Disciple
What is a Disciple?
A disciple is defined as: A follower, student, or adherent of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. A Christian disciple, therefore, is simply a student and follower of Jesus Christ. We get a fuller picture of discipleship as it was intended to work by looking at Jesus’ calling of the very first disciples…
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Here we learn that three things are true of a disciple of Jesus.
A Disciple…
1: Follows Jesus
A disciple has made a decisive, life-altering decision to follow Jesus. A disciple spends time with Jesus in the posture of an apprentice. They are learning from Him as teacher, master, and Lord. Their approach to life is noticeably different because they now actively orient their lives around His teachings rather than their own desires.
2: Is Transformed by Jesus
Jesus' call to follow came with a promise to change them into something they weren’t. A life spent in the presence of Jesus changes you. They are not simply learning his teachings with their mind. Their thoughts, actions, and character are all being transformed to more closely resemble Jesus. Jesus doesn’t just provide teachings to subscribe to; he confronts us by putting his finger on areas of our lives - our actions, thoughts, attitudes, motivations, etc. – bringing them under His lordship by the power of His Holy Spirit.
3: Partners With Jesus
In light of their own relationship with Jesus, disciples turn to participate in Jesus’ mission to reach the world. They take His call to keep the “discipleship highway” going very seriously. They pray about it, think strategically, and discuss the mission regularly in their relationships. They understand that “sent one” is a core piece of their identity: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (Jn 20:21)
4 Discipleship Habits
Here at Eastpoint Church, we believe that spending time with Jesus in His word is central and vital to our growth as disciples. You will never meet a person who is following Jesus, being transformed by Jesus and partnering with Jesus who has not developed consistent habits of spending time with God in scripture.
Here are four key Discipleship Habits that will help you understand your Bible better and ultimately help you grow in your relationship with God.
Daily Reading Plan
Prayerful Journaling
Talk About It
Go to Church
1: Daily Reading Plan
Our plan starts with knowing what to read! We break up books of the Bible into daily, bite-sized chunks. Every day, read the next section in the plan. Here’s the key: We’re not reading simply for information, or even for inspiration. We’re reading for transformation.
Get alone, imagine yourself sitting at the feet of Jesus like a student, and begin by asking him to speak to you.
2: Prayerful Journaling
Have you ever read the passage and realized you have no idea what it said? It’s time to slow down and work your way carefully and prayerfully through the passage. Using the prompts from the COMA acronym, reread the passage and journal your responses.
When you’re done, talk to God about what you’ve learned and what He’s saying to you.
3: Talk About It
Mature followers of Jesus have made it a habit to journey through scripture with others. Who can you invite to share your daily reading plan with? Get together once a week for an intentional time of sharing about what you’ve learned.
4: Go to Church
Going to church every week will change your life for many reasons, including growing your understanding of the Bible. As you listen to the preached word, you will increase in your knowledge of the background, the stories and how to interpret the Bible well.
Need Support Building New Habits?
Visit our Spiritual Growth Toolbox
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