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Spiritual Discipleship: Principles of Following Christ for Every Believer
“Take time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.” — 1 Tim. 4:7, J. B. Phillips Translation
As J. Oswald Sanders points out, true discipleship is more than intellectual assent to a belief in Christ; it involves the whole person and lifestyle.
True disciples pursue their Master. They know that God is watching over their faith, but they also take Scripture’s command “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.” They take pains, by His power, to look more and more like Jesus.
This book will help you to be such a disciple. It examines Jesus’ teaching on what it means to follow Him, helping you become the kind of Christian Jesus wants you to be—not one devised by man or even other Christians. You’ll
The profile of an ideal discipleConditions for discipleshipThe tests that disciples endureHow disciples pray and growThe posture and practices of a discipleAnd moreFor anyone who wants to be not just a believer in Christ, but an imitator of Him, this book is a treasured resource.
Includes questions for reflection, ideal for both individual and group study.
As J. Oswald Sanders points out, true discipleship is more than intellectual assent to a belief in Christ; it involves the whole person and lifestyle.
True disciples pursue their Master. They know that God is watching over their faith, but they also take Scripture’s command “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.” They take pains, by His power, to look more and more like Jesus.
This book will help you to be such a disciple. It examines Jesus’ teaching on what it means to follow Him, helping you become the kind of Christian Jesus wants you to be—not one devised by man or even other Christians. You’ll
The profile of an ideal discipleConditions for discipleshipThe tests that disciples endureHow disciples pray and growThe posture and practices of a discipleAnd moreFor anyone who wants to be not just a believer in Christ, but an imitator of Him, this book is a treasured resource.
Includes questions for reflection, ideal for both individual and group study.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 1994
115 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
J. Oswald Sanders
128 books95 followersJ. OSWALD SANDERS (1902-1992) was a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and authored more than forty books on the Christian life including The Incomparable Christ, Spiritual Discipleship, Spiritual Leadership, and Spiritual Maturity. He left a promising law practice in his native New Zealand to serve as an instructor and administrator at the Bible College of New Zealand. Dr. Sanders later became general director of the China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship), and was instrumental in beginning many new missions projects throughout East Asia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 6, 2025
A very thorough, personal look at what it means to truly be Christ’s disciple. One can be a believer without being a follower, and this book pleads for believers to choose to be followers. So many aspects of discipleship were examined, with questions for self-examination at the end of each chapter. There is also a handy small-group study guide at the back of the book.
Knocking off a star because the writing was a bit stiff and dispassionate at times.
4 ⭐️
“Love of self is soul-destroying, but love of Christ is soul-enriching.”
“What did the cross mean to Jesus? It was something He took up voluntarily, not something that was imposed on Him; it involved sacrifice and suffering; it involved Him in costly renunciations; it was symbolic of rejection by the world. And it is to cross-bearing of this nature that the disciple is always called. It involves a willingness to except ostracism and unpopularity with the world for His sake. We can evade carrying the cross simply by conforming our lives to the worlds standards.”
“...nothing causes so much backsliding as enlisting disciples without letting them know what they are taking in hand.”
“The Lord offers us no security except in Himself. But is that not sufficient?”
Knocking off a star because the writing was a bit stiff and dispassionate at times.
4 ⭐️
“Love of self is soul-destroying, but love of Christ is soul-enriching.”
“What did the cross mean to Jesus? It was something He took up voluntarily, not something that was imposed on Him; it involved sacrifice and suffering; it involved Him in costly renunciations; it was symbolic of rejection by the world. And it is to cross-bearing of this nature that the disciple is always called. It involves a willingness to except ostracism and unpopularity with the world for His sake. We can evade carrying the cross simply by conforming our lives to the worlds standards.”
“...nothing causes so much backsliding as enlisting disciples without letting them know what they are taking in hand.”
“The Lord offers us no security except in Himself. But is that not sufficient?”
May 12, 2014
"What does a disciple of Jesus really look like according to scripture?" Oswald Chambers admits that this book is more concerned with answering this question than it is with others like "How do I become that disciple? What steps must I take?" After all, even the Bible itself doesn't give us a step by step guide to achieving this goal. Yet the frank and convicting study of what true discipleship looks like is highly motivating. By painting the picture of a true disciple and his true Master, the reader is inspired into becoming that disciple and knowing that Master.
This approach may prove discouraging to some as we spend chapter after chapter realizing that we fall short of our model. It isn't until the last few chapters of the book that the concept of God's grace for our failures and the ability of the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot are really stressed. But for most Christians that truly desire to be the men and women that God calls them to be, this book will be challenging and uplifting.
This approach may prove discouraging to some as we spend chapter after chapter realizing that we fall short of our model. It isn't until the last few chapters of the book that the concept of God's grace for our failures and the ability of the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot are really stressed. But for most Christians that truly desire to be the men and women that God calls them to be, this book will be challenging and uplifting.
May 22, 2024
Amazing call back to the cost of discipleship. Big recommend to read this after Sanders book called Spiritual Leadership! I was very challenged reading this and enjoyed its deep call to be a disciple of Jesus.
