Based on an idea by Dr. Wayne J. Gerber
The aim of this teaching is to consider what the life of a true disciple of Christ ought to look like. Beginning with the question of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, we will focus on the changes God requires in the heart, mind, and character of Christ’s disciple; we will look at the obedience God expects of us; and finally we will list ten spiritual disciplines that would help a new believer grow as a disciple of Christ. To be a disciple means to be someone who studies various academic disciplines. And to be a disciple of Christ means to practice spiritual disciplines that help you build a Christlike character within yourself.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SOMEONE TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST?
What does it mean for someone to be a disciple of Christ? We find the answer to this question in Luke 6:40:
40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. (Luke 6:40)
To be a disciple of Jesus means to be His follower; it means to desire to imitate Him and to be like Him. And it must be said that there is no way out of this. For the apostle John says (1 John 2:6):
6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6)
THE CHANGES GOD REQUIRES OF CHRIST’S DISCIPLES
A CHANGED HEART
To be a disciple of Christ means to be part of His Kingdom. And the “constitution” of that kingdom was given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. One of the things God requires of us is a “pure heart” (Matthew 5:8):
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
What does it mean to have a pure heart? According to Jesus, every kind of sin springs from the heart of a person (Matthew 15:19):
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15:19)
For a person to have a pure heart means that it is not filled with sin, but with godly intentions and desires. In Luke 6:45 Jesus said:
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)
A CHANGED MIND
What is needed for such a change to take place? First, a person must be born again. But not only born again—the mind must also be renewed. In Romans 12:2 the apostle Paul says:
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
What would a renewed mind look like? How would it think? The renewed mind thinks God’s thoughts. It thinks like Christ. In 1 Corinthians 2:16 the apostle Paul says:
16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
How does a born-again person with a renewed mind differ from the old person sunk in sin? We find the answer in Ephesians 4:21-24:
21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:21-24)
Notice: the old self is “being corrupted by its deceitful desires,” while the born-again person, who renews his mind, strives after righteousness and lives in the holiness of the truth.
A CHANGED CHARACTER
How does the born-again person differ from the one who is not born again? The born-again spirit and the renewed mind produce a changed character. In Colossians 3:5-17 we read:
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:5-17)
How has God changed your heart, your mind, and your character?
THE OBEDIENCE GOD REQUIRES OF CHRIST’S DISCIPLES
OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST’S TEACHING
What does Jesus teach us to obey? In the first place, Christ’s teaching (John 8:31):
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. (John 8:31)
Jesus said similar words in the Great Commission:
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
To “obey” everything Christ has commanded us means to be obedient to His teaching.
What are the benefits of such obedience to Christ’s teaching? In John 14:23 we read:
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)
If we keep Christ’s teaching, we will have the blessing of His presence in our lives.
OBEDIENCE TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
In Romans 13:1-7 it says:
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7)
Why must we obey the governing authorities? Because they are appointed by God for our good.
OBEDIENCE TO CHURCH LEADERS
In Hebrews 13:17 the author of this letter says:
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
Why must we obey our spiritual leaders? Because they are responsible for our souls.
FIVE IMPORTANT THINGS EVERY DISCIPLE OF CHRIST MUST DO
DO THE WILL OF GOD
The first important thing that a disciple of Christ must do is to do the will of God. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus said:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
How important it is that we do the will of the Father!
CARRY HIS CROSS
The second important thing that Christ’s disciple must do is to carry his cross (Luke 14:27):
27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)
The way of Christ is the way to the cross. In the first century, what it meant to carry your cross was perfectly clear to Christ’s hearers. For they often saw those condemned to death carrying their cross to the place of execution. Being a disciple of Christ is not cheap. You must deny yourself, give up your life, give up your possessions. In Luke 14:33, in that same chapter, Jesus said:
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:33)
According to Jesus, what should our attitude toward our material possessions be?
LOVE
The third important thing that a disciple of Christ must do is to love. In fact, love is the mark of Christ’s disciple. God is love, and in His love He gave His most precious gift for us—His only Son. In John 13:35 Jesus said:
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
REMAIN IN CHRIST
The fourth important thing that a disciple of Christ must do is to remain in Christ. This is the way he can bear fruit (John 15:1-8):
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:1-8)
LIVE A HOLY LIFE
The fifth important thing that a disciple of Christ must do is to live a holy life. In Ephesians 5:8-11 the apostle Paul says:
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:8-11)
The Christian life must be lived with wisdom, with dignity, in God’s power, with endurance, patience, joy, and thankfulness (Colossians 1:9-12):
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12)
So then, what is a disciple of Christ expected to do?
THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
1. The discipline of corporate worship and fellowship — Hebrews 10:25:
25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
2. The discipline of personal time with the Lord — Luke 6:12:
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. (Luke 6:12)
3. The discipline of reading and studying God’s Word — 2 Timothy 3:14-17:
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
4. The discipline of prayer — Philippians 4:6:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
5. The discipline of generous giving — 2 Corinthians 9:7:
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
6. The discipline of fasting — Matthew 6:16-18:
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
7. The discipline of enduring trials — 1 Corinthians 10:12-13:
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
8. The discipline of doing good — James 4:17:
17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. (James 4:17)
9. The discipline of stirring up and exercising our spiritual gifts — Romans 12:6-8:
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)
10. The discipline of sharing our faith — Matthew 28:19-20:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Practicing the spiritual disciplines makes the disciple of Christ grow healthy and passionate for the Lord and for the things of the Spirit.