“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
At Calvary, we follow this calling of Jesus to go and make disciples in our neighborhoods and the nations.
Jesus called some of his first disciples by saying “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 NASB 95) There are three aspects to this invitation from Jesus. First - Come, Follow Me. Jesus is the one who calls and the one we follow. Second, I Will Make You. Again, it’s Jesus who gives us the power and wisdom to be what God wants us to be. Third - Fishers of People. This is our role in helping others discover the Good News found in following Jesus.
A disciple is one who loves and follows Jesus. And, discipleship is learning to love like Jesus by giving away what we’ve received. This lifelong learning can happen in one-on-one mentoring, small group community, and Sunday services. The essential elements, beyond any particular format, are intentional steps to grow together in God's Word by God's Spirit - fueled by the love we receive from God and give to one another.
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35
Calvary's membership path is an opportunity for you to have conversations about life with Jesus, be equipped as a disciple to take next steps in your faith, and become a member of this church family. Whether you have been following Jesus for a lifetime or a moment, this process will be helpful to anyone looking to grow as a disciple of Jesus.
Vision for Discipleship
Go Fish! Would you be surprised to learn that this was an important invitation from Jesus in the Bible? In Matthew 4:19, we see when Jesus calls Peter to follow him and that he would make him a fisher of people. Another word for this is discipleship. We make disciples who make disciples. That's a core calling for our lives. The most important factor in our discipleship is not information, it is relationship. We grow in our faith through time spent with God in prayer and through relationships with fellow believers. One of our main priorities as a church in this next season is to grow in life-on-life relational discipleship. Be sure to catch each part of this life-equipping, church-shaping series — looking at how to love like Jesus by giving away what you've received.
View SermonsDiscipleship Inventory
Our stories of God at work in small and big ways can be such an encouragement and inspiration to others. Think about who introduced you to Jesus or who invested in you along the way. Consider what you have received and what you've been able to give away. Or, reflect on how you have taken steps toward growth in the lifelong pursuit of following Jesus.
A great way to grow in your walk with Jesus, is to connect with someone that's ahead of you on the faith journey, and meet regularly with them for a season. There are various Calvary Church disciplers/mentors willing to be a friend, and lead you through all kinds of experiences and lessons like:
The 9-week "Following Jesus" series is designed to help you discover how to live and love like Jesus. Come grow in your faith by journeying through the foundational elements of discipleship and get connected with others along the way. If you’re a new follower of Jesus, or want to become more grounded in the basics of Christianity, this is perfect for you!
To get matched up with a leader who can walk you through the "Following Jesus" course anytime, please contact us at
This Calvary-developed course is now available in print at the Corner Bookstore! Come check it out. Student Edition $12 / Leader Edition $15.
If you want to deepen your knowledge of God’s Word, apply biblical truths, discover your true identity in Christ, learn basics of the faith or help others do the same, discipleship is the thing for you. At Calvary, this happens through the Alpha Course, Following Jesus Course, LifeGroups and one-on-one relationships.
If you want to gain or offer Christ-centered insight about a specific season or role in your life, mentorship is the thing for you. At Calvary, this can happen through LifeGroups, Family Ministries mentoring and one on one relationships. If we are able to facilitate connection with a LifeGroup or a mentor/mentee, we want to make that happen. However, we have learned that one of the best ways to find a mentor or be a mentor is for you to get involved and start making friends with those outside your circle.
If you are looking for a mentor, begin by observing how others live and notice the ones you admire. Choose one of these people and ask them to have coffee with you. Begin learning more about their life. Ask for their input into specifics of your life. You may gain all you need in one sitting, or you may want to continue that relationship for a season.
If you want to mentor others, the process is similar. Begin by making friends outside your circle. One easy way to do this is to join a six pack. 6-packs are small groups made up of 6 individuals born in different decades. Another option might be to begin serving in an area that might also attract the type of person you want to mentor. If you want to mentor high school students, start serving in our High School Ministry. If you are interested in mentoring young married couples, get involved in serving in Family Ministries. Identify those individuals with whom you naturally connect and then go for it! Start meeting together, listen well and continue to point your mentee to Jesus and the truth in His Word.
Knowing what you’re looking for and understanding what we have to offer will give each of us a head start to making the best possible connections as you continue to follow Jesus and grow in your faith.