Contents
Building A Theological Foundation.............................................................................................1
The Call to Discipleship......................................................................................................2
The Nature of Discipleship..................................................................................................2
The Role of Scripture...........................................................................................................3
The Power of the Holy Spirit...............................................................................................3
The Community of Believers...............................................................................................4
The Practice of Spiritual Disciplines...................................................................................4
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................5
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................6
ii
1
Effective chaplaincy requires a strong and comprehensive theology that encompasses all
aspects of ministry. Discipleship holds a central position in the Scriptures, underscoring the call
to follow Jesus and cultivate a personal relationship with him. This paper aims to present a clear
theology of discipleship founded on Scripture, highlighting fundamental practices that guide
believers into becoming steadfast followers of Christ. Sound interpretation and biblical analysis
are crucial for communicating a clear theology of discipleship. Chaplains embody God’s plan
and purpose by cultivating and nurturing disciples, by way of the Word of God and the Holy
Spirit. By applying guiding principles rooted in Scripture, chaplains are equipped to be disciples
of Christ, to obey the First and Second Commandments (Matt. 22:36-40, English Standard
Version), to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and bring honor and glory to God (1
Pet. 4:11; Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Cor. 10:31).
Building A Theological Foundation
Developing an individual theological and biblical foundation for discipleship requires an
initial understanding of what it means to be Christ’s disciple.1 “If you abide in my word, you are
truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley define a disciple as one “who has trusted Christ or salvation and
has surrendered completely to him. He or she is committed to practicing the spiritual disciplines
in the community and developing their full potential for Christ and his mission.”2 The Word of
1 Catherine Mowry LaCugna, God For Us: The Trinity & Christian Life (New York, NY: HarperCollins,
1991), ix. “The doctrine of the Trinity is not above all a theory about God’s ‘internal self-relatedness but an effort to
articulate the basic faith of Christians. In Jesus Christ, the ineffable and invisible God saves us from sin and death;
by the power of the Holy Spirit, God continues to be altogether present to us, seeking everlasting communion with
all creatures. Christianity and Christian theology simply cannot do without a trinitarian doctrine of God that
articulates the heart of this faith.”
2 Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley, Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion
and Confidence (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013), 28.
2
God emphasizes the call for disciples to abandon things of this world and follow Jesus3 (1 John
2:17; 2 Cor. 5:17). Followers of Christ are to be disciplined in spiritual practices and purpose
(John 14:26; 1 Cor. 12:8-10). Additionally, disciples are developed in the context of a body of
believers and are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus4 (Mark 10:45; John 13:14-15; Eph.
2:10; Phil. 2:3-4).
The Call to Discipleship
Scripture emphasizes that discipleship begins with a clear call from Jesus. In Matthew,
chapter 4, verse nineteen, Jesus invites his disciples, saying, “Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). This call is not limited to the first disciples of Jesus’ time but
extends to all believers. Discipleship starts with a personal encounter with Jesus and a
commitment to respond to his call (Like 14:26-28, Matt. 6:33). Furthermore, in “Freed to
Proclaim: Evangelism and Discipleship,” Sara A. Funkhouser emphasizes, in a diverse society
with various religious and non-religious backgrounds, Christians must reclaim and clarify their
understanding and proclamation of the Gospel amidst misrepresentations of who Jesus is.5 It is a
transformative journey that encompasses every aspect of one’s life.
The Nature of Discipleship
Discipleship is sacrificial, relational, and transformational in nature.6 It involves a
lifelong commitment to learning from and imitating Jesus, through the prompting of the Holy
Spirit. In Luke, chapter nine, verse twenty-three, Jesus conveys that following after him requires
3 Ibid., 22.
4 Dempsey and Earley, Disciple Making Is, 22.
5 Sara A. Funkhouser, “Freed to Proclaim: Evangelism and Discipleship,”FCurrents in Theology and
Mission%49, no. 2 (2022): 38.
