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Part two of four:

Becoming a Growing Disciple

To be a disciple means to be a student. Christians need to be students of God, Jesus, the Bible, and the people in our lives. In addition, we should be learning on our own as we become not only disciples of Jesus but also disciples for Jesus. As you memorize the following verses, you will better understand how to be a “learner” for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

1. Disciple of God

2. Disciple of Christ
John 13:13 quotes Christ as saying, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.” In fact, He is the greatest teacher who has ever lived. Memorize this (also
1 John 2:6, Colossians 2:6), and you will be a greater disciple of Christ.

Philippians 2:10,11
 . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3. Disciple of the Word
The Bible is a critical component in the life journey of Christ’s followers. It is also critical to our ability to lead and witness to those around us. When you have a God-ordained meeting with someone, you will be glad that you memorized this (also Deuteronomy 11:18,19; James 1:22):

Romans 15:4
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

4. Disciple of Others
God puts us into a community and we learn and grow within that community. Do not dismiss the importance of being an active member of your church. You should also have a mentor or coach to help you learn. Memorize this (also Ecclesiastes 4:9,10; Romans 12:4,5) and you will see that you are a disciple of others:


5. Disciple of Life The world isn’t a mistake—it’s God’s creation for you. Enjoy it. And always be learning from your experiences. Life is a string of teachable moments. Memorize this (also 1 Timothy 4:8; Colossians 3:23) to be a life learner:


6. Disciple for Christ
A substantial part of learning is doing. You can listen to a talk about how to drive a car, but until you actually do it, you don’t know what it’s really like. You have been called to be a disciple for Christ. This means you are His advocate for His work in this world. Memorize this (also 1 John 3:18; 1 Corinthians 2:4,5) and be His disciple:

Colossians 4:5
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

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Adapted from Memorize This by D. Mason Rutledge, copyright 2003. Published by NavPress www.navpress.com. Used with permission.