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DB 1 - Lesson Study
Discipleship Ministries (Liberty
University)
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What is a Disciple? This question is one of the church’s most important questions according to
Earley & Dempsey and Putman and it is the foundation of the church and needs to be defined.
They stated it needs to be clearly defined, clearly communicated and understood by everyone
within the church. Earley & Dempsey and Putman all agree most churches cannot answer the
question, “what is a disciple?” When a pastoral staff is asked this question there are as many
answers as there are people. They agree when a church cannot clearly define what a disciple
looks like, they are sure to produce that type of person. Earley and Dempsey quote Zig Ziglar;
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”1 Earley & Dempsey and Putman wrote their
books to help churches understand what a disciple looks like to ensure the church will learn how
to hit the mark when trying to fulfill the great commission.
The way they define, what is a disciple; it is short, simple and understandable. The authors say
the same thing but use different words. Earley & Dempsey summarize it by stating a true
disciple of Christ is someone who is “sacrificial,” “relational,” and “transformational.”2 Putman
& Harrington summarized it by defining a disciple as a person who “follows” Christ, and is
“changed” and “committed” to the mission of Christ.3 The way they have both described their
definition is in a practical way for the church to understand. What is a disciple; it is a person
whose head, heart and hands are totally committed to Jesus.
As I look at my own answer to the question, what is a disciple, I use the same illustration within
my church as Putman & Harrington. I teach our people to be a disciple you have to totally
surrender your head, heart and hands to Jesus Christ. This is the short verse of the long
definition of what I believe it means to be a follower of Jesus. My long answer is; a disciple is a
person who is total obedience to the call on their life. They have personally accepted Christ as
their Lord and Savior. They are allowing God’s Spirit to change the way they live and are
committed to teaching what they have learned and are learning with others. This definition
comes out of Romans 12:1-2 (HCSB), “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you
may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”4 My short answer uses the
“head” to express the disciple needs know what Jesus did for them and accept it, as Paul says, be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. When the head is transformed from the world’s
patterns, then the heart will follow. As Paul states, then the disciple will be able to discern what
is good, pleasing and the perfect will of God. This is done through the process sanctification.
1 Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making is… How to live the Great Commission with Passion and
Confidence. (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Avademic, 2013)22.
2 Ibid. 26-27.
3 Putman, Jim and Bobby Harrington. Discipleshift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples
who Make Disciples. Expinential Series (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 51.
4HCSB Study Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible: God’s Word for Life. Nashville, Tenn.: Holman
Bible Publishers., 2010.
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The hands are to be put into action to go out and tell others and teach them what you have
leaned, which proves the disciple is totally committed to God’s perfect will.
To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, I believe one has to be totally obedient to whatever God
calls on them to do and willing to surrender it all to do it.