April 28, 2025
This book had some good reminders and encouragements… but some of the things Sanders wrote was a bit rogue so I would hesitate to promote this book.
December 31, 2019
Other than a few chapters that I didn't find as impactful, this book was perfection. The chapters are short and to-the-point, and I'm an outline person so I loved the summaries in each chapter.
March 24, 2023
Once again some great insight from Sanders. Very applicable thoughts with questions to end each chapter. A must read for any disciple of Christ!
February 2, 2024
Not my preferred writing style but he had some good points.
January 15, 2018
This book is the third of J. Oswald Sanders’ volumes republished in attractive paperback editions by Moody Publishers. Though, perhaps, not as extraordinary as his Spiritual Leadership and Spiritual Maturity books, this volume on spiritual discipleship is a worthy read. As the subtitle suggests, Sanders draws out “principles of following Christ for every believer”.
After a brief introduction, he describes the ideal disciple in chapter 1 straight from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. In chapter 2, he uses the words of Jesus to describe the conditions of discipleship. The next two chapters are on evidences and tests of discipleship, but I found these two chapters to be the least clear in the book.
The remaining 16 chapters examine discipleship from every possible vantage point. You will read of the disciple’s master (the Lord), his senior partner (the Holy Spirit), his servanthood, his ambition, his love, and his maturity. You will have described the disciple’s Olympics (a review of Paul’s allusions to athletics), compassion, prayer life, rights (meekness is preferred), example, loneliness, the second chance, renewed commission, dynamic, and hope. It’s all excellent fodder to review your own level of discipleship.
The publishers have attached a small group study guide at the end of the book. There’s also a helpful index of Scripture.
If you have read Sanders’ other volumes, you will know what to expect. I’d recommend that you grab all three of these recently reprinted volumes. Sanders knows what spiritual writing is all about. This book is a meaningful, devotional read covering a subject that every Christian should entertain.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
After a brief introduction, he describes the ideal disciple in chapter 1 straight from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. In chapter 2, he uses the words of Jesus to describe the conditions of discipleship. The next two chapters are on evidences and tests of discipleship, but I found these two chapters to be the least clear in the book.
The remaining 16 chapters examine discipleship from every possible vantage point. You will read of the disciple’s master (the Lord), his senior partner (the Holy Spirit), his servanthood, his ambition, his love, and his maturity. You will have described the disciple’s Olympics (a review of Paul’s allusions to athletics), compassion, prayer life, rights (meekness is preferred), example, loneliness, the second chance, renewed commission, dynamic, and hope. It’s all excellent fodder to review your own level of discipleship.
The publishers have attached a small group study guide at the end of the book. There’s also a helpful index of Scripture.
If you have read Sanders’ other volumes, you will know what to expect. I’d recommend that you grab all three of these recently reprinted volumes. Sanders knows what spiritual writing is all about. This book is a meaningful, devotional read covering a subject that every Christian should entertain.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 30, 2017
God does not act instead of us: it is a partnership: God gives the soil, the seed, the rain. Man supplies the skill, the toil, the sweat. In other words, the disciple must work out what God works in.
There are so many texts on discipleship geared towards walking alongside others however, this is one however, that is walking alongside the Lord. It is walking alongside the Lord that ultimately leads us to walk alongside others. This is pure teaching, no self-help, make things better, it is being in the presence of the Lord.
Being a disciple of Christ not only means a follower of Christ but also a life style change. This text teaches with clarity what that entails and how we can come to distractions. The original text of J. Oswald has been re-published with clarity and I think it speaks well to our current culture inside the church and how we can engage in the culture outside.
Twenty short chapters speak to every area in life of "the disciple" and how we can not only say we are disciples of Christ but our lifestyle models that we indeed walk along side our savior and Lord. Being a disciple is a commitment to obedience as our eyes are open to the character of Christ. We can learn all there is to know without the purpose of obedience but a true disciple seeks to learn with the purpose to obey. It is in obedience that transformation occurs. It is obedience that the holy spirit thrives. It is obedience that an unbelieving world see Christ in you.
A Special Thank You to Moody Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
There are so many texts on discipleship geared towards walking alongside others however, this is one however, that is walking alongside the Lord. It is walking alongside the Lord that ultimately leads us to walk alongside others. This is pure teaching, no self-help, make things better, it is being in the presence of the Lord.
Being a disciple of Christ not only means a follower of Christ but also a life style change. This text teaches with clarity what that entails and how we can come to distractions. The original text of J. Oswald has been re-published with clarity and I think it speaks well to our current culture inside the church and how we can engage in the culture outside.
Twenty short chapters speak to every area in life of "the disciple" and how we can not only say we are disciples of Christ but our lifestyle models that we indeed walk along side our savior and Lord. Being a disciple is a commitment to obedience as our eyes are open to the character of Christ. We can learn all there is to know without the purpose of obedience but a true disciple seeks to learn with the purpose to obey. It is in obedience that transformation occurs. It is obedience that the holy spirit thrives. It is obedience that an unbelieving world see Christ in you.
