From a biblical perspective, a disciple is a learner (mathetes in Greek), someone who is committed to being with a “master” (rabbi) in order to learn from them and take on their entire way of being.
What is Discipleship to Jesus?
It is to commit oneself to being with Jesus to learn from Jesus how to be like Jesus in every aspect of one’s life. Discipleship to Jesus is learning to be at home in God’s love and to allow that love to radiate from our lives to everyone we encounter.
What It Means to Be a Disciple?
A discipleship plan is not working unless we have a clear picture of what changes we should expect in someone’s life when they commit to following Jesus. What would it mean for someone to become more like Jesus in every aspect of their life? What would that transformation look like?
Some of what we might expect to see in the life of a disciple would be:
The fruit of the Spirit becoming more and more habitual and characteristic in one’s life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23)
God’s love and power increasingly flowing through one’s life (2 Pet 1:3-4)
An increasing sense of being “at home” in God’s love ( John 15:1-8)
Reactive attitudes and behaviors that harm others steadily falling away, and one’s capacity to contribute to the good of others growing (Col 3:1-17, Eph 4:1-6)
Love for others and even enemies increasing (Matt 5:43-48)
Patience and endurance in the face of suffering (Rom 12:9-21)