I have been studying discipleship lately so that I can become more intentional in “finishing my course,” to use the words of Paul. There is much written about it, but I am offering my own definition so that it might help you in your own journey of being faithful. First, I want to begin by simply showing you the different aspects of my definition, presented in an organized flow.

A disciple is one who follows Christ:

  • trusting in him alone for salvation
  • worshiping him
  • loving him with whole heart
  • imitating his life
  • obeying his teaching

living dependently by:

  • abiding in Christ
  • walking in the Holy Spirit
  • meditating on the word of God
  • engaging in communion (prayer)
  • partnering with the body of Christ (local church)

resulting in the transformation of

  • mind
  • heart
  • mission

and leads others to do the same.

Second, let me develop each aspect a little more in order to anchor the different concepts to the word of God. This helps me to see the biblical significance of each point. You may want to search the Bible to see which additional passages you might include with each concept.

DEFINITION

A disciple is one who follows Christ, trusting in him alone for salvation, worshiping his person, loving him with whole heart, imitating his life, and obeying his teaching, living dependently by abiding in Christ, walking in the Holy Spirit, meditating on the word of God, engaging in communion (prayer), and partnering with the body of Christ (local church) resulting in the transformation of the mind, the heart, and the life and leads others to do the same.

FOUR PARTS TO THE DEFINITION

1. A disciple is one who follows Christ

… trusting in him alone for salvation

Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-27; 5:1, 6-8; Titus 2:14; 3:5; 1 Timothy 2:6; Galatians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:26-28; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; 5:12

… worshiping him

Philippians 1:20-21; 2:5-11; Romans 14:7-9; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; 1 Corinthians 2:2

… loving him with whole heart

Matthew 6:24; Galatians 1:10; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Philippians 4:7-16

… imitating his life

1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 John 2:6; John 13:15; John 15:10; 1 Peter 2:21; Matthew 11:29; 16:24-26

… obeying his teaching

1 Peter 1:2, 14, 22; Matthew 18:20; John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:14; Matthew 12:50; 1 John 2:4-6, 29; 3:10, 24; 5:2-3

2. living dependently by

… abiding in Christ

John 15:1-11; 1 John 2:24, 28

… walking in the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:13-26; Romans 8:1-17; John 7:37-39; 14:16-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Ephesians 4:30

… meditating on the word of God

Psalm 1; 119; Colossians 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:10, 14-17

… engaging in communion (prayer)

Philippians 4:6-7; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Luke 11:1-10; 18:1; Colossians 1:3; 4:2; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Timothy 2:1, 8; 5:5

… partnering with the body of Christ

Hebrews 10:19-25; Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; Ephesians 4:1-16

3. resulting in the transformation of

… the mind

Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; Romans 8:5-8; Philippians 2:5; Colossians 3:2

… the heart

Colossians 3:10-17; Romans 6:4, 11; 7:6; 13:14; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:14-17

… the life

Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 12:1-3

4. and leads others to do the same.

Being a disciple implies discipleship. Narrow the definition: A disciple is one who follows Christ and leads others to do the same.

Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; Philippians 4:9, 17; Titus 2:1-10; 2 Timothy 2:1-2

May the Lord help you as you seek to be a faithful disciple and as you call others to do the same. To him be the glory!