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What Is Discipleship? Start With This Simple Guide

Sam Larrabee • 8 minutes

If you asked just about any Christian if they want to grow closer to God, they’d probably say, “Yes!”

Of course we all want to grow closer to God each day. But how? How do we develop a deeper faith? Turns out there’s a one-word answer: discipleship.

What Is a Disciple?

A disciple is just someone who keeps turning toward Jesus in real-life moments and lets those steps, big or small, shape who they’re becoming.

Discipleship is a process that can start as soon as we choose to follow Jesus. A disciple is kind of like a student or apprentice. They seek to learn from their leader and imitate their way of life.

Christians are disciples of Jesus, meaning a disciple seeks to learn from Jesus and imitate His way of life.

Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human. This means He was able to live out the way all humans were made by God to live. Jesus experienced a close relationship with God the Father and used His words, relationships, and actions to make a massive difference in the world around Him.

We want the same kind of Christian life. One filled with passion, purpose, and a closer relationship with God. So, we seek to imitate how Jesus lived. But, as you probably know, discipleship isn’t easy.

What Is Discipleship in the Bible?

Probably the most famous disciples in the Bible are the Twelve Disciples of Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus selected these followers to travel with Him for three years. The disciples listened as Jesus taught, and they watched how He interacted with others. They asked Him questions and even had opportunities to practice what they learned from Jesus.

These disciples were like us. They wanted a deeper relationship with God, and they wanted to live a full, meaningful life. But they weren’t perfect. They argued, focused on the wrong things, and gave in to temptation. But Jesus still invested in them. Why? Because discipleship is a journey, not a destination. We’re all in process as followers of Jesus, meaning we all have room to grow.

So as we seek discipleship, remember that it’s not possible to become an all-star disciple overnight. Jesus is patient, so let’s take our discipleship journey one step at a time.

4 Things We Can Learn From the Twelve Disciples

Jesus had twelve closest disciples during His three-year ministry. Each had their own challenges as they followed Jesus, and we can learn a lot about what it looks like to be a disciple as we read their stories.

1. Disciples make some sacrifices.

Jesus didn’t force His disciples to walk alongside Him, and they didn’t become disciples by accident. Jesus invited them to follow Him, but they had to choose to leave their old life to accept His call.

Each of Jesus’ disciples had to surrender something to follow Jesus. Many had stable jobs they had to quit and family members they had to leave behind. And all of them had to deal with the discomfort of an uncertain and uncomfortable future.

We don’t become disciples by accident. We have to choose to follow Jesus, even if it means making sacrifices.

2. Disciples let go of their pride.

Jesus sometimes had to break up arguments between His disciples. What did they argue about? Let’s look at one instance to find out:

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Luke 22:24 NLT

They wanted to know which other disciple was “doing the best.” Was it the one who gave the best answers? Or the one who performed the greatest miracle? Or was it whoever had been following Jesus the longest?

Here’s how Jesus responded:

Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:25-27 NLT

What Makes a "Good" Disciple?

How do we measure success in discipleship? How do we know if we’re “winning”? Well, to Jesus, we’re winning if we’re constantly looking for ways to make less of ourselves and more of others.

There’s nothing wrong with being a person the world considers influential or important. But you can’t seek discipleship and fame at the same time. Just think about Jesus. He was God but chose to give up His authority and titles—along with all their prestige, honor, and praise—to become a humble servant-teacher.

So, if we want to seek discipleship, we need to let go of our pride and pursuit of fame. To Jesus, we become great through service without fanfare.

3. Disciples have doubts.

The disciples had faith in Jesus, but they still had questions and doubts. That’s okay, because doubts and questions are often signs of a growing faith.

One evening a disciple named Peter saw Jesus walking across the surface of a lake during a big storm. Pretty strange, right? But Peter was a disciple, and a disciple does their best to imitate their leader.

