Biblical Discipleship

Discipleship is a widely-used word to describe a journey of spiritual growth. This growth happens as a person comes alongside another to share the gospel, pray with them, study the Bible together, and fellowship with them.

Learn about the Basics of Discipleship here.

We see discipleship throughout Scripture and specifically modeled through the life of Christ. Here you can gain a greater understanding of biblical discipleship and see the connection between discipleship today and what we discover in Scripture.

What is Biblical Discipleship?

Biblical discipleship emphasizes the foundation of discipleship — Scripture. We see examples of discipleship throughout God’s Word, especially in how Jesus came alongside and guided His disciples.

The last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before ascending to heaven focused on the importance of discipleship — passing on all they had learned from Him to those in every nation. These weren’t suggestions, but a command known as the Great Commission:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘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 teaching 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 (NIV).

Jesus as the Ultimate Disciplemaker

Long before Jesus emphasized the Great Commission, we see Him as the ultimate disciplemaker. He invited each of His disciples to follow Him, which meant watching and mirroring how He lived and discipling others as He discipled (Matthew 4:19). 

Jesus and Life-to-Life Discipleship

Notice how Jesus invested in the 12 disciples through Life-to-Life discipleship^®, modeling the Kingdom, and teaching obedience through everyday opportunities and examples that anyone from that day and culture could relate to:

Jesus Discipled During a Meal

• Matthew 26:26-28 – Jesus shared a last meal with the disciples before His crucifixion. He invited them to consider the bread and the wine of this Passover meal as a way to remember Him — His body broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. 
• Mark 6:30-44 – The disciples recognized the crowds who had gathered to hear Jesus teach would soon need something to eat. While the disciples wanted Jesus to send them home, Jesus told them to provide the meal. The disciples saw a miracle happen when a crowd of more than 5,000 was fed from five loaves of bread and two fish.
• Luke 5:29-32 – Jesus was criticized for who He dined with, while at the home of Levi, a tax collector, who were considered some of the lowest in society. Jesus responded by saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
• John 21:1-17 – Following His resurrection, Jesus surprised His disciples who were fishing on the beach with breakfast. After the meal, Jesus used this opportunity for an honest conversation with Peter.

Jesus Discipled Through Stories About Culture

• Matthew 18:12-14 – Jesus told a story about a shepherd leaving his flock to find the one sheep that was lost to demonstrate the Father’s deep love for each person.
• Mark 4:1-20 – Jesus shared a story about a farmer who scattered seeds on different types of ground representing how people could respond differently to hearing God’s Word. 
• Luke 10:30-37 – Instead of directly answering a question about who is considered a neighbor we should love, Jesus told a story about a Jewish man who was robbed, beaten, and left on the side of the road. After many passed by without helping him, help came from an unexpected person — a Samaritan came to his aid.
• John 15:1-8 – In the last few hours before His crucifixion, Jesus shared the image of a gardener tending to a grapevine. The gardener pays close attention to the branches connected to the vine. Jesus shared that He is the vine and His Father is the gardener. Jesus emphasized that a relationship with Him means being and remaining connected to Him.

Jesus Discipled During Interruptions

• Matthew 9:20-22 – While on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter, Jesus was interrupted by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. She believed that if she could only touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak, she would be healed — and she was.  
• Mark 2:1-12 – As a crowd gathered to hear Jesus teach. Four men decided that the only way to get their friend who was paralyzed to Jesus was to make an opening in the roof of the home where He taught. Jesus used this interruption to heal the paralyzed man and in the process claimed He has the authority to forgive sins.
• Luke 7:36-50 – While dining at the home of a Pharisee, a woman who hadn’t been invited and had lived an immoral life interrupted the dinner. Jesus was criticized for allowing such a woman to touch Him. Yet, Jesus used the interruption to show that this woman’s act of worship was highly valued.
• John 4:1-26 – Jesus interrupted a Samaritan woman as she came to the well to draw water. As the conversation unfolded, Jesus piqued her curiosity telling her that those who drink the water He offered would never be thirsty again. 

