The Three Driving Goals of Disciple Making
a practical disciple making guide, informed by John Mark Comer's Book: Practicing The Way
Discipleship • What Is A Disciple Of Jesus Christ? • Holistic Discipleship Framework
So many were drawn to Jesus—captivated by His miracles, stirred by His words. But when He invited them to follow Him, everything changed. His invitation wasn’t casual—it was costly. It meant leaving comfort, rethinking identity, and surrendering every part of life to a new path. It was a call to a radical way of life. Today, the name “disciple” is used freely, but too often it’s disconnected from a life that truly reflects Jesus. The difference between believers and the world around them can look blurry—yet it was never meant to be that way. Jesus’ call was and still is radical, specific, and life-changing.
I remember when this burden first gripped me—in 1995, after a personal encounter with God that shattered my assumptions and exposed the shallow waters we often call “discipleship.” Something deep within me broke open. I began to see what I hadn’t before: how casually the Church had treated the command to make genuine disciples, and how content many had become with forms of godliness that lacked power to transform.
It wrecked me. Night after night, I wrestled in prayer, haunted by one burning question: How do we awaken the Church to the kind of disciple making Jesus actually called for—discipleship that reshapes the heart, reorders the life, and reflects His image?
It felt like swimming against the current—this ache for a deeper way, a real framework that forms people from the inside out. And the ache never left. Decades later, the burden still burns.
Then recently I came across John Mark Comer’s book Practicing the Way, and it was as if language was finally given to what my spirit had carried all along. It offered a vision that was simple yet profound—anchored in the life of Jesus and charged with the call to true transformation. Since then, I’ve woven in my own reflections, adjustments, and practices to strengthen and expand the path—hoping to call others into a discipleship that is not theoretical, but embodied, not passive, but transformative.
We need to recover the clarity of that call—not just to understand it intellectually, but to feel its weight and beauty in our hearts. This Practicing the Way guide exists to help you step into that clarity. It unpacks the call to disciple making into three life-shaping pursuits—the heartbeat of what it means to follow in the steps of our beloved Rabbi Jesus.
To follow Jesus is to apprentice under Him—to shape our lives around His way. True discipleship is not about mere belief, self-improvement, or performance; it is a journey of being deeply formed by Him. As apprentices, we embrace these three driving core goals that shape our walk with Jesus and lead us to transformation in this life-long journey to... Be with Jesus, Become like Jesus, and Do as Jesus did.
Live in constant connection with Jesus, learning to remain in His presence every moment, while resting in His love.
Behold Jesus (Seeing Him Clearly) – Fix your eyes on Him through Scripture, prayer, and worship. Let His presence captivate your heart. (2 Cor. 3:18)
Abide in Jesus (Staying Connected With Him Continually) – Stay connected to Him like a branch to a vine. Walk with Him daily, not just visit occasionally. (John 15:4-5)
Rest in Jesus (Trusting Him Fully) – Trust His love, surrender control, and embrace rhythms of peace and renewal. (Matt. 11:28-30)
Our first calling as disciples is to be with Jesus—to live in constant connection with Him. Just as His first followers walked by His side, learning from His words, watching His actions, and experiencing His love, we too are invited into a life of closeness with Him.
Jesus doesn’t call us to a distant, ritualistic faith but to an abiding relationship. He longs for us to know Him deeply, not just in moments of worship or prayer but in the everyday rhythms of life. When we learn to fix our eyes on Him, to rest in His love, and to trust His presence in all things, we begin to experience the fullness of life He offers.
To be with Jesus is to know that we are never alone. His Spirit is with us, leading, comforting, and transforming us as we walk in daily communion with Him.
What's the Distinction Between Beholding Jesus, Abiding in Jesus, and Resting in Jesus?
We Behold Jesus to see Him clearly, hear His voice, and be captivated by His beauty. We Abide in Jesus to walk closely with Him and be transformed by His presence. And we Rest in Jesus to trust Him fully, surrendering our fears and depending on His Spirit.
Behold is about attention—looking to Jesus with awe and focus. Abide is about connection—staying with Him in every moment. Rest is about trust—letting go and depending fully on Him.
Behold is about attention—what fills your eyes. Abide is about presence—who walks with you. Rest is about dependence—who carries your load.
Behold opens your eyes to His beauty. Abide anchors your life in His presence. Rest quiets your soul in His grace.
Behold is the invitation. Abide is the habit. Rest is the posture.
Behold sets our focus. Abide sets our pace. Rest sets us free.
The Transformational Flow of "Be With Jesus":
In “Be With Jesus,” the transformation we seek begins by beholding Him.
To behold Jesus is to truly see Him—not just with our eyes, but with the eyes of our hearts. It’s pausing long enough to let who He is captivate us. As we behold Him, we’re not just learning facts about Him; we’re encountering the living Christ. We see His kindness, His strength, His humility, His love. And something begins to happen in us: wonder is stirred. Our hearts awaken to a Person more beautiful than we imagined.
