“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” — Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

In one of our Sunday school classes, I raised the question: “Who is a Christian, and who is a disciple? What is the difference between the two?”

They answered and said, “A Christian is someone who has given his or her life to Christ, confessed, and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior.” I asked, “How about the disciple?” Some said, “A follower of Christ.”

I then asked another question: “Are you a Christian or a disciple?” Many said, “We are both.” I smiled and asked, “Then who are you getting discipline from, if you are both?” They chorused, “Jesus.”

As good as that answer sounds, you can’t say as a believer that the one and only master you have is the Holy Spirit rebuking, teaching, and correcting you. Yes, we know that Jesus is our master, but it takes intentionality and submission to truly be a disciple.

A disciple is simply a student who has given themselves to tutelage. Jesus did not say to His disciples that when people accept Him, they automatically become disciples. No—there is a part that involves teaching, learning, and training, which many Christians are not ready to commit to.

Many believers today just want to come to church, worship, pray, and go home. We are all followers of Christ, but who have you submitted yourself to, to learn and be taught the ways of God? The twelve disciples learned from Jesus for more than three years.

There were days He rebuked them sharply, taught them hard truths, encouraged them, and sometimes even called them foolish. Believers need to grow beyond just being saved, to submitting themselves to intense learning—so that they, in turn, can teach others who will also reach others.

Now, to those who say their mentor is some extremely distant man of God who doesn’t even know them from Adam—you are just deceiving yourself. If you are truly humble and willing to learn, you will recognize that God has placed people with grace around you.

Enough of just being a Christian. Give yourself to discipleship. Be intentional about it. The goal is to bring many into the Kingdom. But how can we achieve that if you yourself are not growing?