6 Dempsey and Earley, Disciple Making Is, 26-28.
3
denying oneself and taking up one’s cross daily (Luke 9:23). This practice highlights the
sacrificial nature of discipleship (Luke 17:10), requiring believers to surrender personal desires
and align one’s life with the teachings and example of Jesus. Disciples obediently follow the
proclamations of God, placing oneself under his authority (Matt. 26:19). This is a continual
process of growth and transformation, characterized by dying to self and living for Christ,
serving and loving his children.
The Role of Scripture
The Word of God is alive and active (Heb.4:12). Scripture plays a vital role in
discipleship, serving as the foundation for sound teaching, guidance, and transformation. In 2
Timothy, chapter three verses sixteen through seventeen declares, “All Scripture is breathed out
by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Effective discipleship requires an ongoing study and application of God’s Word, allowing it to
shape beliefs, attitudes, and actions (John 8:31; Rom. 12:2). Scripture provides the ultimate
authority and source of wisdom for every aspect of discipleship.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
The power of discipleship is not merely achieved by human effort, but it relies on the
empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. In John, chapter fourteen, verse twenty-six, Jesus
promises to send a helper and teacher, the one who guides believers into all truth (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit enables believers to understand and live out the teachings of Scripture,
equipping individuals for effective discipleship (Acts 13:52; Gal. 5:22-23). It is through the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit that believers are empowered to abide in, bear fruit, and manifest
the character of Christ (John 15:5, 7-8).
4
The Community of Believers
Discipleship is not an individual pursuit but is nurtured within the body of Christ, The
Church, the community of believers. In Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the
People of God, Greg Ogden wrote, “It is through our ministry of spiritual gifts that we make our
contribution to the health of the whole.”7 In Acts, chapter two, verse forty-two, provides insight
into how the early disciples devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and
prayer. This highlights the importance of gathering fellow believers, learning, growing,
supporting one another, and holding each other accountable in the journey of discipleship (Heb.
10:24-25, 1 Thess. 5:11). The body of believers provides opportunities for encouragement,
accountability, and spiritual growth.
The Practice of Spiritual Disciplines
Discipleship involves the intentional practice of spiritual disciplines that deepen one’s
relationship with God and cultivate spiritual growth. The transformational principles are bible
study, journaling, memorization, meditation, silence, solitude, prayer, and fasting.8 These
disciplines create space for communication with God, foster spiritual maturity, and empower
believers to live out one’s faith. These disciplines are intentional habits that shape the character
and transform the life of a disciple. Dempsey explains, the ultimate goal of a disciple is to
produce fruit which brings glory to the Father. “God’s will for each of us is to bear fruit, and
when we bear fruit, God is glorified” (John 15:8).9
7 Greg Ogden, Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2010), 11.
8 Dempsey and Earley, Disciple Making Is, 27. See also, 2 Timothy 1:7; Colossians 3:17; Deuteronomy
11:18-23; Jeremiah 15:16, 30:2; Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:1-2, 23:1-3, 62:1; Isaiah 30:15; Mark 1:35; Luke 6;12-13;
Acts 1:13-14, 2:1-2, 14:23; Exodus 34:28, Matthew 6:16-18.
9 Rod Dempsey, “Discovering an Organizing Principle,” in Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great
Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013), 19.
5
Conclusion
“For all Christians, our understanding of Christianity, specifically the Gospel, and why it
relates to community with others and the world around us, shapes the way in which we view our
relationship with the Triune God.”10 A theology of discipleship based on the Scriptures
emphasizes the call to follow Jesus, the sacrificial nature of discipleship, the importance of
Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, the role of community, and the practice of spiritual
discipline. By grounding our understanding of discipleship in the Word of God and applying
sound interpretation and biblical analysis, individuals can grow as faithful followers of Christ,
fulfilling the Great Commission and impacting the world for His Glory.
Bibliography
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission
with Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013.
Dempsey, Rod. “Discovering an Organizing Principle.” In Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live
the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence, 13-19. Nashville: B&H Academic,
2013.
Funkhouser, Sara A. “Freed to Proclaim: Evangelism and Discipleship.”FCurrents in Theology
10 Funkhouser, “Freed to Proclaim,” 41.
