Bible Study 2026
A Disciple’s Heart
Session 2: A Disciple’s Heart
Who is ready to follow Jesus? Becoming a true follower of Jesus is not about following Him with our feet, but following Him with our heart. What kind of heart should we have to follow Jesus?
1. A willing heart
Verse 23, Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Denying oneself is the most important thing in a disciple's life. That is why Jesus gives this requirement first. Denying oneself means having a heart that wants to say “yes” to Jesus and His will. It is no longer about what I want, what makes me comfortable, or what pleases me. Instead, it is about what Jesus wants me to do and live out. Why must we deny ourselves? Because we are born with a sinful nature. The desires of a sinner are only about satisfying the flesh. Furthermore, as we live in this world, many worldly things enter and affect our hearts and minds. This makes us want to live only for ourselves without thinking about God and His will. We are like a damaged or broken jar that is no longer useful for its owner's purpose. Yet, the owner still wants to reshape and fix it.
Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Being willing to be a disciple means being ready to say that my life is no longer my own, but it belongs to Christ. Therefore, denying oneself is an acknowledgment and a decision that I have absolutely no right over my own life. The direction and purpose of my life are completely under the sovereignty and power of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore, our theme verse is John 12:24, “Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.' Dying is the same as denying oneself.” When a person denies themselves or says no to all desires that go against God's will, that is when they will be used by God to produce fruit for His glory. When a person has learned to deny themselves, they will be ready to leave their old yoke to take up the yoke of Christ's cross.
Have we lived a life of self-denial? In what areas is my heart not yet ready to deny itself?
2. A surrendered heart
Carrying the cross means being willing to pay the price to follow Jesus. It means being willing to suffer for God's will. We might think, 'I have suffered a lot, so I must be carrying my cross.' My brothers and sisters, to be honest, not all suffering proves that we are carrying our cross. We often suffer because we are fighting for our own interests, chasing after our own reputation and comfort, or making our own mistakes. A heart that is surrendered to Christ is ready to face suffering for the sake of Christ. Verse 24, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”
Carrying the true cross meant by the Bible means a person is willing to give their life and everything they have for the expansion of God's kingdom and for the sake of Christ. Very often, a person chooses to stay in the comfort and peace of life rather than suffer for being a witness of Christ to others. This means suffering for Christ is the main path, rather than living only for our own comfort, pleasure, and interests. Verse 25, “For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.”
Carrying the cross is not an easy thing; carrying the cross requires discipline. That is why it says to "take up his cross daily," not just at certain times. This means doing God's will and being ready to pay the price for it at all times. We must carry our cross every single day as proof of our surrender to God.
3. A committed heart
Verse 23, “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
“And follow me,” this phrase speaks about a disciple's commitment of loyalty. It does not stop at a heart that is willing to deny itself or a heart that is surrendered. There must also be a commitment to continually follow Jesus and His teachings. Our eyes are fixed only on Him, and the direction of our steps leads to what Jesus wants. This means that the Lord Jesus becomes the leader of our lives and our journey—as the Great Shepherd whom we follow at all times because we are His sheep.
1. In my opinion, what does it mean to deny myself in daily life?
2. What do I put first in my life: myself or Jesus?
3. What is the hardest thing for me to surrender completely to Jesus?
4. What am I chasing after the most right now?
5. In my opinion, what is the difference between success according to the world and success according to God?
6. Have I ever been afraid to show that I am a Christian?
7. How can I keep following Jesus when my friends choose a different path?
8. What is one thing God wants me to do after this meeting?