6 Discipleship Traits

Being Followers of Christ

Understanding Discipleship

Thanks to our Friends at YouthMinistry360, we offer you this resource to help you (Students & Parents) understand what we are talking about when we say "DISCIPLESHIP". To see the original  pdf resource, click the link below.

We have also provided it in an easy to read format here on our website just for our Students.
Challenge yourself by answering the following questions as you study the different biblical traits of discipleship:
  1. Where are you now?
  2. Where do you want to be?
  3. How can we get there together?
  4. How can we make “this discipleship trait” contagious (with our peers at church; school; extracurricular activities; close friends)?
    a. during this time of social distancing
    b. once we can gather together regularly in-person
Get the pdf

What is Discipleship?

The word discipleship means different things to different people.
For some it functions similarly to the concept of mentorship.
For others discipleship simply implies programming, that thing we do in our churches where we meet at certain times and eat donuts, drink coffee and Mountain Dew, and study the Bible. Still for others discipleship speaks to a process, a way of becoming more like Jesus. This last definition is what we have in mind when we say the word discipleship. 

Discipleship Trait 6: Invest in Multiplying Disciples

There are two types of multiplication we want to see Followers of Christ involved in: Kingdom multiplication and individual multiplication. Kingdom multiplication is evangelism, the Gospel in word. Though we can never limit the Spirit’s ability to spontaneously lead people to salvation, the most effective evangelism we can embrace is “life-on-life.” This kind of multiplication is personal. As students, this is seeking out the lost in your sphere of influence and inviting them into your life to see how Christ has rescued you. **It’s multiplication one person at a time.**

Individual multiplication is the expectation that you as students will be shepherding younger Christ-followers. As you journey along your personal path, you are called to travel along with others. The wisdom and understanding you have based on your time walking with God is to be imparted to others to help their growth. And as these other, younger followers grow, the expectation is that they would in turn engage in multiplying followership through someone else.

Here are a few passages where we see this . . .

Jesus modeling multiplication

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'
At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Mark 1:16-18

Jesus describing discipleship

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?'”
Matthew 16:24-26

Jesus' command to make disciples

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20