Strengthen Your Ministry
There are three key concepts we must embrace to strengthen our ministry to men: PROFILE, PROCESS, & PATHWAY.
We Start with a Profile
Our ministry to men must have a “memorable profile” of what it means to be a disciple. Men will never become what they cannot define! Ministry leaders cannot teach and train if they don’t have a clearly defined profile in mind. Discipleship “profiles” abound; many are lengthy and not “memorable.” We believe Jesus’ definition of a disciple should be at the very heart of our ministry profile.
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What it means to be a disciple and man of God—
Love for our brothers in Christ
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34
Obedience to God’s Word
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” John 8.31-32
Sacrificial Allegiance
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters– yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
Spiritual Fruitfulness
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8
Whole Life Transformation
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40
These timeless words of Jesus are restated “memorably” as:
- To Know Christ Deeply
- To Reflect Christ Authentically
- To Share Christ Intentionally
We consider this 3-part definition of a disciple represents the “irreducible minimums” of a true Christ follower. That is, a man is not a fully devoted disciple of Jesus without pursuing all three elements.
We recommend this profile for use in an intentional disciple-making ministry to men.
We must appreciate the Process
Jesus gave a 4-fold invitation to those who desired to follow Him. His words reflect the “process” of discipleship:
| Jesus’ Invitation | Discipleship Process |
| “Come and see” (John 1.39) | NEW DISCIPLE |
| “Follow me” (Matthew 4.19) | GROWING DISCIPLE |
| “Be with me” (Mark 3.14) | MATURING DISCIPLE |
| “Go for me” (John 20.21) | DISCIPLE MAKER |
Experienced disciple-makers know growth in the discipleship process is best nurtured in the context of secure relationships—both with our King, Jesus, and with other men. Just as Jonathan and David made a covenant to affirm their friendship and commitment to one another (1 Samuel 18), we need covenant friendships to grow spiritually.
Note: the Covenant Group Agreement serves as the basic agreement men make to one another about how they are going to relate while they meet as a group, regardless of specific teaching or training tools used.
Knowing where men currently are (and want to be) in the discipleship process is critical. Otherwise, the tools (pathway) used for teaching and training may not be suited to the need.
We must lay a clear Pathway
Please note: The Covenant Group Discipleship Series is targeted for Growing Disciples. Tools for new disciples should also be included in your ministry pathway.
The core practice in both the Adventure and Challenge Series is the daily Appointment with God (AWG). Weekly covenant group meetings foster deep connections among men, offering a space for personal insights, application of Scripture, and mutual support through encouragement and prayer.
The Challenge
We encourage you to meet with your leadership team to prayerfully consider your PROFILE, PROCESS, and PATHWAY for making disciples.
We are here to help. Contact us by email for a call, virtual, or onsite visit.