But beholding isn’t where it ends. We then abide in that truth—we let it take root. Abiding means staying, lingering, letting truth shape the way we think and feel. It’s where fascination turns into formation. The truths we see about Jesus—His faithfulness, His mercy, His nearness—become the environment our hearts live in. We no longer visit His love occasionally; we dwell in it.
And as we abide, we’re invited to rest in the promises that come from those truths. Not striving. Not performing. Resting. We begin to live with a quiet confidence that Jesus really is who He says He is—and that we are safe in Him. This rest isn’t passive; it’s deeply active trust. It’s the peace that comes from knowing we’re held, guided, and never alone.
So when we say “Be With Jesus,” we’re not prescribing a task—we’re describing a relationship. We’re inviting you into a rhythm of looking at Jesus until your heart is won over again and again. From there, transformation flows—not by effort alone, but through union with Him. We become like the One we love.
Goal #1: Be with Jesus:
Learn More About Beholding:
Beholding is the gaze that lifts our eyes,
To see the Savior, to treasure the prize.
It’s the wonder, the awe, that fills our soul,
As we fix our hearts on the One who makes us whole.
Abiding is the step that walks with Him,
In every moment, through thick and thin.
It’s the rhythm, the flow, of His life in mine,
As I stay close, His will aligns.
Resting is the pause where striving ceases,
Where trust in His grace brings peace and releases.
It’s the letting go, the heart that yields,
As we rest in His love, our burdens healed.
Behold the Savior, gaze with wonder,
See His beauty, hear His call,
With every glance, your heart will ponder,
The One who gave Himself for all.
Abide with Jesus, walk beside,
In every moment, close and near,
Let His presence be your guide,
And in His love, find strength to steer.
Rest in Jesus, lay your cares,
Trust in Him to take the weight,
Release your fear, surrender prayers,
In quiet peace, His love is great.
Behold to see His glory bright,
Abide to live in constant light,
Rest to trust and be at peace,
In these, your soul will find its release.
Let His Spirit change your thoughts, affections, desires, and actions from the inside out.
Renew The Mind (to have the mind of Christ) – Think like Jesus. Fill your mind with truth and let it reshape how you see God, yourself and the world. (Romans 12:2)
Transform The Heart (to embody His love) – Desire what Jesus desires. Align your emotions and affections with His love and holiness. (Matthew 6:33)
Train The Body (for godly and righteous living) – Live like Jesus. Develop habits, disciplines, and virtues that shape and sustain a Christlike life. (1 Timothy 4:7-8 & 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
Being with Jesus naturally leads to becoming like Him. The more we abide in His presence, the more His Spirit shapes our thoughts, affections, desires, and actions. Transformation is not about striving to be better; it is about letting His love change us from the inside out.
Jesus invites us to think as He thinks, love as He loves, and live as He lives. This change is not forced; it is the overflow of a heart captivated by Him. As we walk with Him, our old ways of thinking begin to shift, our affections are reordered, and our priorities align with His kingdom.
To become like Jesus is to carry His heart—to desire what He desires, to see people as He sees them, and to embody His love in every aspect of life. It is the Spirit’s work in us, shaping us into His image so that we reflect His character to the world.
What's the distinction between Renew the Mind, Transform the Heart, and Train the Body?
Renew the Mind is about replacing old patterns of thinking with God’s Word. Transform the Heart is about letting our emotions and desires be shaped by His love. Train the Body is about practicing godly habits that reflect His character.
Renew the Mind resets how we see the world. Transform the Heart reorients what we love and value. Train the Body trains us to live out what we believe.
Goal #2: Become Like Jesus:
(a poetic reflection on the distinct journey of mind, heart, and body)
Renew the mind—a clearing sky,
Where lies once whispered, now pass by.
Truth rises slow with sacred light,
Displacing shadow, doubt, and night.
A battlefield no eye can see,
Where thoughts submit and wills break free.
Christ is the pattern, clear and kind—
We’re not restrained, but redefined.
Transform the heart—a sacred flame,
Where mercy dwells and love reclaims.
Desire reshaped by holy fire,
What once enticed now feels expired.
The heart once cold begins to feel
The pulse of heaven—strong and real.
Affection bends to Christ alone,
And beats in rhythm with His throne.
Train the body—flesh made new,
A vessel formed for good and true.
In discipline, the soul finds grace;
In humble acts, His dwelling place.
The sacred habits, worn and slow,
Are seeds of life that daily grow.
Each step, each fast, each act of care,
Is Christ embodied everywhere.
Three paths that meet, yet walk as one—
Mind, heart, and body, shaped by Son.
No part untouched, no inch unclaimed—
This is the life that bears His name.
(a prayerful offering in the voice of a disciple)
Take my mind, Lord—clear the haze,
Flood it with your ancient ways.
Let no lie or fear remain,
But fill my thoughts with Kingdom gain.
Teach me how to think what’s true,
To love what’s wise, and gaze on You.
Take my heart, Lord—break the stone,
Till it beats for You alone.
Melt my pride and plant delight
In what is pure and just and right.
Let holy longing rise in me,
To love like You, so selflessly.
Take my body, hands and feet,
Shape the rhythm of my week.
Help me practice, help me do
All that draws me close to You.
Let my strength be Yours to spend,
For Kingdom joy that will not end.
Form me fully, part by part,
Head and hands and beating heart.
Until my life, in word and deed,
Reflects Your beauty, plants Your seed.
And all I am—mind, body, soul—
Becomes like You. Made whole. Made whole.
Bring His kingdom to the world through your words, actions, and presence.
Make Space for the Gospel (Hospitality) – Create room in your life to be hospitable to the people God loves and to his divine interventions and appointments. (Luke 14:12-14)
Preach the Gospel (Outreach/Evangelism) – Speak the good news boldly and lovingly—pointing people to Jesus. (Matt. 28:18-20)
Demonstrate the Gospel (Ministry/Service/Biblical Justice/Power Evangelism) – Live it out. Show His love through justice, mercy, healing, and service. (Matthew 10:5-8)
A life transformed by Jesus cannot remain inward-focused. To truly follow Him means stepping into His mission—to bring His love, truth, and presence into the world. Jesus did not just teach about the kingdom; He lived it. He healed the sick, welcomed the outcast, forgave sinners, and proclaimed the good news of God’s reign.
As His apprentices, we are called to continue His work—not out of obligation, but out of love. When we are with Jesus and shaped by Him, His mission becomes our mission. We learn to see the world through His eyes, to move with His compassion, and to serve with His humility.
Living on mission is not about grand gestures or public platforms—it is about embodying Jesus in our everyday interactions. It is about loving the people in front of us, speaking truth with grace, and making space for others to encounter Him. Whether in our workplaces, homes, or communities, we are His hands and feet, called to reflect His goodness wherever we go.
What's the distinction between Make Space for the Gospel, Preach the Gospel, and Demonstrate the Gospel?
Make Space for the Gospel invites others in through hospitality and prepares their hearts to receive.
Preach the Gospel speaks the truth of Jesus clearly, boldly and winsomely.
Demonstrate the Gospel shows the truth of the Gospel by the way we live, through our loving actions, and by demonstrations of the power of God to bring healing and freedom.
Goal #3: Do As Jesus Did:
Make Space for the Gospel
I set the table, lit the light,
Made warmth to chase away the night.
No need to preach, no grand display—
Just open arms and time to stay.
A quiet seat, a listening ear,
A place where heavy hearts draw near.
In kindness, mercy finds its place—
The Gospel starts with gentle space.
Preach the Gospel
Then came the moment, clear and true,
To speak of all that Love can do.
Of Jesus—strong, yet full of grace—
Who meets us in our broken place.
No lofty words or practiced lines,
Just truth that lives and light that shines.
“Come meet the One who rescued me—
The Savior who can set you free.”
Demonstrate the Gospel
And when the weary reached for more,
I brought them through the open door.
A prayer for peace, a touch to heal,
A holy power you can feel.
I fought for justice, wept their pain,
And watched God’s freedom break the chain.
His Kingdom showed in acts of love—
On earth, as from the skies above.
Together
So may my life reflect His way—
A home, a word, a bright display.
Where Jesus' heart is clearly shown:
Not just in speech, but love made known.
He walked the streets with heaven’s heart,
Each step a spark, a sacred start.
Not rushed, not loud, but fully there—
With time to love, with eyes to care.
He made space in dusty lanes,
For sinners, strangers, those in pain.
A meal, a pause, a quiet place,
Where God’s own kindness met each face.
He preached the truth beneath the sky,
To crowds and seekers passing by.
Not just with words, but words on fire—
Calling hearts to rise up higher.
He showed the way, with hands outstretched,
To cleanse the wounds the world had etched.
He healed, He freed, He took our loss—
Love poured out upon a cross.
And now we walk this mission too,
With hearts made whole and eyes made new.
To make room wide, to boldly say,
To live God’s love in flesh each day.
To apprentice under Jesus is to center our lives on Him—to order everything around being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. This is not a program or a set of rules; it is an invitation to a new way of living, one marked by love, transformation, and purpose.
The world pulls us in many directions, but Jesus calls us to a life of deeper intimacy, lasting change, and meaningful mission. This is the journey of discipleship. This is the way of Jesus.
Go Deeper In These Three Driving Goals:
VIDEOS: Practicing The Way Videos - These are interviews with John Mark Comer.
SERMON: Practicing The Way (Bridgetown Church Sermon) - From the series "Vision Series 2023." Mark 8v34-35. Be with Jesus. Become like Jesus. Do what Jesus did
DBS Set: Practicing The Way DBS Set - A set of Discovery Bible Study passages to help you deepen in being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus and Doing as Jesus did.
COURSE: Practicing The Way - An intro into Christian formation featuring eight sessions of teaching, guided conversation, and spiritual exercises designed to lay a foundation for lifelong apprenticeship to Jesus.