Bible Study About Discipleship: Following Jesus

The word discipleship might sound like Christian jargon – something reserved for theologians or the twelve apostles in long-ago Bible stories. I confess, when I first heard it, I pictured Jesus’ followers with sandals and robes, thinking it didn’t have much to do with me.

But as I dug into Scripture, I discovered that discipleship is actually a very personal and present reality for every believer. It’s about being a disciple – a learner and follower of Jesus – in our everyday lives.

In this whitepaper, we’ll break down the definition of disciple, see how the concept is woven throughout Scripture from the Old Testament to the New, and look at related ideas like following Jesus, serving, and learning.

We’ll also examine the instructions Jesus gave about being (and making) disciples, examples of discipleship in action, the blessings that come with it, and the rich symbolism the Bible uses to describe it.

My goal is that this Bible study is honest, conversational, maybe a bit humorous at times, and deeply rooted in God’s Word – something to help everyday believers (myself included) learn and grow as followers of Christ.

What Does “Discipleship” Mean?

At its most basic, discipleship means the state of being a disciple – a follower or student of a teacher’s doctrine and example.

The term disciple in the Bible comes from a Latin root meaning “to learn,” and it literally refers to a learner.

In the King James Version (KJV) Bible, disciple is used to describe someone who receives instruction from another.

For example, Webster’s 1828 dictionary (often used for KJV word definitions) defines disciple as “a learner; a scholar; one who receives or professes to receive instruction from another”.

It also adds that a disciple is “a follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another.” In the biblical context, that means if you follow Jesus’s teachings and His way of life, you are His disciple​.

Discipleship, then, is living as a learner and follower of Jesus – not just learning facts, but adopting the teachings and lifestyle of Christ.

A disciple of Christ is one who...

• believes His doctrine
• rests on His sacrifice
• imbibes His Spirit
• imitates His example.​

In other words, being Jesus’ disciple touches every aspect of our lives: what we believe, where we place our hope, how we behave and think, and who we strive to emulate.

It’s not a one-time status but an ongoing relationship of learning and growing. In Jesus’ day, disciples didn’t merely attend lectures; they lived with their teacher, observing and imitating him daily​.

Discipleship meant more than absorbing information – it meant relationship and transformation.

As one modern seminary puts it, “Discipleship meant much more than just the transfer of information... it referred to imitating the teacher’s life, inculcating his values, and reproducing his teachings.”

It’s a bit like an apprenticeship for the soul: you learn by hearing and by doing, side by side with the Master.

It’s also useful to know the original biblical words behind disciple.

The New Testament was written in Greek, and the word for disciple is mathetes (μαθητής), which literally means “a learner” or “pupil”​.

It comes from the verb manthano, “to learn,” and in that culture it described someone who attached themselves to a teacher to learn not just knowledge but a way of life​.

So when Jesus said “Go and teach all nations” in the KJV Great Commission, the Greek essentially says “make disciples of all nations” – in other words, bring others into this learning-following relationship with Jesus.

In Hebrew (the language of the Old Testament), an equivalent concept is found in the word limmud, meaning “taught” or “trained one.”

• The prophet Isaiah, for instance, speaks of “my disciples” (Isaiah 8:16 KJV), using a term derived from limmud, indicating those who were taught by him​.

Later Jewish tradition used the word talmid for disciple, which also means a student. Whether in Greek or Hebrew, the heart of the idea is the same: a disciple is someone learning from and following a master.

So, discipleship in the KJV Bible isn’t a special program or a class; it’s a relationship and a way of life.

It starts with answering Jesus’ call, “Follow me,” and it continues as a lifelong journey of staying near Him, learning from Him, and becoming more like Him.

Discipleship Throughout Scripture: From Old to New

The idea of discipleship runs throughout the Bible, even when the word “disciple” itself isn’t always used. In the Old Testament, we don’t frequently see the term “disciple,” but the concept is certainly there.

The nation of Israel was essentially called to a kind of discipleship with God – God was the teacher and leader, and the people were to follow Him and learn His ways.

For example, God said to Israel, “I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12 KJV)​.

This covenant relationship meant Israel had to follow God’s commandments and trust Him, much like a disciple follows a master.

In fact, the ideal model of discipleship in the Old Testament was Israel hearing God’s voice and obeying, as a community walking with their divine Teacher​.

• The book of Isaiah envisions a day when “thine eyes shall see thy teachers” and people will hear God’s guidance saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:20-21), showing an intimate picture of God personally teaching His people​.

We also find mentoring relationships in the Old Testament that mirror a discipleship pattern.

Moses and Joshua are a great example:

Joshua served as Moses’ aide, watching him lead and learning from him for years (Exodus 24:13, 33:11).

When Moses’ time ended, Joshua was filled with wisdom because Moses had laid hands on him – a clear passing of the torch (Deuteronomy 34:9). Joshua had essentially been discipled by Moses to carry on God’s work.

Similarly, Elijah and Elisha show this pattern.

• Elisha literally left everything to follow the prophet Elijah and become his disciple – when Elijah called him, Elisha burnt his plowing equipment and followed (talk about commitment!) (see 1 Kings 19:19-21).
• Elisha served Elijah until Elijah was taken up to heaven, and Elisha inherited a “double portion” of his spirit to continue the ministry (2 Kings 2:9-15).
• This Old Testament story has strong echoes in the New Testament: just as Elisha asked to inherit his master’s spirit, Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit to empower them after He ascended (Acts 1:8).
• And just as Elisha went on to do even more miracles, Jesus told His disciples they would do greater works because He was going to the Father (John 14:12) – an amazing fulfillment of the discipling process.
• We might say Elijah and Elisha were a type or foreshadowing of Christ and His disciples: the mentor prepared the disciple to carry on the mission with even greater reach.

Throughout the Old Testament, the call was essentially “follow God.” The prophets often implored people to return to God’s ways.

Joshua told Israel, “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15), and Elijah challenged the people, “If the LORD be God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21 KJV)​.

Following – in Hebrew thinking – meant obeying God’s law and walking in His path. It was a metaphorical way to speak of discipleship to Yahweh.

Even though they didn’t use the term disciple, faithful Israelites like David, Daniel, or Ruth lived lives of devotion and learning under God’s guidance, much like disciples.

