104 Bible Verses about discipleship, nature of

It is written in the prophets, And "they shall all be taught of God." Every one therefore who heareth from the Father, and learneth, cometh to me.

And another of his disciples said unto him, Permit me first to go and bury my father. And Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their own dead.

Then immediately quitting their nets they followed him.

and immediately leaving their nets, they followed him.

BE ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us, an oblation and sacrifice to God, for an odour of a sweet smell.

And let those who belong to us learn also to be pre-eminent in good works for all necessary calls, that they be not without fruits.

but as he who hath called you is holy, be ye holy also in all your conduct: because it is written, "Be ye holy; for I am holy."

Then they instantly quitting the ship and their father, followed him.

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

And immediately he called them: and leaving their father Zebedee in the vessel with the hirelings, they went after him.

For I have given you an example, that just as I have done to you, ye should do also.

And when they had brought their vessels on shore, they left all, and followed him.

But ye have not so learned Christ; if indeed ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

and he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him that died for them, and rose again.

Let the same sentiment of mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

For no one of us liveth to himself, and no one dieth to himself. For whether we live, to the Lord we live, and whether we die, to the Lord we die; whether therefore we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

And he saith to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

For hereunto have ye been called, because Christ also hath suffered for you, leaving you a pattern, that ye should follow his steps;

that he might not spend the remaining space of life in the flesh after human passions, but the divine will.

And Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will appoint you to be fishers of men:

He who saith that he abideth in him, ought as he walked, even so himself to walk.

When therefore he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call me Master, and Lord: and ye speak truly; for such I am. If therefore I have washed your feet, though the Lord and the Master; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.read more.
For I have given you an example, that just as I have done to you, ye should do also. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his master; nor the messenger greater than him that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye practise them.

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

But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, which I have spoken to you.

Just as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and as I abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may abide in you, and your joy may be full.read more.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever things I command you.

for the Holy Ghost will teach you at that very hour what ye ought to say.

But when he is come, the Spirit of truth, he will conduct you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever things he shall hear, he shall speak: and he will declare to you the things that shall come hereafter.

He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that preserveth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall preserve it.

And he said to another, Follow me. And he said, Lord, permit me first to return home, and put my father in his grave. And Jesus said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but go thou, preach the kingdom of God.

Which things also we speak, not in discourses framed by human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit of God; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever is desirous to preserve his life, shall lose it; but whosoever would lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

And Jesus passing from thence, saw a man sitting at the custom house, called Matthew: and saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation by the knowledge of him;

Then calling to him the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would preserve his life shall lose it; but whosoever would lose his life for my sake and the Gospel, he shall preserve it.

And passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the custom-house, and he saith to him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him

that he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that rooted and grounded in love, ye may be strengthened to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and height and depth;read more.
and to know the love of Christ, transcendently surpassing knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God.

And he said unto them, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever would preserve his life shall lose it; but whosoever would lose his life for my sake, shall preserve it.

To whom it was revealed, that not for themselves, but for us were their ministrations employed in the things which are now declared unto you by those who have preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; on which things the angels bending forwards eagerly desire to gaze.

And after these things he went out, and saw a farmer of the taxes, named Levi, sitting at the custom-house: and he said unto him, Follow me.

And he commanded them, that they should take nothing for the journey, except a staff only; neither scrip, nor bread, nor even brass money in their purse:

Jesus said to him, If thou art desirous to be perfect, go, sell all thy substance, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Whatsoever things also ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these practise, and the God of peace shall be with you.

If any man cometh after me, and hateth not father, and mother, and wife and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my disciple.

Then Jesus looking upon him, loved him, and said to him, In one thing thou art defective: go, sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me.

Whosoever seeketh to preserve his life shall lose it; and whosoever would lose it, shall preserve it.

Then Jesus hearing this, said to him, Yet one thing thou lackest: sell all whatsoever thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall preserve it to life eternal.

The next day Jesus resolved to go into Galilee, and he findeth Philip, and saith to him, Follow me.

that ye put off respecting your former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful passions; but be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and put on the new man, which is created godlike, in righteousness and true holiness.

This he told him, to intimate by what kind of death he should glorify God. And having thus spoken, he said to him, Follow me.

But these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos for your sake; that in us ye might learn not to be attached, beyond what is written, lest one being for one [minister], ye be puffed up [with prejudice] against another.

Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

The disciple is not above his teacher; but every one who is completely taught shall be as his master.

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

BE ye imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

For whom he foreknew, he predestinated also to a conformity with the image of his Son, that he might be the first-begotten among many brethren.

Be ye imitators, brethren, of me, and eye attentively those who walk so as ye have us for an example.

