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What Is a Disciple?
The word used in the New Testament for disciple is mathētēs. According
to William Mounce, this word means learner or disciple and is a technical
term for the followers of Jesus. It is also used for the followers of John the
Baptist, Moses, and the Pharisees.

In the New Testament world, a disciple would join themselves to a rabbi, or

teacher, becoming a part of his school. This involved leaving behind the life
they had known and spending all their time with their rabbi. In a sense, it
was like going off to college.

What you see in Jesus and his disciples was typical of the rabbi/disciple
relationship in New Testament Judea. Being a disciple was a full-time
occupation. Those disciples were called to leave home and occupation
behind and follow Jesus, learning what he had to teach them.

Being a disciple was not an end in itself. A disciple was ultimately expected
to follow in their rabbi’s footsteps, becoming a rabbi himself. And, in turn,
teaching other disciples what they had learned and were learning.

Fans and Players

In contrast to a disciple is what many call a fan. This is best illustrated by

comparing the fan of a sports team with one of the players on the field.

A fan sits on the sideline and cheers on their team. They may invest some
time in learning about their team. And they may invest in purchasing some
of the appropriate swag so that they can fly the team colors. But the fan
watches the performance from the stands or watches the game on TV. But
they do not get directly involved. And if their team disappoints them, they
may switch their allegiance to one they find more satisfying.

A fan may know a lot about their team and its members. They can rattle off
team and player stats. They may have detailed opinions about the
strengths and weaknesses of team members. And they enjoy discussing
the recent game and player performance with other fans.
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A player on that sports team is quite different though. The team and game
are their life. They spend time in conditioning, learning the playbook, and in
practice. On game day, they are down on the field, executing the plays
drawn up for them by their coach. They each have their part to play in the
game, and each one is important to the outcome of the game. Unlike the
fan who sits and watches, the team player is actively involved in the game.

The Call to Discipleship

Jesus called twelve men to follow him and be his disciples. They did not
just cheer Jesus on in the work he did. These men left behind their nets,
tax booth, and whatever else they had done before, and they got involved
in the game, following Jesus wherever he went and learning all he had to
teach them. And, in the end, he told them in turn to make disciples.

So, were these twelve men unique as disciples? Their specific calling to
travel with Jesus and then establish the church was unique. But their call to
be disciples was not.

In the Great Commission, we are told to make disciples of all nations,

teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands (Matt. 28:19-20). We often
mistake this commission to be one of making fans of Jesus rather than
disciples of Jesus. But Jesus wants more than just people to fill the pews,
giving an hour or two on Sundays.

In Matthew 10:38-39, Jesus told his disciples that anyone who does not
take up their cross and follow him is not worthy of him. He went on to say
that those who lose their lives for Jesus’ sake would find life. Jesus calls all
of us, not to be fans, but to be his disciples.
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What Does Being a Disciple Look Like?

A disciple’s first priority is following Jesus. Everything else is secondary. If

Jesus tells them to go, they go. If he tells them to stay, then they stay. They
may be like Paul, traveling the world over sharing the good news of Jesus.
Or, more likely, they may be like Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers who
served in a local church.

But regardless of where Jesus leads, the disciple will be spending time with
Jesus, their teacher. They will be serving, like Martha, but they will also be
sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to what he has to teach them (Luke 10:38-
42).

Sitting at Jesus’ feet today generally involves time spent in the Scriptures. It
is time spent reading and reflecting on what the Scripture is saying to
them, and then making it a part of life. It is allowing Scripture, under the
direction of the Holy Spirit, to shape how we think and what we do.

Being a disciple is not a part-time job or activity. Being a disciple of Jesus is

full-time, 24/7. While a fan might choose not to go to the game on any
given Sunday because either they don’t feel like it or something more
appealing is happening, a disciple is always on call to follow Jesus. Not just
on Sunday mornings, and not just at other specific times during the week,
but all day, every day.

You might be male or female; rich or poor; a preacher, an engineer, or

raising children; you might have a variety of skin tones or ethnic
backgrounds. But the commitment to follow Jesus, even to the cross, is
common to all disciples.

The Importance of Being a Disciple

How important is discipleship? Is it OK to just be a fan? Or is more required

of us than that? Can we be saved without being a disciple?