Follow in Jesus’ footsteps and learn more about How to Make Disciples: Living Out the Great Commission

More Examples of Discipleship in the Bible

Paul and Timothy (Acts; 1 & 2 Timothy)

• Paul intentionally brought Timothy along on his journeys to model a life that followed Christ and was rooted in God’s Word (Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:10-17).
• Paul discipled Timothy with the vision that Timothy would then share all he had learned with others, discipling them, too (2 Timothy 2:2).
• Paul encouraged Timothy in his faith and held him accountable to living a life of purity (1 Timothy 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 1:6-7).

Moses and Joshua (Exodus–Deuteronomy)

• Moses handed Joshua the responsibility of defeating the Amalekites in battle. Moses remained at a distance, but as long as he held up his hands Joshua and the Israelites were winning. (Exodus 17:8-13)
• Moses invited Joshua to go with him to meet with God up on the mountain. There they spent 40 days and nights (Exodus 24:12-18).
• Moses encouraged and commissioned Joshua, reminding him of the Lord’s presence that goes with him and to not be discouraged or afraid (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19, 2 Kings 2)

• Elijah invited Elisha to follow him, and Elisha left everything to become Elijah’s apprentice (1 Kings 19:19-21)
• Elisha diligently and intentionally followed Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-6). 
• Before Elijah left Elisha to be his predecessor, he made sure Elisha was equipped (2 Kings 2:9-10).

Key Characteristics of Biblical Discipleship

Relational

• Jesus discipled during meals and interruptions (Matthew 26:2-28; Mark 2:1-12).  
• Moses invited Joshua to join him to meet God up on the mountain (Exodus 24:12-18). 
• Elijah invited Elisha to follow him (1 Kings 19:19-21).

Intentional

• Jesus shared a story about culture to demonstrate loving others (Luke 10:30-37). 
• Paul brought Timothy along on his journeys to model a life that followed Christ (Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:10-15). 
• Elisha diligently and intentionally followed Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-6). 

Rooted in Scripture

• Jesus shared what it means to abide in God through a vine and branches (John 15:1-8). 
• Paul modeled to Timothy what it meant to live a life rooted in God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

Reproducible

• Elijah made sure Elisha was equipped (2 Kings 2:9-10).
• Jesus commanded His disciples to take everything they’ve learned and disciple people from all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). 
• Paul discipled Timothy so Timothy would disciple others (2 Timothy 2:2). 

Spirit-empowered

• Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and parted the Jordan river through the power of the Spirit (2 Kings 2:13-14).
• The Lord directed Moses to select Joshua because the Spirit was on him (Numbers 27:18). 
• At times, Jesus empowered His disciples with His Spirit during His ministry, but they received full Spirit-empowerment after He ascended into heaven (Matthew 10:1; Acts 2). 

Living Out Biblical Discipleship

How to Disciple Someone

This online guide is designed to make living out the Great Commission and learning to make disciples simpler than you might think. Here, you’ll find clear steps on how to disciple others, along with inspiring stories and valuable lessons from fellow disciplemakers who have walked this path before you.

Discipleship Training

Discover leading discipleship training resources from The Navigators — including books, curricula, and free digital tools — to help you easily take your next step in disciplemaking.

Stories of Discipleship Impact

How One Student’s Healing Became a Call to Disciplemaking

Read how Keeton’s journey from brokenness to disciplemaking is a powerful reminder that God can redeem any story.

When Ministry Thrives at Home: An Alumni Story

Learn how Lindsay, a mom of three, who initially grew as a disciplemaker in college, now intentionally disciples her kids. 

A Space of Belonging: The Navigators ASAM Network

Discover how Esther grew as a disciplemaker and now encourages and advocates for other Asian Americans within the larger Navigator family.

A New Heart for the Gospel

Read how the heavy stories Tom carried because of his job with the Oregon State Police led him to an unsuspecting friend and disciplemaker.