Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  A disciple is defined as a learner, a pupil, which in turn makes a follower of the Lord Jesus.   This doesn’t just happen by chance- it happens by choice!  One must choose to follow the Lord.  The discipline required will involve several things that must be incorporated into a life that is serious about following Jesus.
The SCRIPTURE is absolutely necessary.  It must be read, believed, and acted upon if one is to be a good disciple.  Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only.  Another important discipline is prayer, or SUPPLICATION.  When we read the Bible God speaks to us. When we pray we speak to God.
This relationship is precious and cannot be fully developed without the conversation going both ways.   If we are to be good disciples we will quickly realize the need for the SAINTS.
God’s youngins need each other!  That’s why the Bible instructs us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  We need the church, and the church needs us.  Every member of the body of Christ is important!  Here is where many that would be disciples fail.  To be a desciple requires self denial and SEPARATION from the world.  Listen to Paul’s writing  in Titus 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  and then he writes to the church at Corinth…
2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  Separation from this ungodly world is frowned upon by many.
Deny yourself,  take up the cross, and you can experience the discipline that makes a good disciple.   Are you a disciple of Jesus?  You certainly can be!  It just requires some discipline.   Amen.  Pastor