DISCIPLER’S COURSE

Biblical profile of a disciple

Part 1
 BIBLICAL PROFILE OF A DISCIPLE

LUKE 14:25-33
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and
turning to them he said:

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate

father and mother, wife and children, brothers and
sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person
cannot be my disciple.

27And whoever does not carry their cross and

follow me cannot be my disciple.
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LUKE 14:25-33
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.
Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see
if you have enough money to complete it?

29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to

finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,

30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t

able to finish.’
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LUKE 14:25-33
31 Or suppose a king is about to go to war against
another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider
whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose
the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the

other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of
peace.
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LUKE 14:25-33
33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up
everything you have cannot be my disciples.
 Introduction
1. Socrates had disciples, John the baptist had disciples and Gandhi had
disciples. But to be a disciple of Jesus Christ involves much more than following
any human leader.
2. Jesus Christ commanded his apostles to make disciples, not converts. The
apostles and early believers became “disciplers” who were committed to teach
others. 2 Tim. 2:2 (NIV) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of
many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
3. Before you can become a discipler, you must first undergo the process of
discipleship.
4. All believers must be committed to discipleship if we are to win the world for
Christ. One soul at a time.
BIBLICAL PROFILE OF A DISCIPLE

The cycle of discipleship

BIBLICAL PROFILE OF A DISCIPLE

Profile no. 1

A disciple is
a learner
Proverbs 9:8-10 (NIV) Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke
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the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
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teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. The fear of the
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LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is

understanding.

Matthew 4:19 (NIV) Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you
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out to fish for people.”

John 6:60-66 (NIV) On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a
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hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were
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grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then
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what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit
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gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—
they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not
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believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not
believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told
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you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed
him.
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A disciple is a
learner or a
follower
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What does it
mean to be a
learner?
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1. Having an open and teachable spirit: the

word MEEKNESS means teachable.

2. Willingness to receive correction and

instruction
a. Why? Because there are areas where you
need to be developed only by being a learner.
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b. Example: Philippians 3:17 Join together in

following my example, brothers and sisters, and
just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on
those who live as we do.
• Phil.3:17 — Paul is a learner
• v.5 — studied
• v.5 — memorized law
• v.12 — School of Law
• Paul said “that I may know Him
and the power of His resurrection.”
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c. You need to learn so many things step by

step. — if you are a learner, you will receive the
deepest revelation of Christ.
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Areas to learn
and develop
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A. CHARACTER — Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness and self-control. Against such things
there is no law.
1. Ask, “Lord, am i fit to lead?”
2. Without honest evaluation, you will not be a
learner.
3. Don’t settle for information but pursue
transformation.
4. Christlikeness is our ultimate goal:
• Humility, Meekness, Submission, etc.
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B. PROFICIENCY/COMPETENCE—
Mark 7:37 “He has done all things well” —
efficiency coupled with excellence.
1. Proficiency in the ministry to God, to fellow
believers, and the unbelievers
2. Proficiency must be in every area of your life.
3. Strive for mastery — From babyhood must
grow to manhood and eventually parenthood.
• I Corinthians 13:11-12
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• I Corinthians 13:11-12 11 When I was a

child, I talked like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I put the ways of childhood
behind me. 12 For now we see only a
reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see
face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall
know fully, even as I am fully known.
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B. PROFICIENCY/COMPETENCE—
Mark 7:37 “He has done all things well” —
efficiency coupled with excellence.
4. Growth must be intentional as a learner. 1
Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual
milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
5. With our calling comes responsibility,
accountability and authority.
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C. CONVICTION — Hebrews 11:24-25 (NIV) 24 By

faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be
known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose
to be mistreated along with the people of God rather
than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
1. Conviction must be developed and cultivated
2. When a person has conviction, he knows the right
methods effective for application in the ministry.
3. Conviction means you have passion and a burden
to accomplished God’s purpose in your life.
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Profile no. 2

A disciple PUTS
CHRIST FIRST IN
ALL AREAS OF
HIS LIFE
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well..

Luke 9:23 (NIV) Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me..”

