Jesus’ followers in the Bible are called disciples. A disciple is a life-long student, one who studies along with others, and then lives out those teachings in daily life. The key to a relationship with Christ is to be a disciple—and also to make disciples. This was Jesus’ central command to us as He prepared to leave the earth. He told us clearly to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Most Christian men today may attend worship and hear a sermon several times a month, or go to a small group with their spouse, or even read the Bible on their own every week. But none of those activities are discipleship.
In the New Testament we don’t read one single account of a Christ-follower, a disciple of Jesus, practicing his faith entirely on his own. The example we are given is always, without exception, a group of believers following Christ together. The idea that we can be disciples of Christ on our own was an issue in the early church—so much so that we are given New Testament instruction, “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another all the more…” (Hebrews 10:25).
In our culture today, hardly anyone is discipled. Through history, from Genesis 1:1 until about 150 years ago, men were discipled by men and women were discipled by women. This makes sense—a group of brothers, gathered together regularly, studying the Bible, learning to be more like Christ in the context of manhood, holding each other accountable. This kind of discipleship sounds rich, meaningful, relational. Yet only 5% of mainstream churches offer this to men, and so only 3% of Christian men experience this kind of foundational discipleship. Think about that—97% of Christian men, who follow Jesus and are involved in church—aren’t discipled. We were told to be disciples, and make disciples, yet we’re just not doing it.
Why not? Perhaps we just don’t value discipleship. Consider, then, what discipleship brings you. There are strategic benefits, for your life, work, relationships, vision and direction, purpose and planning, that true discipleship brings to you as a man.
Disciples know God more fully. Christianity is not merely a set of beliefs or moral principles; it is a relationship with the Living God. Relationships grow through spending time with one another. Prayer allows a man to speak to God, while Scripture allows God to speak to him. The Bible is a book God wrote to teach us about Himself. When a man opens the Bible, he encounters God’s character, His promises, His purposes, and His heart. The more he understands who God is, the more his trust in God grows.
Disciples gain wisdom for daily decisions. Men are constantly called upon to make choices that affect their families, careers, finances, relationships, and ministries. Some decisions are straightforward, while others involve complex situations with no easy answers. Human wisdom is limited, but God’s wisdom is perfect.
Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages believers to “trust in the Lord” rather than rely solely on their own understanding. Through discipleship, a man learns to evaluate opportunities, challenges, and priorities through the lens of God’s Truth. Over time, Scripture shapes his judgment so that he increasingly thinks and acts in ways that honor God. He becomes less driven by emotion, impulse, or cultural pressure and more guided by biblical principles.
Disciples build spiritual strength. Every Christian man faces battles. Some are external, involving difficult circumstances, opposition, or temptation. Others are internal, involving fear, doubt, discouragement, pride, anger, or selfish desires. God's Word strengthens the inner man to stand firm during these struggles.
Joshua received a powerful command from God as he prepared to lead Israel into a challenging future. The Lord instructed him to meditate on God’s Word continually so that he would be careful to obey it and prosper in his mission (Joshua 1:8). Joshua’s strength did not come from military skill alone. It came from anchoring himself in God’s truth. The same principle remains true today. Men who consistently study Scripture develop spiritual resilience that enables them to face life's challenges with confidence and faith.
Disciples are safeguarded against deception. Modern culture presents countless competing voices that claim to define truth, purpose, morality, and identity. Without a solid biblical foundation, it becomes easy to adopt beliefs and values that conflict with God's design. Scripture functions as a measuring stick against which every idea, philosophy, and teaching can be evaluated.
The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word equips believers to recognize error and embrace truth. As a Christian man becomes familiar with Scripture, he develops discernment. He learns to distinguish between what sounds appealing and what is actually true. This discernment protects him from spiritual drift and helps him remain faithful in a culture that often challenges biblical convictions.
Disciples are transformed into Christ-like men. The goal of studying Scripture is not merely acquiring knowledge. The goal is becoming more like Christ. God's Word has a unique power to reshape the heart and renew the mind. As a man consistently exposes himself to biblical truth, his attitudes, desires, priorities, and behaviors begin to change.
Romans 12:2 teaches believers not to “conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed through the renewing of their minds.” This transformation occurs as Scripture replaces false assumptions with God's truth. A man begins to view success differently. He sees people differently. He approaches work, marriage, parenting, leadership, and service differently. The Word of God gradually molds him into the man God created him to be.
A disciple is a life-long student, one who studies along with others, and then lives out those teachings in daily life. The key to a relationship with Christ is to be a disciple—and also to make disciples.