115 Bible Verses about discipleship, nature of

It is written in the prophets, 'That they shall all be taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the father, cometh unto me:

Thy children shall all be taught of God, and I will give them plenteousness of peace.

For I am the LORD your God: be sanctified therefore that ye may be holy, for I am holy; and defile not your souls with any manner thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: be holy therefore, for I am holy.

Another that was one of his Disciples said unto him, "Master, suffer me first, to go and bury my father." But Jesus said unto him, "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead."

"Speak unto all the multitude of the children of Israel, and say unto them, 'Be holy for I, the LORD your God, am holy.

And they straightaway left their nets, and followed him.

Sanctify yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.

And they straightway forsook their nets, and followed him.

Be ye followers of God as dear children, and walk in love even as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet savour to God.

And let ours also learn to excel in good works as far forth as need requireth, that they be not unfruitful.

But as he which called you is holy, even so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, "Be ye holy, for I am holy."

And they, without tarrying, left the ship and their father and followed him.

Eschew evil, and do good; seek peace, and ensue it.

Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek, and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

And anon he called them. And they left their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired servants, and went their way after him.

Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good, and dwell for evermore.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

And they brought the ships to land, and forsook all, and followed him.

Study to do righteously, and help the oppressed. Avenge the fatherless and defend the cause of widows. Come, let us show each his grief to other and make an atonement, saith the LORD.

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be ye have heard of him, and are taught in him, even as the truth is in Jesus:

and that he died for all, because that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves: but unto him which died for them and rose again.

My soul lusteth after thee all the night long, and my mind hasteth freely to thee. For as soon as thy judgment is known to the world, then the inhabiters of the earth learn righteousness.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus:

For none of us liveth his own servant: and also neither doth any of us die his own servant. If we live, we live to be at the Lord's will. And if we die, we die at the Lord's will.

And he said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

For hereunto verily were ye called, for Christ also suffered for us: leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps,

that he henceforward should live as much time as remaineth in the flesh, not after the lusts of men: but after the will of God.

And Jesus said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men."

He that saith he bideth in him, ought to walk even as he walked.

After he had washed their feet, and received his clothes, and was set down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me 'Master' and 'Lord,' and ye say well, for so am I. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one another's feet.read more.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his master; Neither the messenger greater than he that sent him. If ye understand these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

And he went forth from thence, and saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and called them.

But that comforter, which is the holy ghost - whom my father will send in my name - he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have told you.

"AS the father hath loved me, even so have I loved you. Continue in my love. If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.read more.
This is my commandment: that ye love together as I have loved you. Greater love than this hath no man, than that a man bestow his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

For the holy ghost shall teach you in the same hour, what ye ought to say."

Howbeit, when he is once come - I mean the spirit of truth - he will lead you into all truth. He shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come.

He that loveth his father or mother more than me, is not meet for me: and he that loveth his son or daughter more than me, is not meet for me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth me, is not meet for me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.

And he said unto another, "Follow me." And the same said, "Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father." Jesus said unto him, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."

which things also we speak - not in the cunning words of man's wisdom, but with the cunning words of the holy ghost, making spiritual comparisons of spiritual things.

Jesus then said to his disciples. "If any man will follow me, let him forsake himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it. And whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence he saw a man sit at the receipt of custom, named Matthew: and said to him, "Follow me." And he arose, and followed him.

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the father of glory, might give unto you the spirit of wisdom, and open to you the knowledge of himself,

And he called the people unto him, with his disciples also, and said unto them, "Whosoever will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it. But whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sit at the receipt of custom and said unto him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him.

that ye may be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, might be able to comprehend with all saints, what is that breadth and length, depth and height:read more.
and to know what is the love of Christ, which love passeth knowledge: that ye might be fulfilled with all manner of fullness which cometh of God.

And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross on him daily, and follow me. Whosoever will save his life, shall lose it. And whosoever shall lose his life, for my sake, the same shall save it.

Unto which prophets it was declared, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they should minister the things which are now showed unto you, of them which, by the holy ghost sent down from heaven, have preached unto you the things which the angels desire to behold.

And after that, he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, "Follow me."

And commanded them, that they should take nothing unto their Journey, save a rod only: Neither scrip, neither bread, neither money in their purses:

And Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

which ye have both learned and received, heard and also seen in me: those things do, and the God of peace shall be with you.

"If a man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, moreover and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever bear not his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Jesus beheld him, and had a favour to him, and said unto him, "One thing is lacking unto thee. Go, and sell all that thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me, and take up thy cross on thee."

Whosoever will go about to save his life, shall lose it: And whosoever shall lose his life, shall save it.

The day that I stood before the LORD your God in Horeb - when he said unto me, 'Gather me the people together, that I may make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me as long as they live upon the earth and that they may teach their children' -

When Jesus heard that, he said unto him, "Yet lackest thou one thing. Sell all that thou hast, and distribute it unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, and follow me."

He that loveth his life shall destroy it: And he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal.

And Moses called unto all Israel and said unto them, "Hear, Israel, the ordinances and laws which I speak in thine ears this day, and learn them and take heed that ye do them.

The day following, Jesus would go into Galilee, and found Philip, and said unto him, "Follow me."

so then, as concerning the conversation in time past, lay from you that old man, which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts, and be ye renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on that new man, which after the image of God is shapen in righteousness, and true holiness.

Gather the people together: both men, women and children and the strangers that are in thy cities, that they may hear, learn and fear the LORD your God, and be diligent to keep all the words of this law,

That spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had said thus, he said to him, "Follow me."

These things, brethren, I have described in mine own person, and Apollos, for your sakes - that ye might learn by us that no man count of himself beyond that which is above written: that one swell not against another for any man's cause.

Ye shall therefore be perfect even as your father which is in heaven is perfect.

