What does First B Jackson teach about discipleship?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First B Jackson, the teaching on discipleship starts with the plain claim that following Jesus is an active apprenticeship, not a passive agreement with his ideas. Natalie, drawing from Matthew 9, pointed out that in the first-century world a rabbi's apprentice had three clear goals: to be with the rabbi constantly, to become like him, and eventually to do exactly as he did. She also noted that in the New Testament the word "disciple" or "apprentice" appears nearly 300 times, while the word "Christian" appears only three times, and that there was never a middle category of people who agreed with Jesus but did not follow him. That framework shapes how First B thinks about formation: the ten-thousand-hour principle applies here, meaning the gap between knowing the right tools exist and actually being shaped by them is closed only through deliberate, sustained practice over years.
Matt Litzelman, teaching from John 15, pressed on what makes any of that possible in the first place. A branch cut from the vine does not die immediately, he observed, which is exactly what makes drifting so dangerous. When we separate from Christ we do not fall apart overnight. It is a slow fade, and it can take years before we realize how far we have drifted. The life of discipleship, then, is fundamentally a life of remaining, not striving. As Matt worked through the pruning image, he named the things the Lord removes as we walk more closely with him: lies of the enemy, false identity, pride, unbelief, and selfishness. The fruit that results is not something a branch produces by effort alone; it flows from that place of staying connected to the source.
Brad, teaching from Philippians 3, grounded discipleship in what the church has long called progressive sanctification, the ongoing, never-finished work of becoming more like Christ. He was careful to say this is not moralism or behavior modification, and that if someone looks back over a span of years and sees no growth, it is probably time to change something. He connected Paul's call to imitation directly to relational accountability, saying that if someone is not in an active discipling relationship they are missing one of the real promises of the gospel. Pastor Kyle brought that same thread into John 13, where Jesus gives his new command to love one another in the very moment Judas is betraying him and Peter is about to deny him. The standard Jesus sets is the love he himself has already demonstrated, and the group at First B held onto the hope in Luke 6:40, that a student who has been fully trained will be like his teacher, meaning we are students still learning, not expected to have arrived.
Taught from John 15:1-8 · Matthew 28:19-20 · Philippians 3:12-4:1 · Luke 6:40 · John 13:34
The passage taught · James 3:1
1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
World English Bible
The messages that teach on it
- July 2, 2023 Faith in a Great God Pastor Ray walks through Luke 17:1-10, connecting four teachings on false teaching, forgiveness, faith, and service into a single picture of what it means to follow Jesus.
- October 30, 2022 Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing Matt Litzelman opens John 15 on abiding in Christ, bearing spiritual fruit, and what it actually looks like to follow Jesus as his disciple.
- October 4, 2022 October 3 rd 2022 Monday Night @ First B Brad walks through Philippians 3:12 to 4:1, exploring progressive sanctification, discipleship, and what it means to live as citizens of heaven while still on earth.
- November 30, 2021 To Love Is to Serve Pastor Kyle walks through John 13 on Jesus commanding his disciples to love one another the way He loved them, even while being betrayed.
Mentioned along the way
- April 12, 2026 According to the Riches of His Glory Pastor William walks through Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3, showing why our inner being, faith, knowledge of Christ's love, and fullness in God matter more than anything outward.
- July 6, 2025 The Way of God More Accurately Pastor Ray walks through Acts 18, showing how Paul, Apollos, and a handful of disciples in Ephesus were all taught the way of God more accurately, and what that means for us.
- October 6, 2024 Free Knowledge Missionaries Ted and Kim Ravenold share how farming, discipleship, and the reconciling power of Christ's blood are transforming lives in rural Tanzania.
- October 6, 2024 Move People on the Scale Ted Rabinold shares how 33 years of farming ministry in Tanzania illustrates the gospel's call to reconcile all things, physical and spiritual, through Christ.
- September 25, 2024 Women's Bible Study - September 25th, 2024 - Called to Follow: Worship and Discipleship Natalie teaches on discipleship as apprenticeship, exploring what it means to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did in everyday life.
- July 2, 2023 Faith in a Great God Jesus teaches His disciples about false teaching, forgiveness, faith, and service in Luke 17. One sermon on what it really means to follow Him.
- February 26, 2023 Don't Begrudge That Nudge Men from First B Jackson share how a weekend retreat changed them through testimony, accountability, and one man's decision to follow Christ.
- November 6, 2022 From Galilee Onwards Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem, and three would-be followers learn what total commitment to Him actually costs. A communion service sermon from Luke 9.
- October 12, 2022 Women's Bible Study - October 12th, 2022 Natalie shares her recovery from an eating disorder and perfectionism, showing how unchecked lies lead to destruction and how God's truth brings freedom and purpose.