"... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20.

How to become a Disciple?

Here are all the passages on the discipleship in the N.T.

Matt. 10:24,25, 37-39; 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35; 10:21; Luke 9: 23-24; 14: 26-33; John 8:31-32; 13:34-35; 14:15,21; 15:8.

* In the N.T.(KJV), the word 'Christian' is found only three times--Acts 11:26; 26:27;and 1Peter 4: 16. But the word 'disciple' is found about 260 times!!

*The word 'disciple' comes a from a Greek word 'mathetes' meaning 'learner'.
When a person believes & begins to follow the Lord Jesus, his discipleship begins.
* A disciple is one who follows the Lord Jesus so closely that he reproduces His life in others.
* Lord Jesus called people to become His followers, to become His disciples. And out of them who committed themselves to follow Him, He chose twelve to be His Apostles.
So the Lord Jesus made disciples and not just converts; and He commanded His disciples to go make disciples. Matthew 28: 18-20.
* But why disciples? Not teachers, leaders, etc??
--Man is a rebel, fallen being, enemy of God, etc.
--Man needs restoration, reconciliation, discipline,etc.
--Needs to be made obedient and submissive to God and others.
--For this the Character of Christ has to be formed- man needs to become Christ-like. Needs to be changed. 2 Cor. 3:18.
* The Lord Jesus never taught those who were following Him how to preach, or how to lead or boss over others; but He demonstrated and gave His life to live like Him. He is the focus! They need to reproduce His life! That's the goal of discipleship. There are three important aspects of the discipleship:

1. The Call for Discipleship: It is not an invitation! But a command. There is no choice given nor are there any options or exceptions!

Those who want to follow the Lord Jesus "must" serve Him too. John 12: 26.
This is a call :-- for self-death to reproduce the life of the Lord: Jn. 12:24.
--to identify with His death: Gal. 2:20
--for self-denial, for ending self-centred life and self-desires: Gal. 5:24.
--for separation from the world and it's philosophy and lusts: Jn.15:19; Gal. 6:14; 1Jn.2:15-17.
--for unconditional and immediate obedience to His words: Lk. 9:62.

*Many wanted to follow but were rejected. Why? They were not willing to meet the conditions of discipleship. Jn.2:23-25; 6:26-27; 6:66.
* The Lord Jesus said that no one can come to Him except the father draws that person to Christ. Jn. 6:65. Peter affirmed their commitment to follow the Lord when others have left Him. Because, Peter and other disciples 'found the words of eternal life' at Jesus. Jn. 6:68.
*Many may hear His call for discipleship, yet very few respond. Only those who are chosen and are His sheep hear His voice. Those who are willing to give all to Him, like the famous Florence Nightingale, who said: " I have kept nothing back from God". Amen.

2. The Cost of Discipleship: To believe on the Lord costs nothing to a believer even though it cost God His Son and Jesus His own life to provide salvation Free to all who believe on Him.

But to follow the Lord and become His disciple costs everything one has! SO the queston is "what is costing you to follow Jesus?"

*For Job in the O.T., to trust God, it cost him everything he possessed, even his own life! Satan's challenge was: "Does Job trust God for nothing?" Yes! He proved so later.

*Today many are NOT willing to pay the price to become the disciples of the Lord Jesus. But what is the cost of following the Lord?

--suffering and death: e.g. William Tyndale who translated the N.T. and others.
--sacrifice of worldly pleasures, comforts, conviniences, lustful desires, etc.
--separaton from the worldly system of evil and corruption;
--surrendering of our will, mind, body to His will;
--death to self: Gal. 2:20, 5:24, 6:14; Rom.12:1-3;Acts 14:22; 2Cor.4:11; 2Tim. 3:12.
--Identifying with our Lord in His death and resurrection: fellowship of His sufferings- Phil. 3:10.
--supreme love for Jesus than all: Jn. 21:15.
--shame of the cross: 2Tim. 1:8.

But the cost of not committing to follow the Lord is very, very high. It means God's judgement, loss and spiritual death.

Responding to the Call for discipleship and counting on the Cost of discipleship, one has to Commit himself to become His disciple.

3. The Commitment to discipleship: The Lord Jesus is not just calling people to hear His words or try to follow His teachings. He is calling people to Himself: "Come Unto Me..." Matthew 11:28,29.

He is the focus. Not just His teachings.
* People recognzed when they preached that Peter and John had been with Jesus. Because imitating Jesus makes an impact on others.That's why Peter wrote later that the Lord Jesus left us an example to follow in His footsteps. 1Peter 2:21.

What this commitment to discipleship involves? It involves the following:

1. Comitting oneself to Obey Him. Doing as He did by knowing His Word and practicing it. John 14: 12.
--obedience is better than sacrifice: 1 Sa. 15:22.
2. It involves Submission to the Lordship of Christ: Matt. 11:29. Taking His yoke upon us.
It is being a servant to all and thus receiving authority from the Lord. Matt. 20:26.
--It involves submission to one another in the Lord. Eph. 5:21.
3. To commit to love one another by forgiving others: Eph. 4:32.
--Love for the Lord to be the motivation for everything we do for Him and to others: Jn.21: 15.
4. To be a disciple of the Lord means to adapt a simple lifestyle free of pomp, boasting and unnecesary show: Matt. 6:21; 1Tm. 6:8-9; 1Peter 3:2-5.

5. A disciple is concerned about the honour of His Master. Everything he does is for His glory: 1Cor. 10:31; Luke 17:10.
6. Devotional life characterizes a disciple of the Lord Jesus: prayer, worship, fellowship with God's people, witnessing to others and studying God's Word, etc. Jn.15:27; Eph.5:1-20; 1Thess.5:17; Col. 3:16; Heb.10:24-25.
7. The Lord Jesus chose His disciples to go and bear fruit. as you follow Christ, you begin to bear fruit. Jn. 15:8,16; 2Tim. 2:2. It involves passing on what you have recieved and learned to multiply the disciples and thus become a disciple-maker. That is the ultimate goal of Jesus calling us to discipleship. Amen.

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up His cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23.