In Matthew 10:38, Jesus told us that “Whoever does not take up their
cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” From what Jesus said here, it
seems clear that taking up our cross and following him is not optional. If we
do not do that, we are not worthy of him. But is taking up our cross and
following him the same as discipleship?
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Later, in Matthew 16:24, Jesus told his followers, “Whoever wants to be

my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Taking up our cross and following Jesus is, at the least, an essential aspect
of being a disciple. If we have taken up our cross and are following Jesus,
then we are his disciples. If we have not, then, Jesus says, we are not
worthy of him.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven.” And he went on to say that many will protest,
saying they have done many good things. But they will be turned away as
unknown. The will of the Father is that we are more than fans. It is that we
become disciples.

Discipleship is a term that we often give lip service to. But we often
substitute being a fan of Jesus for being a disciple of Jesus. But, as
Christians, we are not called to sit in our padded pews, cheering on the
worship team and preacher and paying our entrance fee. We are called to
be disciples. To give up the life we had and follow Jesus, learning from him
and becoming like him.

Making Disciples

This takes us back to the commission Jesus gave to his church to make
disciples. One task of the church is to produce disciples, people who will
leave their old life behind and follow Jesus. It is not enough just to
evangelize. Bringing a person into a saving relationship with Jesus is just
the beginning. We need to teach them to obey what Jesus commanded
and to follow him wherever he leads. To be a team player rather than a fan.

We should never be satisfied with anything less than being a disciple,

following Jesus, learning from him, and in turn, teaching others to be
disciples.
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5 Qualities of Discipleship from a Biblical Perspective

In the Great Commission, Jesus told his closest friends to go and make
disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). After ministering to others, it’s
beneficial to know whether we are actually fulfilling that instruction.
Have we in fact made disciples of the people we’ve ministered to? How can
we be sure?

Are we living out Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples?

Fortunately, the Bible has given us some guidelines to help us define
discipleship. Characteristics of righteous people are mentioned throughout
the Bible and certainly agree with each other. We must learn to interpret
scripture through the lens of scripture itself.
Looking God’s attributes is an ideal way for us to see the qualities we need
to reach for.

We need to know who God is if we are to identify His followers.

A disciple is one who is a follower and learner of a person or group. The
goal is to learn, live, and be like Jesus Christ.
The path of discipleship is a journey that includes studying the Bible,
fellowship with others, receiving ministry, and doing ministry. The Bible
gives us a variety of characteristics that are desirable in a disciple.
What are these qualities? The Bible is clear on the qualities of discipleship.
Below are 5 characteristics of a disciple of God, as shown in Scripture, and
consequently 5 qualities of God Himself.

1. A Disciple Is Patient, Kind, and Gentle

The Bible tells us that God is patient with us, slow to anger and abounding
in love (Psalm 86:15).
Consequently, the Bible also calls us to be patient, kind, and gentle. We do
this by bearing HIS fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). When we allow His
fruit to grow in our lives, our actions naturally become more patient, kind,
and gentle.
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2. A Disciple Lives a Life that is Submitted to God’s Will

God is reflected in the Bible as having a very clear plan for humanity and
sticking with it (Philippians 1:6). The very life and death of Christ is the
fulfillment of this plan. As He resonates through his disciples, they will
begin to let Christ become ruler over every aspect. Wasteful living is
rejected and daily activities are carried out with the purpose of serving God.

3. A Disciple Lives a Sacrificial Life on Behalf of Others

Christ gave up everything to be the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. The
Bible calls us to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). This means being
willing to give up our own desires, dreams, and comforts to instead be a
blessing to others. There have been many examples in history of disciples
showing this sacrificial love to violent people whose lives completely
changed. They saw their need to also have that kind of sacrificial love.

4. A Disciple Works Diligently

It is Biblically true that we are all saved by grace and not by works
(Ephesians 2:9). Its also true that our works are an indication of our
salvation (James 2:18). We are not saved BY good works. But, if we are
saved we will DO good works. This is also true in our willingness to work.
There is a big difference between resting in the Lord and laziness. Laziness
can de defines as not willing to work. Whereas, resting in God is finding the
strength in Him to be able to work and work well. A disciple will still work to
earn a living, and be willing to work hard as a blessing to others.

5. A Disciple Embraces the Good in Others

In our human nature, we are often quick to judge. How often to we place
labels & expectations on others?.
Through Christ, we should be ready to believe the change in others. Its
always useful to remember the changes God caused in us. The Bible calls
us to always look for the good in others. Just as, in fact, God always saw
the potential in us (Ephesians 4). Remember Jonah? He’s described in as
having an attitude contrary to God’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh.
Nevertheless God worked powerfully IN him and THROUGH him! God saw
Jonah’s potential even when Jonah was not living up to that potential. We
need God’s grace to be able to see the potential in others.
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Conclusion

These 5 qualities of a disciple of God are by no means conclusive.

