Bible verses about discipleship help us to understand Jesus and his view on discipleship. Jesus chose 12 disciples before he began his ministry. Disciples in the bible were followers of Jesus. These were people who traveled with Jesus everywhere he went.
The men Jesus chose were subsequently the ones with the front row seat to Jesus’ life on earth, death, and resurrection. After he died and rose again only the disciples witnessed his resurrection.
Jesus’ disciples later became the ones who became Apostles who spread the gospel of grace to all the parts of the world.
What is biblical discipleship
So, in essence, discipleship in the bible is following Jesus, preaching about him, and living the way he did. Since the disciples had been the ones that were with Jesus daily during his ministry they knew who Jesus was.
They knew the way he talked, the way he related to people, the way he loved. And because of this, they knew best how to be Christlike which is our ultimate goal as Christians, followers, and believers of Jesus.
Biblical Mandate for discipleship
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.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus mandated his disciples to go into the world and make many more disciples like them. Disciples who loved Jesus and desired to live the way Jesus lived.
Jesus mandated the disciples then and the disciples now, that is you and me to go out into the world. Out in the world can be at your work, at your school, at family gatherings, and make many more disciples. Disciples who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for our sins.
Discipleship means baptizing people, teaching them about Jesus, his word, and the life that believers must lead. This bible verse about discipleship reveals that discipleship must not only be a heart thing where you believe in Jesus and love him but must also be accompanied by the great commission. Doing what he mandated us to do.
15 Bible verses about being a disciple
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
This is my all-time favorite bible verse about being a disciple. Here Jesus states plainly the basic requirements for being a disciple of Jesus.
A disciple he says bears his own cross and follows Jesus. Jesus talks about denying yourself, dying to your self and following Jesus.
One cannot fully be a disciple if they do not surrender completely to Jesus. The act of surrendering involves denying yourself anything that you think you deserve. And submitting to who God wants you to be and what He wants you to do.
Unless you die to your preconceived ideas of who you are meant to be and how your life is meant to turn out, then you are not ready to be a disciple.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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 5:14-16
As disciples, we are expected to behave and act in a particular way that is clearly distinctive from how the rest of the world acts and behaves.
This bible verses about discipleship explain that as Jesus’ followers, our lives on their own must preach the gospel of Christ. Jesus tells his disciples that they must be the salt and the light of the world. Discipleship implies that we must stand out for all the good reasons in our communities.
A disciple of Jesus will be the peacemaker, not trouble causer, the one who will always be hopeful and positive instead of negative and gloomy.
So while we continue to strive to be effective disciples we must always remember that our actions bring glory or shame to God. And that if we emulate Jesus well enough people can be saved through our character of Christlikeness.
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
The effectiveness of discipleship is shown by the way one abides in Jesus, his teachings, his values, and his word. One cannot be a true disciple of Jesus if they do not abide in him completely.
This bible verses about discipleship teaches us that as disciples, we depend on Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith, there is nothing that we must be able to do on our own outside of Jesus.
So doing everything through and because of Jesus is abiding in him. Following everything, the word of God says to do is indeed abiding in him and certainly a trait of a disciple.
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:40
As disciples, according to this bible verses about discipleship, you are under your mentor. You are open to everything that he will teach you. Agreeing to be a disciple means that you have seen and believed in what your mentor says. Therefore you are open to learning everything that you can from him.
So while you learn then you must humble yourself and allow him to work in you, to remove anything in you that is not from him until you eventually become like him and will thus be fully trained.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
This bible verses about discipleship tells us clearly about the main characteristic of being a disciple. It is all about love. Our mentor, Jesus loved us so much that He gave his life for ours.
So, as disciples, we must be like him. Love everyone around us. We must love people not because they deserve it but because Jesus loved us first.
He loved us when we were undeserving so why must we expect people to deserve our love when we didn’t deserve His love?
So sis, before you start questioning or doubting if anyone is worthy of love, remember that it is not about you. But it is about Jesus. The one whom we follow.
Bible verses about discipleship
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26
Okay, so this bible verses about discipleship is a bit misunderstood. But that is only so if you are not looking at it with spiritual eyes.
