Introduction: Why the Question Matters
The word ‘disciple’ appears hundreds of times in the Bible, mainly in the Gospels and Acts. In contrast, ‘Christian’ appears only three times. To understand how the Bible calls us to follow Jesus today, we must explore the concept of discipleship.
Matthew 28:18-20 reads, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This passage, the Great Commission, contains Jesus’ final instruction to his closest disciples. Its meaning hinges on discipleship, so followers of Christ must understand what it is.
This passage in Matthew, along with several others in the New Testament, sheds light on discipleship. As Christians commit to discipleship, God produces gospel fruit.
So, let’s consider what discipleship is according to the Bible.
1. Discipleship Begins With Following Jesus
Jesus called his earliest disciples to follow him and to learn from him. They heard his teaching for three years before his death and resurrection. Their discipleship was an embodied teacher-disciple relationship.
While a disciple of Jesus seeks to follow Jesus’ teaching and example (1 Pt 2:21), that is not all. Jesus is not just an excellent teacher and moral example. He is the savior who reconciles an undeserving, rebellious people to a holy and righteous God.
To follow Jesus means to receive him as he has revealed himself: not just as an excellent moral teacher, but as savior and Lord. In fact, Jesus’ command to make disciples by baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit indicates that discipleship begins with a public profession of faith in God as he is revealed in Scripture. The entrance into Christian discipleship is repentance and faith (you can read more about that here).
Discipleship involves obedience to Christ’s commands, but that is not where it begins. It starts with a relationship with the risen Christ, who promises to be with us to the end of the age (Mt 28:20). This means that even when discipleship is hard or we face discouragement, we can take heart knowing that Christ will not abandon us. In Christ, we are able to come before the throne of God’s grace and find mercy to help in our time of need (Heb 4:16).
2. Discipleship is Being Formed by Jesus
In Matthew 28, making disciples involves two elements: baptizing and teaching.
Once a person begins to follow Christ, the work of discipleship has only just begun. We must learn to observe all that Christ commands.
We do not simply learn a set of moral laws and try to keep them. Jesus’ teaching shows that our righteousness must surpass even the highest moral standards (Mt 5:20, 48).
Only Jesus can fulfill this call to perfection. Yet he works in his disciples and produces the fruit of righteousness as they abide in him (Jn 15:4; Phil 1:11). The good fruit that comes from abiding in him is proof of being his disciple (Jn 15:8).
And so, while we cannot perfectly obey everything Christ commands, discipleship means growing toward greater conformity with Christ. This does not mean that we will never experience periods of stagnation or momentary setbacks. Yet Scripture teaches that God forms Christ’s followers into his image through sanctification (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Col 3:10). This means that the general direction of life is toward greater righteousness and holiness.
3. Discipleship Happens in Community
This principle appears throughout the New Testament. Jesus’ ministry itself shows the communal nature of discipleship; his twelve disciples lived and walked together as a community.
Each New Testament letter also shows the communal nature of discipleship. Most letters were written to gathered disciples in a specific place—the church. Being part of a church community is needed to obey the many biblical commands for relating to one another.
Hebrews 3:12-13 has a particularly strong call toward a shared community of discipleship: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.“
4. Discipleship Is a Way of Life, Not a Program
Many churches today see discipleship as a program. While “discipleship programs” have value, we cannot reduce discipleship to programs or curriculum.
Discipleship is much more than that. It involves aligning our everyday lives with God’s purposes. We might do this through cultivating daily habits of Bible reading and prayer, serving one another, and encouraging others in their discipleship journeys.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Jesus calls his followers to lay aside everything to follow him. Discipleship is not just another activity to add to life; it is a whole life reordered around Christ.
5. Discipleship is Aimed Outward
The placement of the Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel matters. The task of making disciples of all nations continues. This is Jesus’ instruction for his disciples today.
We live in a hyper-individualistic age, so we often think only inwardly. We focus more on our own discipleship than on discipling others. While it is good to reflect on how to follow Christ faithfully, if we ignore the outward call, discipleship remains incomplete.
We aim outward in our discipleship when we evangelize (that is, when we share the gospel with non-believers) and when we encourage one another and model lives that accord with the gospel (Titus 2:1-8).
If you feel hesitant about sharing your faith, here are a few simple ways to begin: you can invite a friend to a church service or small group, share a story of how Jesus has made a difference in your life, offer to pray for someone going through a difficult time, or share an encouraging Bible verse.
Conclusion
Putting this all together:
Discipleship is the lifelong process of following Jesus, being formed into his likeness, and helping others do the same within Christian community.
As you consider what discipleship means for your own life, I encourage you to take a concrete next step this week. Reflect on how you are following Christ. Is there one way to grow or serve others in your community this week?