In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands us to “go and make disciples.” So to be obedient to the Great Commission, we need to ask ourselves a question — “During the disciple-making process, what traits should a disciple have?” Here are 12 traits of a growing disciple with accompanying Scripture verses:

  1. They love God’s Word.
    “How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.” — Psalm 119:97 (CSB)
  2. They internalize God’s Word.
    “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.» — Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
  3. They pray with boldness.
    “Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found.” — Psalm 32:6 (NIV)
  4. They are being mentored.
    “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” — Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)
  5. They are mentoring others.
    “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” — 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
  6. They love their wife. / They submit to their husband.
    “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” — Ephesians 5:25 NIV
    “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” — Ephesians 5:22 (NIV)
  7. They teach their children.
    “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” — Deuteronomy 6:7 (NIV)
  8. They meet regularly with other believers.
    “And let us not neglect our meeting together.” — Hebrews 10:25a (NLT)
  9. They serve at their church.
    “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
  10. They give their money.
    “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
  11. They love their neighbor.
    “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” — Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
  12. They share the gospel.
    “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list but it provides a starting point.