God is the one who causes His nature to grow within us (1
Corinthians 3:7). We cannot be better people without His strength and
guidance. While we all still struggle with sin and can fail many times,
by His grace we can start to show more of the attributes mentioned
above. These attributes will be some of the markers that can confirm
that indeed, Christ lives within us and we are His disciples.
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that
trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to
multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the
Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-
reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among
these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within
reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of
training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations
and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and
we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian
mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and
help make disciples, connect with us today!

The 7 Marks of a Healthy Disciple

 Introducing others to Jesus. ...

 Praying: our primary work. ...
 Stewarding resources generously. ...
 Knowing & Obeying God's Word. ...
 Completing the Great Commission. ...
 Depending on the Holy Spirit's empowering. ...
 Taking Faith-Filled risks.
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12 Qualities Of Discipleship From a Biblical Perspective

We as Christians want to share the good news and make disciples. I

wanted to learn what the qualities of discipleship are so I researched the
topic.

What are qualities of discipleship? Qualities of discipleship include

going to share the Good News to non-believers, teaching, loving God,
loving others, standing out, denying ourselves, being firm in God’s
word, fellowship with other believers, imitators of Christ, dedicated,
steadfast, and investing in missions.
Below we’ll highlight each quality of discipleship and how we can
implement them in our lives to help further the Kingdom of God.

1. Go

To make disciples we need to go, we can not stay in our comfort zones and
hope to exemplify to others what it means to be a follower of Christ.

“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.” —Matt. 28:19-20

We read in Matthew that Jesus commands us to go, as Christians, we don’t

have the choice to stay still and watch from the sidelines, we are called to
be active.
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2. Teach

Reading the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19,20 we also hear the

command, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” We
should be educating others on what we know about God and his word.

Looking in the Bible, Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are for them to
instruct those who do not know or do not understand the gospel. As we
disciple others, we should take this command seriously and teach
others to help them grow in their walks with Christ.

3. Love God

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might. —Deuteronomy 6:5

This is a very important verse we should love God completely. We even

see in the New Testament that Jesus reiterates this verse in Matthew when
he is asked what the greatest commandment is. If we cannot love God
completely then we cannot lead others to love God.

Disciples of the Lord must love Him with their whole heart. They must set
aside idols and obsessions and give their whole heart to the Lord.

4. Love Others

We get to love others because Christ loved us, and with this love we want
them to know about God’s plan for salvation. Jesus even tells us that the
second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself”
(Matthew 22:39). Throughout the Old and New Testament, we see the
need to care and love for others.

In John 13, Jesus says that we will be known as disciples of Jesus,

and our love for others is what will set us apart. Our love for others is
an important quality when discipling others.
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5. Stand Out

As much as we sometimes want to fit in with the world around us, we as

Christians should desire to stand out and truly look different so others know
that we are followers of Christ.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see
your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. —Matthew
5:16

Jesus calls us a light we want to shine because of our actions and how we
love one another. Our actions and how we set ourselves apart from the
world will be a testimony to our faith sometimes more than the words we
tell those we are discipling.

6. Denying Ourselves

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.” —Luke 9:23

We as Christians, especially when we are discipling others, no longer live

in a world that has a “me” mentality. Instead, we live for a bigger purpose
as Christians to help share the gospel by making disciples.

Jesus encourages us in the New testament to “take up his cross.” We are

not signing up for the easy life as Christians, but get to live as a part of
God’s Kingdom and share the good news with others.

7. Firm in the Word of God

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my
word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free.” —John 8:31-32
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God’s word is a guide for us as Christians and when we are rooted in the
scripture then you can more effectively share the gospel and disciple
others. When we abide in God’s word we can know God. The Bible is
God’s word to us, any Church or Christian mentor will encourage you to dig
into God’s word.

God communicates to us through His Word. Without knowing God through

His Word, we cannot effectively teach others about the truth of the scripture
and the benefit in our lives.

8. Fellowship with Other Believers

God created us with a need for relationships. Fellowship with other

believers can help us in our Christian walk and can help those we disciple
grow in their faith.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers. —Acts 2:42

In the early church, we see an emphasis on fellowship. We see those in

Acts regularly meet together break bread preach and fellowship, we do the
same thing today in Church and are often involved in small groups.

