By definition, a disciple is someone who follows another, embracing their teachings and helping to share them with others. A Christian disciple, then, is a follower of Jesus Christ — one who not only accepts His message of salvation but also participates in spreading it. Christian discipleship is the ongoing journey of growing in relationship with Christ, being shaped by His Word, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through this process, believers are equipped to navigate the challenges of life and to become more like Christ in character and conduct. This is best accomplished in relationship with others.
According to Scripture, discipleship involves personal growth characterized by the following:
Learning and following Jesus’ teachings — Jesus is the perfect example of obedience, having lived a life of complete submission to the Father. Therefore, we must be obedient children and doers of the Word (John 8:31–32; John 14:21; James 1:22).
Relationships with other disciples — Love for other believers is evidence that we are members of God’s family. Therefore, we must be intentionally relational with one another and look out for each other’s interests (John 13:34–35; 1 John 3:10).
Making disciples of others — Disciples multiply. This involves sharing the gospel and urging people to repent and believe in Christ, but it also involves teaching and equipping. Christians should be actively engaged in making disciples who will, in turn, make more disciples (Matthew 28:18–20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Ephesians 4:11–13).
At CrossPointe we achieve the mission of discipleship through three types of discipleship groups. Click the links below to learn more about them.