A "disciple" is a "learner" or a follower of a teacher. A Christian disciple is one who hears, understands, and obeys the teachings of Jesus. Disciple-making is helping people know Christ personally, follow Him completely, and make Him known broadly. It is coming alongside a disciple and training him to follow Christ. Making disciples is the mission Jesus gave every believer—to help others know Him, follow Him, and live in obedience to Him. God’s people have always been called to pass on His truth and walk with others in faith. Jesus modeled discipleship through close, everyday relationships, and He calls us to do the same. True discipleship is not just about conversion but walking alongside others to grow in faith. Discipleship is how we share God’s transformative love and truth to a world that desperately needs Him.
Making disciples begins with introducing people to Jesus by sharing the gospel. Discipling continues as we share in life together and help people know Jesus. The process is sometimes complicated by people who think that discipling requires specific programs or that discipling is the responsibility of a select few Christians. But disciple-making is about more than theological training, and it is something all Christians are called to do.
Jesus should be our model in discipling others. Christ’s followers walked alongside Him…literally! They lived with Him, watched how He made decisions, saw how He interacted with others, sat at His feet and learned. They studied everything about Him. Our aim should be to know and follow Him that closely. As disciple-makers, we teach people to devote their lives to Christ, and we walk alongside them as they do. We pray and study the Bible with them, but we also meet for coffee, go fishing, play games, etc. We’re part of each others’ lives. Disciple-making is investing in the life of others so that we and they get to know Jesus better and follow Him more closely. When we grow in knowledge and understanding of Jesus, we come to love Him and want to share His great love with others.