Weekly Devotional: What Does It Mean To Be a Disciple In College?

Read time 4 minutes

Published on Jun 6, 2025

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:24NIV

College is one of the busiest times of your life. From homework and classes to new friendships and social events, it’s easy to become consumed with it all. In the middle of job applications, social pressures and various events, it’s easy to put your faith on the back burner.

I remember when I was a freshman, everything was so new and exciting — all these new places, people and things to do. Eventually, the last thing I wanted to do was sit down and read my Bible. The hard thing about being a Christian in the culture today is that nobody slows down. Day after day, you are told to be busy, to go out and fill every second of your day, leaving no room to breathe and talk with God.

But no matter where you are in your walk with God, He’s always there, whispering the same invitation He has for thousands of years: for you to come back to Him.

What Is a Disciple?

The word disciple is used many times throughout the Bible, but what does it really mean? On the surface, a disciple is someone who adheres to the teachings of another. Applied to Jesus, a disciple is someone who learns from Him to live like Him.¹ We are called to be disciples of Jesus, to live as He has shown us, that everyone would know we are Christians by our actions. We are to stand out in a broken world by the light of Christ shining through us. Being a disciple of Jesus is more than just following His ways; it is being a worshiper, a servant and a witness.

The Worshipper

To follow Jesus is to worship Him exclusively. So how do we do that? When you hear the word ‘worship,’ likely the first thing you think of is music at a Sunday morning church service. And while that is a form of worship, that isn’t all that worship is. Worship means respectful devotion – loving, honoring and obeying someone who deserves our highest regard.²

Worshipping God means to acknowledge and celebrate His power in gratitude as well as awe of His holiness. Worship demonstrates both our closeness to God and our respect for God.

So, worshipping doesn’t just mean singing on a Sunday morning. That’s only one small part of it. You worship God whenever you gather with other believers to learn about Him, sing about Him and pray to Him.

The Servant

Jesus leads by example, showing His disciples that they are to serve one another. He does this by washing the feet of the disciples. He says that if He doesn’t do this, then what are you to share with Him? He washes their feet to set an example, that he came to serve, not to be served, and that is how we should act as disciples. Being a servant doesn’t just stop with those closest to us. Jesus didn’t only serve His disciples. He was a servant to all of those around Him, Christians and non-Christians alike.

After Jesus finished washing the twelve’s feet, He gave a new commandment: ‘to love one another as I have loved you’ (John 13:34) It is this love that the world will know disciples of Jesus by.

To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a servant to the world around us, to serve as Jesus did. Serving your brothers and sisters in acts of love even when it’s inconvenient.

The Witness

There is one last point of being a disciple: the witness. When Jesus ascended back to heaven, He gave His disciples a command to go into the world as His witnesses, proclaiming the good news.

Being a disciple means pointing people to Him by telling others of the faith that has saved you. Jesus says over and over that we shouldn’t keep our faith quiet. We should proclaim it to the world. We are to make more disciples of Jesus.

Applying This to Life at GCU

You may think that this just means those out in the real world, working a 9-5 job and done with school. But that’s not true. You are never too young to share Jesus with those around you.

Start small and ask those close to you what they believe in. Small conversations make a huge difference, whether you see it or not.

Evaluate how you’re living. Are you:

Pursuing purpose over popularity
Choosing integrity when nobody is watching
Serving without striving for recognition
Letting go of control and trusting God’s plan
Loving others like God loves you

This week, see what you can do to be a better disciple. How can you serve others by showing God’s love? Remember, every small act makes a big impact.

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Written By

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Isabel Maguire

Professional Writing Student,

GCU

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Piper, J. (2014, July 28). What is a Disciple? Desiring God. Retrieved on May 9, 2025.
C.S. Lewis Institute. (2020, June 1). What Does it Mean to Worship God? Retrieved on May 9, 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on May 21, 2025

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.