How should disciples live?

Restoration Kingdom Living Christian Life

TL;DR:

A disciple doesn’t just believe in Jesus—they live to become more like Him. Following Christ means putting selfish desires aside, loving God and others, obeying His Word, walking by the Spirit, and helping others follow Him too.

what does the bible say?

Disciples are called to look like their Teacher—and for Christians, that Teacher is Jesus (Luke 6:40). That means putting aside selfish desires and choosing to follow Christ through faith, obedience, and a life shaped by the Holy Spirit (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; 5:22–24). Jesus said His disciples would be recognized by their love for one another, making love a defining part of what it means to follow Him (John 13:35; 14:15). Following Jesus also means living out what He taught, not simply knowing it, and helping others become His disciples too (Matthew 28:19–20). This kind of life can look very different from the world’s message to “love yourself” and “live for today.” Instead of being driven by temporary pleasures or selfish ambition, Christians are called to love God and others and to live with an eternal perspective. The Bible presents discipleship as a whole-life commitment to becoming more like Christ and helping others do the same.

from the old testament

The term "disciple" is used mainly in the New Testament, but the Old Testament contains the concept of discipleship. God commanded His people to teach His ways to their children, effectively discipling them into the truth about God (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).

from the new testament

A disciple emulates the Master. Disciples of Christ, emulate Him. Jesus said, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40).
A disciple puts away the desires of the flesh in favor of a Christ-like life (Luke 9:23). Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
A Christian disciple follows Christ, which means obeying His commands. Jesus defined love for Him as obedience to Him (John 14:15).
In fact, love is a key characteristic of a disciple of Christ. Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Jesus commissioned His apostles to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," which entailed "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). A disciple, then, is one who lives out what Christ taught.
A disciple is guided by the Spirit, not by the flesh (Galatians 5:22-24).

implications for today

“Love yourself.”
“You only live once—do what you can, while you can.”

Those are the kind of messages the world constantly puts in front of us: look out for yourself, chase what makes you happy, and make the most of right now. But following Jesus means choosing a different way. A disciple of Christ doesn’t live with self at the center; they live with Jesus at the center. Instead of being driven by the desires of the flesh, they are guided by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16–24). Instead of asking, “What do I want?” they learn to ask, “What does Jesus want?” They choose obedience over convenience, self-sacrifice over selfishness, and love over personal gain.

Because of that, Christians may sometimes feel like they don’t fit in. Jesus calls His followers live radically different, even when the culture says otherwise (Matthew 5:44; Matthew 20:26–28; 1 Peter 1:14–16). The world may call that weakness, but Jesus calls it faithfulness. Following Christ isn’t about squeezing everything you can out of this life; it’s about living for something bigger than this life. The world says, “Live for yourself.” Jesus says, “Follow Me.” As Joshua challenged Israel, “choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

understand

A disciple follows the ways of his teacher; Christian disciples follow Jesus.
A disciple of Jesus should live with Jesus at the center.
Christian disciples lead lives characterized by the fruits of the Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh.

reflect

How does the way you live show that you are a disciple of Jesus?
What are some challenges you've experienced in trying to live as Christ did?
How do you seek to live by the Spirit instead of being driven by your own flesh?

engage

How do the world's values contrast with the values of Christian disciples?
What does it practically look like for a disciple to live for Christ?
How can Christians live differently from the world while still loving and serving the people around them?

More Resources

Theology

Christian discipleship - What is it?

Christian discipleship is a lifelong journey of following Jesus, being transformed by His Word, and helping others do the same. Discipleship is not just about learning about Him; it’s about living wholeheartedly for Him and reflecting Him with bold devotion, deep obedience, and contagious love.

Christian Life

How does discipleship shape how I live?

Discipleship is what you follow, and what you follow is what you become. As you stay close to Jesus, He transforms your choices, character, and direction so your life increasingly reflects His.

Christian Life

What does it mean that discipleship matters?

Discipleship matters because being saved isn't just about knowing more about Jesus—it’s about becoming more like Him and helping others do the same. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey, so let's seek to grow together and point each other back to Christ.

Christian Life

How does discipleship impact priorities?

Discipleship is more than following Jesus with our beliefs—it is allowing Him to reorder our time, choices, and priorities. When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, everything else finds its proper place, and we are moved to help others follow Him too.