So, full of faith, Peter chose to step out of his boat and walk across the water too. For a few moments, he was able to stand on the waves. But when He turned his focus to the rough sea, he began to doubt and sank into the water.

… [Peter] was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:30-31 NLT

In that moment, Peter had little faith in Jesus. But Jesus didn’t abandon him or punish him. Instead, Jesus continued to help Peter, and Peter kept seeking discipleship.

Eventually, Jesus called Peter to lead the Church. It’s fair to believe that Peter still had some questions and doubts, but they didn’t disqualify him. Instead, they gave Him opportunities to keep pursuing Jesus.

As you seek discipleship, you’ll almost certainly have questions and doubts too. That’s okay. In those moments, don’t assume that God is mad at you, or that you can’t follow Jesus anymore. Instead, keep pursuing Jesus through prayer and bring your doubts and questions to trusted friends who follow Jesus.

4. Disciples make more disciples.

As you follow Jesus, you’ll grow closer to God and find joy and purpose. But we don’t just follow Jesus for the personal benefit. Discipleship is a personal journey, but it’s not a private journey. Jesus blesses us so we can be a blessing to others.

Here are some of Jesus’ final words to His disciples before returning to heaven:

… “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Disciples Become Disciple Makers

Jesus lived an others-focused life. He consistently used His time, energy, and resources to help people. He shared words of hope with people feeling shame, and He welcomed outsiders. He healed people with lifelong illnesses and spoke truth to people in power. And, as He did all of these things, He invited people to live like Him—with full devotion to God.

Jesus called His disciples to do the same things, telling and showing people what it looked like to be fully devoted to God. So the disciples went all over the world and made disciples of Jesus. And those disciples made disciples, and the process has continued to the present time.

Set an Example of God's Love

Now, it’s our turn—or, to put it more directly, it’s your turn. Countless disciples throughout history led to you becoming a follower of Jesus today. You can honor their legacy by continuing to help other people get to know Jesus so they can seek discipleship too. We do this through sharing our faith, and living like Jesus every day.

A Biblical Discipleship Process

If you look at how most churches talk about discipleship today, you’ll notice a familiar pattern. People are encouraged to learn key truths, apply them when they feel ready, and then eventually lead others once they’ve reached a certain level of spiritual stability. 

It’s well-meaning, but it can create a version of discipleship that starts with information instead of experience and places pressure on people to be confident before taking meaningful steps of faith.

Here’s what that often looks like:

Modern Discipleship (Learn, Live, Lead):

  • Learn: Get the right information. Understand core doctrines. Build a solid foundation.

  • Live: Once you feel ready, begin practicing what you’ve learned. Try to live out your faith consistently.
  • Lead: After enough growth and enough certainty, step into leadership or influence.

There’s nothing wrong with learning or leading. The problem comes when we make learning the starting line,  readiness the requirement, and formal spiritual leadership the end goal. Many people end up waiting to grow because they don’t feel confident enough, knowledgeable enough, or spiritually steady enough to take their next step.

But Jesus forms disciples in a completely different way.

Jesus' Discipleship Model

Jesus' disciples learned from him, lived alongside Him, and rose to leadership roles, but that wasn't Jesus' discipleship workflow. 

When you look at the Gospels, Jesus doesn’t begin with mastery. He begins with movement. Instead, He invites ordinary people to participation long before they understand what He’s doing. And He teaches them through the very experiences they’re stepping into.

A Jesus-shaped discipleship process looks more like this:

1. Exposure
You experience who Jesus is in real time. You encounter His presence, His character, and His invitations before you fully understand them.

2. Participation
You take a step toward Him with the confidence you have today. You respond to His call not because you feel ready, but because you trust Him enough to move.

3. Activation
You try something real, even if you’re unsure. You attempt to follow Jesus in ways that stretch you, and your fears and limits surface in the process.

4. Reflection
You learn through reflection, questions, and grace. Jesus meets you in both your courage and your weakness, helping you understand what happened and what He’s forming in you.

