The Call to Christian Discipleship
Christian Discipleship: The Journey of Following Christ
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19
1. The Invitation of Christ
The journey of Christian discipleship begins not with rules or rituals, but with a relationship—a divine invitation issued by the Son of God Himself. When Jesus called His first disciples, He did not present them with a contract or a creed, but with a call: “Follow Me.” This simple phrase carries eternal significance. It is a summons to transformation, a beckoning to leave behind the world as we know it and step into the Kingdom of God.
At its core, discipleship means becoming a learner, a follower, and ultimately, a friend of Christ. The Greek word mathetes, used in the Gospels for “disciple,” literally means “student” or “apprentice.” To be a disciple is to pattern our life after the life of Jesus—not just in belief, but in behavior, values, and inner orientation. This requires more than intellectual assent; it is the surrender of the heart and the reordering of our desires¹.
In first-century Judea, rabbis often chose the best and brightest young men to be their disciples. But Jesus disrupted the norm. He called fishermen, tax collectors, and political zealots—ordinary men with extraordinary destinies. This is the heart of grace: we are not called because we are worthy, but because He is².
2. The Cost and the Joy of Discipleship
Discipleship is not a part-time commitment or a seasonal project; it is a way of life. Jesus makes this plain: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). This is not a call to self-improvement, but to self-denial. It is not about behavior modification but total transformation³.
Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship. In Luke 14, He cautions the crowds to “count the cost” before following Him⁴. Discipleship requires everything—our time, our resources, our ambitions, even our very selves. And yet, paradoxically, it is in losing our lives for His sake that we truly find them (Matthew 16:25).
There is a deep joy in this path. To walk as a disciple is to walk with Christ—to know His voice, to receive His peace, and to participate in His mission. As St. Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). This is the disciple’s identity: hidden in Christ, yet fully alive⁵.
3. Abiding in Christ
Discipleship is sustained not by willpower, but by love. Jesus does not call us to follow Him at a distance, but to abide in Him intimately. In John 15, He paints a beautiful image of this relationship: *“I am the vine, you are the branches… apart from Me, you can do nothing.”*⁶ Just as a branch must remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, so too must we stay rooted in Christ to live as His disciples.
This abiding relationship is cultivated through spiritual disciplines. These are not burdens but blessings—tools through which God shapes and nourishes the soul⁷.
4. The Four Pillars of a Disciple’s Life
a. Scripture and Meditation
A disciple listens to the voice of the Shepherd through the Word. Scripture is not merely a historical document but the living breath of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Through it, we receive correction, encouragement, and direction⁸. Meditation allows the Word to sink deep and form us inwardly.
b. Prayer and Contemplation
Prayer is the lifeline of the disciple. It is not just petition, but presence—resting in the nearness of God. Silent contemplation allows us to listen with the heart. In the stillness, God speaks⁹.
c. Community and Fellowship
Discipleship is never a solo journey. From the beginning, Jesus formed a community of followers. We need one another for encouragement, accountability, correction, and joy. The early Church modeled this in Acts 2:42–47, where believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship”¹⁰.
d. Service and Sacrifice
Jesus said, “I came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Whether through acts of mercy, hospitality, or advocacy, our faith takes shape in our service¹¹. A true disciple embodies the love of Christ through visible action.
5. Growth and Daily Faithfulness
Discipleship is a lifelong journey. There is no “arrival,” no plateau of spiritual perfection. As long as we draw breath, we are being sanctified—refined by the Spirit, formed by the Word, and matured through trial. Growth is not linear, and discipleship includes both fruitful seasons and desert ones¹².
Most of our formation happens in the ordinary: choosing prayer over distraction, patience over irritation, truth over comfort. These daily decisions slowly shape us into Christlikeness. The following practices help anchor that transformation:
• Commit to a daily rhythm of prayer and Scripture
• Join a small group or spiritual friendship
• Seek a wise mentor
• Serve others intentionally
• Reflect regularly through the Examen¹³
6. Discipleship in Suffering
Discipleship does not exempt us from suffering—in fact, it may bring us into greater suffering for the sake of others and for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus warned, “In this world you will have trouble.” But He also said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Trials refine our hearts and root us more deeply in the character of Christ¹⁴.
Suffering becomes not an obstacle to discipleship but a classroom for it—teaching us trust, humility, and hope.
7. The Ultimate Goal of Discipleship
The final aim of discipleship is not information about Jesus, but transformation into His likeness. Paul writes: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” (Philippians 3:10) The disciple walks with Christ, suffers with Him, rises with Him, and will one day behold Him in glory¹⁵.
This is the promise and the beauty of Christian discipleship: that as we follow Jesus, He remakes us into His image—until the day we are with Him forever.
Footnotes
1. Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament (Fortress Press, 2010), 140–145.
2. N.T. Wright, Simply Jesus (HarperOne, 2011), 85–87.
3. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (Touchstone, 1995), 44–45.
4. Luke 14:27–33, NIV.
5. Galatians 2:20, ESV.
6. John 15:5, NIV.
7. Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline (HarperOne, 2002), 1–3.
8. 2 Timothy 3:16, ESV.
9. Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart (Ballantine, 1981), 47–53.
10. Acts 2:42–47, NIV.
11. Mark 10:45, ESV.
12. Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18.
13. St. Ignatius of Loyola, The Examen Prayer (various adaptations).
14. John 16:33, NIV.
15. Philippians 3:10; Colossians 3:3, ESV.