103 Bible Verses about discipleship, nature of

It is written in the prophets, They shall all be taught of God; every one hearing and learning from the Father, comes to me.

And another of His disciples said to Him, Lord, permit me first to go away and bury my father. And Jesus says to him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

And immediately, having left their nets, they followed Him.

And immediately, having left their nets, they followed Him.

Therefore be ye imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk about in divine love, as Christ also loved you, and gave himself for you, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweet savor.

And let our people indeed learn to excel in good works for necessary uses, in order that they may not be unfruitful.

but according to the Holy One who has called you. Be ye also holy in all your deportment; because it has been written, Ye shall be holy; because I am holy.

And immediately having left the ship and their father, they followed Him.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; because I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.

and immediately He called them. And having left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired hands, they departed after Him.

For I have given unto you an example, that you may also do as I have done to you.

And drawing up their ships to the land, having left all things, they followed Him.

But you did not so learn Christ: if indeed ye have heard him, and been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus:

and he died for all, in order that those living may not live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and is risen.

Think the same thing among yourselves, which is also in Christ Jesus:

For no one of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself: for if indeed we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Then indeed if we live, and if we die, we are the Lord's.

And He says to them, Follow after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

For unto this you have been called: because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you may follow in his steps:

that he may no longer live the remaining time in carnality according to the lusts of men, but in the will of God.

Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

The one saying that he abides in him ought himself so to walk about, as he also did walk about.

Then when He washed their feet, and took His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you speak beautifully; for I am. If then I, your Lord and Master, washed your feet, you ought also to wash the feet of one another.read more.
For I have given unto you an example, that you may also do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; nor the apostle greater than him that sent him. If you know these things, happy are ye if you may do them.

And going forth from thence, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all things, which I spoke to you.

As the Father loved me, I also loved you: abide in my love. If you may keep my commandments, abide in my love; as I have kept the commandments of my Father, and I abide in His love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.read more.
This is my commandment, that you may love one another, as I loved you. No one has greater love than this, that he may lay down his soul for his friends. You are my friends, if you may do those things which I command you.

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour the things which it behooveth you to speak.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, may come, He will guide you in all truth: for He will not speak from Himself; but so many things as He hears, He will speak: and will proclaim to you the things which are coming.

He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whosoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. The one having found his soul shall lose it; and the one losing his soul for my sake shall find it.

And He said to another, Follow thou me. And he said, Lord, permit me first having gone away to bury my father. And Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead; but thou having gone away proclaim the kingdom of God.

Which things indeed we speak, not in the teachable words of human wisdom, but in the teachable words of the Spirit, expounding spiritual things to spiritual people.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any one wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever may wish to save his soul shall lose it: and whosoever may lose his soul for my sake shall find it.

And Jesus passing along from thence, saw a man sitting at the toll, called Matthew; and He says to him, Follow me. And having arisen up, he followed Him.

in order that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the glory, may grant unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the perfect knowledge of himself;

And calling the multitude to Him with His disciples, He said to them, Whosoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever may wish to save his soul shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his soul for my sake and that of the gospel shall save it.

And passing along, he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus sitting at the toll, and says to him, Follow me. And rising up, he followed Him.

And He spoke to all, If any one wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever may wish to save his soul shall lose it; and whosoever may lose his soul for my sake, he shall save it.

to whom it was revealed, because they were ministering not these things for themselves, but for you, which are now proclaimed unto you by those who preach to you the gospel with the Holy Ghost having been sent from heaven; into which things the angels desire to look down.

And after these things He came out, and saw a publican, by name Levi, sitting at the toll, and He said to him, Follow me.

And He commanded them that they should take nothing for the way except staff only; no valise, no bread, no money in the girdle;

Jesus said to him, If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Whatsoever things you have indeed learned and received and heard and seen in me, do the same: and the God of peace will be with you.

If any one comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and even yet his own soul, he is not able to be my disciple. Whosoever does not carry his cross, and come after me, is not able to be my disciple.

Jesus looking on him loved him, and said to him, One thing is wanting to thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Whosoever may seek to save his soul shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose it shall find it.

And Jesus hearing these things, said to him, Still one thing is lacking to thee: Sell all things whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

The one loving his soul shall lose it; but the one that hateth his soul in this world will preserve it unto eternal life.

On the following day he wished to depart into Galilee, and he finds Philip. And Jesus says to him; Follow me.

that with reference to your former life, you are to lay aside the old man, who is corrupt in the lusts of deception; and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man, who has been created in harmony with God in the righteousness and holiness of the truth.

And He spoke this, signifying by what death he shall glorify God. And having spoken this, He says to him, Follow me.

But, brethren, I have transferred these things to myself and Apollos on your account: that you may learn among us not to be wise above what is written; in order that you may not be puffed up one in behalf of one against another.

Therefore ye shall be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Whosoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.

The disciple is not above his teacher; but every one having been made perfect shall be as his teacher.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any one wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Be ye imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.

Because whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:

Be ye my imitators, brethren, and mark those thus walking about as you have us an example.

And calling the multitude to Him with His disciples, He said to them, Whosoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I exhort you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, your reasonable service: and he not fashioned after this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And He spoke to all, If any one wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For you yourselves know how it behooves you to imitate us; because we were not disorderly among you;

Whosoever does not carry his cross, and come after me, is not able to be my disciple.

but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the lust of the flesh.

Let a woman learn in silence in all submission;

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

But we all, with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

But if any widow has children, or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety to their own house, and to give benefactions to their ancestors: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

But abide thou in those things which thou hast learned and in which thou hast been instructed, knowing from whom thou hast learned;

Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

If any one may minister unto me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my minister be: if any one may minister unto me, the Father will honor him.

as he elected us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in his presence.

