a disciple of jesuS

Key Scripture:  “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” - Luke 6:40

Purpose: If you don't have a definition of what a disciple is then how can you partner with the Lord to help people grow as one to advance His Kingdom? In its simplest form a disciple is a learner, student, pupil but what do we learn and what do we study? Where the Lord has taken us in answering these questions is that a disciple is someone who abides in Him, which creates a deep desire and delight of walking in His ways, which then creates a by-product of doing His works!  Abide→ Ways → Works

Phase of Discipling Best to Introduce: D1

Discipling Tips: (This is in progress)

  • The arrows in this tool are SUPER important!  They are not 1 step to another but rather a “continuous flow” from abiding into ways and then abiding and ways into works!

  • Since we disciple with the new covenant economy is it vital that they understand as a born again, new covenant believer our spirit is always abiding in Christ. The part of us that is choosing to abide is our soul. 

  • Ways are usually nouns and Works are usually verbs (Example: Ways - I am a forgiver. Works - I forgive you.) 

    Other terminology for Abide → Ways → Works

    Abide:

    • Keep company with Jesus

    • Abiding is living connected to Jesus in a 24/7 relationship.  Intimacy with Him is primary!  Learning to live connected to the Vine as our source with authenticity and honesty with the Father in on-going receptivity.  Spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible, prayer, worship, communion, etc. serve a lifestyle of remaining in Him but they do not trump it.  

    • Know Him

    • Live connected to Him

Ways:

    • We allow His character and nature to be formed within us!  This is not something we do, but rather who we become as we sit with Him and choose His choices!

    • Show Him

    • Be transformed by Jesus

    • Look like Jesus

    • Love like Jesus

    • Smell like Jesus

Works:

    •  Partner with Jesus to work His and the Father’s works

Other scriptures for Abide → Ways → Works

Abide:

    • John 15:1-17

    • John 8:31

    • 2 John 1:9

    • 1 John 2:24

    • Matthew 4:4

    • John 14:17

    • 1 John 5:12

    • John 14:16-18

    • John 6:28-29

    • John 6:63

    • John 10:14

Ways:

    • John 15:8

    • 2 Corinthians 2:15

    • 1 John 2:6

    • Romans 8:29

    • Ephesians 5:1-2

    • Luke 6:40

    • Galatians 4:19 

    • Colossians 2:6 — “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him.”

      • Received—> to take (receive) by showing strong personal initiative, to receive something transmitted, to receive with the mind

      • Walk —> to live a life conformed (be similar in form or type; agree) to the union entered into with Christ

  • Works:

    • John 14:12

    • Luke 4:18-19

    • Matthew 10:1

    • Mark 16:15

Abide → Ways:

    • John 8:31-32

    • Proverbs 3:5-8

Abide → Ways → Works:

    • John 15:9-16

    • Colossians 3:12-17

Tool Specifics: (This is in progress but a basic guide)

  1. Assign for homework or eat together Luke 6:40

  2. Have them write down the answers to these questions:

    • What is your definition of a disciple of Jesus?

    • What is your definition of a discipler/disciple maker?

    • What is your definition of discipleship? 

  3. Talk about how it is important since Jesus has called us to be His disciples that we know what that means. We are supposed to be trained to be like our teacher. 

  4. As you take them through this tool focus on the “continuous flow” (the arrows) from abiding into ways and then abiding and ways into works!

  5. Abide in Him 

    Sit with Jesus and live connected to Him as your source. Abide in Jesus, in His Love, in His Word. 

    • Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. - John 15:4-5

    • “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. - John 15:9

    • Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. - John 8:31-32

  6. Walk in His Ways 

When you abide in Jesus then you begin to look like Jesus in character, nature and our obedience as fruit from the inside out as you are being conformed to His image and your obedience is a byproduct of your relationship with Him. 

    • For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:29 

    • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

7. Do His Works 

A byproduct of staying connected to Jesus and looking like Him in doing His works.  

    • For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10 

    • Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  – Matthew 28:19-20

Tool Diagram:

 
 

Tool Resources:

Additional Tool Resources:

Originated/Adapted From:

  • R. Bruce Carlton - Professor at Oklahoma Baptist University

 Updated 5-14-2023