Christian Discipleship Quotations

 4 SECTIONS

 1) Words from Faithful Disciple-Makers

2) Words of Jesus

3) Words from First Century Disciples

4) Words from Isaiah the Prophet

1) Words from Faithful Disciple-Makers

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." [Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (Nachfolge, München, 1937; The Cost of Discipleship, SCM Press, 1959), p. 17]

Mike Breen

If you make disciples, you will always get the church, but if you try to build the church you will rarely get disciples. [Mike Breen, “Why the Missional Movement Will Fail,” Verge, Sep. 14, 2021]

High mission/low discipleship church cultures have issues with Biblical literacy, theological reflection and deficiencies in character and Creed that, in the end, sabotage the very mission they’re about. [Mike Breen, “Why the Missional Movement Will Fail,” Part 2, Verge, Sep. 21, 2011]

David Cloud

In many traditional Baptist churches today, disciples are rare, and it has become acceptable to have a mixed multitude membership filled with people who are half-hearted followers of Christ, at best. Decades ago, Evangelist Fred Brown said that he feared that a high percentage of members of Independent Baptist churches were not born again. And Lee Roberson, pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church, said that he thought that not even 50% were saved. / There are many different types of mixed multitude churches, some much stronger than others. The percentage of the members who are true disciples of Christ as defined by Christ Himself (John 8:31; 10:27), might be 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, even 60%. But no mixed multitude church requires that a person give evidence of being a true disciple of Christ before baptism and membership. [David Cloud, “A Mixed Multitude Church,” from: The Discipling Church: The Church That Will Stand Until Christ Comes. Bible Study Materials, 2017]

Neil Cole

“Ultimately each church will be evaluated by only one thing, its disciples. Your church is only as good as its disciples. It does not matter how good your praise, preaching, programs or property are. If your disciples are passive, needy, consumeristic, and not moving in the direction of radical obedience, your church is not good.” [Neil Cole, Search & Rescue, 2008, Baker; reissue: Ordinary Hero: Becoming a Disciple Who Makes a Difference, 2010, Baker, p. 185; quoted by Jon Tyson, “Your Church is Only As Good As Its Disciples,” Dec. 2014.]

Lance Ford

Lance Ford: Jesus said, “I will build my church, now you go make disciples.” And we say, “OK, Lord, I’ll build you a church.” And he says, “No, no, no, no, I’ll build my church, you go make disciples.” And we say, “OK, I’ll go build you a church.” And so we’re about the business of building churches and starting churches rather than creating disciples. [Rob Wegner, Lance Ford & Alan Hirsch With Jonathan Sprowl, “New Life From Every Disciple,” Outreach Magazine, Jun. 7, 2021]

"The church must recapture its missionary identity and activate every Jesus-follower to engage wholeheartedly in the ongoing mission of God."  [Lance Ford, ‎Brad Brisco, The Missional Quest: Becoming a Church of the Long Run, 2013, Intervarsity Press, p. 17.]

Wilbur Gingrich

Manthano means “to learn” or “to find out, understand and hear.” [Wilbur Gingrich, Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, U Chicago Pr., 1965, 131]

Alan Hirsch

“You can do more with 12 disciples than with 1,200 religious consumers.” [Alan Hirsch; source?]

Am I a true disciple becoming more and more like the one I claim to follow? Does my life reflect the quality of the One I love, or, do I fundamentally bear false witness to Him and so damage His cause? [Alan Hirsch, blurb for: Lance Ford, UnLeader: Reimagining Leadership... and Why We Must, (Sep. 1, 2012), Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City]

Bill Hull

Discipleship flourishes when we present the gospel as a seamless journey of transformation that begins with new life given by God and moves right along with the joy of following Christ every day. [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 43]

