DSMN 815
Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity
Essential Marks of a Biblical Disciple
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Ministry
Department of Christian Leadership and Church Ministries
by
Brian C. Mclaughlin
Lynchburg, Virginia
September 11th, 2021
Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Faith.............................................................................................................................................1-2
Worship........................................................................................................................................2-3
Peace............................................................................................................................................3-4
Love..............................................................................................................................................4-5
Encouragement...........................................................................................................................5-6
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................7
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
One of the greatest commandments Jesus Christ ever gave to His disciples still ringing
true today is found in (Matt 28:18-20, ESV), “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”1 Uniquely, Jesus
underscored the importance of discipling, and serving one another. A disciple is someone who
chooses to identify with the Lord. This person does not shy away from proclaiming Jesus as their
Savior. Jesus knows and knows how vital this would be to the furthering of His kingdom. This
paper will identify the true marks of a disciple, by examining faith, worship, peace, love, and
encouragement paving the way to what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Faith
To have a relationship with Jesus Christ, is to have a life surrendered to what God desires
for his or her life. It also means that those who believe in Him gladly will worship Him with all
of their heart, soul, and strength. However, what God calls believers to is more than just the
relationship in Jesus, it is a call to live by faith and not by sight. This is one of the true essential
marks of a disciple of Jesus. Bush et. al., states, “Only in personal encounter with the Lord
himself are our eyes blessed with faith. This happened to the disciples when they met the risen
Lord in the upper room, and it happens to us when we’re overcome and undone by meeting him
in his Word.”2Jesus desires for all who come to Him to do so by faith. One great example of a
pioneer of faith was the apostle, Peter. This was recorded where Jesus walked on the water and
bid Peter to come join Him from the boat in (Matt 24:29).
From the physical aspect, he trusted Jesus, and believed that he could do anything if he
trusted in the Lord. It truly is the same way for believers where we must trust in the Lord in
1 Unless otherwise noted all scripture is taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
2
Daniel Bush, Noel S. Due, and Steve Brown. Embracing God as Father: Christian Identity in the Family
of God Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014. 19.
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extraordinary ways. He is the sustainer of all we think, say, or do. There are those who struggle
with this mark, and this is nothing new. Jesus called out His disciples who lacked faith in (Matt
8:26, 13:58, Mark 4:40 6:6, Luke 8:25). It is of the utmost importance believers grow in this
mark. Haykin states, “Those who claim to have attained sinless perfection have simply not come
to grips with the fact that the whole of our being is permeated with the poison of sin.”3 Pride is
the enemy of faith. It allows us to think we can do life on our own. No one ever ‘arrives’ to a
place of complete faith in Christ. It is daily growing and serving the Lord where faith becomes
stronger, and more evident in a believer’s life.
Worship
As believers go through life, there is one definitive aspect of desire that rises upon within
them. Worshipping the Lord God is a longing of trying to give of oneself to please Jesus. It is a
crying out of the very depths of our soul where all we need or want is Him. It can be exhibited in
different ways through song as an expression with surrender to God, and hands raised. Another
way worship is made and sometimes overlooked in a believer’s life is through what he or she
does daily in their personal lives. According to Hull, “Worship becomes a key part of
discipleship because, in worship, we break ourselves of the habit of interpreting all events in
God’s story as centered in ourselves.”4 It is not about us, it is about serving God and others. A
Christian man or woman should find great satisfaction in the way he or she can bring joy into
someone else’s life. Jesus Christ speaks of how essential this is too in (Matt 25:40).
Even if we think what we are doing is insignificant, we still need to realize that it is a
huge deal to God. He is very pleased when we worship Him in this way. Murray agrees with this
3 Michael Haykin, The God Who Draws Near: An Introduction to Biblical Spirituality. Evangelical Press,
2007.17.
4
Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ. Colorado
Springs, CO: NavPress Publishing Group, 2006. Accessed September 14, 2021. ProQuest Ebook Central. 145.
2
too, “In the temple and presence and worship of God, everything is worthless that is not
pervaded by deep, true humility towards God and men.”5 All that a believer is committed to; the
reading of God’s word, prayer, helping, and reaching out to our community, is worshipping God.
