--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be a disciple means forsaking…" description: "\"To be a disciple means forsaking everything to follow Jesus, unconditionally, putting our lives completely in His hands. When we say that we want to be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-stearns-24755_accepting_to-be-a-disciple-means-forsaking-everyth_137766.jpg" --- # To be a disciple means forsaking everything to follow… ![“To be a disciple means forsaking everything to follow Jesus, unconditionally, putting our lives completely in His hands. When we say that we want to be His disciple, yet attach a list of conditions, Jesus refuses to accept our terms. His terms involve unconditional surrender.” quote by Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-stearns-24755_accepting_to-be-a-disciple-means-forsaking-everyth_137766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-stearns-24755_accepting_to-be-a-disciple-means-forsaking-everyth_137766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/richard-stearns-24755_accepting_to-be-a-disciple-means-forsaking-everyth_137766.jpg) > “To be a disciple means forsaking everything to follow Jesus, unconditionally, putting our lives completely in His hands. When we say that we want to be His disciple, yet attach a list of conditions, Jesus refuses to accept our terms. His terms involve unconditional surrender.” [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discipleship demands unconditional surrender to Jesus; conditional commitments are rejected. **In simple terms:** Follow Jesus unconditionally, no conditions. Key Takeaway Embrace total devotion without strings. Themes faith obedience unconditional love Mood devout reflective Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - mission work - personal prayer - community service Key Concepts theology spiritual surrender religious practice Questions to Reflect On - What does unconditional surrender look like for you? - How do you handle doubts in faith? A Different Perspective Conditional faith can still be sincere; consider personal limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Disciple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple/) [Disciple Attach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple-attach-1564780/) [Disciple Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple-means-1564777/) [Follow Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-jesus/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus Unconditionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-unconditionally-1564779/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Unconditional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconditional/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Disciple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-disciple-1564778/) ## Related quotes > [if a person wishes to achieve peace of mind and happiness then they should acquire faith, but if they want to be a disciple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-person-wishes-to-achieve-peace-of-mind-and-happiness-then-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take from others what you want, but never be a disciple of anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-sutherland-neill/take-from-others-what-you-want-but-never-be-a-disciple-of-anyone/) [Alexander Sutherland Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-sutherland-neill/) > [“Isaiah 1:16–17 says, “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” To learn how to keep my cart from ending up in the ditches, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/isaiah-1-16-17-says-stop-doing-wrong-learn-to-do-right-to-learn-how/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/being-a-disciple-means-being-constantly-ready-to-bring-the-love-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It would not do for the consumer to know that the hamburger she is eating came from a steer who spent much of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/it-would-not-do-for-the-consumer-to-know-that-the-hamburger-she-is/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [“Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ . 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You can only LIVE again as you take up your cross, daily, and follow Jesus.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-creeden/you-have-died-to-doing-things-your-own-way-you-can-only-live-again-as/) [Pauline Creeden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-creeden/) > [We should never intentionally offend, but if you follow Jesus, you will offend religious people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrin-patrick/we-should-never-intentionally-offend-but-if-you-follow-jesus-you-will/) [Darrin Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrin-patrick/) > [Repentance is a realization that what God wants from you and what you want from God are not going to be achieved by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/repentance-is-a-realization-that-what-god-wants-from-you-and-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Disciples like Peter, Andrew, James, and John show us that the call to follow Jesus is not simply an invitation to pray a prayer;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/disciples-like-peter-andrew-james-and-john-show-us-that-the-call-to/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“In a sense the rise of Anabaptism was no surprise. Most revolutionary movements produce a wing of radicals who feel called of God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-l-shelley/in-a-sense-the-rise-of-anabaptism-was-no-surprise-most-revolutionary/) [Bruce L. Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-l-shelley/) > [Do not be afraid to be saints. Follow Jesus Christ who is the source of freedom and light. Be open to the Lord so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/do-not-be-afraid-to-be-saints-follow-jesus-christ-who-is-the-source/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) ## More by Richard Stearns > [Love always requires tangible expression. It needs hands and feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/love-always-requires-tangible-expression-it-needs-hands-and-feet/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [Even a small match lit in a place of total darkness gives off a blinding light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/even-a-small-match-lit-in-a-place-of-total-darkness-gives-off-a/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [What if we actually demonstrated God's love for the world instead of just talking about it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/what-if-we-actually-demonstrated-god-s-love-for-the-world-instead-of/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [“But I want to be clear that this does not mean we are saved by piling up enough good works to satisfy God. No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/but-i-want-to-be-clear-that-this-does-not-mean-we-are-saved-by-piling/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [We must move beyond an anemic view of our faith as something only personal and private, with no public dimension, and instead see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/we-must-move-beyond-an-anemic-view-of-our-faith-as-something-only/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [The beautiful simplicity of our faith is that it distills down to the exact same bottom line for both the brilliant theologian and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/the-beautiful-simplicity-of-our-faith-is-that-it-distills-down-to-the/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [Can you imagine the impact on our own culture if American Christians began using their riches as if they belonged to God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/can-you-imagine-the-impact-on-our-own-culture-if-american-christians/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [God never asks us to give what we do not have . . . But he cannot use what we will not give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/god-never-asks-us-to-give-what-we-do-not-have-but-he-cannot-use-what/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation...I believe that our children and their children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/i-believe-that-this-could-very-well-be-looked-back-on-as-the-sin-of/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [“For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/for-i-was-hungry-while-you-had-all-you-needed-i-was-thirsty-but-you/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [The meaning, purpose, and significance of our lives are found only by aligning our lives with God's purposes, in lives committed to following Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/the-meaning-purpose-and-significance-of-our-lives-are-found-only-by/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [What if there are children who will suffer somehow because I failed to obey God? What if my cowardice costs even one child somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/what-if-there-are-children-who-will-suffer-somehow-because-i-failed/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [If I have learned anything about the purpose, meaning, and significance of life over the years, I have learned that, for a Christian, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/if-i-have-learned-anything-about-the-purpose-meaning-and-significance/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [“To even be Christians, we must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That in itself is no small idea. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/to-even-be-christians-we-must-first-believe-that-jesus-christ-is-the/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) > [It’s not what you believe that counts; it’s what you believe enough to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stearns/it-s-not-what-you-believe-that-counts-it-s-what-you-believe-enough-to/) [Richard Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) [Explore all 24 Richard Stearns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stearns/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be a disciple means forsaking everything to follow Jesus, unconditionally, putting our lives completely in His hands. When we say that we want to be His disciple, yet attach a list of conditions, Jesus refuses to accept our terms. 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