This definition of a disciple is based on Jesus' invitation to Peter and Andrew as found in Mark 1:17 & Matthew 4:19 ESV: 

"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.'" 

In this single verse, we find the three key elements of what it means to be a disciple:

1. Following Jesus (Be with Jesus) > "follow me"  - It's relational and formational - It’s an invitation to walk closely with Jesus—staying connected to Him and learning from His way of life each day. "Then [Jesus] said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" - Luke 9:23 NIV

2. Being Changed by Jesus (Become like Jesus) >"and I will make you become" - It's transformational >Lasting transformation comes only through Christ, by the work of His Spirit—promised to those who abide in Him.  "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5 ESV

3. Committed to the Mission of Jesus (Do as Jesus did) >"fishers of men" - It's commissional > We are sent on mission with Jesus to reveal His beauty, power, and glory—through the way we live and the words we speak—reconciling people to God and equipping them to become disciples who make disciples. - "that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."  - 2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV  &  "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross... This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven..." Colossians 1:19-20,23b NIV  &  "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Using Pete Scazzero's definition of a disciple, we can expand on this definition:

• Following Jesus > We intentionally slow down to be with Jesus.

• Being Changed by Jesus > We go beneath the surface of our lives to be deeply transformed by Jesus. 

• Committed to the Mission of Jesus > We offer our lives as a gift to the world for Jesus.

Quotes from respected Christian leaders and theologians on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ: 

• "The disciples of Jesus were with Him day and night for three years. They listened to His sermons and memorized His teachings. They saw Him live the life He taught. Then after His ascension, the disciples entrusted the word of Christ to others and encouraged them to adopt His lifestyle and obey His teaching.  A disciple is a student who memorizes the words, actions, and lifestyle of his teacher in preparation to teach others." - Keith Phillip

• "Throughout His ministry, Jesus made it clear to His listeners that being His disciples was not simply about receiving an education or even adhering to a set of ethical principles or stipulations. To be a disciple of Jesus meant to recognize Him for who He really was—the incarnate Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah—and therefore to reorient one’s life so that it conformed to the standards of His heavenly kingdom." - Greg Gilbert

• "Discipleship is about bringing all areas of our lives under the Lordship of Jesus by the power of the Spirit through the good news." - Seth McBee

• "A disciple of Jesus is someone who follows Jesus in order to become just like Jesus... someone whose life is centered on Jesus and the priorities he modeled and taught." - Justin Gravitt

• "A disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who is in the process of becoming like Jesus Christ in his/her affections, thoughts, and behavior." - Logan Gentry 

• “The distinguishing mark of Christian discipleship is a transformed heart, transformed affections. When someone becomes a true disciple, Christ radically changes the person’s appetite.”  - Eric Geiger, Michael Kelley, & Philip Nation

• “The supreme proof of true conversion is holy affections, zeal for holy things, longings after God, longings after holiness, desires for purity.” - Jonathan Edwards

• “A disciple is one who responds in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ. Being a disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us.” - Greg Ogden

• “Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.” - Dallas Willard 

• “Our discipleship to Jesus Christ costs us nothing less than everything.” - Richard Foster 

• “A disciple of Jesus is someone who treasures Him more than anything and seeks to become like Him in all of life.” - John Piper