Lesson Outline for Oct 23, 2025
Convert or Disciple – Which are You?
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Goal – To understand the mindset and lifestyle of a disciple
- When you hear the word “discipline” what comes to your mind?
- What does the word disciple meant to you?
- What are your thoughts on regarding discipline and punishment
- Can you be a convert, but not a disciple
Dictionary.com / Webster’s online is very similar
- Convert (noun) one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion; (verb) to change for transform something into a different form or property; to cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc; modify to serve different function
- Disciple (noun) a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another
- Discipline (noun) training to act in accordance with rules, an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill, behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control; various versions of discipline to punish; (verb) to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- Disciple #G3101 “mathetes” – a learner from root word “math” = thought accompanying action / endeavor; one who follows one who teaches
- Convert #G3504 “neophytos” neo/phuo – newly-planted, new + to bring forth, novice
- Punishment #H5771 “aon” punishment of sin, iniquity, #G1349 “dike” execution of a sentence, justice; #G2851 “kolasis” correction, punishment, penalty
The green is the author’s notations in the verses below. Bold text added for emphasis
“Convert” Testimony
Convert
All disciples are converts; but not all converts are disciples
1 Tim 3:6 ESV – “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
Heb 5:12-14 ESV – “12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
1 Cor 13:11 ESV – “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”
1 Cor 3:1-2, 12-15 ESV – “1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, … 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw– 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”
- New converts require discipling – churches, teachers need to teach in “depth” and substance
- You can be a convert after decades of being born-again – usually, it’s a personal choice – one quenches Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:19)
- If you aren’t maturing, you might be a convert
- If you can’t distinguish evil from good, or you accept evil, you might a convert
- If you are still thinking and acting like a child, you might a convert
- Converts hold onto traditions and religion when confronted with truth, if you can’t receive or accept God’s truth, you might be a convert
- Converts can be easily deceived because they are still on “milk” their babes in their faith
- Are you OK with smelling like fire? You might be a convert
From convert to disciples
Time, testing and relationship…, through actions
Gen 12:1 ESV – “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
Gen 18:1-2, 16-18, 22-23, 32-33 ESV – “1 And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth … 16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? … 22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? … 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.”
Deut 34:4-6 ESV – “4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, 6 and he (God) buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.”
2 Tim 3:10, 16-17 ESV – “10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, … 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
- God has a territory He wants you to take – is anything keeping you from seeing and taking it. Disciples take back and gain territory – advance God’s kingdom on earth; oppose darkness
- Our LORD reveals to us because we’re in relationship with Him; He and talks with us – just as with Abraham and Moses
- Disciples focus on God’s assignment, not their own will – Abraham, Moses, Joshua, John the Baptizer (and many others) and Jesus Christ chose the Father’s will, not their will
- Disciples desire discipline
- Disciples have a special relationship with their Lord – God Abraham’s friend; and, God buried Moses! And, archangel Michael contended with Satan over Moses’ dead body (Jude 9)
- That’s the kind of relationship I want with God
Disciples seek truth and walk the Way of Truth and love
“Average players (athletes) want to be left alone. Good players want to be coached. Great players want to be told the truth” Doc Rivers and Nick Sabens
John 8:31-33 ESV – 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
John 13:35 ESV – “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.“”
John 14:15 ESV – 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
1 Cor 11:1 ESV – “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
- Disciples don’t want “average” or “good,” they desire truth and to walk in the Way of Truth – excellence requires critical critique of ourself, and receiving truth from others – this is true in the secular world, especially in warfare
- When in the Marines and Army I belonged to units who critiqued and debrief all aspects of their missions on return – why? To IMPROVE – you are in a battle, pursue EXCELLENCE
- The Pharisee could not see the truth – while enslaved, they claimed to be free – can we see this in our nation today
- Disciples love and are obedient
- Disciples imitate Jesus Christ
Disciples persevere during hardships
Disciples walk in physical, spiritual and emotional disciplines
2 Cor 11:24-28 ESV – “24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”
- Not deterred by hardship and testing – in the test, comes the promotion / advancement
- Disciples AREN’T victims – Paul did not have a victim spirit
- We are in a battle; we are prepared for hardships – warriors are not deterred by hardship
Deny themselves to advance God’s kingdom – there’s always a cost, decide who you will pay
Disciples count the cost – there’s a cost
Matt 16:24-26 ESV – “24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Luke 14:25-33 ESV – “25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
2 Tim 3:16 ESV – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…,”
- When a young man in service to the US men would tell me – I was going be a Recon Marine but…, or in the Army – I was going to be a pilot but.., – they did not want to pay the COST
- Jesus Christ is a disciples 1st priority – no buts
- Jesus was much more than a great speaker, preacher and teacher – He knew people would follow Him before “counting the cost” – many would fall away
- Before these verses there was a parable of a great banquet – the RSVPs were excuses to not attend. Disciples RSVP YES – our LORD will set a table for us with Him, before our enemy (Psa 23)
- What about us – what does “cost” look like to you – day to day?
- World costs – phone distractions, sports, gym, money-minded, work minded, reputation, entertainment, – banquet excuse minded – bought property, bought oxen, has a wife
- Kingdom costs – not “your will,” give up right to hold grudges, can’t “walk with the wicked, stand with the sinners and sit with the mockers,” are ridiculed, lost relationships, jobs, promotions, targeted, forgoing self-satisfaction and gratification, enemy demonic backlash increases
Decree – Jesus, I am Your disciple and put You as my first love. I am committed to You. Help me with my spiritual disciplines to lead myself, my wife, my family and my territory and advance Your kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven
Last thoughts and considerations
- Disciples shift and change the environment they occupy
- Disciples change history for their generations
- Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lifelong process
- Disciples are Teachable, Humble and Open
- Disciples desire excellence – they desire and receive truth
- Disciples are COMMITTED, not yoked to convenience or comfort
- Disciples “standfast” on spiritual disciplines and truth – prayer, praise, Bible reading / study, fellowship, worship
- Disciples love and obey; and are a model for their family – lead by example
- Disciples don’t tolerate or accept the lie – men of God “stand on” and “walk in” truth
- Disciples carry their cross – die to self – are a living sacrifice – show sacrificial love and service
Additional verses for self-study
Matt 10:24 ESV – “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”
- Disciples are humble and selfless
Matt 8:18-22 ESV – “18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
- Disciples are committed and know following Jesus Christ will not be easy or comfortable
- Disciples know this world is not their home
- Disciples know our relationship with our Savior and King Jesus is above all other relationships
2 Tim 4:2-5 ESV – “2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
- Disciples are sober-minded; ready at all times to testify of our Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit
- Disciples know God’s truth and are able to discern false teachers
Col 2:8 ESV – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
- Converts are stick with human, religious and family traditions – can be easily deceived
- Look to intellect, lack pursuit of spiritual development
- Are taken captive by worldly thinking
Act 8:13, 18-20 ESV – “13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. … 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”
- Simon previously a sorcerer was a convert, but still immature as Luke described in his book
Act 9:1-2 ESV – “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
- Disciples know there will be persecution and suffering
- The WAY is a way of life, not a club
Acts 11:25-26 ESV – 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
- Disciples desire the “Bread of Life” studying God’s word is a pleasure
