HOW DID JESUS MAKE DISCIPLES?
The life and ministry of Jesus provides a clear blueprint for disciple-making. His method wasn’t just about imparting knowledge or giving commands—it was deeply relational, intentional, and transformational. Through His example, we see that disciple-making is a process of turning ordinary individuals into spiritually mature followers who carry on His mission. Let’s explore what it means to be a disciple of Christ and how Jesus modelled this process.
Who is a Disciple of Christ?
In Matthew 4:18-22, we find the foundational call of discipleship:
“Follow me…”
A disciple is first and foremost someone who follows Jesus. This isn’t a passive act, but an intentional decision to learn from Him, live like Him, and commit to His ways.
“…and I will make you…”
Jesus doesn’t leave His disciples in their current state; He transforms them. Being a disciple means being shaped and moulded by the power of Christ, allowing Him to change our hearts, minds, and actions.“…fishers of men.”
True disciples are committed to Christ’s mission. They don’t just follow for personal gain but become active participants in spreading the gospel and making other disciples. Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
What is Disciple-Making?
Disciple-making is the process of taking someone from not knowing Christ to becoming a spiritually mature follower of Him. It’s about nurturing, teaching, and guiding them into deeper relationship and obedience. This journey can be seen vividly in the life of Simon Peter, who transformed from an impulsive, fearful fisherman into a bold, Spirit-filled apostle.
How Did Jesus Make Disciples?
The process of making disciples can be broken down into several key components, as demonstrated by Jesus in Matthew 4:18-22 and other passages:
1. Invitation to Follow
Jesus often began with a simple invitation: “Follow me.” He didn’t wait for people to come to Him; He actively sought them out, just as He did with Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Why did people respond to His call?
They experienced His love
In stories like the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), people saw His compassion and mercy.They experienced His power
Nathanael, for example, followed because he witnessed the power of Jesus firsthand (John 1:43-51).They experienced His truth
After hearing His teaching, Simon Peter was overwhelmed by the truth of Jesus’ message and left everything to follow Him (Luke 5:1-11).
Jesus’ call to follow was often followed by glimpses of who He truly was—His love, power, and truth were irresistible to those who encountered Him.
As disciples of Jesus Christ we should seek for and take advantage of any opportunities to share Jesus’ love, power and truth. The wife of a friend of mine became a follower of Jesus Christ after she had seen the power of Jesus Christ miraculously heal her husband who was critically ill with Covid after I had prayed for him. I also have a friend who became a Christian on her university campus because her roommate was a disciple of Christ and she had so many visitors, love and care from other disciples of Christ and she wanted to follow the same Jesus who made people genuinely love one another without any ulterior motive.
2. Building Relationships
Jesus didn’t just teach His disciples; He built deep, personal relationships with them. He ate with them (Luke 22:14-23), travelled with them (Luke 8:22-25), and even engaged with their families (Luke 4:38-39). Disciple-making is relational. It’s not just about programs or lessons but about sharing life together.
I remember my early journeys as a fairly new Christian through the university campus. One of the things that helped my discipleship was committing to a student Christian fellowship. The reason I committed to that group was because one of the leaders took her time to get to know me and build relationship with me. Later on in my campus life I also built a very good relationship with an older Christian leader who was a post graduate student, and she mentored me in a relational way in the things of God. These foundations helped me immensely to grow as a spiritually healthy follower of Jesus.
3. Teaching and Demonstrating
Jesus taught His disciples in various ways:
Through demonstration: In moments like the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), He showed them His divine nature.
Through spiritual teachings: He often taught profound spiritual truths, as seen in Mark 9:30-32.
Through questions and answers: Jesus both answered their questions (Matthew 17:9-13) and asked them challenging questions to deepen their understanding (Matthew 16:13-20).
This hands-on teaching was essential for the disciples to grasp the kingdom principles and how to apply them.
4. Empowering and Assigning Tasks
Jesus empowered His disciples by giving them authority and sending them out to practice what they had learned. In Matthew 10:5-15, He sent them out on their first mission, preparing them for future leadership.
I remember getting involved in organising Christian events and mission trips as a young Christians. I helped organise outreach events during my college and university days and these activities helped me put my faith and leadership into action and grow in many ways.
5. Challenging and Correcting
Jesus was not afraid to challenge His disciples. When they encountered a large crowd, He told them, “You feed them” (Matthew 14:15-21), pushing them beyond their comfort zones. He also corrected them when they misunderstood His teachings or acted out of pride (Luke 22:24-27) and rebuked them when necessary (Mark 9:14-29).
I remember being very challenged as a young Christian by my first opportunity to preach at my campus fellowship. I was very nervous and it was a struggle but now that I am a much more decent speaker/preacher, I look back at those initial experiences as invaluable in my development. Even early in my professional career, I had similar challenges with client presentations but now I help people to be able to communicate better. All these are the fruit of being challenged as a fledgling disciple or professional.
I also have benefited from being rebuked by more mature disciples of Christ when I needed. Of course, rebuke is never pleasant or pleasant sounding at the time, but it does you good in the long term if it is done in the right way and for the right motives. I remember being rebuked by one of the leaders in my campus fellowship for my negligence and laziness and for trying to cover these up with multitude of words and excuses. He saw through it and rebuked me firmly but lovingly. It was what I needed, and it helped me mature to the person that I am today.
6. Baptizing with the Spirit and Sending
Before leaving His disciples, Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit, equipping them with the power they needed for their mission (Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2, Acts 4). He then commissioned them to go into all the world and make disciples (Mark 16:14-18).
Towards the end of my first degree, I was living effectively as a Spirit-filled disciple of Jesus on campus. It was at this time that God spoke to me almost audibly giving me a clear call and commission to move to the UK for the work that He had for me there. This was not on my radar at all before this experience, but I knew it was God and in obedience I reoriented my life to that goal and He brought me here and is using me for His purposes here in the UK.
Peter’s Discipleship Journey
Simon Peter’s transformation is a powerful example of the disciple-making process. He began as an immature, impulsive fisherman—timid, talkative, and sometimes violent. Yet, through his relationship with Jesus and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a bold, prophetic, dead-raising and a world-changing apostle and martyr. His journey from doubt to faith, from weakness to strength, embodies the transformative power of true discipleship.
Conclusion: What’s Your Takeaway?
Disciple-making is a relational, intentional, and lifelong process. It’s about following Jesus, being transformed by Him, and joining Him in His mission to make disciples of all nations. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or are well along the way, remember that Jesus is calling you to follow Him—and through that journey, you will be transformed.
If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you have not yet begun your discipleship journey. If you’re ready to begin your discipleship journey, the invitation is simple: Repent, believe in Jesus, and be baptized. Follow Him and let Him transform your life.
