What is a Disciple?

What is a disciple?

Since the Great Commission (Mat 38:19) focuses on making disciples, the church should do the same.  The question is what is a disciple?  What does a disciple of Christ look like?  We get an insight into what a disciple is by examining the Greek word mathetes, which is translated disciple in your English Bibles.  The range of meaning of the word literally means to be a learner, pupil or disciple.  The word disciple is not commonly used in our culture today, but it is common to refer to someone as a student of the school they attend, or a student of the person they are studying under.  It is appropriate for a believer to call himself a student of Jesus.  Being a disciple of Christ means to be a life-long student of Jesus.  Not only do we study his word, but the student seeks to emulate his Master and become like him.  So it is with the disciple of Christ!

Unfortunately, many Christians may consider themselves to be Christ’s disciple, when in fact they are not being discipled!   Many believers may attend church on Sunday, but that is a far cry from discipleship as Jesus demonstrated to us in the Scriptures.  I believe that discipleship is on the verge of becoming a lost art form in our contemporary society.  If the great Commission is going to be fulfilled the church must recapture Jesus’ methodology in disciple-making!

Stay tuned for more insights into Biblical discipleship, and you can listen to any of the sermons from my current series on our website.

Pastor Bruce