Discipleship in the Bible refers to the process of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ and accepting and assisting in spreading the good news of salvation through Him. The term "disciple" means a learner who follows a master teacher. In contrast to our current Western era, learning in Jesus time was very relational and holistic. Discipleship meant much more than just the transfer of information; it referred to imitating the teachers life, inculcating his values, and reproducing his teachings. Therefore, Christian discipleship connotes a relationship with a master teacher, following them, and adhering to their way of life because their teaching shapes your own worldview.
Discipleship is a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ and showing others how to do the same. It involves learning to love and follow Jesus and becoming more like Him in our attitudes and actions. Discipleship is a journey of intentional decisions leading to maturity in our relationship with Jesus so that we become more like Him in our attitudes, focus, and ultimately behavior. It requires a commitment from the potential disciple and the disciple-makers. Discipleship is not something that happens by accident or overnight, and it cant be completed in a six-week class.
The Bible mentions discipleship in both the Old and New Testaments. Discipleship involves evangelism, sharing the gospel, and urging people to repent and believe in Christ, but it also involves discipleship, actively engaging in training people who will in turn train others. Christians should be helping unbelievers become believers by showing them Christ, helping other believers grow to more and more maturity, and seeking to get help for themselves from others to keep on growing.
In summary, discipleship in the Bible refers to the process of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, accepting and assisting in spreading the good news of salvation through Him, and becoming more like Him in our attitudes and actions. It involves a lifelong journey of intentional decisions, commitment, and actively engaging in training others who will in turn train others.