When we turn to the New Testament, discipleship comes into full focus. The word disciple appears frequently (the KJV uses “disciple” 29 times and “disciples” 243 times in the New Testament​).

It’s most often used to describe the followers of Jesus. But interestingly, not only Jesus had disciples – the term was more general too.

• The Bible speaks of “the disciples of John the Baptist” (Matthew 9:14) and even the disciples of the Pharisees (Matthew 22:16).

In other words, a disciple is simply a follower of a teacher, and many Jewish rabbis or leaders had disciples.

• Even the Pharisees scornfully told a healed blind man, “thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples” (John 9:28 KJV), claiming they followed Moses’ teachings.

That said, when we talk about discipleship as Christians, we’re usually referring to following Jesus Christ.

Jesus gathered a group of twelve disciples (often called the Twelve or apostles) who traveled with Him, but He had many other disciples as well (at one point He sent out seventy of them in ministry​, see Luke 10:1).

These men and women literally walked with Jesus, ate with Him, listened to His every word, and learned by observing how He lived.

Can you imagine hearing Jesus teach the crowds, then later around a campfire asking Him follow-up questions? That was the life of the disciples!

They saw how He cared for the hurting, how He prayed, how He responded with wisdom to tricky questions. This was “Discipleship 101,” taught by Jesus Himself.

One remarkable thing is that Jesus initiated the discipleship relationship. In that culture, usually a would-be disciple might seek out a rabbi. But Jesus flipped that around – He went out and called people to follow Him.

He walked up to fishermen mending nets and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). He passed by a tax collector’s booth and said, “Follow me,” and Matthew got up and left everything (Matthew 9:9).

It was Jesus’s idea, His invitation – and this shows His grace and authority. As one theological dictionary notes, “Although discipleship was a voluntary initiative with other teachers, with Jesus the initiative lay with His call…and His choice of those who would be His disciples.”

Jesus hand-picked ordinary people – fishermen, a tax man, a zealot, etc. – not because they were qualified, but because He wanted them.

In fact, He told them, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16 KJV)​.

For those first disciples, saying “yes” to Jesus’ call launched them on an adventure that would transform them forever.

Importantly, in the Book of Acts we see that all believers came to be known as disciples. The early church didn’t use the term “Christian” right away – that came a bit later. In Acts 11:26 it says, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

So before the name “Christian” caught on, the common term for Jesus’ followers was “disciples.” In Acts, we read about “the number of the disciples multiplying” (Acts 6:1) and instructions given to the “disciples” in various cities.

What does this tell us? It tells us that Christianity at its core is meant to be discipleship. To be a Christian is to be a disciple – a student and follower – of Jesus.

There’s no distinction like “ordinary believer vs. disciple”; every believer is invited into this life of learning and following Christ.

That’s a challenge to me personally: I can ask myself, am I living as a disciple or just as a consumer of Christian content? The early believers understood themselves primarily as disciples, people under the teaching and lordship of Jesus.

And that’s our identity too. It’s as if the Bible is reminding us: if you believe in Jesus, you’re enrolled in His “life-school” now – you’re a disciple! And the rest of the Christian life is about growing as a disciple and helping make more disciples.

Related Concepts: Followers, Servants, and Students

Discipleship is such a rich idea that the Bible uses many words and metaphors to describe it. Here are a few closely related concepts that help paint the full picture:

Following Jesus:

The simplest way Jesus described being His disciple was, “Follow me.” The word follow appears often in the Gospels in this context. A disciple is literally one who “comes after” Jesus.

• In fact, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

The image of sheep following a shepherd is a gentle picture of discipleship – we trust Jesus to lead us, and we stick close to Him for safety and guidance.

Following means Jesus sets the direction and pace, and we go where He goes.

It’s not a casual follow, like a Twitter follow – it’s an all-in, “where You go, I go” commitment (remember Ruth telling Naomi, “whither thou goest, I will go”? That’s the heart of a disciple, too).

Servant (and Lord/Master):

In the KJV, Jesus’ disciples often called Him Master or Lord, which implies they are His servants. Discipleship has a servant aspect – not in a harsh way, but in a devoted way.

• Jesus said, “No servant is above his master,” and “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master” (Matthew 10:24-25). So a disciple aims to become like the master.
• Jesus even connected serving and following when He taught, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:26 KJV)​.

In other words, serving Jesus isn’t just about doing tasks – it’s fundamentally about following His lead. The beautiful promise there is that the servant who sticks with Jesus will be honored by the Father.

So, being a disciple is being a servant of Christ, loyally attending to Him and His mission. (It’s kind of like being an intern to the most wonderful boss in the universe – except He calls us friends, not just interns!)

Student (Learner):

The term disciple strongly implies being a student. Jesus was often called Teacher (Rabbi) by His disciples, and they asked Him many questions (sometimes they probably asked the same thing we would: “Explain that parable, Lord – we didn’t get it.”).

A disciple has a posture of humility and teachability. We see Mary, for example, sitting at Jesus’ feet, “hearing his word” (Luke 10:39) – that’s the classic position of a disciple absorbing the Master’s teaching.

In fact, in one place Jesus specifically defines a true disciple in terms of continuing in His teaching: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 KJV)​.

To “continue” in His word means to abide in His teachings, to hold fast to them continually. It’s not just a one-time class; it’s a lifelong learning process.

And note the promise – as we live in His Word, we come to know the truth deeply, and that truth brings freedom. So being a disciple-student of Jesus is the path to true knowledge and liberty of soul. (How’s that for motivation to stick with Bible study?)

Imitator:

Another way the Bible describes discipleship is imitation. Paul told the Corinthians, “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV).

• The word “followers” can be translated imitators. Discipleship is a kind of holy mimicry – we seek to imitate Jesus’ character. In Ephesians 5:1, we’re urged to be “followers (imitators) of God, as dear children.”

Think of a little kid who loves their dad and tries to walk just like him, wearing his big shoes around the house. In the same way, we as God’s children look at our Father (and at Jesus, who perfectly shows us the Father) and we try to walk in His footsteps.

This imitation isn’t fake; it’s born out of love and admiration. Over time, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we actually start becoming more like Jesus in reality, not just in pretense (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Discipleship is the Spirit-empowered process of being “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son” (Romans 8:29).

Relationship (Friendship and Family):

One remarkable aspect of Christian discipleship is that it’s not a cold student-teacher arrangement; it blossoms into friendship and family.

• Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper, “Henceforth I call you not servants… but I have called you friends” (John 15:15).
• They were still His disciples, but the relationship had grown intimate. He even said, “Whoever shall do the will of my Father… the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50 KJV).

In discipleship, we enter into God’s family – we gain brothers and sisters in Christ, and we have God as our Father. The early disciples formed tight-knit communities, learning and worshipping together (Acts 2:42).

Discipleship is meant to be lived out in fellowship, not in isolation. We learn from more mature believers, and in turn help those who are newer in the faith – a bit like a big family where older siblings guide the younger.

This relational warmth is part of what makes discipleship challenging at times (relationships can be messy) but also deeply rewarding.

All these concepts – following, serving, learning, imitating, befriending – give us a multi-faceted picture of what it means to be a disciple. It’s head, hands, and heart.

It’s learning and obeying. It’s revering Jesus as Lord and enjoying Him as friend. Discipleship engages our whole being in pursuit of Christ.

The Call and Cost of Discipleship

Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat what it means to follow Him. Throughout the Gospels, He lays out both the call and the cost of discipleship with striking honesty. This is one of the things I appreciate about Jesus – He invites us freely, but He also warns us upfront that it will demand our all.

Let’s look at some of the key instructions and “terms” Jesus gave for those who would be His disciples:

“Follow Me” – The Initial Call:

Jesus’ invitation was (and is) simple in wording: “Follow me.” But that call comes with a choice.

• When He called Simon Peter and Andrew, “they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (Matthew 4:20).
• Levi (Matthew) left his lucrative tax booth (Luke 5:27-28).

Saying yes to Jesus meant saying no to something else – in their case, their former livelihoods (at least for a time).

Jesus doesn’t always ask us to quit our jobs, but He does ask that we surrender our old priorities. We effectively sign over the title of our lives to Him.

It’s been said, “If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” Discipleship begins with making Jesus the number one authority and loyalty in your life. It’s a big deal – and Jesus wants us to understand that.

Loving Jesus Above All:

• One of Jesus’ most challenging statements on discipleship is Luke 14:26 – “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”​.

Whoa – “hate” my family and my own life? Did Jesus really mean that? This is a case where Jesus used hyperbolic language to make a point: Our love and allegiance to Him must be so supreme that, by comparison, every other attachment looks like hate.

Of course Jesus also taught us to love others (including honoring parents), so He’s not literally commanding hatred. He’s vividly saying nothing – not even your dearest relationships or your own self-interest – can come before Him.

If there’s a fork in the road between Jesus and anything or anyone else, a true disciple goes with Jesus.

This is tough. It doesn’t mean we will always feel warm fuzzy emotions toward God and coldly despise our family – it means in choices and priorities, Jesus comes first.

And sometimes following Him will put us at odds with family or friends.

A disciple must be prepared for that. Jesus Himself experienced misunderstanding and opposition from His own family and hometown, so He prepares us that we might too (Matthew 10:34-37).

Carrying the Cross – Daily Self-Denial:

• Jesus famously said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 KJV)​.

In the Roman world, a cross was an instrument of execution – a terribly real and painful symbol.

When Jesus told disciples to carry their cross, He was saying:

• Die to yourself.
• Die to your old sinful desires
• die to your ego
• die to running your own life.

This isn’t a one-time death either; Luke’s Gospel adds “daily.” Every single day, a disciple makes the choice to crucify the self-will and instead say, “Yes, Lord.”

It’s a bit humorous (and tragic) that we often want to negotiate with Jesus: “Lord, I’ll follow you, but let’s not talk about this particular habit or that relationship – I’d like to keep control over those.”

But He kindly yet firmly insists that we must take up the whole cross. There’s no partial cross-carrying option.

• In Luke 14:27, Jesus reiterated, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

It’s that essential. In modern terms, it’s like He’s saying: “If you want to be my disciple, you’ve got to sign your life away to me – no fine print, no exceptions. But in losing your life to me, you’ll actually find real life.”

• In fact, that’s exactly what He said next: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:24).

The paradox of discipleship is that dying to self leads to abundant life. It’s like the seed that falls into the ground and “dies” in order to bear much fruit (John 12:24).

Every day, we get opportunities to deny selfish impulses and choose Jesus’ way – and though it feels like death in the moment, it results in growth, freedom, and joy (and fewer regrets to boot).

Counting the Cost:

Jesus actually told people to “count the cost” before deciding to follow Him. In Luke 14 (right after the verse about carrying the cross), He gives mini-parables: no one builds a tower without calculating if they can finish it, and no king goes to war without assessing his troops.

• Likewise, He said, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33 KJV)​.

He doesn’t want superficial, half-hearted followers who’ll quit when it gets hard. He loves us enough to urge us: Think it through. Are you willing to go all in? Because being my disciple will cost you everything – your pride, your comfort, maybe your reputation, maybe more.

It’s as if He signs each new disciple up under a banner that reads “Take up your cross.”

In times where Christianity is socially acceptable, we might forget this; but many of our brothers and sisters around the world face literal persecution, even death, for being disciples of Jesus.

Even for those of us in less dangerous circumstances, discipleship costs our self-determination. I have to relinquish the driver’s seat of my life to Jesus.

That’s not easy for any of us! But it’s absolutely worth it (as we’ll see when we discuss the blessings). Jesus doesn’t want blind emotion-based commitments; He wants willing, informed devotion – disciples who are in it for the long haul.

Obedience to Jesus’ Commands:

Being a disciple is not just about inner devotion; it shows up in obedience.

• Jesus said plainly in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

A true disciple not only listens to Jesus’ teachings but puts them into practice.

• Recall John 8:31 we mentioned: “If ye continue in my word... ye are my disciples indeed.”

Obedience is the proof of our discipleship. Of course, this doesn’t mean disciples never stumble or sin (Peter famously stumbled more than once!), but it means our direction is to follow Jesus’ teachings, and when we fall, we get back up and continue following.

• One key command Jesus gave was to love others. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,” Jesus said (John 13:35 KJV)​.

Love is the badge of discipleship. It’s as if Jesus said the uniform for His followers isn’t a cross necklace or a certain haircut – it’s the way we love each other. That’s how the world will recognize us as people who have been with Jesus.

