What is A Disciple?

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Knowing Jesus

A "disciple" is literally a student. But, biblically, a disciple is not a student of a topic (e.g. mathematics or French) but of a person. A disciple is someone who follows a person, learning from him/her with the intention of becoming like him/her. We might therefore define a disciple as a student of Jesus learning from Him how to be like Him in thought, character and action.

Based on Matthew 4:19, Jim Putman (Real Life Ministries) says that a disciple

follows Jesus ("Come, follow me")

is being changed by Jesus ("and I will make you") and

is on mission with Jesus ("fishers of people")

A disciple is a student of Jesus, learning from Him how to be like Him in thought, character and action. (Peter Cheyne)

A disciple is a follower of Jesus who is learning to live like Jesus, loves like Jesus and leaves what Jesus left behind. (David Putman)

A disciple “has come to Jesus for eternal life, has claimed Jesus as Savior and God, and has embarked upon the life of following Jesus.” (Michael J. Wilkins)

See discipleship.org's list of definitions near the bottom of this page.

The entire purpose of this site is to know what Jesus is like

so that we might become like Him

In other words, this site is all about being disciples of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about what it means to follow Jesus...

To learn more about helping others follow Jesus, go to our disciple-making site.