“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” — Luke 9:23
Lesson
What You Will Learn
- Define a disciple as a follower, learner, and imitator of Jesus
- Explain Jesus' call in Luke 9:23 and Matthew 4:19
- Describe the marks of a disciple from John 8:31, 13:35, and 15:8
- State the safety rules and limits every discipler follows
Lesson Notes
Follow Me
The word disciple means a learner or follower: someone who walks with a teacher in order to become like him. Jesus' first call to His disciples was simple: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). They left their nets and walked with Him. Later the believers in Antioch were so clearly His followers that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26).
A disciple of Jesus is not a perfect person. She is a forgiven person who has said yes to following Him and who keeps learning, day by day, how to trust and obey Him.
The Call of Luke 9:23
Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23). Three things stand out:
- Deny himself: put Jesus' will ahead of my own wants. This is surrender to a loving Lord, not hatred of myself.
- Take up his cross daily: choose His way every day, even when it costs something. This does not mean accepting abuse or staying in danger. Jesus never asks anyone to submit to harm from another person.
- Follow me: keep walking with Jesus, learning from Him, and becoming like Him.
Notice the word daily. Discipleship is not a single moment. It is a way of life, one day at a time.
Marks of a Disciple
Jesus named marks that show who His disciples are:
- Continuing in His Word: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (John 8:31).
- Love for one another: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).
- Bearing fruit: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples (John 15:8).
Women were among Jesus' followers too. Mary sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word (Luke 10:39), and many women traveled with Him and ministered unto him of their substance (Luke 8:3). Every woman in this room is invited to follow Him.
What a Discipler Is, and the Safety Rules
Discipleship is the lifelong process of following Jesus and helping others follow Him. A discipler (or mentor) is a more experienced believer who walks alongside another believer to help her grow. A discipler is a fellow follower, not a boss, a counselor, or a clinician. She points people to Jesus, not to herself.
Get help immediately if anyone talks about suicide, self-harm, harming someone else, abuse, or a medical emergency. Inside a facility, go to staff or the chaplain right away. Outside, call 911 for an emergency, or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. Stay with the person if it is safe, and never promise to keep it secret. Disciplers refer women to pastors, chaplains, doctors, and licensed counselors when they need more than friendship, Scripture, and prayer.
Key Terms
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Disciple | A follower and learner of Jesus who is becoming like Him |
| Discipleship | The lifelong process of following Jesus and helping others follow Him |
| Discipler / mentor | A more experienced believer who walks alongside another to help her grow; not a counselor or a boss |
| Referral | Connecting someone with a pastor, chaplain, doctor, licensed counselor, or other qualified help |
In-Class Activities
Marks of a Disciple Search
Read Luke 9:23, John 8:31, John 13:35, and John 15:8. For each verse, write the mark of a disciple it describes in your own words and one small way that mark could show up in a day on your unit or in your community.
Our Discipleship Covenant
As a class, write a covenant for this course. Include: what is shared stays here, except when someone may be in danger; no one is required to share her own story; role-plays use invented scenarios; we respect one another; anyone may pass; we pray for one another; no one pressures anyone. Copy it into your notebook.
Assignment: My Follow Me Card and When to Get Help Card
Make two pocket cards (index cards or quarter sheets of paper).
- Follow Me card: Luke 9:23 written out, plus one sentence in your own words about what following Jesus daily means for you this week.
- When to Get Help card: the five situations that require immediate help (suicide, self-harm, harm to others, abuse, medical emergency) and who you would go to inside a facility (staff or chaplain) and outside (911 or 988).
Then write a half page: What did I think a disciple was before this class, and what do I understand now? You do not need to share personal details.
Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.
Reflection Journal
Jesus' call was simple: follow me. Who first showed you what following Jesus looks like, even in a small way? What did they do? What does following Him daily look like for you in this season?
Prayer focus: Thank God for calling you to follow Jesus, and ask Him to help you take one faithful step after Him each day.
Weekly Reading & Devotions
Follow Me
The word disciple simply means a learner, a follower. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew from their fishing nets, He did not hand them a rulebook. He said, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Discipleship began with an invitation to walk with a Person.
Jesus described His disciples in a few simple ways. They follow Him daily (Luke 9:23). They continue in His word (John 8:31). They love one another (John 13:35). They bear much fruit (John 15:8). None of these marks is about a perfect past. Each one is about a direction: turning toward Jesus today, and again tomorrow.
When Andrea first joined a Bible study on her unit, she sat in the back and said nothing for three weeks. (Andrea is a composite example.) She assumed disciples were women who had always had it together. Then the group read about Peter, who denied Jesus three times and was restored by Him on a beach (John 21). Andrea said, If Peter could still be a disciple, maybe I can too.
This week, you are not being asked to become impressive. You are being asked to follow. Taking up the cross daily means saying yes to Jesus in ordinary moments: choosing honesty, choosing patience, choosing to pray before reacting. Small, daily steps are what a disciple's life is made of.
Think About It
- What did you think a disciple was before this course? ______________________
- Which mark of a disciple (following, continuing in the Word, love, fruit) do you most want to grow in? ______________________
- What is one ordinary moment this week when you could choose to follow Jesus? ______________________
Daily Devotions for Week 1
Come and Follow
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.— Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
Jesus called ordinary working people. He did not wait for them to be ready; He promised to make them into what they needed to be.
Reflect: What would it mean to trust Jesus to make you, rather than to make yourself?
Pray: Lord Jesus, I hear Your call. Help me follow You today.
Do: Write Follow me on a card and keep it where you will see it.
Daily, Not Perfectly
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.— Luke 9:23 (KJV)
The word daily is a gift. Yesterday's failures do not cancel today's invitation. Every morning is a new chance to follow.
Reflect: What does following Jesus daily look like for you this week?
Pray: Lord, give me grace to follow You today, one step at a time.
Do: Before you start your day, pray one sentence: Jesus, I will follow You today.
Continuing in His Word
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;— John 8:31 (KJV)
A disciple keeps coming back to Jesus' words. Continuing is not about reading a lot at once. It is about returning faithfully.
Reflect: What helps you return to God's Word when you have drifted?
Pray: Lord, draw me back to Your Word again and again.
Do: Read one short chapter from the Gospel of Mark today.
Known by Love
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.— John 13:35 (KJV)
Jesus did not say people would know His disciples by their knowledge or their titles. They would know them by love.
Reflect: Who around you needs to see Christ's love this week?
Pray: Lord, let my love point people to You.
Do: Do one quiet act of kindness that follows the rules of your setting.
Fruit That Glorifies God
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.— John 15:8 (KJV)
Fruit grows slowly and naturally when a branch stays connected to the vine (John 15:5). Your job is to stay close to Jesus; He grows the fruit.
Reflect: What fruit do you hope God will grow in you?
Pray: Father, keep me connected to Jesus, and grow Your fruit in me.
Do: Write down one change God has already started in you.
Module Quiz
- 1.
The word *disciple* basically means:
- 2.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus says to take up the cross:
- 3.
According to John 13:35, all people will know we are Jesus' disciples by our:
- 4.
A discipler is a trained counselor who can handle any problem alone.
- 5.
Name the five situations that require getting help immediately, and who to go to inside and outside a facility.