Chris Harper of Betterman.com provides five short keys to discipling men.
1. Be Authentic
On average, a man sees 4000+ advertisements a day. This has made men experts in "real." Men are keenly aware of what's authentic and what's not. As a disciple maker, the moment you try and be something you're not, you've lost.
2. Be Patient
Discipling a man is like spiritual farming—results don't happen overnight. I love what my good friend Dr. Bryan Hurlbutt says, "discipling men is like wind carving stone," the process takes time, but in the end, you'll have something strong, substantial, and worthy to behold.
3. Cut Out the Junk
When discipling men, you must be a spiritual nutritionist—show men what they need to be spiritually healthy. Give them Bible, Belief, and Behavior: walk them through the Word, teach them sound doctrine, and model for them good spiritual habits.
4. Be Selective
Jesus had 12 disciples but spent most of His time with 3, and you're not Jesus. You're busy; you have many commitments. Not everyone you meet needs to be your disciple. Before moving to disciple, ask yourself three things:
- Do I have something to teach this person?
- Is this person teachable—willing to learn?
- Can I commit—do I have the time?
5. Be Persistent
The sin that plagues all men is the sin of passivity. Adam succumbed, and so do we. Passivity takes hold the moment you let up, and you'll lose those you are discipling. Be wise, don't waste your time on deaf ears, but don't be quick to throw in the towel.