A Special Thank You to Moody Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 22, 2019
The third in the series that I have read from J. Oswald Sanders, this book is deep enough for the more cerebral follower of Jesus and practical enough for the more serious practitioner. In 20 short, reachable chapters, Sanders unpacks key attitudes, aptitudes, and actions necessary for growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Covering everything from motivation to machination of the functions of a disciple, Sanders provides a blueprint for what every discipleship ministry should include in order to "teach them to obey all things whatsoever I have commanded". This book can be used in a small group setting or one on one and would make an excellent foundation for defining the discipleship ministry of a church or Sunday School class.
November 26, 2020
It's difficult to really read and digest this when one is distracted, or has quite scattered thoughts. Some chapters inspired me to be more disciplined in my spiritual walk with God, but for some I really needed to be at that stage of my walk to internalise and understand. I feel that one needs to be at the right stage of spiritual maturity to read this, if not some of the revelations may feel half-baked...! I would probably read this book again to get more out of it and expect more of myself.
November 19, 2025
This book is beautifully written! However, I do think it could have been a little more engaging. Some chapters were not as engaging or exciting. (-2 stars)
Notable Quotes:
“Humility is an exotic flower in our sooty and smoggy world” (page 14).
“Obedience is evidence of the reality of our repentance and faith” (page 22).
No other content to note.
See my full review here: https://kbook-reviews.blogspot.com/20...
Notable Quotes:
“Humility is an exotic flower in our sooty and smoggy world” (page 14).
“Obedience is evidence of the reality of our repentance and faith” (page 22).
No other content to note.
See my full review here: https://kbook-reviews.blogspot.com/20...
February 19, 2020
A great little book on discipleship covering many different topics.
There’s a couple of things I really loved in this book, 1 was the random poems and hymn sections that perfectly tied with what Sanders wrote about, and the second is more about the book physically than what’s in it. The cover and paper and color are all amazing.
There’s a couple of things I really loved in this book, 1 was the random poems and hymn sections that perfectly tied with what Sanders wrote about, and the second is more about the book physically than what’s in it. The cover and paper and color are all amazing.
June 12, 2022
Spiritual Discipleship by J Oswald Sanders is solid, but nowhere near as impactful as Spiritual Leadership. It feels more dated and reads a bit more devotionally. I might even recommend reading it in that fashion: picking and choosing the topics that draw you in rather than reading it straight through.
November 1, 2019
One of the best, if not the best, book on Christian discipleship after the Bible! 20 short but pointed chapters take the reader through all the aspects of Christian discipleship.
It was as good this time, as the first time I read it!
A truly 5-star read!
It was as good this time, as the first time I read it!
A truly 5-star read!
December 11, 2020
This is a great book to walk through discipleship one on one or in a small group. It’s really heady, full of scripture, and it challenges the comfortable Christian to choose to be a disciple instead of comfortable.
January 21, 2022
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is convicting, inspiring and challenging. Scripture is the emphasis as he walks you through what being a true disciple looks like from a Biblical perspective.
October 27, 2022
A book with a rich biblical grounding. Sanders examines Jesus' teaching on discipleship and challenges the modern believer to rethink what it means to be a 'Christian'. Perfect to read on your own or with a group.
February 8, 2017
A solid work with a good variety of illustrations and Scripture challenging Christians to renew their commitment to Christ and His mission as His disciples.
April 25, 2018
Es genial para dar dirección en cuanto al discipulado.
June 23, 2020
Easy read, in-your-face truths
Read
November 29, 2020Really enjoyed this book! Great thoughts on becoming a better disciple and making disciples!
February 24, 2022
Good book.
November 24, 2022
A must read for all believers no matter how long you have been following Jesus.
July 4, 2023
A very thought-provoking consideration of how to follow Christ and disciple others.
January 27, 2024
very good
December 18, 2025
pretty good companion to daily reading. a couple off theological chapters but overall excellent and hard hitting.
October 21, 2017
This book takes a lot of thinking and is not a fast read. Books like this shouldn't be read fast and should be read with your Bible near by. I feel like I need to at some point be taught a discipleship class. There are so many things to learn that reading a few books doesn't always seem to help me grasp it. I think books like this are perhaps better read if you and a friend/spouse read it together in order to have conversation.
Four stars.
Four stars.
July 12, 2022
Most people live as simple fans of Yeshua and not as his true disciples. Walking by faith is not simply believing but it is changing. This books teaches step by step the basic ‘how to live like Jesus’. It’s easy to understand with explanations on bible verses. Fantastic writing too!
August 29, 2020
This has got to be in my top 5 or top 3 books of the year, and probably top 10 all-time books for spiritual growth. The book walks through the ideals and characteristics of a disciple of Christ. It gives a vision for discipleship and points to Christ as the means of growth. While the focus is our discipleship under Christ, that ends up making this a perfect book to walk through in a discipleship relationship or small group. This book does a great job of opening up the Scriptures and walking through the theology, ideals, and practice of being a disciple of Christ. It's a really easy read with short focused chapters that still contain incredible depth and wisdom. This is a 100% a book I plan on coming back to and hopefully will be one of the resources I go to in walking along side others in discipleship relationships.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews