What does it truly mean to be a disciple of Christ?
To some, it might sound like a lofty ideal, a title reserved for saints or those who seem to have it all figured out.
But in reality, being a disciple is not about being perfect—it’s about following Jesus (Yahshua the Messiah) with your whole heart, letting His teachings transform your life from the inside out.
It’s about more than simply identifying as a Christian; it’s about living out the radical, challenging, yet profoundly beautiful call that Jesus gives to His followers.
If you’re ready to take your faith seriously and go deeper with God, then these teachings are for you. Here are the key teachings of Jesus that define what it truly means to be His disciple.
And let me tell you: you are absolutely a disciple if you can live by these.
1. Love Like Jesus Loved
Jesus made it clear: love is the foundation of everything.
But not just any kind of love.
A radical, sacrificial, unending love that reaches out even when it’s inconvenient or painful.
When He was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” He didn’t hesitate. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39, NKJV).
Loving others isn’t always easy.
It’s about forgiving when it’s hard, showing kindness when it’s undeserved, and giving without expecting anything in return.
Love, as Jesus demonstrated on the day He was executed, is a love that doesn’t count the cost. It’s a love that sacrifices.
If you can love like that—sacrificially, without limits—you are living out the very essence of being a disciple.
2. Deny Yourself and Follow Him
One of the hardest teachings of Jesus is the call to self-denial.
In a world that constantly tells us to focus on me—my desires, my comfort, my way—Jesus flips that mindset on its head. He says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23, NKJV).
This is where discipleship becomes personal.
It’s not just about following Jesus when it’s easy, but about choosing His way even when it feels uncomfortable.
It’s about letting go of your own agenda and embracing God’s will for your life, no matter the cost.
And let’s be honest—denying yourself isn’t easy.
It goes against everything we naturally want.
But when you choose to put God’s will first, you begin to experience a freedom that nothing in this world can offer.
Your life isn’t about you anymore; it’s about the One you’re following.
3. Forgive Like You’ve Been Forgiven
Forgiveness.
It’s a word we throw around easily, but when it comes to putting it into practice, that’s where the rubber meets the road.
Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness were clear and convicting.
He said, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15, NKJV).
That’s a heavy statement, isn’t it?
But here’s the thing: true discipleship involves letting go of bitterness, anger, and the desire for revenge.
Jesus didn’t just talk about forgiveness; He demonstrated it.
As He hung on the torture stake, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34, NKJV).
If you can forgive those who have hurt you—no matter how deep the wound—you are living out one of the most powerful aspects of discipleship.
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4. Seek First the Kingdom of God
In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to get distracted.
We’re chasing success, trying to make ends meet, and dealing with the challenges of daily living.
But Jesus calls us to something greater.
He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).
When you make God’s kingdom the priority in your life—when you seek Him above everything else—He promises to take care of your needs.
This doesn’t mean life will be free of challenges, but it does mean that your focus will be in the right place.
You’ll be living with eternal significance, not just temporary satisfaction.
A disciple seeks God’s kingdom first, trusting that when He’s the priority, everything else falls into place.
5. Live Out Your Faith in Action
James says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17, NKJV).
If we’re truly following Jesus, our faith can’t just be a set of beliefs—it has to be lived out in action.
Being a disciple means loving the poor, caring for the sick, standing up for justice, and showing compassion to those in need.
It’s about living the truth you claim to believe, not just in words, but in tangible acts of kindness and service.
When you live out your faith, people around you will see Jesus through your actions.
Jesus Himself said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NKJV).
If you can live out your faith every single day—doing good works, serving others, and being the hands and feet of Jesus—you are truly living as His disciple.
6. Be Humble Like Christ
Jesus was the King of the universe, yet He humbled Himself to the point of death on a tree.
In a world that pushes for status and power, Jesus offers us a different path. He said, “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Mark 10:43, NKJV).
Humility is about seeing yourself through God’s eyes—not thinking too highly of yourself, but not thinking too lowly either.
It’s about putting others before yourself and recognizing that true greatness comes from serving others.
A disciple of Christ is humble, willing to serve, and ready to put the needs of others above their own.
7. Stand Firm in Your Faith
Finally, a disciple is someone who stands firm in their faith, even when the world shakes around them.
Jesus warned us that life would be hard, that we would face persecution, but He also assured us that He would be with us.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV).
When you can stand firm in your faith—when you can hold fast to your convictions even in the face of hardship—then you are truly following Jesus.
Are You a Disciple?
So, I ask you today: Are you a disciple? Can you live by these teachings?
Being a disciple of Christ is not about having it all together.
It’s not about being perfect.
It’s about following Jesus with all your heart, letting His words guide your every step, and allowing His love to transform you from the inside out.
You may stumble, you may fall, but a true disciple gets back up, dusts themselves off, and keeps following Jesus.
If you can live by these teachings—love like He loved, forgive like He forgave, seek His kingdom first, live out your faith, be humble, and stand firm in your convictions—then you can confidently say, “I am a disciple of Christ.”
And that’s the highest calling you could ever have.
Let’s not just be Christians in name. Let’s be disciples who live out the radical, world-changing teachings of Jesus.
Are you in?