This should be evident in a true follower of Christ.
Peace
From the moment a person decides to follow Jesus and have Him as their Lord and
Savior, is the immediate release of the sin, pain, loss, and discouragement in their lives. Instead,
one who freely receives the gift of pardon, is overwhelmed by Jesus’ love, life and peace filling
up their lives. It is a new experience from where believers truly feel like they are born again.
Jesus speaks of Himself as the living water in (John 4:10). He also was referred to as the Prince
of Peace in (Isa 9:6). What is more is He said He left His peace to us in (John 14:27). It is
another natural instance that a believer should see in his or her life. Wood states, “…the Lord can
give us peace from the storm or peace in the storm. You can have His peace no matter what the
circumstance. The apostle Paul, writing from prison to the Philippians, assures that peace is
available at all times…”6 The beauty of this is it is completely available to us at any moment of
our lives. True peace is understood the best in a believer when he or she decides to no longer
fight the battle on our own. Instead, the moment surrender occurs is where harmony and
tranquility are discovered in Christ. The disciples of Jesus experienced this in (Mark 4:39). They
all thought for sure that they were going to surely die with the way the storm was rocking their
boat with them in it! They had forgotten the true source and protector of their lives…Jesus
Christ. The winds and the waves immediately obeyed Jesus and all were calm. In this same way,
55 Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness Project Gutenberg, 2018. 33.
6 George O. Wood, Fearless: How Jesus Changes Everything. Nashville: Vital Resources, 2015. Accessed
September 14, 2021. ProQuest Ebook Central. 138.
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when a believer has Jesus in their life, all can and should be calm, even during tough storms that
may come.
There is satisfaction in knowing the One who holds all things together is also holding
someone who believes in Him as well. Peace is given to us in the here and now. It is an outward
gift that will be forever felt and known in eternity. Gorman believes, “The God whom Paul
knows has given the gift of peace and love to his apostle and to all who trust that God’s promises
are fulfilled in his Son, the Messiah Jesus.”7 As a disciple of Jesus, our comfort should be to live
peaceably with one another. Slow to anger as found in (Prov 15:18). It is essential for believers
to have this in their lives. We point others to Jesus Christ showing them that the power, love,
grace and mercy of God is real. More importantly, it is for them too!
Love
There are plenty of ways for a believer to express how they feel about God or someone
else. However, the love we choose to give to God and one another is vital to growing as a
disciple, and more importantly to reveal the true nature of God. Even in the times God corrected
His prophets, or even the children of Israel, He always did so out of love. Specifically, God
shows that He loves us when He corrects us as found in (Heb 12:3-11). The love of God is multi-
faceted. He has unconditional love for us, and at the same time loves us closer than a brother.
Bourguet beautifully states love as, “The closest communion between two people, the closest
love relation, is certainly that between a man and a woman in marriage, between spouses.”8
Being a follower of Jesus is to love God and love one another. The greatest love that was ever
expressed came from Jesus when He willingly gave up His life for ours.
7 Michael J. Gorman, Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross. Eerdmans, 2001. 14.
8 Daniel Bourguet and Bob Ekblad. Becoming a Disciple Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2016. 90.
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We, in turn, should be willing to go to extreme measures when helping one another, doing
so out of love. Whitney states, “…surely the more we love God the more we will live for Him
and serve Him, and the more we love others the more we will also serve them…”9 The closer we
get to God, the deeper our love should be for Him and for others. To have this as non-essential is
to have a deep void of connection to the true nature of God. Scripture is replete with the love of
God, and the love that should be evident in us. (1 Cor 13) is an excellent chapter of the Bible that
expresses what love looks like. Another great example is found in (1 John – 3 John). Love is not
only essential, but also extremely necessary.
Encouragement
Encouragement is another way of expressing to build someone up in life. No one wants to
hear how horrible their life is. God also does not want to see us live discouraged either. Jesus
said words of encouragement such as “…be of good cheer…” in (John 16:33), or “…let your
heart not be troubled…” in (John 14:1). He knows that there will be trying times and difficulties
we must go through. Being encouraged is essential to the believer’s life and to others who may
not know or have a relationship with Jesus Christ yet. Comly states, “… “As iron sharpens iron,
so does the countenance of a man his friend.” This sharpening, or encouragement, is an effect of
that pure friendship and love, which the Creator dispenses to his children…”10
We are told in (Php 2:3) it is far greater to place one another in higher regard than we do
for our own lives. Essential to believers in the respect of showing Godly compassion and help to
9
Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. NavPress, 2014. 150.
