How to Disciple: Follow Jesus’ Example of Discipleship
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
In the previous post we discussed the importance of Jesus’ mandate to make disciples and that it is not just an event of merely converting people to Christianity but an ongoing process of teaching people to follow Jesus Christ. In essence, to disciple someone is to teach them how to be a Christian, a follower of Christ. Discipleship is the process by which Christians grow and are equipped to follow Jesus and mature spiritually.
John Piper says of discipleship that it’s a lifetime of process—“So get them converted. Baptize them. And then spend a lifetime teaching them to obey all that Jesus said. That is what the verb “disciple” in the New Testament would include.”[1]
Now that we know that it’s an ongoing process and not an event, it can feel a bit intimidating. HOW then do we do disciple? Fortunately, we have an example of the process to follow and imitate!
Follow Jesus’ Example of Discipleship
- Teaching
- Modeling/Acting as an example
- Loving others
- Connecting with others
- Correcting them
- Serving and outreach
- Inviting others to walk alongside to do the same
Teaching
As mentioned in the last post, to disciple someone is to teach them. The original Greek words used in the New Testament for “disciple” are “Matheteuo” or “Mathetes” which as a noun means a learner, pupil, or disciple and as a verb means to disciple, enroll as a scholar, instruct or teach. Below are just a few scriptures (there are over 40 total in the New Testament) about Jesus going around teaching:
“He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” Mark 6:6 (NIV)
“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.” Matthew 9:35 (NLT)
“In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.” Matthew 26:55 (NIV)
“Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.” Mark 1:21 (NLT)
“Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.” Mark 10:1 (NIV)
“After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him.” Luke 19:47 (NIV)
“Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.” Luke 21:37 (NLT)
“Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them.” John 8:2 (NASB)
Modeling/Acting as an example
Jesus’ life was a demonstration for his disciples (and for us) on how to live. We need merely to mimic and imitate him in order to live right and disciple others. Honestly one can just simply read any of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) or the books of Acts to see countless examples of Jesus modeling behavior and attitudes for his followers. Here are but a few examples listed in scripture…
“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ” John 13:14-15 (NLT)
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].” Matthew 16:24 (AMP)
Loving others
As Jesus would disciple others, he showed consistent love in action. We can look through the gospels for a multitude of examples of Jesus’ love, but the primary example, of course, is that of him sacrificing his own life on our behalf. Here are a sampling of other examples of Jesus loving others…
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John 13:34 (NLT)
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:9-13 (NIV)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV)
“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)
“By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.” 1 John 3:16 (AMP)
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
Connecting with others
Jesus knew the importance of connection, fellowship, working together, and unity with one another. He often worked with others and called people to work together as he would disciple them.
“And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach” Mark 3:14 (NASB)
“And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.” Mark 6:7 (NLT)
“The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.” Luke 10:1 (NLT)
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT)
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)
“Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.” John 17:11 (NLT)
Correcting them
Jesus had no problem correcting people when necessary as he would disciple and teach them. However, he always did so with tact and with good intention. Jesus always operated in both grace AND truth (John 1:14, 17). He frequently reprimanded his disciples and the Pharisees throughout the gospels. He also never hesitated to point out hypocrisy and false doctrines/teaching. Several times Jesus said things like “Woe to you…” or “You have heard it said…But I say to you…” Jesus wasn’t afraid of correcting people.
“But when Jesus turned and saw the disciples, he corrected Peter. He said to him, “Satan, get away from me! You are thinking like everyone else and not like God.” Mark 8:33 (CEV)
“But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then he stood up and rebuked the storm and said, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm.” Matthew 8:26 (TPT)
“Then Jesus appeared before the eleven apostles as they were eating a meal. He corrected them for having such hard, unbelieving hearts because they did not believe those who saw him after his resurrection.” Matthew 16:14 (TPT)
“When the disciples James and John saw what was happening, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people?” But Jesus turned and corrected them for what they had said.” Luke 9:54-55 (CEV)
“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:41-42 (NLT)
“Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.” Luke 24:25 (NLT)
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT)
“So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.” Luke 17:3 (NLT)
Serving and outreach
Jesus was first and foremost a servant. He said that he didn’t come to be served but to instead serve others. Jesus went around meeting needs, doing good, healing, and freeing people. Jesus was an advocate of outreach.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NLT) (Mark 10:45)
“Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:27 (NLT)
“So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13:4-5 (NLT)
“But emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:7 (BSB)
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23 (NIV)
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matthew 9:35 (NIV)
“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Matthew 11:5 (NIV)
“The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.” Matthew 21:14 (NLT)
““And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” Luke 4:18 (NKJV)
““Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”” Luke 10:36-37 (NLT)
“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:38 (NLT)
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35 (NLT)
Inviting others to walk alongside to do the same
Jesus came so that God’s kingdom and family might be multiplied on the earth. Spiritual multiplication is part of the mission of God, and Jesus participated in this too. After teaching, modeling, loving, connecting, correcting, and serving them, Jesus sent his disciples out to do the same. He sent them to teach and tell others about Jesus and make followers.
“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21 (NIV)
“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” John 17:18 (NLT)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
“Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions…” Matthew 10:5a (NLT)
“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:1-2 (NLT)
“The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.” Luke 10:1 (NLT)
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV)
“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Mark 16:20 (NIV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 (NLT)
Take Some Practical Steps to Learn How to Disciple:
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First spend some time reading and meditating over the scriptures listed here of how Jesus would disciple others during his time on earth.
Studying Jesus’ example of discipleship will help you better know how to disciple and equip you to go and do the same.
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Then, stay tuned for a later post on how we can take those examples and practically apply them ourselves.
What do you notice about how Jesus would disciple others? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.
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- Piper, John. “What Is Discipleship and How Is It Done?” Desiring God, 17 Sept. 2019, www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-discipleship-and-how-is-it-done. ↑
