.
Meet Jesus. Love Jesus. Live for Jesus.
Discipleship is not a program or a class. It is the lifelong journey of following Jesus, becoming more like Jesus, and helping others follow Him.
At University Parkway, our desire is to help people meet Jesus, love Jesus, and live for Jesus, becoming mature disciples who make disciples.
The goal is not simply personal maturity, but multiplication—disciples who increasingly help others follow Jesus and make disciples.
Lost → Curious → Open → Seeking → New Birth
Discover the gospel and encounter Jesus. For some, this begins with curiosity or questions. For others, it begins with a renewed openness to God. The journey leads us to the new birth and a life of following Christ.
New Birth → Spiritual Infant → Spiritual Child → Spiritual Young Adult
As we follow Jesus, we grow in His Word, prayer, community, character, and obedience. We increasingly learn what it means to love Jesus with our whole lives.
Spiritual Young Adult → Spiritual Parent → Spiritual Grandparent
Maturity moves outward. We use our gifts, share the gospel, make disciples, and live on mission. We help others follow Jesus so that discipleship continues from one generation to the next.
We believe discipleship happens in many environments—both organized and organic—but three ongoing environments are especially important at UPBC:
Discipleship isn't something we complete. Worship, Community, Serve, and Mission are ongoing rhythms that shape how we increasingly live as followers of Jesus.
Growing Together, Equipped for the Mission
Along the way, UPBC provides intentional, time-bound opportunities to equip and strengthen disciples.
Sunday School • Development Pathway • Trainings • Special Events • Conferences • Retreats
These opportunities help equip us for the journey, but they are not the journey itself. They are tools that help us continue growing as we follow Jesus.
Following Jesus Moves Us Outward.
Discipleship ultimately leads beyond ourselves. As we grow in Christ, we are called to enter the lives of others, share the gospel, help people grow as disciples, gather them into biblical community, and eventually help them do the same with others.
We want to equip ordinary believers to live faithfully wherever God has placed them—to meet Jesus, love Jesus, and live for Jesus, while helping others do the same.