Walk in the Spirit: A Discipleship Plan
Discipleship begins with Jesus. He called ordinary people with two words, “Follow Me,” and went to the cross and the empty tomb for them. At Pentecost His Spirit came in power. This simple plan walks you, step by step, through following Jesus, sharing the good news and helping others grow, with the fruit of the Spirit leading the way.
1Begin With Jesus: “Follow Me”
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”Mark 1:17 (ESV)
In Scripture, discipleship begins with Jesus Himself. Walking along the Sea of Galilee, He called Simon and Andrew, James and John to follow Him (Mark 1:16-20), and He called Matthew from his tax booth (Matthew 9:9). A disciple (Greek mathētēs) is a learner and follower who stays with the Teacher, listens, watches and becomes like Him (Luke 6:40).
Following Jesus led His disciples to the cross. He died for our sins and was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The crucified and risen Lord then sent them out to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching. Everything in this plan, including Pentecost and the fruit of the Spirit, flows from Jesus' call, His cross and His empty tomb.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Key Words
- Follow Me: Jesus' call to His first disciples (Mark 1:17)
- Disciple: a follower and learner of Jesus (Greek mathētēs)
- Cross and empty tomb: Jesus died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
- Pentecost: the day the Holy Spirit came in power on Jesus' disciples (Acts 2)
- Fruit of the Spirit: the Christlike character the Spirit grows in us (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Abide: stay connected to Jesus like a branch to a vine (John 15:5)
- Grace: God's undeserved gift in Christ
- Repent: turn from sin and back to God
- Witness: tell what Jesus has done
- Make disciples: Jesus' command to all His followers (Matthew 28:19-20)
2The Spirit Empowers: Pentecost
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
Jesus promised, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). On the Day of Pentecost that promise came true. The Spirit came on the apostles, Peter preached Christ crucified and risen, and about 3,000 were baptized and added to the Church.
From the first day, the Spirit formed disciples in a simple pattern: they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers (Acts 2:42). Every church on GospelShelf traces its life back to that morning. Discipleship is not self-improvement. It is the Spirit's work of shaping us into the likeness of Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit is what that work looks like in daily life.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.Acts 2:38 (ESV)
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”Acts 2:42 (ESV)
3The Fruit of the Spirit Leads the Way
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is grown, not manufactured. A branch doesn't strain to produce grapes. It abides in the vine (John 15:5). So we disciple, and are discipled, through the fruit of the Spirit: we keep ourselves where the Spirit works, and we let His fruit lead how we speak, serve, forgive and wait.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”Galatians 5:25 (ESV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”John 15:5 (ESV)
4How a Disciple Is Made
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”Luke 6:40 (ESV)
Lutherans confess that we do not make ourselves disciples. The Holy Spirit does, through the Means of Grace: the Word of God and the Sacraments. Jesus' own plan in Matthew 28 is baptizing and teaching. In Baptism God joins us to Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:4), and through His Word He creates and keeps faith (Romans 10:17).
As the Small Catechism says of the Third Article, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” Growing as a disciple means returning to these gifts daily: daily contrition and repentance, remembering your Baptism, hearing the Word, receiving the Lord's Supper, and living out your faith in your vocations as spouse, parent, child, worker, citizen and neighbor.
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”Romans 6:4 (ESV)
Words Your Church Uses
- Means of Grace: Word and Sacraments
- Baptism: God's washing and adoption
- Daily contrition and repentance
- Law and Gospel
- Vocation: serving God by serving your neighbor
- Small Catechism
- Divine Service
Your First Steps
- Remember your Baptism every morning with Luther's Morning Prayer.
- Be in the Divine Service each Sunday and receive the Lord's Supper as your pastor teaches.
- Learn the Small Catechism, one part a week, as a household.
- Read a Gospel a chapter a day.
- Ask your pastor about Bible class, or adult instruction if you are new.
5Your 9-Week Plan in the Fruit of the Spirit
One fruit each week, with a short reading, a daily rhythm and simple practices. Tap a week to open it and check off each step. Your progress is saved on this device only.
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StartFollow Jesus and Ask for the Spirit
Read: Mark 1:14-20, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Acts 2:1-47 and Luke 11:13
Week 1Love
Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is the root of every other fruit: choosing the good of another person, the way Christ chose us at the cross (1 John 4:19).
Week 2Joy
Read: Philippians 4:4-7
Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness follows circumstances; joy follows Christ, who is with us in every circumstance (Philippians 4:4).
Week 3Peace
Read: John 14:27
Christ's peace is first peace with God through forgiveness (Romans 5:1), and then peace that guards the heart (Philippians 4:7).
