In 2022, God started teaching me about discipleship.

Not just Bible knowledge. Not church attendance. Not knowing the right language.

He started teaching me what it actually means to become like Christ.

During that season, I spent a lot of time studying through my Dake Study Bible. I became especially interested in the practical teachings around Christian conduct, witnessing, dealing with people, ministry, and how a believer is supposed to function in everyday life.

And that began to reshape the way I looked at discipleship.

I realized discipleship is not only about what I know.

It is about how I respond.
How I speak.
How I handle conflict.
How I correct people.
How I walk away.
How I love.
How I exercise self-control.
How I represent Christ when my emotions are involved.

That is character and function.

So before I respond, correct, debate, post, or engage, these are some of the questions I’ve learned to ask myself.

1. Is this person seeking truth or seeking conflict?

Matthew 7:6

Not every conversation deserves your energy.

Discernment is part of discipleship. Sometimes wisdom is recognizing that someone is not seeking understanding—they simply want conflict.

2. Am I responding from the fruit of the Spirit or from my emotions?

Galatians 5:22–23

I can be completely right and still respond from anger, pride, offense, impatience, or ego.

Truth without love becomes harsh.

Love without truth becomes compromise.

So the question becomes:

What is governing my response right now?

3. Will my response glorify Christ or simply prove I’m right?

Colossians 3:17

The goal is not winning arguments.

The goal is representing Christ.

Sometimes proving your point and reflecting Christ are not the same thing.

4. Is this the right time to speak?

Ecclesiastes 3:7

There is a time to speak and a time to remain silent.

Silence is not always weakness.

Sometimes silence is maturity.
Sometimes silence is wisdom.
Sometimes silence is obedience.

5. Has this person shown they are willing to listen?

Proverbs 9:8; Titus 3:10

Not everyone receives correction.

At some point, continuing to explain yourself can become less about obedience and more about trying to force someone to understand you.

A disciple has to know when enough has been said.

6. Have I prayed before posting?

This one will get you. 😮‍💨

It is easy to respond immediately when emotions are high.

But prayer gives the Holy Spirit room to deal with me before I try to deal with somebody else.

Sometimes the correction starts with us.

7. Is my correction restorative or punitive?

Galatians 6:1

Why am I correcting them?

Do I want them restored—or embarrassed?

Do I want them to grow—or do I want everyone else to see that I was right?

Correction in the Kingdom should have restoration as the goal.

8. Can I walk away in peace?

Jesus did not answer every accusation.

He did not chase every misunderstanding.

He did not force everybody to receive Him.

Sometimes discipleship looks like saying what you were supposed to say and then leaving the conversation alone.

Walking away does not mean you lost.

Sometimes it means your part is finished.

The Question I Keep Coming Back To

Not:

“Did I win?”

But:

“Did I reflect Christ?”

That is what God has been teaching me about discipleship since 2022.

Character is who He is developing us to become.

Function is how that character shows up when life actually gives us something to respond to.

Because anybody can talk about the fruit of the Spirit when nothing is testing it.

But patience needs something to be patient with.

Self-control needs something you want to react to.

Gentleness needs an opportunity to be harsh.

Love needs somebody difficult to love.

Forgiveness needs an offense.

And that is where formation happens.

Discipleship is not simply learning Christ.

It is allowing the Holy Spirit to develop us until the character of Christ becomes visible in the way we actually live.

Explore the Discipleship Pathway under the Discipleship Hub to assess your heart posture toward God, examine what may be shaping how you relate to Him, and deepen your intimacy with God—not only as Creator, but as Father.