THREE WAYS JESUS DISCIPLED (AND HOW YOU CAN TOO)
Have you ever noticed how often we toss around the word “discipleship” without really defining it?
Over the years, I’ve heard people say things like, “Our church needs more discipleship opportunities,” or “I want to be discipled,” or “I’d like to disciple someone.”
My reaction? Great. But what exactly do you mean by discipleship?
Why? When most of us say discipleship, we’re usually picturing just one way of doing it. But Jesus didn’t limit Himself to one model. He actually discipled people in three distinct environments—each with its own strengths and advantages.
What if recovering all three could reshape the way you grow in Christ and help others follow Him, too?
The Three Environments of Discipleship
1. One on Many - The Crowds
Think of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus positioned himself on a hillside and taught thousands of people at once. This was public discipleship - casting vision, teaching foundational truths, and inspiring people to follow God.
In our context, this primarily includes preaching and large group teaching. It may also look like podcasts, books, conferences, and social media. It's discipleship that can reach the masses with core truths about following Jesus.
Example: Growing up, I sat under incredible Bible teaching in my church that built a foundation for my faith. Without that incredible teaching, I may never have caught God's vision for my life.
2. One on Few - The Disciples
Jesus intentionally chose twelve men to pour his life into more deeply. Around a table at the Last Supper, he washed their feet and shared intimate truths about what was coming. This was relational discipleship - processing life together, answering questions, and modeling what it looks like to follow God.
Today, this could look like small groups, Bible studies, mentoring relationships, and intentional friendships. It’s discipleship that happens in circles, not rows.
Example: I’ve seen people’s faith come alive in a small group setting where friends didn’t just share meals but shared Scripture, challenged each other to obedience, and celebrated steps of faith together. Surrounded by encouragement and accountability, their spiritual growth accelerated in ways that would never have happened alone.
3. One on One - The Individuals
Remember Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well? He met her exactly where she was, addressed her specific struggles, and spoke directly to her heart. This was personal discipleship - customized, intimate, and life-changing.
This one-on-one approach can happen over coffee conversations, counseling sessions, individualized coaching, spiritual direction, and those sacred moments when someone opens their heart and you have the privilege of speaking truth into their specific situation.
Example: For the last thirty years, God has used older men in my life to disciple me one-on-one. They’ve asked me hard questions I didn’t want to dodge, prayed over me in seasons of struggle, and shared their own walk with Jesus as a roadmap for mine. That kind of sharpening and encouragement is something only a personal discipleship relationship can provide.
Why We Need All Three
Here’s the problem: When most people talk about discipleship, they unconsciously have just one of these environments in mind. A preacher might think discipleship is about great teaching. A small group leader believes it’s about community. Someone else may assume it’s about individual transformation that happens through a one-on-one relationship.
But Jesus practiced all three, and He invites us to do the same. Each environment has unique strengths:
One on Many creates momentum and shared vision
One on Few builds community and accountability
One on One provides personalization and deep healing
An overemphasis on one method at the exclusion of the others within a body of believers would be a mistake. You need the inspiration of the crowd, the community of the small group, and the intimacy of individual connection.
But here’s the thing—discipleship is more than just choosing the right environment. Environments are the where, but discipleship also has a what and a why. What exactly is Jesus forming in us through these environments? That’s where the dimensions of Knowing, Doing, and Being come in.
More Than Just Information
Here’s where it gets really important: True discipleship isn’t just about transferring information. The goal of discipleship is to be like Jesus, and that requires three dimensions:
Knowing - What does the Bible teach? This is where most discipleship efforts focus. Classes, studies, sermons - all designed to increase biblical knowledge. This is important, but it’s just the starting point.
Doing - What does God want me to do in my daily life? How do I actually live out what I know? This is where faith gets practical - in our relationships, work, money, and everyday decisions.
Being - Who am I as a child of God? How do I embrace my identity in Christ? This is the deepest level - transformation of character, healing of wounds, and becoming who God created us to be.
The uncomfortable truth is that all three dimensions require us to die to ourselves. Knowing God’s Word means submitting our opinions to His truth. Doing what God wants means saying no to what we want. Being who God created us to be means letting go of who we think we are. As Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
That sounds costly, doesn’t it? But here’s the encouragement: you don’t have to figure it out alone. Jesus wired each of us differently—some thrive teaching a crowd, others leading a circle, and others in one-on-one conversations. That’s why it’s important to discover your discipleship sweet spot.
Discovering Your Discipleship Sweet Spot
Each of us tends to be naturally stronger in one environment than the others, and that's okay. Some people are gifted public teachers. Others excel in small group settings. Still others have a gift for one-on-one conversations.
The key is to recognize your strength and lean into it while also receiving discipleship in other environments.
So this isn’t just theory. Discipleship is deeply personal. Which means we need to pause and ask: How is God shaping me right now—and how does He want to use me in the lives of others?
Making It Personal
So let me ask you two important questions:
How does God want you to be actively discipled so you can be like Jesus?
Look at your life right now. Does this season require more of an emphasis on knowing, doing, or being? Are you primarily receiving discipleship through large group teaching, small group community, or individual mentoring? What’s missing? If you aren’t sure, find someone whose spiritual maturity you respect and ask them for advice.
How does God want to use you to disciple others?
Where do you feel most alive and effective? Teaching a crowd? Leading a small group? Having deep conversations over coffee? God has wired you to make disciples in a particular way - lean into that calling. Ask God to show you how you can most effectively join Him in disciple-making and then go for it.
The Discipleship Challenge
What if, for the next 30 days, you committed to specific, measurable actions in all three environments?
One on Many: This week, identify one truth from a sermon, podcast, or book that made you genuinely uncomfortable or challenged your current lifestyle. Write down specifically why it bothered you and what concrete behavior change it’s calling you to make. Don’t just consume teaching - let it transform you.
One on Few: In your next small group gathering or time with Christian friends, share one specific area where you’re currently failing to live like Jesus. Ask them to hold you accountable with scheduled check-ins over the next month. Give them permission to ask you hard questions.
One on One: Schedule a one-hour conversation this month where you either confess a hidden struggle to someone you trust or ask someone directly and specifically how you could better reflect Christ's character. Don’t settle for surface-level encouragement - pursue truth that leads to transformation.
And as you do, pay attention to which environment God uses most powerfully to expose areas where you need to die to yourself and come alive to Him.
Jesus Showed Us How
Jesus didn’t just command us to make disciples—He showed us how. He discipled crowds, He discipled groups, and He discipled individuals. And He calls us to follow in His footsteps.
For the next 30 days, take steps in all three environments and watch how God uses them to make you more like Jesus. Listen to a message that inspires you to live for Jesus and act on it. Open up with your small group and invite prayer and accountability. Have a one-on-one conversation that goes deeper than surface level.
Then ask yourself: Which environment is God using most to shape me into the image of Christ right now?
Because at the end of the day, the real question isn’t whether you need discipleship. The question is: Will you follow Jesus’ way of making disciples—and become more like Him in the process?
*If this has been helpful, please send me a message at brad@bradjenkins.me and let me know. My writing aims to help people enjoy a vibrant relationship with Jesus, and it is an honor to be on this journey with you.
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