104 Bible Verses about discipleship, nature of

It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.

Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Our people must also learn to devote themselves to good deeds, so that they may help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.

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

So when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

But you did not learn Christ in this way, assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

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

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.

And Jesus said to them, "Come follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

he who says he abides in him ought to walk as he walked.

When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and returned to his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.read more.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And he called them,

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.read more.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come.

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.

And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." So he rose and followed him.

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,read more.
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Then he said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaventhings into which angels long to look.

After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me."

He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staffno bag, no bread, no money in their belts

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

"If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

When Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

You were taught, with regard to your former manner of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

This he said to show by what death he would glorify God. And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in favor of one against the other.

You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who live according to the pattern you have in us.

And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Then he said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness.

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

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice their religion in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, knowing from whom you learned it,

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him my Father will honor.

just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before him. In love

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

So, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slaveread more.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all.read more.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct;

Never be lacking in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love.

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, said to them,

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

Now by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

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

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

And the things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of service, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to become mature, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.read more.
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into him, who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, being joined and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each part, causes the growth of the body and builds itself up in love. Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds,

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.read more.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is like a branch that is cast away and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you, that you love one another.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

"If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

So likewise, whoever of you does not give up all that he has cannot be my disciple.

But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. The older men are to be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. The older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to much wine, but they are to teach what is good,read more.
so they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible. Show yourself in all respects an example of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."read more.
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."