1. Discipleship is inextricably linked to the great commission and the authority, power and continued presence of Jesus Christ
Matt 28:18-20; Titus 2:11-15
2. Discipleship is apprenticing under Jesus, having fully set aside our own life to commit ourselves without reservation to Him as our Master. In this life, we will gain a hundred times more than we give up and we will face serious levels of persecution
Matt 19:29; Mark 10:30; Luke 14:25-33; II Tim 3:12; I Pet 4:12-13
3. It isn’t a syllabus of systematized, synthesized scriptures that define the coursework for discipleship training. We do not contain or control the agenda. Life determines the agenda, where we as apprentices all learn by doing in real, everyday life. Scripture is drawn on and applied based on the context of living life as His committed apprentices.
II Tim 2:2; II Tim 3:10-17; II Cor 11:23-30
4. Jesus is personally involved in our training and it results in behavioral change, moving from acting on our evil impulses, to living a holy and godly life
Eph 4:20-32
5. You cannot “disciple” someone who is not a disciple. Jesus was pretty narrowly accepting applications with a high bar of those who “cannot be.”
Luke 14:26-27,33; II Tim 2:2; Titus 3:10; Acts 16:1-3