The document outlines how to begin discipling someone in the Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of living as a disciple of Jesus and actively sharing the gospel. It details steps such as building relationships, modeling Jesus, teaching the basics of faith, and performing baptisms, while also warning against treating discipleship as a mere project. The ultimate goal is to help the disciple become more like Jesus, fostering spiritual growth through mutual learning and genuine connections.

1. How Do I Begin to Disciple Someone?
Review
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
Being a disciple of Jesus means that you live for Jesus and Jesus only. (see Philippians 1:21)
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Go (as you are going) - we are to actively seek to share the gospel as we go about our lives.
Make - those who believe the gospel message we help to grow as disciples of Jesus.
Baptize - when they understand what baptism is we baptize them.
Teach - we are to teach them how to obey what Jesus commanded His disciples to do.
We are to be disciples who make disciples.
Before You Start
Before you start discipling someone here are some things to think about.
Model Jesus
They will learn as much, if not more, from watching you than from what you teach them.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And
the God of peace will be with you.
How to Actively Model Jesus
1. You watch me and I ask you questions
2. You help me and we debrief
3. I help you and make suggestions
4. I watch you and give feedback
5. You do alone and I give advice when you ask
Danger! - There is a danger you need to be aware of in this regard
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (NLT)
For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and
sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or
“I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul,
crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

2. What Should You Focus on Mostly in Discipling Others?
Outline of the Gospel
1. Relationship
2. Rebellion
3. Rescue
4. Restoration
5. Renewal
We were created in the image of God and part of that image involves
relationships because God is Father, Son and Holy Spirt and they live in perfect
relationship with one another.
For love to exist there has to be relationships. That is why the Trinity makes
sense because God is love.
Matthew 22:34-36 (NLT)
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met
together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this
question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your
mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two
commandments.”
Love in the context of relationships is the main focus of our discipling of others.
Danger! Treating the person you are discipling as a project.
Other Considerations in Discipling Someone
1. Be growing as a disciple yourself.
2. Be honest and transparent.
3. Pray all the time.
4. Open your life up to those you disciple.
5. Understand that discipleship is messy.
6. Realize that you will probably get hurt.
7. Remember there is a spiritual battle going on at all times.
What is the Goal of Discipling Someone? To become more and more like Jesus.
Galatians 4:19 (NIV)
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Romans 8:29 (NIV)
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his
image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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3. What is Christlikeness?
1. To have the heart of Jesus.
2. To have the character of Jesus.
3. To love like Jesus.
4. To obey like Jesus.
5. To live like Jesus.
Synonyms - holiness/holy and godliness/godly
How Do I Begin to Disciple Someone?
To Begin
1. Pray.
2. Spend time together and develop a friendship.
3. Understand where they are at spiritually.
4. Help them to understand the basics.
5. Baptize them and have them partake of the Lord’s supper.
Pray
1. Confess your weakness and need for help.
2. Ask Jesus to give you His heart for who you are discipling.
3. Ask for wisdom, guidance and discernment.
Friendship
1. Go out and do things together.
2. Find out what their likes, interests and passions are (music, TV, movies, sports, etc.)
3. Open up your house and life to them.
Spiritual State
1. Have them tell you why and how they became a Christian.
2. Have them explain the gospel to you.
3. Ask them what they think it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Understand the Basics
1. The gospel
2. Being a disciple of Jesus
3. Baptism and Lord’s Supper
Basics - The Gospel
1. Why do we need Jesus? - Sin, spiritual death, judgement and hell.
2. What did Jesus do to rescue us? - Born of a virgin and became a man, lived a sinless life,
died a sacrificial death on cross and rose again on the third day.
3. How do we receive salvation through Jesus? - Repentance and faith.
Basics - Being a Disciple of Jesus
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 8:34-35
Luke 6:40, 14:25-27, 33
John 8:31-32, 13:35, 14:15-16, 15:7-8
1 Peter 3:15
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
2 Corinthians 5:15
Galatians 2:20 (memorize)
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4. Basics - Baptism
1. Why be baptized? Because Jesus said to and Peter confirmed it.
Matthew 28:19
Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. What is baptism? A public testimony that you have repented and are now a disciple of Jesus.
Romans 6:2-4
We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of
us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried
with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through
the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Basics - Lord’s Supper
Matthew 26:26-29
Mark 14:22-25
Luke 22:14-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-34
Baptism & the Lord’s Supper
1. Share testimony
2. Recite Disciple’s Creed Bible Verse - Galatians 2:20
3. Be baptized
4. Partake of first communion
5. Celebrate - have a party
Review Questions
1. What things stood out to you about what a discipler should consider before they start
discipling someone and why?
2. What is the focus and goal of discipling someone and why?
3. What are your thoughts and observations about the five things you should do when
beginning to disciple someone? Would you add or change anything?
To Learn More
1. Study and learn the things in this teaching for yourself.
2. Ask the Lord to give you someone to disciple and start doing it.
3. Keep a journal of your discipling experience.
4. Get together with others who are discipling and find out what they are doing and ask
questions.
5. Read good books, blogs and websites on discipleship.
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