What is a disciple?

A disciple is one that has given up everything to follow Christ for the sake of the gospel and kingdom.
Not all are called to be disciples.
You can be born again and saved and not be a disciple.
Jesus called to the first 12 for this purpose..."follow me and I will make you fishers of men" used for a specific purpose.

You say not all are called to be disciples. Read the book of Acts and all the epistles. It is all about DISCIPLES, not the weak and ineffective name known today as Christians.

You say you can born again and saved and not be a disciple. This is merely a doctrinal compromise to make excuses for churches full of people with no power because they are not anointed.

When Jesus called the multiple that followed Him to become disciples they all turned away. He turned to His disciples and asked them if they would leave Him too.

Was Mary his mother a disciple? Was Zacharias a disciple? Was the thief on the cross a disciple? No excuse my friend some are called to that special calling some are not. Was lazuraus a disciple?
And yes you can be saved and not a disciple . As in the term exclusive.

A disciple with no other meaning added is simply a "student of the teacher". Adding other meanings simply confuses the matter. They could disciples of Christ or disciples of the god of this world as a word that can be used in two ways. In the same way a apostle is simply one sent of God. Adding other meanings simply confuses the matter. Discipline simply means training in respect to rules . They could be good rules or bad or none as in anarchy

Hi Deardean2, actually, I think the Lord 'is' interested in having us seek pleasure in our lives, and to have the things that we truly desire as we walk through this life with Him/in Christ For instance, this very important command, that just happens to carry a wonderful promise with it too, comes to mind first:

.........Psalm 37
.........4 ..Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Also, an event that included both Mary and Martha comes to mind quickly as well.

.........Luke 10
.........38 ..As they were traveling along, Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
.........39 ..She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
.........40 ..But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that
.........my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
.........41 ..But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
.........42 ..but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

So it seems to me that the Lord intends something else for us in this life than sacrifice and discipline, in fact, I think He very much intends us to enter into His rest with joy .. e.g. Philippians 4:4. This does not mean that we are not to be godly servants who know and obey/live out His word, who are focused on pleasing Him 24/7, and who are also a help & blessing to others. Sacrifice and discipline are an undoubted part of the Christian life, but not at the expense of the joy that I believe He intends for us, and the rest that we can find only in Him .. cf Matthew 11:28-30.

So I guess I see two important sides in this, and neither one should be allowed to overrule the other, IMHO.

You know, I remember when I was a kid, people always wanted to know what the "meaning of life" was. There always seemed a plethora back then of cartoons and images depicting some guy or gal struggling to get the top of a mountain to meet with the guru (who apparently lived up there), and to have that question answered, but they never seemed to get one, at least one that was in anyway believable or useful.

As Christians, we finally know the answer to that question, PTL And it seems to me that it is best (or perhaps most concisely) summed up in Q & A #1 from the Westminster Standard's Shorter Catechism which reads:

.........Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
.........A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,[1] and to enjoy Him forever.[2]

~Deut

.........John 10
.........10 ..The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might
.........have it more abundantly.
.

Your definition is too simple.

A disciple is obviously NOT just a student. Students are learners hoepfully assimulating information. A disciple is a doer and in order to be a doer must first be a hearer.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:66

Was Mary his mother a disciple? Was Zacharias a disciple? Was the thief on the cross a disciple? No excuse my friend some are called to that special calling some are not. Was lazuraus a disciple?
And yes you can be saved and not a disciple . As in the term exclusive.

Was Mary his mother a disciple? Was Zacharias a disciple? Was the thief on the cross a disciple? No excuse my friend some are called to that special calling some are not. Was lazuraus a disciple?
And yes you can be saved and not a disciple . As in the term exclusive.

There are always exceptions to the rule. Trying to replace the 99.99999999999% of scripture about disciples based on a few exceptions is dishonest at best. It is very obvious that the early churches were all considered disciples who called themselves anointed ones.

Dishonest at best? Well my friend I think as a new member you'll fit right in. Things like well I don't agree or I agree to disagree deserve respect but to say I'm dishonest in my reply....wow.

A few exceptions.....now there's a weak argument at best my friend.

Have you discipled others???? Have you forgone a place to call your own? family ties? Work to meet the days needs? (No career)
Preached in the streets, churches, or where ever your called.
Your soul purpose is to serve God and him only,

Jesus said.....the foxes have dens birds have nest but the son of man has no place to rest his head.
Jesus said .... The word of God is his meat.
When he sent out the 12 Jesus siad...take no food money clothing and let the holy spirit give you what you will say.
A man asking to be a disciple ask Jesus to wait while he buried his parents Jesus said follow me now let the dead bury the dead

I've used the term exclusive for the Lord's work as a term of disciple. That is how the o.p. came across to me.
How much of the above samples do you live right now.

I won't type here to defend myself. That to me is a disciple.

Dishonest at best? Well my friend I think as a new member you'll fit right in. Things like well I don't agree or I agree to disagree deserve respect but to say I'm dishonest in my reply....wow.

A few exceptions.....now there's a weak argument at best my friend.

Have you discipled others???? Have you forgone a place to call your own? family ties? Work to meet the days needs? (No career)
Preached in the streets, churches, or where ever your called.
Your soul purpose is to serve God and him only,

Jesus said.....the foxes have dens birds have nest but the son of man has no place to rest his head.
Jesus said .... The word of God is his meat.
When he sent out the 12 Jesus siad...take no food money clothing and let the holy spirit give you what you will say.
A man asking to be a disciple ask Jesus to wait while he buried his parents Jesus said follow me now let the dead bury the dead

I've used the term exclusive for the Lord's work as a term of disciple. That is how the o.p. came across to me.
How much of the above samples do you live right now.

I won't type here to defend myself. That to me is a disciple.

As christians we are ALL to do the Lords work..not just a few..thats PART of being a christian..

I agree with you that all are chosen to do the Lord's work....what you said about the generic term for disciple is what I was struggling to find.....thank you. ....your a gem....jewel.....see see see what I did there.

Dishonest at best? Well my friend I think as a new member you'll fit right in. Things like well I don't agree or I agree to disagree deserve respect but to say I'm dishonest in my reply....wow.

A few exceptions.....now there's a weak argument at best my friend.

Have you discipled others???? Have you forgone a place to call your own? family ties? Work to meet the days needs? (No career)
Preached in the streets, churches, or where ever your called.
Your soul purpose is to serve God and him only,

Jesus said.....the foxes have dens birds have nest but the son of man has no place to rest his head.
Jesus said .... The word of God is his meat.
When he sent out the 12 Jesus siad...take no food money clothing and let the holy spirit give you what you will say.
A man asking to be a disciple ask Jesus to wait while he buried his parents Jesus said follow me now let the dead bury the dead

I've used the term exclusive for the Lord's work as a term of disciple. That is how the o.p. came across to me.
How much of the above samples do you live right now.

I won't type here to defend myself. That to me is a disciple.

So based upon your very very few exceptions you have created a whole new group of people who call themselves Christians and thus they are "saved" but they are not disciples. I pointed out that New Testament scriptures from Acts onward only talk about disciples (NOT Christians) who identify as anointed ones.

I think it is the loss of the real definition of the word "Christian" that has created this dishonest position that violates scripture.

Yours is the weak argument, not mine.

P.S. I find your use of "my friend" rather condencending.

My gosh man keep swinging your sword your bound to take a ear or two.

Enough........
Peace to you and yours