A disciple is anyone who follows Jesus and learns from him. An apostle is a disciple Jesus chose and sent out with his authority to proclaim the Gospel and lead the Church, beginning with the Twelve. Every apostle was first a disciple, but not every disciple was an apostle.

Understanding the distinction between the two can help parish leaders build accompaniment, formation, and support that help people grow across the full journey of discipleship.

For a broader look at how leaders recognize, accompany, and call people forward into mission, explore Forming Missionary Disciples.

What Is the Difference Between an Apostle and a Disciple?

The words themselves point to the difference. Disciple comes from the Greek mathētēs, meaning a learner or follower. Apostle comes from apostolos, meaning one who is sent. Luke describes the moment Jesus drew one group from the other: he called his disciples together, and "from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles" (Lk 6:13).

Scripture and tradition also use "apostle" more broadly. Barnabas is called an apostle alongside Paul (Acts 14:14), and the Church honors Mary Magdalene as the "apostle to the apostles," because Jesus sent her to announce his resurrection to them.

We are All Called to be Disciples

Discipleship is at the core of our faith. Being a disciple involves building a personal relationship with Jesus and practicing His teachings. Disciples strive to be like Christ, pursuing holiness and showing others God's love and mercy.   At the core, discipleship is an active response to a relationship with Jesus. 

Discipleship is active. It happens on purpose. The author of the book Forming Intentional Disciples, Sherry Weddell, said, "You don't do [discipleship] accidentally; you don't do it in your sleep." 

Discipleship is also internal. You can't identify a disciple based only on their external practices. Both disciples and those who have not yet commited to making Jesus the center of their lives can participate in prayer, fasting, giving, participation in the sacraments, works of mercy. 

A disciple's heart for God begins to shape their attitudes and choices. They make real sacrifices to grow closer to Jesus, and they keep growing in the basic habits of Christian life: Scripture, the sacraments, virtue, works of mercy, openness to the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to accept suffering.

For more on what discipleship means and how it begins, see What Is a Disciple?

Apostles Were Disciples First

 It's important to remember that the apostles were disciples first! They had direct experience and relationship with Jesus - profound encounters with him that changed their lives - and they responded to his call for them to follow him.

“Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.’ And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:10-11).

After they spent time growing in relationship with him, learning from him, and conforming their lives to his, Jesus appointed twelve of his disciples to be apostles. He entrusted them with a unique authority to teach in his name, to sanctify through the sacraments, and to shepherd the Church in its earliest days.

The role of apostleship continued in the early Church through the laying on of hands, as the apostles ordained and appointed successors to carry on their ministry. This practice of apostolic succession has been maintained in the Catholic Church through the bishops. Catholic bishops are ordained to continue the apostolic ministry and  entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions that shape the direction and mission of the Church in their respective dioceses. They exercise apostolic authority and are responsible for the Church's spiritual care, governance, and unity.

Bishops continue the apostles' ministry as their successors, and priests share in that ministry as their co-workers. Just as the first apostles were disciples first, those who carry on their ministry today must be disciples first too. They should be able to share how they have encountered Jesus, how their relationship with him has grown, and how they continue to conform their lives to his.

The apostles' mission, though, belongs to the whole Church. Every baptized Christian is called to share in it, which the Church calls the apostolate.

Embracing Our Call to Discipleship

While not all of us are called to be apostles, we are all called to be disciples. As parish leaders, we lead by example, showing our love for Christ and inspiring others to do the same. By being faithful disciples and missionary disciples ourselves, we can encourage others to embark on their own faith journeys, which strengthens our parishes and enriches the Church.

Nurturing The Discipleship Journey in Our Parishes

Recognizing disciples in your school or parish means building relationship and learning about the people you serve. Only by having deeper conversations are you able to uncover whether someones external practices are a result of someone s eeking to deepen their faith, grow in relationship with Jesus, and align their lives with the teachings of Christ - or if they are the result of guilt, obligation, unreflected habit, or experimenting with faith. 

As Catholic parish leaders, we have a responsibility to nurture discipleship, missionary discipleship, and the apostolate within our communities

We create an environment where disciples can grow in their faith, receive guidance, and fulfill their mission. We recognize that everyone is on a journey of discipleship and encourage our people to examine where they are on that journey currently and where they may be called next. We create a culture and expectation of intentional discipleship.

But discipleship formation cannot become disconnected from mission itself. People are often formed precisely through being entrusted, sent, and called forward before they feel fully ready. We reflected further on that tension between formation, leadership, and trust in the Holy Spirit in A Pentecost People→.

Where are you on your own journey of discipleship? Our free Discipleship Check-In walks through five people in Scripture, from the Samaritan woman to St. Paul, with questions to help you pray about where Jesus is inviting you to grow and whom he may be sending you to walk with.

This resource will provide valuable insights and practical guidance for nurturing the discipleship journey within your parish community. It will help you pray through your journey of discipleship and explore how you are being called to go further deeper into that relationship and mission with Jesus.  When Catholic leaders are thoughtful, intentional, and grounded in our own discipleship journey, we can better accompany others on their faith journeys, which strengthens our parishes and enriches the Church!

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Take advantage this opportunity to enrich your leadership skills and enhance the spiritual growth of your parish. Download this free resource now and embark on a transformative journey of nurturing a culture of discipleship in your Catholic community.

Together, let us embrace our calling as Catholic parish leaders and build thriving cultures of disciples and apostles!