Then calling to him the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I BESEECH you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your mind, that you may prove by experience what is the will of God, that is good, acceptable, and perfect.

And he said unto them, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For ye yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you,

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my disciple.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to gratify its passions.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection:

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

And we all with face unveiled, beholding the glory of the Lord [reflected] as in a mirror, according to the same image, receive a transformation from glory into glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn as their first duty to shew their piety towards their own family, and make a grateful return to their progenitors: for this is becoming and acceptable before God.

But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and believed, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

HAVING therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

If a man will be my servant, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my servant be: and if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

as he hath elected us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love:

These are they who have not defiled themselves with women; for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: these have been redeemed among men, as first-fruits to God, and to the Lamb.

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

knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye are servants to the Lord Christ.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering;

But Jesus, calling them to him, said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority among them. But thus shall it not be with you. But whosoever will be a great man among you, let him be your servant; and whosoever will be first, let him be your slave.read more.
Even as the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

that the man of God may be properly furnished, fully qualified for every good work.

But Jesus called them, and said to them, Ye know that they who appear to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them; and their great men exercise dominion over them. But it shall not be so with you: but whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant: and whosoever will be first, let him be the servant of all.read more.
For the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to be a servant, and to give his life a ransom for many.

as obedient children, not conformed to the former passions of the days of your ignorance: but as he who hath called you is holy, be ye holy also in all your conduct:

not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord:

and with intelligence moderation; and with moderation patience; and with patience piety; and with piety fraternal affection; and with fraternal affection love.

For they publish concerning you what manner of entrance we had unto you, and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve the living and true God,

Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it is not yet evident what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; because we shall see him as he is. And every one who hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye abide in my word, assuredly ye are my disciples;

NOW there was a man of the Pharisees, whose name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: this man came to Jesus in the night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles which thou dost, unless God be with him.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he is the person who loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Nicodemus saith unto them, (the same person who came to him by night, being one of their body,)

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and as I abide in his love.

And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

And whatsoever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things which are pleasing in his sight.

For this is the love of God, that we should keep his commandments: and his commandments are not burdensome.

Then Jesus approaching, spake to them, saying, All power is given me in heaven and upon earth. Go therefore, make disciples among all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo! I am with you at all times even to the end of the world. Amen.

Ye are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid that is situated on an eminence. Neither do men burn a lamp, and set it under a bushel, but on its stand; and it sheds light on all that are in the house. Just so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.

And the things which thou hast heard of me before many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be qualified to teach others also.

And he himself appointed, some indeed apostles, and some prophets; and others preachers of the Gospel; and others pastors and teachers; for the perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ: until we all attain in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a state of complete manhood, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:read more.
that we should be no longer infants, floating on the waves, and carried about with every wind of novel doctrine, by the juggling of men, by their craftiness after the delusive wiles of error; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body nicely joined together, and firmly connected by every joint of exact proportion, according to the energy exerted in the measure of every several part, causeth the increase of the body unto the edification of itself in love. This then I urge and testify in the Lord, that ye walk no more as the other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,

And they persevered stedfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in communion, and in breaking bread, and in prayers.

Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye abide in my word, assuredly ye are my disciples; and ye 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 that beareth no fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he pruneth it clean, that it may bring forth more fruit. Ye are already clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.read more.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine: so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, this person beareth much fruit: because without me ye can do nothing. If any man abide not in me, he is cast out as a branch, and withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done for you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye should bring forth much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Just as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and as I abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may abide in you, and your joy may be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever things I command you. I no more call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his master is doing: but I have called you friends because I have made known to you all things which I have heard of my Father. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you that ye should go forth and bear fruit, and that your fruit should be permanent: that so whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If any man cometh after me, and hateth not father, and mother, and wife and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

So then, every one of you who will not part with all his possessions, cannot be my disciple.

BUT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience. That the elder women also be sacredly becoming in their behaviour, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of propriety;read more.
that they instruct the young women to be discreet, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober, domestic, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not ill reported of. The younger men in like manner exhort to be sober minded. In all things approving thyself as a pattern of good works: in thy teaching, shewing integrity, gravity, incorruptibility, sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.

And it came to pass, as they were walking on the road, a certain person said to him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus Said to him, The foxes have holts, and the birds of the air, nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said to another, Follow me. And he said, Lord, permit me first to return home, and put my father in his grave.read more.
And Jesus said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but go thou, preach the kingdom of God. Then said another, I will follow thee, Lord, but give me leave first to bid adieu to those at my house. But Jesus said unto him, No man laying his hand on the plough, and looking to the things left behind, is fit for the kingdom of God.