1. Discipleship
B3

2. Disciple
• Student, learner
• Those who followed Jesus while he was on
earth.
• Those who continue to follow Jesus and his
teachings today
• Someone who seeks to learn from Christianity.

3. First Disciples
• Jesus Christ hand selected his first
followers the day after he was baptised by
John the Baptist.
• Andrew and John heard John the Baptist
declare that Jesus was the Lamb of God
and believed what they heard and
followed Jesus.
• They told others about Jesus

4. • Andrew
• John
• Simon (Peter)
• Philip
• Nathaniel
• Not everyone came easily or willingly at
first but soon there were many others
• Jesus invited Jews and Gentiles to be his
disciples
– this did not please Jews who thought that
they were God’s chosen people.

5. The Great Commission
• When Jesus ascended into heaven he delivered
the Great Commission to the disciples
• “all authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teach them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew
28:18-20)

6. The Apostles
• The 12 men, who had previously been
disciples, were now to become apostles,
or messengers.
• Their intention was to spread the Word.
• This began at Pentecost when the Holy
Spirit came to them.
• Christian discipleship continued to grow.
• The band of disciples soon became the
Church – the forefathers of all Christians
worldwide.

7. Why 12?
• Jesus called unto him his disciples and he
chose twelve of them (whom he named
apostles (Luke 6:13)
• For the Jews 12 was symbolic
– 12 tribes of Israel from the sons of Jacob
• The Apostles became outstanding leaders
of the Church

8. Discipleship today
• Being a disciple today is more than being
a believer – it’s about being a follower!
• Have you chosen to follow Christ? If so
then you are a modern day disciple.

9. How can you learn personally from
Jesus like the apostles did?
• The apostles gave us the Gospels
• St Paul gave us his letters
• These became the New Testament – Christ’s
instructions at your fingertips!
• “I give you a new commandment, that you love
one another. Just as I have loved you, you
should also love one another. By this everyone
will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another” (John 13:34-35)

10. How to become a disciple
• Study His Word,
• Spend time alone with Him in prayer,
• Be with other Christians,
• Participate in ministry,
• Share what you have learned about Christ
with others.
• The Beatitudes show us the way of
discipleship – i.e. how to ‘be’ disciples of
Jesus. (Matthew 5:3-12)

11. Task
• Do you know anyone who you would
consider a modern day disciple?
• How do they live their life?
• Explain how their actions show that they
are a follower of Christ.