The early church lived this out remarkably, sharing their possessions, caring for the needy, and even loving their enemies. We’re called to do the same. It’s convicting to ask: Can people tell I follow Jesus by the way I love? According to Jesus, that’s a litmus test of real discipleship.

Making Other Disciples:

Here’s something cool – the call to be a disciple comes hand-in-hand with a call to make disciples. Every disciple is meant to eventually become a discipler of others.

• When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)​.

In the KJV it uses “teach,” but as noted earlier, the meaning is “make disciples of all nations”​.

In other words, “Go and recruit more students for Jesus’ school, from every people group on earth; bring them into the faith through baptism, and then teach them to obey Jesus’ commands, just as you obey me.”

This was Jesus’ parting instruction. Discipleship isn’t meant to be a private affair – it’s reproductive. We receive from Christ, and we’re supposed to help others receive from Christ.

• In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy a very discipleship-oriented strategy: “The things that thou hast heard of me... commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

That’s four generations: Paul -> Timothy -> faithful men -> others. Christianity spread across the world through this discipleship multiplication. And it’s still how the gospel spreads today.

Each of us can have a role in helping someone else know and follow Jesus – whether it’s our children, a friend, a younger believer at church, or someone we mentor.

Jesus promises to be with us always as we do this (Matthew 28:20), so we’re not doing it alone.

To sum up the cost and commitment of discipleship, here’s a quick list of Jesus’ “terms” for anyone who wants to follow Him:

• Supreme Love for Christ: Love Him more than anyone or anything (Luke 14:26)​.
• Self-Denial: Say “no” to selfish desires in order to say “yes” to God’s will (Luke 9:23)​.
• Take Up Your Cross: Embrace sacrifice and even suffering for Jesus’ sake (Luke 14:27)​.
• Forsake All: Be willing to surrender material possessions and personal ambitions (Luke 14:33)​.
• Abide in His Word: Continue learning and obeying Jesus’ teachings (John 8:31)​.
• Love Others: Love your fellow disciples and even enemies, as Jesus loved you (John 13:34-35).
• Bear Spiritual Fruit: Allow God to produce His character and good works in you (Jesus said, “bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” in John 15:8).
• Go Make Disciples: Help others to follow Jesus, just as you do (Matthew 28:19-20).

That’s quite a list! It can feel intimidating. But remember, discipleship is a journey. The original disciples didn’t master all these things overnight – and neither will we.

Peter had great moments of insight and terrible moments of failure, yet Jesus patiently discipled him through it all. The key is that our heart is willing and surrendered to Jesus, and that we rely on His strength to live it out.

He gives us the Holy Spirit precisely because we can’t do it on our own. As we yield to the Spirit, He enables us to follow Jesus step by step, day by day (Galatians 5:16).

It’s also worth noting that Jesus doesn’t ask us to do anything He didn’t do Himself.

• He carried a cross before He asked us to.
• He loved us completely and denied Himself for our sake.
• He left heaven and “forsook all” to save us.

And even He lived in obedience to the Father – in a sense, Jesus modeled the perfect life of a disciple (Isaiah’s prophecy described Messiah as one whom God wakens morning by morning to teach Him, giving Him “the tongue of the learned” – see Isaiah 50:4, which portrays Christ as the ultimate listening and obeying servant of the Lord).

So when Jesus calls us to these high standards, He’s saying “Walk as I walked – I’ll show you how.” He’s not a tyrannical leader demanding from afar; He’s a compassionate guide who’s blazed the trail and walks it with us.

Examples of Discipleship in Action

Sometimes it helps to see concrete examples of what discipleship looks like (and what it doesn’t).

The Bible is full of narrative examples – real people attempting to follow God, with successes and failures we can learn from. Let’s consider a few snapshots of discipleship in both Old and New Testaments:

Moses & Joshua (Old Testament Mentor and Disciple):

We touched on this earlier, but Joshua’s relationship with Moses is a classic discipleship model.

Joshua started as a young aide to Moses, sticking close to him (Exodus 33:11 notes that Joshua “departed not out of the tabernacle” even after Moses left, indicating how hungry he was for God’s presence like his mentor).

Over many years, Joshua observed Moses’ faith, courage, prayer life, and even his mistakes.

When the time came for Israel to enter the Promised Land, Moses had finished his part, and Joshua was ready to lead – not by his own genius, but as one who had been trained by walking with Moses and trusting God himself.

The baton passing from Moses to Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9) is a great reminder that discipleship’s goal is to raise up others to carry on the faith. Moses invested in Joshua, and Israel was blessed with a godly leader for the next phase of their journey.

Elijah & Elisha (Devotion and Continuation):

Elisha’s discipleship under Elijah shows remarkable devotion.

When Elijah tried to get Elisha to stay behind at one point, Elisha refused to leave his side (2 Kings 2:2-6).

He was determined to learn all he could and to be present to the very end. That persistence was rewarded – Elijah did not die but was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha witnessed it and received Elijah’s mantle (cloak) and a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:9-14).

• Afterward, people could tell that “the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” (2 Kings 2:15).

This is a beautiful picture of a disciple carrying on the work of his master, even expanding it.

In the New Testament, we similarly see the apostles, after Jesus ascended, carrying on Jesus’ ministry with the power of His Spirit – and doing even greater outreach (from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth).

For example, Peter in Acts shadowed Jesus’ example in many ways (even raising a woman from the dead like Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter), and yet the gospel through Peter and others reached far more people after Jesus returned to heaven.

• That’s by design – Jesus said the disciple “when he is perfect (fully trained) shall be as his master” (Luke 6:40).

Elisha being like Elijah, and the apostles being like Christ (in character and mission), is the goal of discipleship: to become like the Master and carry on His work.

Jesus & The Twelve (The Ultimate Example):

The Gospels themselves are essentially a manual on how Jesus discipled His followers.

Consider how Jesus taught them.

• Sometimes He taught in formal settings (the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, where “his disciples came unto him” to hear​).
• Other times, He taught through asking them questions (“Who do you say that I am?”) or through object lessons (calling a child to Himself, or cursing a fig tree and then explaining faith).
• He sent them on practice missions (Luke 9 and 10) to preach and heal, then debriefed with them on how it went – much like a supervisor training apprentices.
• Jesus corrected them when they were wrong (as with James and John’s temper, or Peter’s missteps), but also encouraged and prayed for them (He told Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith fail not,” Luke 22:32).
• He even washed their feet, giving them an unforgettable lesson in serving one another (John 13:12-15).
• Over about three years, these disciples went from being clueless about many spiritual things to being bold gospel messengers.

