By: Pastor Joe Moore, Liberty University Theological Seminary Student
Discipleship stands at the heart of the Christian faith—it is not an optional ministry but the very essence of following Jesus Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s understanding of discipleship, rooted in obedience to the living call of Christ, challenges believers to move beyond mere belief into faithful action.[1] His insistence that faith and obedience are inseparable serves as a powerful corrective to a culture that often seeks comfort without commitment. In the context of a biker church, this vision becomes tangible. Among riders who value loyalty, authenticity, and community, discipleship takes on a raw and relational form, one defined not by programs, but by lives transformed through shared journeys of faith, obedience, and brotherhood in Christ expressing the communal way of life found in Acts 2:42-47 (King James Bible).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s View of Discipleship
For Dietrich Bonhoeffer, discipleship is rooted in the immediate and obedient response to the call of Jesus Christ. The call itself creates faith, and the disciple’s proper answer is not verbal confession but action by obedient deed.[2] Bonhoeffer emphasizes that faith and obedience are inseparable; there is no genuine faith without obedience, and no obedience without faith.[3] When Christ calls, the disciple follows, and this simple yet profound act defines discipleship.[4]
The content of discipleship is summed up in Jesus’ command, “Follow me” (Matt. 4:19, KJV). This summons is not to a program or ideal but to the person of Christ himself.[5] Those who respond must leave everything, stepping out of worldly security into what seems like complete insecurity, yet find true security in communion with Jesus.[6] Thus, discipleship requires a decisive break from one’s former life, creating a new situation where faith becomes possible.[7]
Bonhoeffer rejects “cheap grace,” which separates faith from obedience, insisting instead on the costly grace of active following.[8] To obey Christ’s command, “Do this! Stop that! Come!” means to enter a living relationship with the incarnate Son of God, the mediator between God and humanity.[9] Ultimately, Bonhoeffer portrays discipleship as commitment to Christ alone, a continual call to act in faith and love toward others.[10] Through obedience to the living Word, believers participate in the transforming fellowship of the One who still calls, “Follow me.”
My Personal Reflection on Discipleship
As a church planter in the biker community, I view discipleship as both a calling and a lifestyle; the heartbeat of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s insistence that true discipleship is found in obedience to the living Christ deeply shapes my understanding. Bonhoeffer reminds us that faith and obedience are inseparable; when Jesus says, “Follow me,” the disciple’s only response is action.[11] In this light, discipleship cannot be reduced to programs or study, it must be lived out in the grit and grace of everyday relationships.
In biker culture, where loyalty, authenticity, and brotherhood define belonging, these same traits mirror the relational and missional nature of biblical discipleship. Like Bonhoeffer, I believe obedience begins with personal surrender and grows within community.[12] Our disciple-making plan, built around the five P’s – Passages, Principles, Philosophy, Practices, and Proof, seeks to make Christ’s command tangible. Through Scripture, small-group brotherhood, and service to others, disciples learn to ride together in faith, live out love, and carry the gospel into their world (Matt. 28:19–20; John 13:34–35, KJV). This is what Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington refer to as the foundation of a disciple-making plan.[13]
For me, Bonhoeffer’s challenge that “we want to know what Jesus wants” anchors everything.[14] Jesus wants followers who embody His love, proclaim His message, and reflect His presence among those often forgotten by the church. In a biker church, discipleship looks like men and women transformed by grace, riding shoulder to shoulder for the cause of Christ and putting faith in motion through obedient love. Rod Dempsey inserts, disciples are to “band together for prayer, fellowship, teaching, and intentionally accomplishing the Great Commission.”[15]
Passages and Principles of Discipleship
Every disciple-making effort must begin with the Word of God. The Bible provides the foundation and direction for how we lead people to follow Jesus. This section explores the key discipleship passages that establish a Biblical foundation to guide the ministry as well as the principles that reflect our vision of “disciples making disciples.”
The Great Commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19-20, KJV), is the heartbeat of discipleship. Jesus commands us to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. It’s not a suggestion; it is our mission. As Rod Dempsey reminds us, disciples “become the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in their world.”[16]
The Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37–40, KJV) teaches that loving God and loving others are inseparable. The New Commandment (John 13:34–35, KJV) goes even deeper, calling us to love one another as Christ has loved us. In the biker community, where loyalty, respect, and brotherhood run deep. It is this Christlike love that sets us apart. It is how people know we truly belong to Jesus.
When Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19, KJV), He showed that discipleship begins in relationship. We follow Him, are changed by Him, and join His mission. As Putman and Harrington say, a disciple is someone “following Christ (head), being changed by Christ (heart), and committed to the mission of Christ (hands).”[17]
Ephesians 4:11–16 reminds us that pastors are called to equip the saints to do the work of ministry. Acts 2:42–47 shows the early church living out discipleship in community through worship, teaching, fellowship, and outreach.[18]
Best Practices and Plan for Developing Disciples in a Biker Church
Discipleship in a biker church thrives in the context of real relationships rather than formal classrooms. Authenticity, loyalty, and shared experience are central values in biker culture, so the best practice is to build discipleship around those same values. Small groups are not an add-on; they are the church. These groups meet in garages, diners, and homes, where the Bible is opened, stories are shared, and prayer is offered.
Best Practices
Best practices for discipleship at Rally Point Biker Church emphasize relational, practical, and authentic approaches. First, keep it relational by fostering brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ, encouraging riders to care for one another both on and off the road. Second, keep it simple by using Scripture as the core curriculum, supported by reproducible tools such as Discipleship Essentials by Gary Ogden.[19] Third, empower lay leaders by raising individuals from within small groups who model Christlike character and lead through service. Fourth, stay missional by treating every ride, outreach, and service project as a disciple-making opportunity. Finally, model authenticity by being transparent about struggles and victories, since bikers value realness over polish.
Plan for Implementation
Discipleship in a biker church is strengthened through intentional structures and practices. First, establish small groups that meet consistently in garages, diners, or homes, places where riders naturally gather. Next, train and mentor group leaders in practical disciple-making and spiritual care, equipping them to guide others effectively. Integrate mission by connecting small groups with community outreach rides and service projects, ensuring that faith is expressed actively in the world. Celebrate growth by recognizing baptisms, testimonies, and leadership milestones as tangible markers of spiritual maturity. Finally, evaluate and adjust regularly, reviewing group health, leadership development, and community impact to ensure discipleship remains vibrant, effective, and aligned with Christ’s mission.
Conclusion
In the end, Bonhoeffer’s call to costly discipleship finds fresh expression in the biking community through authentic relationships, faithful obedience, and mission-minded living. Discipleship is not confined to church walls but lived out on the open road—in garages, coffee shops, and ride routes where Christ’s presence is made real among His followers. The plan for disciple-making at Rally Point Biker Church centers on building strong small-group communities, empowering lay leaders, and integrating service with spiritual growth. As riders “ride with Christ, live with purpose, and make disciples along the way,” they embody Bonhoeffer’s vision of faith in motion, disciples who not only believe, but follow, obey, and reflect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to a watching world.
[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, ed. Martin Kuske et al., trans. Barbara Green and Reinhard Krauss, vol. 4, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003), 57.
[3] Ibid, 63-64.
[4] Ibid, 59.
[5] Ibid, 58-59.
[6] Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, 58.
[7] Ibid, 61-62.
[8] Ibid, 68.
[9] Ibid, 59, 66.
[10] Ibid, 73, 76.
[11] Ibid, 57-59.
[12] Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, 63-64.
[13] Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps that Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples, (Grand Rapids: MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2013), 51.
[14] Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, 76.
[15] Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence, (Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2013), 40.
[16] Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is . . ., 22.
[17] Putman, Harrington, and Coleman, DiscipleShift, 51.
[18] Earley and Dempsey, Disciple Making Is . . ., 41.
[19] Greg Ogden. Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, Expanded Ed. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2007).
Putman, Jim, Harrington, Bobby, and Coleman, Robert E. DiscipleShift: Five Steps that Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2013.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Minneapolis, MN: First Fortress Press, 2003.
Earley, Dave and Dempsey, Rod. Discipleship Making Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2013.
Ogden, Greg, 2007. Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, Expanded Ed. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press.
Earley, Dave and Dempsey, Rod. Spiritual Formation Is . . .: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Brentwood: B&H Academics, 2018.
Fighting for My Pea Patch 