10
John Comly, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. An epistle or salutation
in gospel love : with a word of encouragement to all who believe in the light, that they may walk in the light and
thereby know an advancement in the way of life and salvation : to which is added, a further address to Friends on
the order and discipline of our religious society : also, some views and remarks intended for the promotion of the
peace and harmony of society and the quiet and solemnity of our religious meetings. Philadelphia: J. Richards,
printer, 1832. Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500-1926 (accessed September 14, 2021). 6.
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all who need it. Jesus uses the parable of the Good Samaritan in (Luke 10:25-37). Each example
Jesus used are exactly the type of people anyone can be classified in ever in life. There are those
who are too good, or in a hurry to stop and help someone in need. As opposed to the one who
truly takes the time out of his or her day, to help someone who is unable to go any further, or
worse yet, is ready to give up on life. This is the type of person God calls us to be as disciples of
Jesus! Lockhart and McClendon state, “The early church in Acts gave of their talents for the sake
of the church and for the sake of others.”11 God uses people like us to help build up someone
else, and our story, words, or acts of kindness could be exactly what He wants to do through us to
accomplish His will.
Conclusion
One can not fully grasp the depths of what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
This paper only underscored the few examples of essential aspects that should already be evident
in someone if he or she is a disciple of Jesus. However, there are other important traits too such
as patience, self-control, etc. that embody who someone is in Him. None of us will have truly
ever arrived in a place of figuring God out either. He is ever the same yesterday, today, and
forevermore. God will leave His indelible marks upon us as we go through life. Yet, those marks
He leaves on us will only allow us to grow closer, love stronger, and build up each other. Having
all of us who believe, or have yet to believe in Him, see the will of God come to completion in
our lives. This will further grow His kingdom until He calls us to be at home with Him forever.
Disciples of Jesus long to please God and others. All the discipline that the believer has comes
from within naturally. God’s Spirit is placed into the hearts of every believer. The evidence of the
Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit as found in (Gal 5:22-23). None of it is separated from itself. As
11
Adam P. McClendon, and Jared E. Lockhart. Timeless Church: Five Lessons from Acts. B&H, 2020. 87.
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seen in this chapter of the Bible, some of the marks presented in this paper are also realized here,
and therefore these five chosen are essential to the believer who calls him or herself a disciple of
Jesus Christ.
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Bibliography
Bourguet, Daniel, and Bob Ekblad. Becoming a Disciple Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books,
2016.
Bush, Daniel, Noel S. Due, and Steve Brown. Embracing God as Father: Christian Identity
in the Family of God Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.
Comly, John, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. An
epistle or salutation in gospel love : with a word of encouragement to all who believe in
the light, that they may walk in the light and thereby know an advancement in the way of
life and salvation : to which is added, a further address to Friends on the order and
discipline of our religious society : also, some views and remarks intended for the
promotion of the peace and harmony of society and the quiet and solemnity of our
religious meetings. Philadelphia: J. Richards, printer, 1832. Sabin Americana: History of
the Americas, 1500-1926 (accessed September 14, 2021).
Gorman, Michael J. Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross. Eerdmans,
2001.
Haykin, Michael. The God Who Draws Near: An Introduction to Biblical Spirituality.
Evangelical Press, 2007.
Hull, Bill. The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ.
Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress Publishing Group, 2006. Accessed September 14, 2021.
ProQuest Ebook Central.
McClendon, P. Adam, and Jared E. Lockhart. Timeless Church: Five Lessons from Acts.
B&H, 2020.
Murray, Andrew Humility: The Beauty of Holiness Project Gutenberg. 2018.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. NavPress, 2014.
Wood, George O. Fearless: How Jesus Changes Everything. Nashville: Vital Resources,
2015. Accessed September 14, 2021. ProQuest Ebook Central.
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