And Then the Rhythm Repeats
Each step prepares you for the next one. You keep growing not by mastering information, but by walking with Jesus in real life, one cycle at a time.

This is how Jesus formed every disciple you read about in Scripture.

Let's illustrate this with three encounters with Jesus found in the Bible. 

Peter walking on water

Why does Peter step out onto the water? Because he's confident, spiritually mature, has joined a small group, is regularly giving, and trusts the historicity of the Bible? No, of course not. He steps out because Jesus calls him. 

He tries, then he sinks, and Jesus rescues him. Peter grows through experience, not expertise.

Think of the healed man in the Decapolis. 

He has one encounter with Jesus where he's freed and healed and now wants to physically follow Jesus. But Jesus says not. Instead, Jesus sends him home immediately to share what God has done. He doesn't need to take leadership classes, or get a Theology degree. There's no waiting period or background check. Just simple obedience in the place he already lives.

Now think of the woman at the well.

Full of doubts, with a questionable background and incomplete beliefs, yet has experienced something different, strange, and life-giving in Jesus. How does she respond? By sharing the good news of Jesus among people who've bullied, shamed, and mocked her. 

Jesus didn't teach a Learn → Live → Lead model. 

If he had, Jesus would've told Peter to stay on the boad till he knew enough about the Bible, told the healed man to take his masterclass, and registered the woman at the well for his leadership seminar. But He doesn't. Instead Jesus releases insecure, fumbling, and doubt-filled people into the world and says try, fail, grow, ask, discover, lead, and tell. In other words, live your life. 

These stories show us that biblical discipleship isn’t a ladder you climb, instead it's a lot more like a rhythm you live.

What Could This Discipleship Process Look Like in Your Life?

If this is how Jesus formed people in the Gospels, then discipleship doesn’t need to be dramatic or complicated. Most of the time, it shows up in ordinary moments you’d normally rush past. You don’t need a classroom or perfect answers. You need a little awareness, a little courage, and someone to talk to about how it went.

Here’s what it might look like in real life:

You notice something stirring in you.

  • A coworker seems discouraged, and you feel a tug to check in.
  • You keep thinking about someone you need to forgive.
  • You sense God nudging you to slow down or stop avoiding a conversation.

Nothing mystical, just a quiet sense that Jesus is nearby and inviting you to act.

You take one small step.

  • You ask the question you were scared to ask.
  • You choose the honest conversation instead of the safe one.
  • You try praying aloud even though it feels awkward.
  • You attempt a new spiritual habit and see where it goes.

These aren’t heroic moments, they’re experiments in trusting Jesus.

You talk it through with a real person.

Not in a “report your progress” way, but in a normal, human way.

  • “I tried this today, and it was more uncomfortable than I expected.”
  • “I think I avoided the hard part.”
  • “I felt God’s presence, and I wasn’t sure what to do with that.”

The point isn’t to impress someone, but to let their perspective sharpen yours.

You reflect with Jesus on the day.

Maybe it happens in prayer. Maybe on a walk. Maybe while doing dishes.

  • What surprised you?
  • Where did fear show up?
  • What helped you trust Jesus, even a little?
  • What might you try differently next time?

Reflection isn’t grading yourself, it’s noticing where Jesus was at work.

And then you try again tomorrow.
Not perfectly. Not with a script.
Just with a little more honesty, a little more courage, and a little more awareness of Jesus than you had yesterday.

This is discipleship in the real world. Not a program or a finish line, but a slow, steady rhythm of paying attention, taking a step, talking it out, and learning as you go.

How to Grow as a Disciple

Every follower of Jesus Christ has a unique discipleship journey—but all the journeys share a few key ingredients.

Discipleship is a journey, and it’s rarely a straight line. Some days are good, others will be challenging. Jesus doesn’t promise that His followers will have an easy life. But the sacrifices are worth it—because they allow us to be the people we were made to be as we partner with God to make earth more like heaven.