How To Grow As A Disciple of Jesus – Part 1

Discipleship isn’t just a Christian buzzword. It’s the life to which Jesus calls all believers. Before Jesus left the earth, he gave his followers their primary directive. He said, “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 ESV)

Jesus’ words are critical to our growth as a follower. We must be a disciple who makes disciples. So what does a disciple do? A disciple follows (or imitates) the discipline of their teacher. In other words, they GROW and become more and more like their master. The Apostle James, Jesus’ brother, reminds us that to know and not yet to do is not to know (James 1:22). If we think we know something intellectually but we do not practice what we know, we deceive ourselves. Here are three essential practices to help us grow and become more like our master, Jesus.

1. Read The Bible Every Day – To follow Jesus we need to know what he said! The Apostle Paul instructed a young pastor named Timothy about the importance of the Scriptures. He said, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
   
   Scripture is given by God to:
   • Teach us
   • Reproof us (show us what’s wrong)
   • Correct us
   • Train us in God’s ways
   
   Jesus hasn’t left us to figure out how to be disciples on our own. He gave us both the Bible and the Holy Spirit to direct us. In John 16:13, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth. Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28 make clear disciples are those who “obey” the commands of Jesus. To obey, we must first know what those commands are and then put them into practice in the power of the Holy Spirit.
   
   So how do we do that? By planning a focused time to read the Bible every day, and implement Jesus’ direction in our lives. Then and only then can we lead others in the way of Jesus. Let me be clear: We don’t have to be perfect to disciple someone. We don’t even have to be “five steps ahead.” We only need to be one step ahead. Start today! Find and follow a daily Bible reading plan and practice what the Holy Spirit directs you to do. Then you’ll be ready to make disciples teaching them to obey what Jesus is teaching you to obey!

As we apply this practice to our lives, we’ll grow into mature disciples who rightly reflect Jesus to a broken and hurting world that desperately needs Him. Will you join me?

In the next post, I’ll share the second essential practice to help us grow as a disciple of Jesus.