Yes, they had their major failures – they all ran away when Jesus was arrested, and Peter denied Jesus outright. Yet, after Jesus’ resurrection, He restored them, gave them final instructions, and empowered them with the Holy Spirit.

The fact that these once-fearful men eventually “turned the world upside down” for Christ (Acts 17:6) speaks volumes about Jesus’ discipling. He took uneducated fishermen, a tax collector, a radical zealot, etc., and through love, truth, and example, formed them into the foundation of His church.

It’s encouraging to us that Jesus can work with any background – what matters is that we yield to His training.

Barnabas & Paul; Paul & Timothy (New Testament Church):

Discipleship continued in the church after Jesus ascended. A notable example is Barnabas with Saul (Paul). When Saul was a new convert, many were afraid to trust him (with good reason – he had persecuted Christians).

• But Barnabas took Saul under his wing, introduced him to the apostles, and later traveled with him on mission trips, mentoring him in ministry (Acts 9:26-28, 13:1-5).

Barnabas’ name means “son of encouragement,” and he certainly lived up to it by encouraging young Saul.

The result? Saul grew into Paul the Apostle, one of the most influential Christian leaders ever.

Later, Paul himself became a mentor (or spiritual father) to younger men like Timothy and Titus.

• He calls Timothy “my own son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). Paul poured into Timothy, and in turn, he expected Timothy to disciple others (as in the 2 Timothy 2:2 verse about entrusting to faithful men).

• We even see Priscilla and Aquila (a Christian couple) taking aside a preacher named Apollos to explain God’s way more accurately to him (Acts 18:24-26) – that’s discipleship happening in an informal, but impactful way.

These examples show that discipleship isn’t limited to Jesus and the Twelve; it continued as the mode of growth for the church.

Every mature believer was once a disciple who was taught, and is now meant to teach others. It’s like a relay race, passing the baton of faith down through the generations.

Negative Example – “Unfinished” Discipleship:

The Bible also gives warnings through those who started on the path but didn’t follow through. One example is Judas Iscariot – one of the Twelve who followed Jesus for years, but in the end betrayed Him.

Judas is a sobering reminder that proximity to Jesus and even participation in religious activity isn’t enough – a true disciple needs a transformed heart. Judas heard all the same teachings, but perhaps he never truly surrendered his greed or truly loved Jesus.

Eventually, he sold out his Master for 30 pieces of silver. Sadly, that shows it’s possible to appear to be a disciple while harboring a rebellious heart.

Another example is in John 6: many “disciples” of Jesus were following Him, but when He taught some hard truths (saying He was the Bread from heaven, etc.), “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66).

They couldn’t accept the teaching, so they abandoned the Rabbi. Jesus then asked the Twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Peter’s answer was golden: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-69).

Even though the Twelve didn’t understand everything either, they stayed because they knew Jesus was the Truth. This moment separates false disciples from true: when the going gets tough or the teaching gets challenging, do we bail, or do we cling to Jesus anyway?

True disciples may not get it all right, but they stick with Jesus. It’s an enduring commitment, not a fair-weather fandom.

These examples teach us that discipleship is often a process – one that involves growth, setbacks, restoration, and multiplication.

• There’s Elijah and Elisha demonstrating perseverance and legacy
• Jesus and His followers showing perfect love and patience
• Barnabas and Paul illustrating encouragement and trust, and so on.

We can likely think of people in our own lives who have discipled us (a faithful Sunday School teacher, a parent or grandparent who taught us to pray, a pastor who mentored us, or a friend who invited us into Bible study).

And we can aspire to be that for someone else. The pattern is clear: “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). God uses relationships to help us grow as disciples.

The Blessings of Discipleship

Reading about the high cost of discipleship might make one wonder, “Is it worth it?” Absolutely yes – and not just in eternal terms, but even now. Jesus didn’t call us to a miserable life; He called us to true life.

While it’s true that discipleship involves sacrifice, it also comes with tremendous blessings and rewards (though not always the kind the world looks for).

Here are some of the blessings and benefits that the Bible associates with following Jesus as His disciple:

A Deepening Relationship with God:

The ultimate blessing of discipleship is Jesus Himself. By walking with Him, we get to know God in a personal and profound way. Over time, the disciple grows from servant to friend, from student to beloved child.

Think of John the apostle, who leaned on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper – he knew he was loved by Christ (“the disciple whom Jesus loved”).

Through discipleship, we experience the presence of God. Jesus promised “lo, I am with you alway” as we go make disciples. He also said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23).

That’s an incredible promise of intimacy with God for the obedient disciple. We often say Christianity is not a religion but a relationship – discipleship is where that relationship is nurtured and enjoyed.

Truth and Freedom:

• As mentioned earlier, abiding in Jesus’ word leads us to know the truth, and “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 KJV)​.

There is a profound freedom that comes from following Jesus. Freedom from what?

• From sin’s bondage (Romans 6:17-18), from the lies of the enemy, from the anxiety of not knowing why we’re here.

Many of us can testify that as we learn from Jesus – maybe by studying Scripture and applying it – we suddenly see life more clearly.

We see harmful habits broken off. We experience freedom from things like bitterness (as we learn to forgive) or materialism (as we learn to trust God’s provision).

Jesus said His teaching is like a rock foundation; if we build our lives on it, we withstand life’s storms (Matthew 7:24-25). That stability and freedom is a huge blessing in a very uncertain world.

Transformation and Purpose:

Discipleship leads to character transformation – which, though challenging, is truly a blessing.

• We gradually bear the “fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23).
• In John 15:8 Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

​Bearing fruit means our lives actually start reflecting God’s goodness and accomplishing things of eternal value. There is great joy in that!

• In the same passage, Jesus says “these things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11).

Joy is a huge blessing promised to disciples who remain in Christ’s love and teachings. It’s not the shallow happiness of circumstances, but a deep joy of knowing I’m doing what I was created to do.

When we follow Jesus, we also discover our unique purpose in God’s plan – He gives gifts and ministries to each of His disciples to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).