The lexical definition of disciple is “learner.” But in the first century, the cultural understanding of disciple was “follower.” In addition, disciples display certain characteristics and behaviors. . . .  [A] disciple is someone who submits to at least one other person in a healthy and appropriate way as a means of support and accountability to develop fully as a follower of Jesus: following someone can teach how to follow Jesus. Again, a disciple is someone who submits to at least one other person in a healthy and appropriate way as a means of support and accountability to develop fully as a follower of Jesus. [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 67]

The Sixfold Definition of Being Conformed to Christ’s Image - Transformed mind, Transformed character, Transformed relationships, Transformed habits, Transformed service, Transformed influence. [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 130]

A faith that embraces discipleship is only real when we obey it. [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 46]

In the past fifty years, the U. S. church has been duped into substituting quality of church programs for quality of individual Christlikeness, and the result is too many churches with too few disciples! [Bob Gilliam, pres. T-Net international, 2006; blurb for Bill Hull, 2006]

“Believing in Jesus has no meaning if we don’t follow in discipleship. Believing without discipleship isn’t believing, it’s agreeing to a set of facts about a religious figure.” [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 43]

“When he issued the Great Commission, he could have spoken about contemplation, study, worship services, or gathering people together for revival meetings in the temple.” [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 25]

“A commitment to be and make disciples must be the central act of every disciple and church.” [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 26]

“Discipleship flourishes when we present the gospel as a seamless journey of transformation that begins with new life given by God and moves right along with the joy of following Christ every day.” [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 43]

"All who are called to salvation are called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses!" [Bill Hull, Conversion and Discipleship: You Can’t Have One Without the Other, 2016, Zondervan, 232.]

“A faith that embraces discipleship is only real when we obey it.” [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 46]

The lexical definition of disciple is “learner.” But in the first century, the cultural understanding of disciple was “follower.” In addition, disciples display certain characteristics and behaviors. . . .  [A] disciple is someone who submits to at least one other person in a healthy and appropriate way as a means of support and accountability to develop fully as a follower of Jesus: following someone can teach how to follow Jesus. Again, a disciple is someone who submits to at least one other person in a healthy and appropriate way as a means of support and accountability to develop fully as a follower of Jesus. [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 67]

“The principle of God's plan of discipleship is the impact of one life on another - the character, skill, and perspective of one godly person influencing another willing person.” [Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Becoming a Disciple, 2006, NavPress, p. 270]

"The gospel we preach and believe dictates the kind of disciples we are and the kind of disciples we make." [Bill Hull, Conversion and Discipleship: You Can’t Have One Without the Other, 2016, Zondervan, 232.]

"Our churches exist for making disciples, and disciples are God’s gift to the world." [Bill Hull, Conversion and Discipleship: You Can’t Have One Without the Other, 2016, Zondervan, p. 8.]

"Success should be measured not by how many disciples are made, but by how many disciples are making other disciples." [Bill Hull, Conversion and Discipleship: You Can’t Have One Without the Other, 2016, Zondervan, p. 7.]

“Discipleship is the only hope for this world -- it hasn’t worked because it hasn’t been done — it hasn’t been done because we are distracted, we are an impatient lot who have been more interested in ourselves and our kingdoms than Christ and His. Only when a person submits to a community of serious Christ-followers can they learn to do all that Christ commanded.” [Bill Hull (source? Conversion and Discipleship: You Can’t Have One Without the Other, 2016, Zondervan)]

“God has promised to bless his plan and making disciples is his plan. He didn’t tell us to build churches, mission organizations, or Christian Universities. He told us To Make Disciples.  It is possible to attend a good church, get a degree from a fine university, and even to go into a full time Christian vocation and not to make disciples.” [Bill Hull; quoted in: Bert Spann, Dropping Our Nets: Walking in His Footsteps, 2017, p. 50]

“Discipleship is at the same time a character revolution and a worldwide strategy. It is a strategy that requires depth as a perquisite for reproduction and multiplication.” [Bill Hull (source?)]