Week 4Patience
Read: James 1:19-20
Patience (longsuffering) is love that keeps loving over a long time. God has been patient with us (2 Peter 3:9), and the Spirit makes us patient with others.
Week 5Kindness
Read: Ephesians 4:32
Kindness is love in action, often small and practical. God's kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), and His kindness through us opens doors for the gospel.
Week 6Goodness
Read: Micah 6:8
Goodness (generosity) is a heart that does right and gives freely. It is God's own character reflected in us (Psalm 34:8).
Week 7Faithfulness
Read: Lamentations 3:22-23
Faithfulness is steady trust and loyalty: God's faithfulness to us (Lamentations 3:22-23) producing our faithfulness to Him and to others.
Week 8Gentleness
Read: Matthew 11:28-30
Gentleness (meekness) is strength under control. Jesus is “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29), and gentleness is how we correct, disagree and share our hope (1 Peter 3:15).
Week 9Self-Control
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:13
Self-control is the Spirit's power to say no to what harms and yes to what honors God (Titus 2:11-12). It grows by grace, not shame.
6Share the Good News Simply
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
- God Made Us and Loves UsGod created you on purpose and loves you.Genesis 1:27; John 3:16
- Sin Separates UsWe have all turned from God, and we cannot fix it ourselves.Romans 3:23
- Jesus Died and Rose for UsJesus took our sin on the cross and rose on the third day.1 Corinthians 15:3-4
- God Gives New Life as a GiftForgiveness and life with God come by grace, through faith, not by our works.Ephesians 2:8-10
- Come and FollowJesus invites us to follow Him with His people.Matthew 11:28; Acts 2:42
How to Share, Step by Step
- Pray first: ask the Spirit to open a door (Colossians 4:3).
- Listen more than you talk. Ask good questions and care about the answers.
- Share your own story in two or three minutes: life before, how Jesus met you, life now.
- Share the good news simply (the five points above), with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
- Invite: to church, to read a Gospel together, to pray.
- Keep walking with them. Faith is the Spirit's work; your part is faithfulness.
The invitation: Invite them to hear God's Word with you and to come to the Divine Service. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17); Baptism and instruction follow with your pastor.
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
Words You Can Say
- Can I tell you why my faith matters to me?
- What has your experience with church been like?
- Can I pray for you about that, right now or this week?
- I'm not perfect. That's actually why I need Jesus.
- Would you like to come with me on Sunday?
7Walk With Others and Help Them Grow
In Your Home
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
- Pray at meals and at bedtime, every day.
- Read a short Bible passage or devotion together at one meal.
- Bless your children by name at bedtime.
- Talk about Sunday's sermon on the way home.
- Ask forgiveness from each other quickly, and say “I forgive you” out loud.
- Serve someone outside your home together once a month.
Christians of Other Churches
“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)
- Start with what you share: the Creeds, the Scriptures, Christ crucified and risen.
- Ask before you explain: “What does your church teach about Baptism?”
- Speak about their church the way you'd want yours spoken about.
- Be honest about real differences, gently, without trying to win.
- Pray together for your families, your town and your churches.
- Serve side by side in your community.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35 (ESV)
Neighbors Who Don't Know Jesus
“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)
- Pray daily for three people by name: a neighbor, a coworker and a family member.
- Eat with people. Most of Jesus' ministry happened around tables.
- Ask about their story and listen with real interest.
- Answer questions with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
- Let your good works point to the Father (Matthew 5:16).
- Invite, but never pressure. Stay their friend either way.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
Real Talk: Walk With…
An AtheistAn AgnosticSomeone With No ReligionSomeone Spiritual but Not ReligiousSomeone Who Stepped AwayA MuslimA Jewish NeighborA HinduA Hare KrishnaA BuddhistA Latter-day SaintA Jehovah's WitnessAll Real Talk Conversations
8Trusted Resources
From Church Bodies
Classic Books on Discipleship
Church Near YouSermonsRead the Bible
Sources Used for This Plan
- LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry
- LCMS Every One His Witness
- Luther's Small Catechism (CPH)
- WELS Discipleship
- ELCA Guide to Faith Practices
- USCCB, Living as Missionary Disciples
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- OCA, The Orthodox Faith: Spirituality
- ACNA, To Be a Christian
- The Episcopal Church, The Way of Love
- Lifeway DisciplesPath
- NAMB 3 Circles
- Baptist Faith and Message 2000
- UMC Discipleship Ministries
- PCA Discipleship Ministries
- Assemblies of God, 7 Dimensions of a Spirit-Filled Disciple
- The Navigators, The Wheel Illustration
Scripture quotations are shown in the translation your church reads, linked to Bible Gateway.