A disciple’s life has meaning; we’re not just drifting. How rewarding it is to, say, lead someone to Christ, or to use a talent to bless the church, or to see growth in our own holiness. Those are fruits of discipleship that bring glory to God and fulfillment to us.

Family and Fellowship:

As mentioned, becoming a disciple grafts us into a new family of believers. Jesus acknowledged that following Him might strain earthly family ties, but He provided a spiritual family to compensate.

He said, “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” (Luke 18:29-30 KJV).

Mark’s Gospel adds “an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children… with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30).

This sounds a bit mysterious, but many interpret it to mean that in the community of believers, we gain many spiritual brothers, sisters, etc., and homes open to us in hospitality – essentially, God gives us a big family to belong to and care for us.

I’ve found this true in my own life; through the church I’ve gained mentors who are like fathers and mothers in Christ, friends who are truly like siblings, and homes where I’m welcomed as family.

This manifold blessing eases the sting if following Jesus causes distance with non-believing family members. It’s God’s way of saying, “You won’t be alone; I’ll surround you with My people.”

Presence and Guidance of the Holy Spirit:

One of the sweetest blessings is that Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to those who follow Him.

• He told the disciples that the Father would send the Comforter to be with them forever (John 14:16-17).
• The Spirit guides us into all truth, teaches us, reminds us of Jesus’ words (John 14:26).

So, we’re not left trying to figure out how to obey on our own – we have a divine Helper inside us.

The Book of Acts shows the Spirit leading the disciples in where to go, what to say, even giving them boldness and doing miracles through them. Every disciple today has that same Spirit.

It’s a tremendous privilege – in fact, in the Old Testament, only select individuals experienced the Spirit in that way. But under the new covenant, all of God’s people, young or old, get to experience the indwelling Spirit (see Joel 2:28’s prophecy).

The Spirit in us is a constant source of comfort, conviction, power, and assurance that we belong to God (Romans 8:15-16).

Eternal Life and Reward:

And of course, the ultimate blessing is eternal life with Jesus. “In the world to come,” as Jesus said, “life everlasting.”

Discipleship now is training for eternity.

The Bible teaches that our labors for Christ are not in vain – there will be rewards. Paul spoke of an “incorruptible crown” for those who run the race (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Jesus talked about being rewarded for even small acts done for Him, like giving a cup of water to someone because they belong to Christ (“he shall not lose his reward”, Mark 9:41).

While we shouldn’t serve Jesus just for rewards, He nonetheless promises them as an encouragement. He even said those who have sacrificed will receive “a hundredfold” and “shall inherit everlasting life”​.

The greatest reward will be hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Can you imagine that moment? All the crosses borne, all the tears shed, all the “I really want to do my own thing but I’ll obey Jesus instead” moments – it will all be worth it when we see His smile.

King David said, “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). That is what awaits the disciple who endures to the end.

To sum up, while discipleship costs us our old life, it gives us a new life – one that is abundant (John 10:10), meaningful, and filled with God’s love.

We trade cheap, temporal things for eternal, precious things. Jim Elliot, a missionary who gave his life in service to Christ, famously said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

That captures the bargain of discipleship. Jesus even told His disciples that those who lose their life for His sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).

I can say from experience (and continuing experience) that whenever I’ve surrendered something to Jesus or obeyed a hard command, what I gained – peace of mind, a closer walk with God, or seeing someone blessed – far outweighed the “loss.”

The blessings might not always be material or immediate, but they are real and deeply satisfying to the soul.

Biblical Metaphors and Patterns of Discipleship

Scripture uses rich symbolism and patterns to help us understand discipleship. Let’s explore a few of these metaphors and how the Old and New Testaments connect in portraying the life of a disciple:

The Yoke of Christ:

One of the most vivid metaphors Jesus gave is in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me… and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”.

A yoke is a wooden harness that links two oxen together so they can pull a plow in sync. To be yoked with Jesus means we are harnessed alongside Him, going His way, doing His work with His strength.

Usually a young ox would be yoked with a stronger, older ox to train it – what a picture of us alongside Jesus! He carries the heavy load and guides the direction; our part is simply to stay in step and learn from Him (“learn of me,” He says).

Amazingly, Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

It might seem odd given all the talk of crosses and self-denial, but the point is that grace makes His yoke light. When we fully surrender, we actually find rest (He specifically says we’ll find rest for our souls in that verse).

Many of us can attest that resisting God’s will is exhausting, but submitting to it brings peace. The yoke metaphor also implies partnership – we are not struggling alone; Jesus is “in the yoke” with us. What a gracious Master, who not only directs us, but pulls with us!

The Cross:

We’ve already discussed cross-bearing as a requirement, but think of it symbolically. In the ancient world, seeing someone carry a cross meant they were as good as dead – they were on their way to execution.

Thus, the cross symbolizes death to the old self.

• Every disciple is a person who has “crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24).
• Paul even said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20).

This is a great mystery of discipleship: by identifying with Jesus’ death and resurrection, our ego is put to death and the life of Jesus grows in us. It’s like a daily spiritual dying and rising.

Baptism is actually a symbolic act of this – Romans 6:4 says we are “buried with him by baptism into death” and raised to “walk in newness of life.”

So, carrying our cross is not about morbidity; it’s about a continual exchange – my life for Christ’s life. The cross also symbolizes suffering. Jesus suffered for us, and as His disciples we may be called to suffer for His sake or for righteousness.

But the promise is that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12).

There’s no resurrection without a cross first. Discipleship invites us into both – “the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death,” and ultimately the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). It’s heavy imagery, but it comes with profound hope.

The Vine and Branches:

In John 15, Jesus gives the metaphor of a vine and its branches to describe the disciple’s relationship to Him.

• He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

This is a comforting picture of connection and dependence. The branch’s one job is to stay connected (“abide”) to the vine – then the life of the vine flows into the branch and produces fruit naturally.

If we abide in Christ – through prayer, His Word, obedience, and remaining in His love – we will bear fruit (character, good works, influence for God’s kingdom) as a byproduct.

If we try to bear fruit on our own, it’s like a branch detached from the vine – impossible and actually a bit absurd (imagine a branch grunting to pop out grapes with no sap!).

This metaphor teaches us that discipleship is not self-powered; it is entirely grace-powered through union with Jesus. It also hints at the pruning process – the Father, as the gardener, will prune branches that are bearing fruit so they bear more (John 15:2).

