Christian disciple is a status that involves your readiness to pay a huge price to discipline yourself to behave like Jesus Christ and follow His command in all circumstances of your life.
There is a strange error in our generation whereby there are many ‘Christian church goers’ but fewer Christian disciples. This article will be an eye-opener to the process of Christian discipleship and help you to know the right steps to take to become a Christian disciple that pleases the LORD.
7 Interesting Quotes on Christian Disciple
1. “The Christian life is the discipled life and the discipling life.”
― Mark Dever
2. “To be a disciple is to be committed to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and committed to following Him every day. To be a disciple is also to be disciplined in our bodies, minds, and souls.”
― Billy Graham
3. “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
4. “Until you have given up yourself to Him you will not have a real self…”
–C.S. Lewis
5. “Discipleship entails a life of total self-denial, a humble disposition towards others, a whole-hearted devotion to the Lord alone, a willingness to obey His commands in everything, an eagerness to sense Him even in His absence, and a motivation that comes from knowing He is well pleased.”
– John McArthur
6. “Discipleship isn’t a program or an event; it’s a way of life. It’s not for a limited time, but for our whole life. Discipleship isn’t for beginners alone; it’s for all believers for every day of their life.”
―Bill Hull
7. “Discipleship is not an option. Jesus says that if anyone would come after me, he must follow me.”
―Tim Keller
What is the Meaning of Christian Discipleship?
Christian discipleship is an active spiritual training of a genuine Christian who is ready to obey ALL teachings of Jesus Christ and to submit to ALL instructions given by the Holy Spirit so you can be like Jesus Christ.
It’s a lifestyle that involves comparing your thoughts, feelings and actions with the Word of God and His Revelations to you.
A Christian disciple is a God-fearing person who studies the Bible daily, obey the commandments of the LORD through Jesus Christ and prays to God consistently.
Followers of Jesus Christ love God unconditionally and the people around them such that they do everything to share the Gospel of Salvation.
Christian discipleship means Christian disciple obeying teachings of Jesus Christ through the tutoring of the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus Christ!
4 Major Cost to Become a Christian Disciple
“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “if anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”
“And whoever does not bear his cross and comes after Me cannot be My disciple.”
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it… “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish…”
“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke Chapter 14:25-33)
Hmm, from Jesus’ statement above it shows that it is possible to start a Christian race and not finish well if such Christian disciple did not count the cost involved. This implies that Salvation is free, but Discipleship is not!
Cost 1: Don’t love anyone or yourself more than Jesus Christ!
The First Love in your life must be for the LORD. So, Jehovah should be the love of your life and any other love you have must fall under the First Love. No one, not yourself and nothing in your life must you take above your love for the LORD.
Cost 2: Take Responsibility for your tasks in life!
A Christian disciple does not give excuse, procrastinate, or expect Jesus Christ to come and do your own tasks. Followers of Jesus Christ are not lazy so you must bear your cross daily.
You don’t commit deliberate sins and tell God to overlook them or to blame the devil for your carelessness.
Cost 3: Follow Jesus Christ Every day!
You cannot make any independent decision without the approval of the LORD. So, every step you take and every action you do must be according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
You don’t have the freedom to follow popular worldly styles or church doctrines and regulations which cannot be found in Jesus’s teachings. You won’t obey any ‘brilliant advice’ that contradicts the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
Cost 4: Give All Your Possession to the Poor!
Christian disciple is not a tithe giver, you must be ready to share your profits or earnings with the poor people. Followers of Jesus Christ share more than their tithes with the needy (Read Acts chapter 2 and 3).
You are not allowed to accumulate wealth on earth, and you are not allowed to enrich pastors by building mega-churches but to share your wealth with the poor in your community.
4 Major Stages of Christian Discipleship
1. Stage of Decision Making
Not all Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ, so the first stage for you to become a Christian disciple is to make up your mind to follow Jesus Christ after you have counted the cost of discipleship.
It is a stage you set your mind to be a “Soldier of Christ” with a strong readiness to follow Jesus Christ and never to look back.
2. Stage of Research to Know God
Christian discipleship involves laying a strong spiritual foundation in Jesus Christ after surrendering everything about your life to the LORD.
This stage entails personal bible study from Genesis to Revelation and seeking the Holy Spirit to explain the mind of God related to the passages you read. For more than two decades I have been doing this stage and I am spiritually stronger every day despite the storms.
3. Stage of Yielding Fruits
This stage is consistent because Jesus Christ says by their fruits you shall know them. It is paramount that a Christian disciple obeys all the teachings of Jesus Christ everyday such that your attitude, speech and things you do are different from the unbelievers. Your fruits of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts you have will be profitable to people around you.
4. Stage of Evangelism
This is also a continuous stage because your output in stage 3 will make it easier for you to preach the Gospel of Salvation to people and unbelievers can see and learn from your lifestyle as a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. The core function of a Christian disciple is evangelism and sharing your wealth with the poor.
“Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”” (Matthew 19:21)
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
7 Quality Characteristics of Christian Disciple
1. They don’t trade the fear of GOD to satisfy anyone.
2. Their love for GOD is absolute and they hate worldliness.
3. Christian disciple seek the presence of GOD daily and detest sin.
4. Selfless service to the LORD is their priority and never eye-service.
5. Follower of Jesus Christ believes GOD only and can never be deceived by false doctrines.
6. The watch word of Christian discipleship is ‘Obey GOD and not your appetites’.
7. A Christian disciple worships the LORD and not any man or comfort of this world.
Examples of Christ Follower in the Bible
1. Peter and Andrew
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18-20)
2. Zacchaeus
“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)
3. Young man who wants to bury father first.
“Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60)
10 Benefits of Christian Discipleship
1. You will have a constant relationship with the Holy Spirit.
2. A Christian disciple wins souls for God’s kingdom.
3. Seeing GOD in His Glorious formation for your holy transformation.
4. Christian discipleship instill humility.
5. You cannot be spiritually deaf or blind, which is the current spiritual pandemic.
6. The spiritual training makes it easy for you to be righteous.
7. You cannot be deceived by science, witchcraft, false prophets, or the devil.
8. Christian disciples are blessed on earth and their greatest blessing is heavenly inheritance.
9. Spiritual victory is consistent.
10. A Christian disciple cannot be defeated by depression because they overcome tribulations through their spiritual strength.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls believers to be on track for Christian discipleship, so I encourage you to sustain your status as a Christian disciple.