When Jesus says to hate your own mother and father He means not putting anyone above Him. Remember idolatry is anything that has more importance and value in your life than God.
So in discipleship, you are expected to hate your mother, father, husband, children and love only God. Nothing and no one may come first in your life before God.
By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
John 15:8
Being disciples of Jesus according to this bible verses about discipleship, means that we should bear and produce fruit. Fruits according to Galatians 5 vs 22 are the fruit of the spirit which is a reflection of the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in you.
The fruit of the spirit expected to be exhibited in the life of a disciple is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, kindness, and self-control.
So when you exhibit these traits then surely Christ is at work in you. Except if the Holy Spirit influences you, you can not produce this fruit by your own doing.
So, therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
Renouncing all that one has is something that early disciples did. This bible verses about discipleship shows us that followers of Jesus sold all their belongings and divided the money among themselves making sure that’s everyone had an equal share of everything.
Being a disciple means that you let go and do not hold onto earthly things but give them up since to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24
Discipleship is characterized by crucifying your flesh.
We live in a world where there are endless lusts and temptations of fleshly carnal things, especially for us millennial women.
But as a disciple of Jesus, from what this bible verse about discipleship says, we must lead by example. We must not only preach the gospel by lip service but also by works.
Works mean that even if everyone around you has sex outside or before marriage when you are a disciple you need to stand your ground to show the world what it means to really follow Jesus. Denying any and every lust that is not in line with the word of God.
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
Matthew 9:9
Matthew is one guy whose call was epic in my opinion. This guy already had everything going for him. He was wealthy and lacked nothing- well in terms of worldly standards of living your best life.
But when Jesus, the hope of glory called him. Let me preach and say sis be like Matthew. When Jesus calls you to follow him DO NOT think twice.
Be like Matthew from what this bible verses about discipleship reveals, he literally abandoned his post. Left the booth and everything that was there and followed his Savior.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 15:16
Sis, I’m sorry to burst your bubble but you DID NOT choose Jesus. This bible verse about discipleship explains that He chose you for all your good works. Jesus chose you to follow Him and be a disciple to all nations.
Imagine being chosen by the creator of the universe. You are loved and you are special. Because Jesus chose you, the least you can do is to be a disciple and follow him.
Bear fruit and the world will give glory to the Father in heaven because of your fruit.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24
If I were to pick a mantra for what discipleship means I would pick this bible verse about discipleship. This is the poster motto for being a disciple of Jesus.
When you decide to follow Jesus your ONLY objective MUST be to accomplish that for which you were called. You must forget any plans you had before Jesus and focus solely on staying and finishing the course so that on that last day Jesus will say, Good and faithful servant. I am glad that I chose you.
Well, that is my goal in life. To serve God. To fulfill that purpose for which God created me. To make Him proud and finally to get that crown.
YES, THE CROWN!! Like Paul, my eyes are also on getting that crown!
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19
As disciples, we are also expected to be fishers of men. Our call must be to fish men from the sea of sin and bring them to the light of the truth of the gospel, from what this bible verses about discipleship says.
Do not waiver in the quest of fishing for men. Remember our job is to plant seeds and only the Holy Spirit saves people. So when you tell people about the gospel and they mock you or reject it, don’t worry.
You have done your part. Leave the rest to God. Plant the seed and the Holy Spirit will water it until fruition.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 25:21-22
As disciples, we must be the pillars of the community. We must be the helping hands, those who serve and not those who require to be served.
This bible verses about discipleship teaches us that we must show the love of Jesus by loving those who have wronged us and not by paying back evil for evil. Always show love regardless of the situation.
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:26
So in case you are wondering who can be a disciple of Jesus? Is discipleship for specific people? The answer is No!!
It’s clearly stated in this bible verses about discipleship. Anyone who serves Jesus must follow him. And following Jesus means you are a disciple of Jesus. So being a believer of Jesus- a Christian alone is enough for you to be a disciple.
And Jesus will be with you everywhere you are as you are also everywhere he is. And in the end, the Father will honor you.
Imagine the perks of being honored by the creator of the universe!! Girl this Bible verse about discipleship is gold.
Jesus promises that God will honor you and we all know that God honors His word. What he says he will do Oh sis he will certainly do it.