Pruning (i.e., discipline or trials) can be painful, but it ultimately leads to more growth. A disciple can take heart that hardships under God’s hand are constructive, not pointless.

The Potter and Clay:

While not explicitly about “discipleship” in the sense of following, the imagery of God as a potter and us as clay (Jeremiah 18:1-6, Isaiah 64:8) is relevant.

Discipleship is essentially putting ourselves in the Potter’s hands and letting Him shape us.

• Clay doesn’t tell the potter what to make; it yields to the potter’s design.
• Similarly, part of being a disciple is saying, “Lord, mold me.
• Change what You want to change.
• I trust Your skillful hands.”

Sometimes on the wheel of life we might feel the pressure of His fingers, but He is forming something beautiful and useful out of our surrendered life.

In the New Testament, Paul uses a similar metaphor of believers being vessels for honor, sanctified and “meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21).

This reminds us that discipleship has a purpose: to make us vessels that carry God’s glory and love to others.

Running a Race / Fighting a Battle:

The apostle Paul, in describing the Christian life (which is life as a disciple), often used athletic or military metaphors.

• He talked about running a race to win an incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-27), disciplining his body like an athlete.
• He also spoke of fighting the good fight of faith and putting on the armor of God (1 Timothy 6:12, Ephesians 6:10-18).

These metaphors convey effort, endurance, and focus.

• A disciple, like a runner, needs to cast off entanglements (Hebrews 12:1) and keep their eyes on the prize (Jesus Himself and His “Well done”).
• Like a soldier, a disciple should not get tangled in civilian affairs, but seek to please the commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

While the farmer/athlete/soldier imagery is more about the Christian life generally, it applies to discipleship as the mode of that life. It reminds us that being a follower of Jesus is active, not passive.

We’re in a spiritual contest of sorts – but we’re on the winning team if we stay with Christ. And the crown awaiting is worth it.

Old Testament Types and New Testament Fulfillment:

We have already noted how certain OT relationships (Moses/Joshua, Elijah/Elisha) prefigure Christ’s relationship with His disciples.

We should also mention how Jesus Himself is the fulfillment of what faithful Israel was meant to be.

In a sense, Israel was God’s “disciple-nation” that often failed, but Jesus came as the true faithful Israelite who perfectly did the Father’s will.

• Then Jesus chose 12 disciples, which is not a coincidence – it mirrors the 12 tribes of Israel. He was reconstituting God’s people around Himself.
• It’s like He was saying, “I am forming a new people of God – defined not by ethnicity or the old covenant, but by allegiance to Me.”
• Those 12 then became the foundation of the church (Revelation 21:14 even describes the heavenly city’s wall with 12 foundations named after the apostles).

So there’s a grand pattern: Israel was called to walk with God and be a light; they stumbled often; Jesus came as the Light and gathered new Israel (His disciples) around Him; and through them (the church) the light now goes to all nations – fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham that in his seed all nations would be blessed.

Thus, being a disciple of Jesus also plugs us into the big story of God’s redemption. We are the continuation of that biblical pattern of a people for God’s name.

“Taught of God” Prophecies:

The Old Testament prophets spoke of a coming time when people would have an unusually direct relationship with God’s teaching.

• Isaiah 54:13 says, “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
• Jesus actually quoted this verse in John 6:45, applying it to those who come to Him: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

So, Jesus coming essentially initiated that promise – through Jesus, we are taught by God Himself!

He is the Word made flesh, the ultimate Teacher. Jeremiah 31:33-34 likewise prophesied the new covenant where God’s law is written on hearts and “they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest.”

This finds fulfillment in the Church – each disciple knows God personally and has the Holy Spirit internally guiding them. We no longer have to go through a human priest as a mediator; Jesus is our Mediator and we all, from young to old, can know the Lord directly.

That’s a tremendous privilege of discipleship in the New Testament era, something the prophets eagerly looked forward to. Even the poorest, simplest Christian with a Bible and the Holy Spirit is “taught of God” in a way that would astound the saints of old.

Types of Christ and His Disciples:

Beyond the mentor relationships, there are broader “types” in the Old Testament that foreshadow Christ’s relationship with us.

• For instance, Joshua (the successor of Moses) shares his name with Jesus (Yeshua) and led God’s people into the Promised Land; similarly, Jesus leads us into the ultimate Promised Land of God’s Kingdom.
• One might see Joshua as a type of Christ and the Israelites crossing the Jordan as a type of believers entering into the fullness of God’s promises.
• Elisha receiving Elijah’s spirit and doing greater works could be seen as a type of the Church receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and carrying on Jesus’ works in greater magnitude (greater in extent, though not in nature).
• Also, consider Solomon, who as a son of David had disciples coming from all nations (the Queen of Sheba and others came to learn from his wisdom).
• Jesus, the greater Son of David, explicitly said “a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). Now people from all nations come to Jesus for wisdom and salvation – we, His disciples, are like the entourage of the King sharing His wisdom with the world.

Even the arrangement of rabbi and disciples in first-century Judaism (like other rabbis who had pupils) was a cultural type that Jesus used – but He transcended it.

Other rabbis could teach information, but Jesus changes hearts. Other rabbis eventually died and their disciples would carry on their teaching; Jesus died and rose again and is still actively present with His disciples through the Spirit. So He’s a one-of-a-kind Master.

To illustrate one more pattern:

• In the Old Testament, the phrase “walk with God” is used of a few individuals (Enoch, Noah). That intimate “walk” is essentially what every Christian disciple is now able to have.
• Micah 6:8 says what God requires is “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Discipleship is exactly that – humbly walking with God, day by day.

When Jesus called people, He literally walked around and they literally walked after Him. Today, we metaphorically walk with Him (since He’s unseen to our eyes), but it’s no less real. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

And one day, our faith will be sight, and we’ll walk with Him in person in the new heavens and earth.

Conclusion: Living Out Discipleship Today

Discipleship isn’t just a Bible concept to be studied; it’s a life to be lived.

It’s amazing to realize that the same Jesus who called fishermen by the Sea of Galilee is calling you and me.

“Follow Me,” He says – to a businesswoman in the city, to a student in school, to a father juggling work and kids, to a retiree with time to mentor others. The call hasn’t changed, even if the context has.

And the cost – our very selves – is the same currency the original disciples had to surrender. But the reward of knowing Jesus, being transformed by Him, and impacting others for eternity is also the same.

