Characteristics of a Follower
In the books “Disciple Making Is…” and “DiscipleShift,” the authors provide several meanings for a disciple. Earley and Dempsey note “three guiding principles—sacrificial, relational, and transformational—” to define what a disciple looks like.[1] While Putnam, Harrington, and Coleman note three principles from Matthew 4:19 to define a disciple: head, heart, and hands; where head “is following Christ,” heart “is being changed by Christ,” and hands “is committed to the mission of Christ.”[2] To use comparable phraseology to Earley and Dempsey, the principles from Matthew 4:19 could be identified as learning (“follow Me”), transforming (“I will make you”), and going (“fishers of men”). Though the two books’ descriptives of a disciple may not overlap much, there is, however, an overlap in how they explain this is carried out. Both books affirm that to be a disciple of Jesus, you are, in fact, following Jesus personally, following Jesus in the local church community, and following Jesus on His mission to reach the lost.
I agree with the three affirmed characteristics of a disciple shared by both books. However, characteristics are what Dr. Dempsey called “verifiers.”[3] They demonstrate that one is following or how one should be following. They don’t define the meaning of “follower” or “disciple.” Scott and Rogers confirm this by noting, “The various definitions [of discipleship] are drawing on concepts in the NT, specifically the terms for being a disciple of Jesus.”[4]
Over a decade now, whether in writing, teaching, or preaching, I have tried to consistently define a “follower of Jesus” or “disciple of Jesus” concisely because I believe many have convoluted the simplicity of the scriptural text. Therefore, to state it upfront, there is no dichotomy in the new covenant between disciple and follower, nor with its counterpart’s believer and convert, as Coleman asserts.[5] A “disciple of Jesus” or “follower of Jesus” is the same: someone who believes, learns, and obeys Jesus to become like Him. The straightforwardness of the term identifying the person defines itself.
The terms “disciple” and “follow” are often used or implied in Scripture in conjunction. For example, the first time “disciple” is used is in Isaiah 8:16 (Christian Standard Bible), “Bind up the testimony. Seal up the instruction among my disciples.” Isaiah uses limmud. It’s derived from lamad. Lamad is primarily used as a verb for teach or learn. Limmud is an adjective, and in each of Isaiah’s uses, it describes one who has been taught or learned (Isa. 8:16, 50:4, 54:13). Intriguingly, Jeremiah uses limmud as well, but to describe something being a habit (Jer. 2:24, 13:23). Nevertheless, to be taught, to become a learned one, or even to have a habit, inherently implies being with someone or something that is teaching or forming that person. Thus, the implication of following someone or something is present, especially when “follow” in the NT, akoloutheó, means to accompany for some purpose.
The New Testament’s equivalent of limmud is the Greek term, mathétés, meaning a learner or student. Two key passages reinforce the Old Testament’s usage of what a disciple is: Luke 6:40 and Matthew 28:16-20. Luke 6:40 says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” A disciple is someone being developed by their teacher to be like their teacher. Then, in the five verses that we call the great commission, what is present for those called Jesus’ disciples is their belief and followership (vv. 16-17), along with Jesus’ authority that they’re under (v. 18), His instruction they’re to know and obey (v. 19), and His assurance for their concerns (v. 20). Pointedly, the meaning of disciple has not changed since its first use. It merely acquired its culmination with Jesus. Hence, a disciple and follower are the same because it identifies a person who believes, learns, and obeys Jesus to become like Him.
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[1] David Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is...: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 28.
[2] Jim Putnam, Bob Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 51.
[3] Rod Dempsey, “What is a Disciple?,” (video lecture in DSMN 500 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, August 19, 2024).
[4] Dixon, D Scott, and Trent Rogers. “‘Discipleship’: Clarifying Terms in the New Testament and Secondary Literature.” Southeastern Theological Review 14, no. 1 (Spr 2023): 45–65. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLAiFZK230414000265&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Bracketed words and emphasis added.
[5] Putnam, Harrington, and Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples, 45.
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Bibliography
David Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is...: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2013.
Dixon, D Scott, and Trent Rogers. “‘Discipleship’: Clarifying Terms in the New Testament and Secondary Literature.” Southeastern Theological Review 14, no. 1 (Spr 2023): 45–65. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLAiFZK230414000265&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Jim Putnam, Bob Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
Rod Dempsey, "What is a Disciple?" Video lecture in DSMN 500 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, August 19, 2024.