Lately I have been challenged by two passages in the Bible. The first passage is Matthew 28:19, 20 which commands Christians to “make disciples.” In fact, making disciples is the only imperative in that passage, called the Great Commission. All the other action words are participles. So, we are commanded by Jesus to make disciples of all the nations. What does that mean? It means to go into all the world and make imitators of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for disciple is mathetes and means “to be a pupil, a student.” In the context of Jesus’ commission, it means to reproduce His life in others.

The second passage that challenges me is 2 Timothy 2:2 in which the Apostle Paul exhorts his disciple, Timothy, saying “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Did you catch the chain of discipleship? Paul taught Timothy who will teach faithful men who will teach other men. That’s multiplication and that’s what reaches the world and fulfils the Great Commission.

Since I was first discipled by the Silver Fox (see January 2022 issue of Hope Line), I have discipled many men. How did I determine who to approach to disciple? The Silver Fox taught me to look for F.A.T. men, that is, men who were Faithful, Available, and Teachable. He encouraged me to study them closely for a period of time without saying a word to them to see if they were faithful men. He advised me to speak to those who knew them well to learn if they were faithful to keep their promises, pay what they owed, were faithful to their employers, and led their wives and children as servant-leaders.

Once I found a faithful man, I would then approach him privately and ask him if he was available to be discipled. Some were. Some weren’t. Some were overcommitted to jobs, family, and ministries. For those who were available we would set a start date, time, and place to meet. We usually met in their homes or in restaurants often early in the morning (0600 hours). I used the same curriculum that the Silver Fox used with me.

Only after beginning discipleship could the teachability of a man be discovered. Most men were receptive to what I taught but some were not. Others wanted to teach me. It is painful to have to tell a man that he is not ready to be discipled because he isn’t teachable. (As Mary Poppins said in the film by her name, “You cannot teach something to somebody who already knows everything.”)

So there you have it. How can Christians change the world? Disciple others who, in turn, disciple others. This is the multiplication principle. What should you look for in a man or woman to disciple? Someone who is F.A.T. and when you find one who is, pour the life of Christ into them. As Jesus said . . .

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19),

Irv