Robert Coleman analyzes Jesus' teachings on discipleship in the Gospels. He summarizes that Jesus required absolute obedience from his disciples, even if they did not fully understand at first. They had to be willing to surrender their lives completely and follow his commands to learn from him. While many followers left due to the challenge, Jesus kept teaching and molding the lives of the few who remained through their obedience. Coleman argues Christians today often lack dedication to fully obeying and following Jesus' example of self-denial, hindering their growth and witness.