Bible Truth Foundations
Part 3 of 3: Serving in Christ
Please begin by answering this question honestly in your own words.
Has anyone ever personally invested in helping you grow as a follower of Christ, one-on-one, over time? What difference did that make?
Luke 14:33
So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Read this slowly before moving on. Jesus does not soften this cost to make it easier to hear.
The central idea of this lesson
Christ’s commission was never merely to make converts; it was to make disciples, transformed believers capable of reproducing genuine faith in others.
Jesus deliberately distinguished discipleship from casual interest, calling for a level of commitment that would "forsake all," not a one-time decision alone.
Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
The Great Commission’s actual instruction is to make disciples, not simply to secure decisions or count converts.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.
A discipleship approach that reproduces itself multiplies exponentially over time, in principle reaching far more people over years than large-scale but shallow campaigns.
Going Deeper
A mathematical illustration is worth working through slowly: one person discipling another, who then disciples another, doubling consistently. Over roughly twelve to fifteen years of consistent doubling, the numbers surpass what mass crusades typically reach in the same period, not because reproduction is faster in any single instance, but because it compounds.
"Christian" and "disciple" are meant to describe the same level of commitment; the terms were used interchangeably in the early church.
Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Note
Discipleship requires patient, personal investment, much like raising a child, not a single event but sustained responsibility over time.
Work through these on your own before your group meets. Type your answers directly into the table below. Your answers are saved automatically in your browser.
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| Question | My Answer | Group Discussion Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 14:33 uses strong language: "forsake all." What has following Christ actually cost you so far? | ||
| What is the practical difference between making a convert and making a disciple, as this lesson defines it? | ||
| Who has personally discipled you, even informally? What did that investment look like? | ||
| Is there someone you could begin intentionally discipling, even in a small way? What would the first step be? |
These questions are designed for open conversation at any level of experience. There are no trick questions and no single correct answer.
Discipleship is personal and sustained, not a single event. Take one real step toward investing in someone this week.
| Context | How I Apply This |
|---|---|
| Personal life | Think of one person you could begin discipling, even informally, and take a first step toward that relationship this week. |
| Church community | Reflect on Luke 14:33 and identify what "forsaking all" currently means for you in practice, not just in theory. |
| Difficult seasons | If you already invite people to church events, add one act of personal, sustained investment in someone’s spiritual growth this week. |
| Scripture to carry | Memorise Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Let "make disciples," not merely "make converts," shape your understanding of the mission. |
Tap each card to reveal the answer.
What does Jesus require to be His disciple?
Luke 14:33
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."
Luke 14:33
What is the actual command in the Great Commission?
Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:19
Where were believers first called "Christians"?
Acts 11:26
"And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."
Acts 11:26
What should faithful men be entrusted to do, according to 2 Timothy 2:2?
Entrust what has been learned "to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
What does continuing in Christ’s word make someone, according to John 8:31-32?
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32
What is a fully trained disciple like, according to Matthew 10:25?
"It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master."
Matthew 10:25