Why move closer to Jesus?  1 Samuel 2:1-10 contains Hannah's answer.  It includes good news, bad news, great news, and--from the cheap seats, what appears to be--hard news.  This is the journey of the Gospel.

Discipleship 301: The Plan.  Discipleship (and Sanctification) happens with the help of the Local Church, not without: the Local Church is God's way to serve His servant's service.

Discipleship 201: The Map.  Discipleship progresses through a series of regions: New Discipleship, Being Discipled, a Made-Disciple, and a Mature Disciple.  Each of these regions has unique characteristics, joys, and pitfalls. 

Discipleship 101: The One Thing.  Disciple-ship, -making, is the One Thing God has ever been working on: drawing us all together closer to Jesus.  Therefore, Discipleship is the Christian Life.  The Christian Life is discipleship, and disciple-making.