What is an Everyday Disciple?

Over the gentle lap of the waves along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus calls out to fishermen, Simon and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19) [1]. As he continues along the shore, he calls James and John, who are repairing their nets after a long day’s work.

These men devoted their lives to fishing because it was a family trade, likely one that had been passed down through generations. One cannot overemphasize just how life-altering Jesus' call is for these brothers. That short and yet profound invitation, “Follow me,” rewrites the expectations and futures for Simon, Andrew, James, and John. He gives them a new purpose and mission as he calls them into discipleship.

Discipleship was common in the first-century world of Jesus. Eager young men who showed an aptitude for Torah studies would join themselves to a rabbi. These students would follow their teacher, learning his approach to interpreting the Scriptures, observing and imitating every aspect of his life [2].

At River City Church, we use the phrase everyday disciple to emphasize the all-encompassing, radical call of discipleship. An everyday disciple is someone who lives with the peace and purpose of Jesus as his apprentice in all of life.

Based on the pattern of Matthew 4:18-22, discipleship involves the simple rhythm of hearing and responding.

Hearing the Call of Jesus

Our youngest never wanted to wear socks. Whether it was a nice summer day or an icy winter morning, we would often find socks in her mouth rather than on her feet. For our household, the sock battle was a lost cause. One day, Alia came home and lamented the many disapproving glances while shopping with our barefoot toddler in the middle of January. Several shoppers offered unsolicited advice about how it is a good idea for a child to wear socks. This gesture, although well-intended, communicates, “I know better.”

Whether it is parenting advice, pundits opining about cultural issues, or fleeting fads, we encounter calls daily—sometimes subtle—to “follow me.” Visions of the good life are hurled at us from every direction. And amid the myriad of voices, there is one call to heed—the call of Jesus.

Hearing the call of Jesus to discipleship requires that we know the word of Jesus. In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Notice that in this verse, Jesus draws a connection between discipleship and abiding (remaining, continuing) in his word. Of course, to abide in Jesus’ word means that one must know his Word.

Recently, Pastor Jeremy reminded us of the importance of making Bible reading a consistent habit. He encouraged us to start small and keep going. Reading something is better than reading nothing. And if you miss a day, begin again the next day. One of my former mentors used to tell me, “Never stop starting to have a devotional time.” His point? Consider every day to be day one. This simple mindset change has helped me in seasons where my Bible reading and prayer life have been inconsistent.

‍Responding to the Call of Jesus

After we hear the call of Jesus to be his disciple, we respond. I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked into his office and sat down at his table. We chatted about life and ministry. And at one point in our conversation, my former pastor recited Matthew 28:19, “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, teaching them all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

“What phrase did I leave out?” He asked.

I sat there, rehearsing the verse in my mind. But I didn’t have an answer.

“I left out to observe.” He said.

He effectively made his point. Making disciples is not teaching others about what Jesus taught and commanded. To make disciples is to teach others “to observe” everything Jesus taught and commanded. This is why we use the word “apprenticeship.” Say, for example, I went to school to be an electrician. I completed all the coursework and passed all my exams. I could have all the head knowledge about how to wire a home, but that is still not enough to become a licensed journeyman electrician. This requires 8,000 hours of hands-on training supervised by an expert in the trade.

Making disciples is not teaching others about what Jesus taught and commanded. To make disciples is to teach others “to observe” everything Jesus taught and commanded.

Simply knowing the words of Jesus, even committing them to memory, is not discipleship (i.e., apprenticeship). When I studied in Israel, one of my professors was a Jewish rabbi. He knew the words of Jesus, having many of them memorized. But I’ll never forget the shock when he said, “I don’t agree with Jesus here.”

“What do you mean you don’t agree with Jesus?” I thought, somewhat offended that he would say such a thing. As a Jewish rabbi, he did not believe Jesus was the messiah, and so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that he would make such a claim.  

Being a disciple of Jesus means that we not only know the words of Jesus, but we put them into practice. Again, in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me” (John 14:23-24).

But doesn’t an emphasis on obedience lead to legalism? It can, if we misunderstand the role of obedience in the Christian life. Legalism is an attempt to earn God’s grace through obedience. This understanding of obedience is opposed to grace. But the pattern in the Bible is that grace leads to obedience. Or to say it another way, faith evidenced by obedience is the proper response to the unmerited favor that God has shown us in the person of Jesus Christ.

So what does obedience look like in practice? Pastor Jeremy reminded us to ask the following question: “What does obedience look like right now?” This simple and yet profound question helps us connect the call of Jesus to our immediate situation. It is a question that reminds us that being an apprentice of Jesus involves every dimension of our lives. This includes where we are and what we are doing right now.

To help us better grasp what it means to be an everyday disciple in our context, we have identified four discipleship roles. Think of these as tangible expressions of what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like in everyday life.

- Responsive Follower | One who recognizes and yields to God’s Spirit as they live with and for Jesus.

- Patient Pursuer | One who takes active steps to know others and be known by them.

- Winsome Witness | One whose words and way of life communicate the surprising and redemptive hope of Jesus.

- Legacy Builder | One who multiplies what has been given to them by spiritually investing in others for kingdom impact.

We believe that as we grow in these four roles, we will become more like Jesus.

As you have been reading this, I hope you have recognized that I have yet to mention a key aspect of discipleship. Or, to use the teaching method of my former pastor, "What have I left out?" What I haven't mentioned yet is this: we are not alone. Jesus promises his abiding presence. Those who have trusted in Jesus receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the one who actually produces real life change (Rom 8:13-14; Gal 5:22-25; Phil 2:12-13). Obedience is impossible apart from the Spirit’s work.

So, as we seek to live as everyday disciples of Jesus, let’s commit to knowing his Word, putting it into practice, and trusting the work of the Spirit to bring it to completion.

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Works Cited

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the ESV.

[2] Dan Nässelqvist, “Disciple,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).