“God has not promised to bless our good motives, dreams and innovation. He has promised to bless his plan, that plan is that disciples make other disciples—everything else is a sideshow.” [Bill Hull (source?)]

Jan Johnson

In the New Testament, discipleship means being an apprentice of Jesus in our daily existence. A disciple, then, is simply someone who has decided to be with another person in order to become what that person is or to become capable of doing what that person does. What does Jesus do that I can be discipled to do? The answer is found in the Gospels: he lives in the kingdom of God, and he applies that kingdom for the good of others and even makes it possible for them to enter it.  [Jan Johnson, “Apprentice To The Master: Interview With Dallas Willard,” Discipleship Journal, Sep./Oct. 1998, 22-24]

C. S. Lewis

“The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose.” [C.S. Lewis, reprinted in Mere Christianity (1952; Harper Collins: 2001) 199.]

Eric Metaxas

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” [Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy; 2010, Tomas Nelson, 486 (misattributed to Bonhoeffer)]

Jeff Vanderstelt

Definition of Discipleship: Leading people to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, become like Jesus and do what Jesus did. … he nature of it is to increasingly submit all of life to his Lordship and to his empowering presence in order to do that.  [Jeff Vanderstelt, “Decentralized Discipleship, Saturate Webinar [Dr. Bob Roberts Jr. and Jeff Vanderstelt],” Jul. 9, 2020, @4:30; 1:04:22]

John Wesley

“The devil himself desires nothing more than this, that the people of any place should be half-awakened and then left to themselves to fall asleep again. “Therefore, I determined by the grace of God not to strike one stroke in any place where I cannot follow the blow!” [John Wesley, in: Robert Southey, The Life of Wesley; and the Rise and Progress of Methodism …, 1820, 68.]

"I am not afraid that the people called 'Methodists” 'should ever cease to exist in Europe or in America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out." [John Wesley, “Thoughts Upon Methodism,” Aug. 4, 1786; in Works: Miscellaneous, 1835, p. 315.]

“How dare lead someone to Jesus Christ without adequate follow-up. To do anything less is simply to beget children for the murderer.” [John Wesley (source?)]

Mike Wilkins

In his Great Commission mandate to “make all disciples of all nations,” Jesus not only provided salvation from judgement, but he also provided through salvation from judgement, but he also provided through conversion the all-embracing transformation of life. New disciples are gathered into the church, where the process of comprehensive discipleship is lived out. This transformation of life through the process of comprehensive discipleship is often neglected in the church. Discipleship is not just a limited program within the church.  Discipleship is the life of the church. Since the true church is composed only of disciples, the overall activities of the church are to provide for the care, training, and mission of the disciples as they follow Jesus in this world. The purpose and mission of the church, therefore, must be understood in terms of comprehensive discipleship. [Michael J. Wilkins, Following the Master: A Biblical Theology of Discipleship, Apr. 13, 1992, Zondervan, p. 299]

Definition of “Disciple of Jesus Christ”: one who has come to Jesus for eternal life, has claimed him as Savior and God, and has embarked upon the life of following him. discipleship and discipling imply the process of becoming like Jesus Christ means living a fully human life in this world in union with Jesus Christ and growing in conformity to his image. In our discussion of discipleship in the early church of Acts, we discovered two important components of biblical discipleship. On the one hand, discipleship consists of being molded by the apostolic teaching, being empowered by an experience with the living god, and being a participant in a community of disciples. On the other hand, it involves both a way to walk and a mission to fulfill. [Michael J. Wilkins, Following the Master: A Biblical Theology of Discipleship, Apr. 13, 1992, Zondervan, p 342]

Dallas Willard

“Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action. Grace, you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.” [Dallas Willard, Audio Interview with John Ortberg, June (?),2010, Catalyst West conference.]

"We are coming into a time when many churches and Christians who are in leadership positions will be able to say, 'It’s all about discipleship and transformation into Christlikeness.'" [Dallas Willard, Living in Christ's Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God, 2013, p. 10.]

