We use essential cookies to sign you in and remember your settings. With your permission we also use analytics cookies to understand how the site is used. See our privacy policy or fine-tune this anytime at cookie settings.

SubjectFree lesson

Call to Discipleship

ClassNotes Team 6 MIN READUPDATED 5 JUL 2026

Christian Religious Studies SSS 3 First Term

Week 3

Topic: Call to Discipleship 

Performance objectives

the student should be able to:

1. Define a disciple

2. Explain the importance of the call of disciples to Jesus’ ministry

3. Call for the disciples and their responses

4. Factors that militate against discipleship

Content

A disciple is someone who learns from his master. He is a follower that is being led by a leader. After learning from his master, he goes out to practice what his master had taught him.

The importance of call of disciples to Jesus ministry (Matthew 28:19-20, mark 16:15-19, luke 5:10)

Since Jesus knew that His presence and ministry here on earth was for a short period of time, he chose and trained his disciples to carry on His work (ministry) of teaching, preaching, and healing. The primary aim Jesus chose disciples was to;

1. Spread the gospel and build up the body of Christ who would emerge after His departure.

2. Jesus needed them to firmly plant the seed of Christianity.

3. He needed them as witnesses to the word.

The attitude of Christians today to God’s call

The call to God’s service is a great privilege to those who answer the call promptly and follow the injunctions of God their creator and caller. Note examples of people who left their plump jobs to answer God’s call e.g. Dr. W.F. Kumuyi of the Deeper life bible church, Pastor E.A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian church of God, Mother Theresa of Kolkata, etc.

W.F KUMUYI

William Folorunso Kumuyi (born 6 June 1941) is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry.

In 1973, while being a lecturer of mathematics at the University of Lagos, Kumuyi began a Bible study group with 15 students who had come to him for Bible training. This training became the foundation of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. In 1975, Kumuyi was expelled from the Apostolic Faith Church for preaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He continued his independent ministry, which in 1982 became the Deeper Life Bible Church. As at 2005, the Christian ministry is said to have over 800,000 affiliates.

PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

Enoch Adejare Adeboye was born on 2 March 1942 in Ifewara, near Ife, in Osun State, Nigeria. Born to a very humble background, he humorously recalls that even poor people called his family poor. 

He went to the University Of Nigeria (UNN) in Nsukka but because of the Nigeria Civil War, he completed his first degree in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) graduating with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics in 1967

He joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1973 and began interpreting Yoruba to English by Pastor Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi.

In 1975, he obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos. He holds a position as Professor of Mathematics at University of Lagos

He was ordained a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1977. He became General Overseer of the church in 1981. For three years, he filled the role part-time at Unilorin before giving up his university position to preach full-time.

The church, which was not well known prior to Adeboye becoming the General Overseer, has branches in about 196 nations (as at March 2017), including more than 14,000,000 in Nigeria. 

MOTHER THERESSA OF KOLKATA (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997)

Mother Theresa of Kolkata born on 26 August 1910 in Skopje (now the capital of North Macedonia). Founded the missionaries of charity, an order of nuns to help those who are starving and sick. Centered in Kolkata formally (Calcutta), India, one of the most densely populated cities in the world; the organization also helps impoverished children. After four decades of service to the poor, Mother Theresa stepped down from her role as administrator of the order in 1990 and she was awarded the Noble Peace prize in 1979.

After living in Skopje for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life.  She was canonized on 4 September 2016, and the anniversary of her death (5 September) is her feast day.

Call of the disciples and their responses (Mattew 4:18-25, 9:9-13, 10-14)

The following are the few disciples and their responses;

Simon and Andrew

Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  They immediately left their nets and followed Jesus.

James and John

Going on from the Sea of Galilee, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Matthew the Tax Collector

Jesus was passing by the tax office when He saw a man named Matthew sitting in front of the tax office. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” So he stood up and followed Him.

Factors that militate against discipleship (Mattew 8:18-22, luke 9:51-63, 14:25-33).

Persecution

Persecution is an integration of many undesirable experiences such as suffering hatred, death, arbitrary arrest, torture, incarceration, etc. on account of Jesus Christ. Jesus was honest enough to tell His disciples beforehand that such a thing would come their way. Let see a few of the many kinds of persecution mentioned by Jesus:

Hatred from the world

At a point in history, Jesus Christ knowing His days was numbered, prayed for His disciple, in John 17. What He said was more of teaching as it was of prayer. While praying, He spelled out certain consequences or challenges that His disciples were yet to suffer on account of Him. He categorically mentioned that His disciples would suffer hatred.

Death

One day, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus was teaching His disciples about what was yet to come during the end times, and he told them about the persecution they were about to suffer, saying, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake…”  (Matthew 24:9)

Not long after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, persecution of His disciples grew rapidly and hit the point where some disciples lost their lives. Jesus also mentioned that His disciples would face various kinds of persecution such as arrest, interrogation, imprisonment, etc.