The relationship we make in small groups helps us grow in our faith and we
can gain much wisdom from those around us.

9. Imitators of Christ

Our goal as Christians is to be more Christ-like, in all that we do we want to

look and act as Jesus did. When we look like Jesus we can help others to
imitate Jesus as well.
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Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. —1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul encourages us to look at those of faith who imitate Christ and learn
from them. We want to love the way Jesus loved, and to teach the way
Jesus taught. It is amazing what we can learn from simply living as Jesus
did, for others and not ourselves.

10. Dedicated

Reading through the Gospel we can see Jesus said some pretty hard
things to his disciples. He let them know that he did not have a home-like
other people and animals did, he told them that they needed to pick him
over their family and that they would be persecuted because they followed
Jesus.

When following Jesus and discipling others we need to be dedicated to

what we are doing, we cannot give half-hearted work when teaching others.
Jesus warned us what it would cost to follow him, and we need to keep this
in mind when teaching others the importance of what it means to follow
Christ.

11. Steadfast

Our walk with God will be met with many challenges but how we deal with
these challenges will be an example of our faith.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always

abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not
in vain. —1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul writes to the Church of Corinth and to Titus to be steadfast, he tells

that our work for the Lord is not in vain. God will work through us even
though we might not see it, this encourages us to be steadfast no matter
what the circumstance.
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12. Missions

Being a Christian is more than just exemplifying our faith on Sunday or

Wednesday. We should always be on mission in our day to day life. If we
do not live our life as Christ would every day we cannot be an example to
those who are being discipled.

We are called to be watchful and to pray throughout scripture. Living on

missions means looking for opportunities for the gospel all the time and
exemplifying the life of Christ in all situations.

Looking at Jesus’ life and those whom he discipled gives us a good view of
how the discipleship process should work today. We get to play a part in
furthering the kingdom of God while living in a way and exemplifying the
qualities of discipleship.
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7 attributes of an effective discipleship program

1. Clear objectives & goals

What spiritual milestones do you expect your members to reach throughout
the program? The intentions you set will direct the efforts of both teachers
and students toward a shared vision of spiritual transformation. Make these
goals measurable and consider how you'll track individual progress.

Christian discipleship is a learning process for everyone involved, and

priorities within the congregation can change over time. Encourage
program participants to give feedback and make suggestions along the
way, and be open to making adjustments to current objectives as needed.

2. Daily prayer & Bible reading

Transformative church discipleship programs prioritize both theological
study and an intimate relationship with Christ. So, build your program on a
solid foundation of scripture and prayer.

These daily practices honor the legacy of biblical discipleship and help
cultivate an unshakable personal connection to God. Bible reading plans,
daily devotionals, and weekly group studies are great ways to get your
community excited about studying scripture and engaging in prayer.

3. Qualified & passionate leaders

Trusted leadership is essential for creating a culture of discipleship, so
choose a team of church leaders with an undeniable passion for nurturing
spiritual growth. Evaluate their maturity, knowledge of scripture, and
willingness to lead others. Observe how they currently interact with the
church community and if they have the capacity to take on the role of
disciple-makers.

It’s essential to prepare and equip the leaders you’ve selected with ongoing
leadership training that’s easy to access. Consider providing them with
video or audio modules they can watch or listen to during the week.
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4. Structured discipleship training curriculum

A structured discipleship curriculum helps you deliver assignments on a

regular schedule. Be sure to select or develop a curriculum that aligns with
your objectives. This could include written materials, videos, podcasts, and
practical activities.

Organize the content into a coherent structure, with lessons that build on
each other. Aim to balance theological education with practical application.
Believers ranging from middle school students to senior citizens should be
able to easily navigate and understand the program.

5. Accountability & support

Maintain a spirit of unity, living out the sentiment of 1 Thessalonians
5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just in
fact as you are doing.” You can do this by facilitating small groups where
participants can share their struggles, victories, and questions in a safe and
intimate setting.

These gatherings provide a space for deep connections, vulnerability, and

mutual encouragement. As students provide accountability and extend
hands of support to each other, they organically create a community bound
by love.

6. Flexibility & adaptability

As you create your program, cultivate an environment where participants
feel valued and understood. Check in with students and leaders regularly to
gain insights into the discipleship process. What’s working and where are
opportunities for improvement?

Consider developing new tracks as your program progresses, catering to

various stages and needs of Christian life. Whether for newcomers, mature
believers, or those facing specific challenges, a variety of program options
can help students feel better seen and supported.