John 13:13 (NIV) “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that
is what I am.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV) And he died for all, that those who live should no
longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised
again.
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Areas where
Jesus is already
Lord
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1 OVER ANGELS
a. Hebrews 1:4 So he became as much superior to
the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to
theirs.
b. Isaiah 6:2-3 Above him were seraphim, each
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with six wings: With two wings they covered their

faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two
they were flying. And they were calling to one
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another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the

whole earth is full of his glory.”
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1. OVER ANGELS
c. Revelations 5:11-12 Then I looked and heard
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the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon

thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They
encircled the throne and the living creatures and the
elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is
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the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and

wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory
and praise!”
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2. OVER SATAN
a. Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the
powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle
of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
3. OVER ALL NATION— Daniel 4:35
b. Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this
very purpose, that I might show you my power and
that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
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4. OVER ALL CREATIONS

a. Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were
created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things have been created through
him and for him.
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SUBMISSION
AND
OBEDIENCE IS
THE KEY
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A. TWO ASPECTS OF SUBMISSION

1. Submission at all times— John 4:34 “My
food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent
me and to finish his work.
• conformed to the image of Christ through
Submission— Romans 8:29
2. Submission of every area of your life—
family, mental, emotional, etc.
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B. THERE IS A BATTLE IN SUBMISSION

1. God may ask them to do something they don’t
want to do.
2. They think they know what is best for them.
3. They are not sure that God has their best
interest at heart. (Jeremiah 29:11)
4. They are afraid that what they surrender to
God will be taken away completely.
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B. THERE IS A BATTLE IN SUBMISSION

5. Illustration: LCM
• Outside the will of God is SUICIDE
• God knows what’s happening. (Ex.) A man
on the top watching basketball or seeing the
cars below knows what’s the problem is?
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C. STAGES OF OBEDIENCE:
1. I am going to do what I want to do no matter
what God wants.
2. If God will give me what i want first, then I
will give Him equal exchange.
3. If God will give me what I want first, then I
will give Him what He wants.
4. I will give what He wants first and in faith,
believing that He will give me what I want.
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C. STAGES OF OBEDIENCE:
5. I will give God whatever He wants regardless
of whether He gives me what I want or not. — 1
Corinthians 6:20 “you were bought at a price”
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Profile no. 3

A disciple IS
COMMITTED TO A
LIFE OF PURITY &
TAKe STEPS TO
SEPARATE FROM SIN
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) Do you not know that your bodies are temples
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of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are
not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your
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bodies.

Ephesians 4:22-23 (NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way
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of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;”
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1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 (NIV) It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:
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that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to
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control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in
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passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this
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matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The

Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned
you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
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There must be a
true repentance
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A. REPENTANCE — To make about-face; to turn

around 180 degrees; to go to opposite direction; the
greek word “metanoien” means to change mind,
direction and destination

Matthew 3:10 The ax is already at the root of the

trees, and every tree that does not produce good
fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
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B. EVIDENCE OF TRUE REPENTANCE

1. A change of attitude and a change of mind
• About God
• About sin
• About salvation and other issues of life.
2. A change of desires — Colossians 3:2 Set
your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3. Abhorrence of sin — Psalm 1:1-5
• Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate
evil; I hate pride & arrogance, evil
behavior and perverse speech.
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B. EVIDENCE OF TRUE REPENTANCE

4. Breaking off old influences and vices — not
dropping your relationship with non-believer but
those things that will cause you to sin and fall.
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C. AREAS OF PURITY OF LIFE:

1. In Spirit — 2 Corinthians 7:1, Matthew 7:20-
23
2. In body — 1 Thessalonians 4:7
• Eyes - affect the heart. What you see is what
you become.
• Tongue - from vain words - Matt 15:11
3. In thoughts — Job 31:1; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4. In Speech — Ephesians 4:29
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C. AREAS OF PURITY OF LIFE:

5. In dealings with others — Matthew 7:12;
Ephesians 4:25-28 (A leader must be transparent,
never hide something)
6. In business dealings — be fair, honest and
reliable
7. In personal relationships — Proverbs 27:17;
18:24
DISCIPLER’S COURSE