Practically speaking, how do we live as disciples in 2025?

It starts with that simple daily posture: “Jesus, You are my Teacher and Lord; I am listening and I am willing.”

• We engage with His Word, not just to check a box, but as attentive students eager to learn from the Master’s voice (Luke 10:39).
• We pray, not just as a duty, but as a way of staying close to our Rabbi every day – like the disciples who would ask Him questions, we bring our questions and concerns to Him.
• We get involved in fellowship, because disciples grow best in community – maybe that means joining a Bible study group or finding a mentor, or conversely, being available to disciple someone else who is newer in faith.
• We serve others, because Jesus showed that the path of discipleship is foot-washing, self-giving love (John 13:14-15). Sometimes serving will stretch us out of our comfort zone – but that’s often where we grow the most.
• And importantly, we keep our eyes on Jesus Himself. It’s all about Him – the relationship.

One can theoretically know a lot of doctrine and still not be a true disciple (like Judas or like the Pharisees who never applied what they learned).

But if we maintain that love and devotion to Christ, He will guide our learning and growth.

We can even say like the Psalmist, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth” (Psalm 86:11).

God is so faithful to teach the willing heart. The Holy Spirit within us is essentially our live-in tutor who continually points us to Christ and applies Scripture to our lives.

There will be days when being a disciple feels hard. Maybe you face ridicule at work for your faith, or you’re tempted to give up on praying for someone, or you encounter a Bible teaching that’s difficult to swallow.

In those moments, remember the words of Jesus when many left Him: “Will ye also go away?” And let your heart answer like Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

There really is nowhere better to go. Jesus is it. He is our Life, our Hope, our Joy. Discipleship is not always easy, but it’s good. It’s good in the deepest sense – because it keeps us near the source of all goodness.

And when we falter, also remember how patient Jesus was with His first disciples. He didn’t give up on Peter after his denial. He won’t give up on you after your failures either. He’ll correct you, forgive you, and set you back on the path.

The process of sanctification (becoming holy) is gradual. Sometimes I shake my head thinking how slow I am to “get” certain lessons. But then I see how far Jesus has brought me already, and I’m in awe.

Truly, being Christ’s disciple is the adventure of a lifetime – with valleys and mountaintops, with tears and laughter, with struggles and victories. Through it all, Jesus is with us as the Good Shepherd with His sheep.

One more bit of “humor with truth” to close: someone once said, “If you think discipleship is expensive, try ignorance.” In other words, yes, following Jesus will cost you, but not following Him will cost you far more!

Life without Christ may seem easier on the surface, but it leads to emptiness and loss. Life with Christ may have a cross, but it also has resurrection! I’d rather pay the price of discipleship than miss out on the treasure of knowing my Savior.

So, let’s encourage one another to keep on in this journey of discipleship. When you stumble, reach out for Jesus’ hand – He’s right there. When you excel, give Him the glory (after all, it’s His Spirit at work in you).

And never stop growing; as a follower of Jesus you are, and will always be, a student – there’s always more to learn of our infinite Lord. Even in eternity, I suspect we’ll continue joyfully learning and marveling at the wisdom and love of God, forever students of His glory.

In the end, discipleship is simply this: hearing Jesus say “Come, follow Me” – and saying “Yes, Lord, I’m coming” – every single day. There is no greater calling, and no greater joy.

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Citations & References:

• King James Bible Dictionary, “Disciple” – definition and usage​kingjamesbibledictionary.com​kingjamesbibledictionary.com
• King James Bible Dictionary, “Discipleship” – definition as “the state of a disciple or follower in doctrines and precepts.”​kingjamesbibledictionary.com
• Webster’s 1828 Dictionary (via AV1611) – disciple: “a learner; a follower”​kingjamesbibledictionary.com; discipleship: “the state of a disciple”​kingjamesbibledictionary.com.
• Strong’s Greek Lexicon G3101 – mathetes, “a learner, disciple,” from manthano (to learn)​biblehub.com​biblehub.com. Explains cultural context of disciples in NT times​biblehub.com​biblehub.com.
• Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon H3928 – limmud, “taught, disciple,” used in Isaiah 8:16​bibletools.org.
• King James Bible Dictionary – notes that a disciple of Christ “believes His doctrine, rests on His sacrifice, imbibes His Spirit, and imitates His example.”​kingjamesbibledictionary.com.
• Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary (“Disciple, Discipleship”) – Discusses OT foundation of covenant relationship as discipleship, and Jesus’ fulfillment of “God with us”​biblestudytools.com​biblestudytools.com. Notes Jesus called and chose disciples, requiring belief, obedience, and counting the cost​biblestudytools.com​biblestudytools.com.
• Grace Theological Seminary Blog – “What is the True Meaning of Christian Discipleship?” – Emphasizes relational, imitative aspect of discipleship in Jesus’ time​seminary.grace.edu​seminary.grace.edu. Quote: “Discipleship… referred to imitating the teacher’s life, inculcating his values, and reproducing his teachings.”​seminary.grace.edu.
• Hope for Israel Blog – “Limmud: Being a Disciple” – Explains mathetes involves not just learning facts but developing a deep fellowship with the teacher​hope4israel.org. Also comments on John 8:31-32 about “holding” (abiding in) Jesus’ teachings​hope4israel.org.
• Scripture Quotations (KJV): Key verses on discipleship, including Jesus’ conditions for discipleship (Luke 9:23​biblehub.com, Luke 14:26-27,33​biblehub.com​biblehub.com​biblehub.com), signs of discipleship (John 8:31-32​biblehub.com, John 13:34-35​biblehub.com, John 15:8​biblehub.com), the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20​firstbaptistlinton.org, with explanation of “teach/make disciples”​firstbaptistlinton.org), and others like John 12:26 linking serving and following​biblehub.com. Also Old Testament references like Isaiah 8:16 (disciples)​biblehub.com, Isaiah 30:20-21 (teachers not removed, voice behind you)​biblestudytools.com, Jeremiah 31:34 (knowing the Lord), etc., and Acts 11:26 (disciples called Christians)​biblehub.com.
• Additional Reading: The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (not cited above, but a classic work on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and what true discipleship entails), and Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster (which, despite the title, deals with practices of a disciple). These resources echo many of the biblical principles discussed and are great for going deeper.