We hear the word “discipleship” often in church. But what does it really mean to pursue biblical discipleship and follow Jesus Christ? It's more than just attending a church service; it's a call to follow Him completely. It’s an invitation to a life transformed, where our daily choices are guided by His will, and our character is shaped to look more and more like His.
In today's world, the term “discipleship” can sometimes be watered down to mean simply learning about God. But as Jesus shows us, it's about so much more. It's about a deep, personal relationship with our Creator that changes every part of who we are. It’s a race we run daily, with the goal of becoming more like Christ than we were the day before.
So, how do we begin this journey? The Bible, and Jesus's own words, show us that there are 3 main parts to biblical discipleship: self-denial, obedience, and loving one another.
Discipleship: Learning to Follow Jesus
To be a true follower of Jesus, we must first accept His call on our lives. This means letting go of our old ways and embracing His new path for us. It’s not an easy journey, but it is one that leads to true freedom and purpose. As Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” This single verse contains the core of biblical discipleship.
Let's look closer at these 3 things that define our walk with Christ.
Self-Denial
What does it mean to deny yourself? The fact is, we all have a sinful nature. It can be seen in something as simple as a child lying about sneaking a cookie; we naturally tend to choose ourselves over others. This desire for ourselves is a constant battle. To deny yourself means to acknowledge this sinful nature and actively resist it. It means putting God's desires before your own and choosing to live for Him instead of yourself.
This is a daily struggle, which is why Jesus says to “take up your cross daily.” The battle with our own sinful nature is one we must fight day in and day out. But we don't have to fight it alone. When you study the Bible, you are filling your mind with the wisdom of the Father and preparing yourself for moments of temptation.
Biblical discipleship teaches you how to follow Jesus and put on the armor of God to defend against temptation. Nowhere is this better shown than in Ephesians 6:11, where we are told to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Start every day with a quiet moment of Bible study, and you will equip yourself to handle the challenges you'll inevitably face.
The difference between a “me mentality” and a “Kingdom mentality” is key to this, as we learn when we consider the contrast between a selfish ambition and a godly one.
Obedience
The second key part of biblical discipleship is obedience. Obedience is about more than just knowing what God wants us to do; it is about putting our faith into action. Jesus said to those who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31).
Throughout His ministry, Jesus gave us many lessons on how to live for the Father. He taught parables like the Good Samaritan, which spoke on caring for everyone, no matter who they were. He taught the dangers of greed and said that no one can serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). He also taught the importance of forgiveness, reminding us that if we do not forgive others, then we cannot be forgiven ourselves (Matthew 6:14-15).
Just as a loving parent makes rules to keep their kids safe, Jesus gives us instructions for our lives because He loves us. These teachings are lessons in humility, generosity, kindness, and grace. They are directions on how to live our days best on Earth and in Heaven. To study the life of Jesus is to see obedience to God in action. After all, He is the only person to ever live and not give in to the temptation of sin. And when we follow His teachings, we slowly replace our own sinful habits and attitudes with godly ones.
Our obedience to God is also a sign of our trust in Him. You can read more about this in our blog post, “Trusting God Amidst New Beginnings”, which explores how trusting God helps us walk in obedience even when circumstances are difficult.
Love One Another
The third key to biblical discipleship is loving others as Jesus loved us. This is a powerful thing. Jesus gave us a “new command” in John 13:34, saying, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
This command is both simple and profound. To love someone as Jesus loves us means putting others before ourselves. It means caring for them on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. Loving others is the greatest sign of a Christian to the world outside the church. That's because Jesus did not put limits on this command. He didn't say “love people who think the way you do,” or “love people who live near you,” or even “love people who love you.” He called us to love unconditionally.
As people made in God's image, everyone is worthy of His love, and it is up to those who follow Christ to be an earthly reflection of that love. Jesus continues in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Those around you should know you are a Christian simply by how you treat others. To love someone as Jesus loves them is to see them as He sees them, flawed and broken, but still worthy of love.
Loving others unconditionally, just as Jesus did, is at the heart of what we call the subtle art of loving others. Loving others is what motivates us to biblical discipleship.
The Journey of Discipleship
Every Christian is called to be a disciple. It is the race we run so that every day we may be more like Christ than the day before. It's not an easy journey, and we will make mistakes, but we can have confidence that God will continue to guide and shape us. As Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This path of biblical discipleship requires a forward-looking focus. The Apostle Paul knew this well, as he wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul reminds us that we should not dwell on our past failures or successes. Instead, we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ. This is the goal of our faith and the purpose of our life, to know Him more and to become more like Him.
Biblical discipleship is a lifelong process of spiritual growth. It's about a deep, committed relationship with God that transforms us from the inside out. It's about walking with Him daily and allowing Him to shape us into His likeness. We may fall along the way, but we must get back up and continue to run the race with endurance, always pressing on toward the prize He has for us.
Jesus invites you to follow Him daily by learning from Him and abiding in Him. Discover what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus with Abundant Life’s Discipleship One, a 13-week guided study that teaches you how to follow Jesus.