These are they who have not been defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he may go. They have been redeemed from men, the first fruit unto God and the Lamb.

whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, in order that we may present every man perfect in Christ;

knowing that you will receive the recompense of the inheritance from the Lord. Serve the Lord Christ;

Therefore, as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on affections of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

But Jesus calling them to Him, said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and the great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whosoever may wish to be great among you, shall be your servant; and whosoever may wish to be first among you, shall be your slave:read more.
as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His soul a ransom for many.

in order that the man of God may be perfect, having been thoroughly perfected unto every good work.

And Jesus calling them to Him, says to them: You know that those seeming competent to rule the Gentiles domineer over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever may wish to be great among you, shall be your servant: and whosoever of you may wish to be first, shall be the slave of all:read more.
for the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His soul a ransom for many.

As children of obedience, not being fashioned after your former lusts in ignorance: but according to the Holy One who has called you. Be ye also holy in all your deportment;

not slothful in business; boiling over in spirit; serving the Lord;

And in harmony with this same thing also, add to your faith heroism; and to heroism, knowledge; and to knowledge holiness; and to holiness patience; and patience, godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness divine love.

for they proclaim concerning what kind of reception we had unto you; and how you turned to God from the idols, to serve the true and the living God,

Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it is not yet manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he may be made manifest, we shall be like him; because we shall see him as he is. Indeed every one having this hope on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Then Jesus said to the Jews, who believed on Him, If you may abide in my word, you are truly my disciples;

There was a man of the Pharisees, the name to him Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that thou hast come a teacher from God; for no one is able to do these miracles, which thou art doing, unless God may he with him.

The one having my commandments, and keeping them, he is the one loving me with divine love: the one loving me with divine love, shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself unto him.

Nicodemus being one of them, says to them;

If you may keep my commandments, abide in my love; as I have kept the commandments of my Father, and I abide in His love.

And in this we know that we have known him, if we are keeping his commandments.

and whatsoever we may ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things pleasing before him.

For this is the divine love of God, that we may keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy:

And Jesus having come spoke to them, saying, All authority is given unto me in heaven and upon earth. Going, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. And lo, I am with you all the days, unto the end of the age.

Ye are the light of the world. A city sitting on a mountain is unable to be hidden. Neither do they light a candle, and place it under a bushel, but on the candlestick; and it shineth to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before the people, in order that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.

and whatsoever things thou hast heard with me through many witnesses, commit thou the same to faithful men, who will be able also to teach others.

And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; unto the perfection of the saints, in the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ: until we may all come into the unity of the faith, and of the perfect knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, into the measure of the likeness of the fulness of Christ:read more.
in order that we may be no longer infants, tossed by the waves and carried about by every wind of teaching, in the caprice of the people, in their craftiness, pursuant to their method of delusion; but speaking the truth in divine love, let its grow up in him in all things, who is the head, Christ; from whom the whole body, being assimilated and knitted together through every joint of the supply, according to the working in each several part, makes increase of the body in the edification of itself in divine love. Therefore I say this, and witness in the Lord, that you no longer walk about as the Gentiles also walk about in the vanity of their mind,

and they were persevering in the teaching of the apostles and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Then Jesus said to the Jews, who believed on Him, If you may abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me not producing fruit, He takes it away: and every one producing fruit, He purifies it, that it may produce more fruit. So ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.read more.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to produce fruit of itself, unless it may abide in the vine; so you are not able, unless you may abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches. The one abiding in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: because you are not able to do anything without me. If any one may not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch, and withered; and they gather it, and cast it into the fire, and it is burnt. If you may abide in me, and my words may abide in you, ask whatsoever you may wish, and it shall be done unto you. In this my Father is glorified, that you may bear much fruit; and ye shall be my disciples. As the Father loved me, I also loved you: abide in my love. If you may keep my commandments, abide in my love; as I have kept the commandments of my Father, and I abide in His love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you may love one another, as I loved you. No one has greater love than this, that he may lay down his soul for his friends. You are my friends, if you may do those things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; because the servant knows not what his lord is doing: but I have called you friends; because all things which I heard with my Father, I made known unto you. You did not choose me, but I chose you, and placed you in your position, that you may go forth and bear fruit, and your fruit may abide: in order that He may give you whatsoever you may ask in my name. I command these things unto you, that you must love one another with divine love.

I give unto a new commandment, That you must love one another with divine love; as I have loved you with divine love, that you must also love one another with divine love: in this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you may have divine love one with another.

If any one comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and even yet his own soul, he is not able to be my disciple.

Thus then every one of you who does not consecrate all his possessions, is not able to be my disciple.

But speak you those things which become healthy teaching. That the elderly men be sober, grave, prudent, sound in faith, in divine love, in patience: likewise that the elderly women be reverent in demeanor, not tattlers, not given to much wine, teachers of that which is good;read more.
in order that they instruct the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be prudent, chaste, domestic, good, submissive to their own husbands, in order that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise exhort the young men to be prudent: concerning all things exhibiting yourself an example of good works; in teaching; purity, gravity, the sound word, irrefutable, in order that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say concerning us.

And they going on the way, a certain one said to Him, Lord, I will follow thee wheresoever thou mayest go. And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of heaven nests; but the Son of man has not a place where He may recline His head. And He said to another, Follow thou me. And he said, Lord, permit me first having gone away to bury my father.read more.
And Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead; but thou having gone away proclaim the kingdom of God. And another said to Him, Lord, I will follow thee; but first permit me to bid adieu to those at my own home. And Jesus said to him, No one putting his hand to the plow, and looking back, is worthy of the kingdom of God.