And he that taketh not his cross and followeth me, is not meet for me.

The disciple is not above his master. Every man shall be perfect, even as his master is.

Jesus then said to his disciples. "If any man will follow me, let him forsake himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

Follow me as I do Christ.

For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren.

Brethren, be followers of me, and look on them which walk even so, as ye have us for an example.

And he called the people unto him, with his disciples also, and said unto them, "Whosoever will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercifulness of God, that ye make your bodies a living sacrifice: holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable serving of God. And fashion not yourselves like unto this world: But be changed through the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what thing that good, that acceptable, and perfect will of God is.

And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross on him daily, and follow me.

Ye yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: For we behaved not ourselves inordinately among you.

And whosoever bear not his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple.

but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. And make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts of it.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

But we all behold the glory of the Lord with his face open, and we are changed unto the same similitude, from glory to glory, even of the spirit of the Lord.

If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to rule their own houses godly, and to recompense their elders. For that is good and acceptable before God.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, which also were committed unto thee, seeing thou knowest of whom thou hast learned them.

Seeing that we have such promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God.

If any man minister unto me, let him follow me: and where I am, there shall also my minister be. And if any man minister unto me, him will my father honour.

according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.

These are they, which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from men being the first fruits unto God and to the lamb,

whom we preach warning all men, and teaching all men in all wisdom, to make all men perfect in Christ Jesus.

forasmuch as ye know that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Now therefore as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering,

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, "Ye know that the Lords of the gentiles have domination over them. And they that are great exercise power over them. It shall not be so among you: But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever will be chief, let him be your servant.read more.
Even as the son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister: and to give his life for the redemption of many."

that the man of God may be perfect, and prepared unto all good works.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said to them, "Ye know well that they which seem to bear rule among the gentiles, reign as Lords over them. And they that be great among them exercise authority over them. So shall it not be among you: but whosoever of you will be great among you, shall be your minister. And whosoever will be chief, shall be servant unto all.read more.
For even the son of man came, not to be ministered unto: but to minister, and to give his life for the redemption of many."

as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves unto your old lusts of ignorance: But as he which called you is holy, even so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,

Let not that business which ye have in hand be tedious to you. Be fervent in the spirit. Apply yourselves to the time.

And hereunto, give all diligence: In your faith, minister virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; and in knowledge, temperance; and in temperance, patience; in patience, godliness; in godliness, brotherly kindness; in brotherly kindness, love.

for they themselves show of you what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from images for to serve the living and true God,

Dearly beloved, now are we the sons of God, and yet it doth not appear what we shall be. But we know that when it shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himself, even as he is pure.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, "If ye continue in my words, then are ye my very disciples:

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler among the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher which art come from God. For no man could do such miracles as thou doest, except God were with him."

He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, the same is he that loveth me: and he shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and will show mine own self unto him."

Nicodemus said unto them - He that came to Jesus by night and was one of them -

If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my father's commandments, and abide in his love.

And hereby we are sure that we know him: if we keep his commandments.

and whatsoever we ask, that we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.

And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven, and in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy ghost; teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you. And lo, I am with you always even until the end of the world."

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill, cannot be hid, neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it lighteth all them that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.

And what things thou hast heard of me, many bearing witness, the same deliver to faithful men, which are apt to teach others.

And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers: that the saints might have all things necessary to work and minister withal, to the edifying of the body of Christ, till we, everyone - in the unity of faith, and knowledge of the son of God - grow up unto a perfect man, after the measure of age which is of the fullness of Christ:read more.
That we henceforth be no more children, wavering and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the wiliness of men and craftiness, whereby they lay a wait for us to deceive us. But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things grow in him which is the head, that is to say Christ, in whom all the body is coupled and knit together, in every joint, wherewith one ministereth to another - according to the operation as every part hath his measure - and increaseth the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk; in vanity of their mind,

And they continued in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, "If ye continue in my words, then are ye my very disciples: and ye shall know the truth: And the truth shall make you free."

I am the true vine, and my father is a husbandman. Every branch that beareth not fruit in me, he will take away. And every branch that beareth fruit will he purge, that it may bring more fruit. Now are ye clean, through the words which I have spoken unto you.read more.
Abide in me, and let me abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me can ye do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered: and men gather it and cast it into the fire, and it burneth. If ye abide in me, and my words also abide in you: ask what ye will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is my father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, and be made my disciples. "AS the father hath loved me, even so have I loved you. Continue in my love. If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment: that ye love together as I have loved you. Greater love than this hath no man, than that a man bestow his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, call I you not servants: For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But you have I called friends: For all things that I have heard of my father, I have opened to you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name he should give it you. This command I you, that ye love together.

A new commandment give I unto you: that ye love together: as I have loved you, that even so ye love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye shall have love one to another."

"If a man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, moreover and his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

So likewise, none of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, can be my disciple.

But speak thou that which becometh wholesome learning: That the elder men be sober, honest, discreet, sound in the faith, in love and in patience. And the elder women likewise that they be in such raiment as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much drinking, but teachers of honest things,read more.
to make the young women soberminded, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be of discreet, chaste, housewifely, good, and obedient unto their own husbands, that the word of God be not evil spoken of. Young men likewise exhort that they be sober minded. Above all things, show thyself an example of good works with uncorrupt doctrine, with honesty, and with the wholesome word which cannot be rebuked, that he which withstandeth may be ashamed, having no thing in you that he may dispraise.

And it chanced, as he went in the way, a certain man said unto him, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou go." Jesus said unto him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests: but the son of man hath not whereon to lay his head." And he said unto another, "Follow me." And the same said, "Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father."read more.
Jesus said unto him, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow thee Lord: But let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house." Jesus said unto him, "No man that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is apt to the kingdom of God."