• I have died to myself.

• I am reproducing in others the fullness of life I have in Christ.

Book Quotes

• Christ's call to discipleship is a call to self-death, an absolute surrender to God. 

• Jesus is honest and direct: to share in His glory a person must first share in His death. 

• Christ cannot be Lord of my life if I am lord of my life. In order for Christ to be in control, I have to die. 

• A dead man is no longer concerned with his own rights, his independence, or his opinions of others. When he was joined in a spiritual union with the crucified Christ, those things highly prized by the world—riches, security, and status—were relinquished. 

• ...a dead man is liberated to do all things to the glory of God. He places all that he is and everything that he has at God's permanent disposal. His submission to Christ's Lordship empowers him to please God in every decision he makes, every word he speaks, and every thought he thinks. 

• Christ commanded His disciples to reproduce in others the fullness of life they found in Him.

• A mature disciple must teach other believers how to live a life pleasing to God and must equip them to train others to teach others.  

Bible Verses

• Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." - Luke 9:23-24 & Mark 8:34 NIV

• "If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple... So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own." - Luke 14:26-27,33 NLT

• "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." - John 12:24-25 NIV

• “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 NIV

• "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:24 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

• "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." - John 15:8 NIV

A Disciple's Posture of Surrender Reflection Questions

• Have I truly allowed Jesus to be Lord of my life in every aspect of my life? What areas are still under my control?

• What area of my life is God presently putting His finger on, to surrender to Him?

• Am I discipling people in areas I myself have NOT allowed God to have full control? OR Am I teaching/leading others to change in areas I myself have not allowed God to change?

• Have I been honest with those who disciple me and/or those I disciple, about my areas of struggle? Am I seeking to change by being proactive in being honest and transparent with them, about where I am and where I want to be?

• My Christ-like character is evidence of my self-death (being a disciple).

• My character is more important than my skills or my abilities.

Book Quotes

• So how do you know if you are a disciple of Christ? How do you know if you have experienced self-death and are worthy of reproduction? The indisputable evidence in discerning whether you are a spiritual version of fool's gold or the real thing is the presence of a Christ-like character. If Christ's character is missing, you have not died to yourself and are not fit for reproduction.  

• Christian character is built by my willing (exercising my will) to conform every aspect of my life to the image of Christ. 

• A disciple's main concern ought to be that his character will be built and reproduced.

• A person's skill is worthless without godly character. 

Bible Verses

• "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

• "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5 NIV

• "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 5:5-8 NIV

• "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

A Disciple's Character Reflection Questions

• What character flaws is God presently addressing?

• What situations in my life is God using as the hothouse for my change and growth?

• Am I praying regularly for God to transform my character that I may become more and more like Jesus?

• I faithfully study God’s Word.

• I will to obey God’s Word.

Book Quotes

• Obedience is the first distinctive of a disciple.

• Without adequate knowledge of God's Word, a disciple is gambling his future on feelings, hopes, and opinions, instead of securing it in God's will and the facts of his faith. 

• Most Christians want to obey God's Word, but wanting is not enough. Wanting is a function of your emotions. It fluctuates with your feelings. The disciple wills to obey God's Word. 

• Since the believer is committed to obeying God's will as the Holy Spirit reveals it, he studies the Word of God with a prior commitment to live what he learns. This determination is indisputable evidence that he is a disciple of Christ.   

Bible Verses

• "If you love me, keep my commands." - John 14:15 NIV

• He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” - Luke 11:28 NIV

• "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

• To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:31-32  NIV

A Disciple's Obedience Reflection Questions

• Am I happy with my daily dose of Scriptural input in my life? If not, what needs to change to add more of His Word to my life?

• Am I reading, memorizing, studying, and meditating on God's Word with the main intent to apply it to my life and obey what God speaks to me?

• I have an inner attitude of trust in my sovereign, loving, and omniscient God. 

• Christ’s authority is supreme in my life. 

• When God’s delegated authority touches my life, I submit to it just as I would to Christ. 

• I can exercise authority because I submit to authority.

• I exercise my authority through servanthood. 

Book Quotes

• Submission is... an inner attitude of trust in your sovereign, loving, and omniscient God. 

• A disciple strives to maintain an attitude of trust in God's authority no matter what the cost. 

• Whenever we put a stipulation on our obedience to God, we completely deny our trust in Him. Any reservation about submitting to God discloses that we think we can take better care of ourselves than God can, that God does not know what is best for us. How foolish! Anything less than joyful submission is a denial of God's supreme authority, wisdom and love, and of our self-death.

• Since all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1-5) and He gives authority to those whom He chooses (Ephesians 4:11-12), our attitude toward those in whom He entrusts authority reflect s our real attitude toward God. 

• ...a person who is not in submission has no right to exercise authority. 

• Christians must submit to their leaders voluntarily. 

• My submission does not preclude further personal responsibility to search the Scriptures and test the leadership (Acts 17:11). However, I do this with a submissive spirit, trusting that such study will only enhance the instruction received.    

• Instead of brute force or authoritarian demands, a disciple exercises his authority through servanthood.    

Bible Verses

• "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:29-30 NLT

• "I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion." - 1 Corinthians 16:15b-16 NLT

• "And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." - Ephesians 5:21 NLT 

A Disciple's Submission Reflection Questions

• How am I doing in submitting to those God has placed in authority over me? Am I directly honoring God by honoring them? Am I a joy to them or a headache? Have I shown appreciation to my leaders and/or prayed for them?

• When I lead, am I leading with a servant's heart of love? OR Am I too demanding, rough, inflexible, overly-sensitive, and/or self-focused in my leadership?

• My love for other Christians is conspicuous.

• I have accepted God’s forgiveness for my past, present, and future. 

• I have forgiven myself, based on God’s forgiveness of me. 

• I forgive others readily. 

• I accept the forgiveness of others. 

• I am part of a healthy, functioning Christian community. 

Book Quotes

• A disciple cannot love God or himself, let alone others,unless he accepts God's complete forgiveness and on that basis forgives himself, forgives others, and accepts the forgiveness of others.

• You cannot experience true Christianity in isolation.

• If you are not part of a Christian body you are outside of God's corporate, creative purpose for His people and you lose your most vital link with God. 

• No Christian can be healthy without other Christians. 

Bible Verses

• "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." - John 13:35 NLT

• “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

• "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me." - John 17:21-23 NLT

A Disciple's Love for Other Christians Reflection Questions

• Am I accepting God's complete forgiveness for myself? (and on that basis) Am I forgiving myself, forgiving others, and accepting the forgiveness of others for my wrongdoings?

• Am I being faithful to embrace fellowship and mutual accountability with fellow believers, through regular attendance, engaging presence, transparency, and self-disclosure at church, small groups, and/or other gatherings or discipleship units?

My prayer life is characterized by:

• Complimenting God first. 

• Actively listening.

• Consistency. 

• Complete honesty. 

Book Quotes

• A believer's character is fashioned by his communication with God. 

• Prayer is primarily an avenue for the disciple to worship and honor God.

• Intimacy with God demands regular communication.   

• Regular communication with God makes your heart, your motives, your thoughts and even your instincts coincide with His. 

Bible Verses

• "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." - Ephesians 6:18

• "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

• "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer." - Psalm 66:18

A Disciple's Prayer Life Reflection Question

• Is my prayer life a regular communication with God where I honor Him, am honest with Him about where I am at, and rely on Him for myself and others?