104 Bible Verses about discipleship, nature of

"It is written in the Prophets, "And they shall all of them be taught of God. Every one who has listened to the father and learns from him, comes to me.

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

And they dropped their nets at once, and followed him.

At once they left their nets and followed him.

Learn then to imitate God as his beloved children, and to lead lives of love, just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for you, an offering and sacrifice unto God, for you, an offering and sacrifice unto God, for "an odor of sweetness."

Let them want nothing, and "let our people learn to devote themselves to honest work to supply the necessities of their teachers," so that they be not unfruitful.

but become yourselves holy in your whole manner of living, as He who has called you is holy, as the Scripture says, You shall be holy, because I am holy.

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

"Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Straightway he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants and went after him.

for I have given you an example, that you also should do what I have done to you.

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

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have listened to him, and in him been taught the truth as it is in Jesus.

and that he died for all in order that the living may live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again for them.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

For not one of us lives unto himself, and not one dies unto himself. If we live, we live unto our Lord; if we die, we die unto our Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we belong to our Lord.

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

For this is your calling; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps;

so that in future you may not spend your life in the flesh according to men's desires, but in the will of God.

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

By who says he "remains in him" ought to spend his life as he spent his.

So after he had washed their feet, and had put on his upper garments again, and taken his place, he said to them. "Do you understand what I have been doing to you? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Master', and you say well, for such I am. If then I have washed your feet, I the 'Master' and the 'Teacher', you also ought to wash one another's feet,read more.
for I have given you an example, that you also should do what I have done to you. In solemn truth I tell you that a slave is not greater than his master, neither is a messenger greater than the one who sends him. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.

As he went farther on 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 Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. "If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love. "I have told you these things that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.read more.
"This is my command, Love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man 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 hour what you ought to say."

But when he is come, that Spirit of Truth, he will guide you into the whole truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but all that he hears he will speak, and will make known to you that which is 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 after me is not worthy of me. "He who has saved his life shall lose it; and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it.

To another he said, "Follow me!" But he replied, "Permit me first to go and bury my father." "Leave the dead to bury their own dead," said Jesus to him, "go you and announce, far and wide the kingdom of God."

Of these high themes we speak in words not taught by human philosophy, but by the Spirit; interpreting spiritual things to spiritual men.

Then Jesus said to his disciples. "If any man wishes to come after me, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me. For he who wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man called Mathew sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."

I am praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, through an intimate knowledge of himself;

Then summoning the crowd to him, with his disciples. he said: "If any man wishes to follow me, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and so follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever, for my sake and the gospel's, loses his life will save it.

As he was passing by he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office; and he said to him, "Follow me." So he rose and followed him.

praying him to grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in your inmost being; that Christ may make his home in your hearts through your faith; that you may be so deeply rooted and so firmly grounded in love, that you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is "the breadth," "the length," "the depth," and "the height,"read more.
and may know the love of Christ which transcends all knowing, so that you may be filled with all the "plenitude" of God.

And he said to all. "If any man wills to follow me, Let him renounce self and take up his cross daily and follow me. "For whoever wills to save his life shall lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake shall save it.

It was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were ministering the truths which have now been announced to you, by those who preached the gospel to you, through the help of the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven??ruths into which angels long to look.

After this he went forth and noticed a tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."

He bade them take nothing but a staff for their journey; no bread, no wallet, no coins in their purse;

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

Put in practise also what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me; and the God of peace shall be with you.

"If any one comes to me and does not hate father and his mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, and his own very life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be a disciple of mine.

Jesus loved him as he looked at him, and said: "One thing you lack. Go, sell all you have and give to the poor; and you shall have wealth in heaven; and come, follow me."

"Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it; but whoever loses it shall preserve it.

And receiving this reply, Jesus said to him. "One thing you are still lacking. Sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."

He who loves his life loses it; and he who regards not his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.

Next day Jesus decided to go into Galilee; and he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

You have learned to lay aside, with your former manner of living, the old self who was on his way to ruin, as he followed the desires which deceive; and to be made new in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new self, created after God's likeness, in the uprightness and holiness of the truth.

This he said to show by what kind of death Peter was to glorify God. After speaking thus, he said to him, "Follow me."

Now these things, brothers, I have applied in a figure to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that in us you might learn not to go beyond what is written; that none of you be puffed up for the one, against the other.

"You then must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

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

"There is no disciple who is above his master; But every one when he is completely trained will be like his master.

Then Jesus said to his disciples. "If any man wishes to come after me, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me.

Be imitators of me, as I am an imitator of Christ.

For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, so that he might be the eldest of a great brotherhood;

Brothers, be comrades in imitating me, and study those whose life and walk is according to the pattern I have set you.

Then summoning the crowd to him, with his disciples. he said: "If any man wishes to follow me, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and so follow me.

I entreat you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is your reasonable service of worship. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And he said to all. "If any man wills to follow me, Let him renounce self and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For you know well how you must imitate me. For I did not lead an idle or disorderly life among you;

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be a disciple of mine.