“The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.” [Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship, 2006, p. xv.]

“Since making disciples is the main task of the church, every church ought to be able to answer two questions: What is our plan for making disciples of Jesus? Is our plan working?” [Dallas Willard, Audio Interview with John Ortberg, June (?),2010, Catalyst West conference.]

“Our most serious failure today is the inability to provide effective practical guidance as to how to live the life of Jesus. And I believe that is due to this very real loss of biblical realism for our lives. [Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives, 1990, HarperCollins, p. 110.]

​“Does the Gospel I preach and teach have a natural tendency to cause people who hear it to become full-time students of Jesus? Would those who believe it become his apprentices as a natural 'next step'? What can we reasonably expect would result from people actually believing the substance of my message?” [Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, 1998, Harper, p.?]

​“The greatest challenge the church faces today is to be authentic disciples of Jesus.” [Dallas Willard, Interview with Keith Giles, “Subversive Interview - Part 1,” Relevant Magazine, June 8, 2004.]

"A mature disciple is one who effortlessly does what Jesus would do if Jesus were him." [Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, 2002, NavPress, 241.]

“A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice – a practitioner… Disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom of the Heavens to every aspect of their life on earth.” [Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship, 2006, Harpers, p. xi]

“Sadly enough, [Christian faith throughout history] has failed to transform the human character of the masses, because it is usually unaccompanied by discipleship and by an overall discipline of life such as Christ himself practiced. As a result, when faced with the real issues of justice, peace, and prosperity, what is called faith in Christ has often proved of little help other than the comfort of a personal hope for what lies beyond this life.” [Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines - Reissue: Understanding How God Changes Lives, 1991, HarperCollins, p. 221?]

“Discipleship is learning how to live in heaven before you die.” [attributed to Dallas Willard, Matt Trendall,  “Now and Not Yet: What the Bible says about the Kingdom of God,” Christianity Today, Dec. 27, 2018]

"A mature disciple is one who effortlessly does what Jesus would do if Jesus were him."  [Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, 2002, NavPress, 241.]

First, there must be no mistaking the fact that discipleship to Jesus means primarily learning from him how to do—easily and routinely do—the very things he said for us to do. Obedience is the only sound objective of a Christian spirituality. Of course, we do not obey to earn anything—earning is out of the question—but we obey because doing the things that Jesus said is what is best for us and for everyone around us. [Dallas Willard; in Bill Hull, Choose the Life: Exploring a Faith That Embraces Discipleship, 2004. Baker Books, p. 6]

“A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice – a practitioner… Disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom of the Heavens to every aspect of their life on earth.” [Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship, 2006, p. xi]

“Since making disciples is the main task of the church, every church ought to be able to answer two questions: What is our plan for making disciples of Jesus? Is our plan working?”​ [Dallas Willard, Audio Interview with John Ortberg, June (?),2010, Catalyst West conference.]

The Western part of the church today lives in a bubble of historical illusion about the meaning of discipleship and the gospel. [Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, 1998, Harper]

2) Words of Jesus

[Luke 6:40; Matthew 4:19; Luke 9:23-25; John 8:31-32; John 13:34–35; John 15:8; Matthew 13:52; John 20:21; Luke 14:26–27; Matthew 10:24–25.]

"A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40 ESV)

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 NASB)

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)

And Jesus was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:23-25)

So, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34–35)

"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:18)

"Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings both new and old things out of his treasure chest.” (Jesus, in Matthew 13:52)

"As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." (John 20:21)

"If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26–27)

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher." (Jesus, in Matthew 10:24–25)

3) Words from First Century Disciples

By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:5–6)

"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7) 

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7b-8 NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. ~ Philippians 3:17

Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2. GNT)

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son. (Romans 8:29)

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:13–14)

4) Words from Isaiah the Prophet

The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. (Isaiah 50:4)

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