But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, And make no provisions for your earthly nature And the gratification of its lusts.

Let a woman learn quietly in entire submission.

"My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow me.

And we all, with unveiled faces, reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are ourselves continually being transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit.

but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn to show their piety first toward their own household, and to make some return to their parents, for that is pleasing in God's sight.

But do you hold fast what you have learned and have held to be true. You know those from whom you have learned it,

As these promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, and perfect our holiness in the fear of God.

If any one is ready to serve me, let him follow me; and where I am there shall my servant be also. If any man is ready to serve me, him will my Father honor.

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish in his sight.

These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are celibates. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from among men to be the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb.

Him I am ever proclaiming, warning every one and teaching every one, in all wisdom; that I may bring every man into his presence, full grown in Christ.

You know that from the Lord you will receive reward of the inheritance, for you are the Lord Christ's slaves.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, consecrated and beloved, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindness, humility, gentleness, good temper;

but Jesus called them to him and said: "You know how the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. "Not so shall it be among you. But whoever among you wishes to become great, shall be your minister, "and whoever wishes to be first among you, shall be your slave;read more.
"just as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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

"You know that those who are regarded as rulers among the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make them feel their authority. Not so shall it be among you. On the contrary whoever would become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever among you would be first, shall be slave of all,read more.
and justly, for even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life, a ransom for many."

Like obedient children, do not fashion yourselves according to the former passions of your days of ignorance, but become yourselves holy in your whole manner of living, as He who has called you is holy,

In your diligence be free from sloth. Be glowing in spirit. Slave for the master.

For this very reason do your best to add to your faith manliness, and to manliness knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control stedfastness, and to stedfastness piety, and to piety brotherly love, and to brotherly love, love itself.

For others, of their own accord, tell about the welcome I had from you, and how you turned to God from your idols, to be slaved of a true and living God,

We are God's children now, beloved; what we shall be has never yet been made manifest. But we know that when he is manifested we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one who is holding this hope in him is purifying himself, even as he is pure.

So Jesus spoke to the Jews that believed him, saying. "If you abide in my teaching, you are my true disciples;

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

"It is he who has my commands and obeys them that loves me; and he who loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him."

Nicodemus, one of their number, he who had formerly visited Jesus, said to them,

"If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love.

This is how we may know that we have come to know Him, by always keeping his commandments.

and whatever we ask we are receiving from him, because we are keeping his commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in his sight.

For love to God means obeying his commandments; and his commandments are not irksome.

And Jesus came forward to them and spoke to them, saying. "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe every command which I have given you. and lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hid; "nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "So let your light shine before men that they may see good you do, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The teachings which you have heard from me, attested by many witnesses, deliver into the keeping of faithful men, who in their turn will be able to teach others also.

It is he who made some men apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, in order to equip the saints for the work of serving, for the building up of the Body of Christ??13 till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to the maturity of manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. So we shall no longer be children, tossed up and down, and blown about by every wind of teaching, tricked by the craft of men in the snares of misleading error;read more.
but holding the truth in love we shall grow up in every part into him who is our Head, even Christ. From him the whole body (knit together and compacted by all its joints) makes continual growth of the body so as to build itself up in love, through the energy of his bounteous provision, according to the need of each several part. This then I tell you and implore you in the Master's name, to pass your lives no longer as the Gentiles do in the perverseness of their minds;

and they stedfastly continued in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers.

So Jesus spoke to the Jews that believed him, saying. "If you abide in my teaching, you are my true disciples; "and you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

"I am the vine, and my Father the vine-grower. "He cuts back any of my branches that bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, that it may bear more. "Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.read more.
"Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me. "I am the Vine you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears abundant fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing. "If any one does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever your will is, and it shall be yours. "By this is my Father glorified, by your bearing abundant fruit, and so being my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. "If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love. "I have told you these things that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. "This is my command, Love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "You are my friends if you do what I command you. "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. "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; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. "This is my command. to love one another. If the worlds hates you,

I give you a new commandment, Love one another! By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another."

"If any one comes to me and does not hate father and his mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, and his own very life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine.

"Just so any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

But do you, on your part, speak what becomes sound teaching; that the older men be self-controlled, serious and sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience; that older women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers or slaves to much wine, but teachers of what is right.read more.
They should train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind and submissive to their husbands, in order that God's message be not maligned. The younger men exhort to be sober-minded; in every respect showing yourself an example of good works. In your teaching be serious and sincere. Let the instruction that you give be sound and above reproach, so that our opponents may be ashamed because they find no evil things to say about us.

As they were going on their way, a man came to him and said, "I will follow wherever you go." "The foxes have their holes," Jesus answered, "and the wild birds have their nest, but the Son of man has not where to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me!" But he replied, "Permit me first to go and bury my father."read more.
"Leave the dead to bury their own dead," said Jesus to him, "go you and announce, far and wide the kingdom of God." And another man also said to him. "I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to bid farewell to those who are in my house." But Jesus answered him, "No man who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God."