The “Two-Question” Tool 

As a pastor, it was my aim to disciple young men. I hold firmly to a biblical view of multiplication from 2 Timothy 2:2 and believe Jesus’ Great Commission is a mandate to not only baptize men and women converted to Christ, but also to make disciples of Jesus of those same converts. In fact, it is theologically safe to say that we cannot make converts, but we can make disciples. Jesus commands us to do so.  

One tool I frequently used when deciding if a man was open to being discipled was the Two-Question tool. The two questions went like this. When I would meet a man new to our congregation who professed to be a believer, I would try to schedule coffee with him to get to know him better. Somewhere during our conversation, I would ask two probing questions.  

First, I would ask, “Has anyone ever showed you how to read the Bible and get something out of it?” Except for one man whose dad had invested in his life spiritually, the answer was always “no.”  

The second question was a natural, yet revealing, follow-up: “Would you be interested in learning how to read the Bible to get something out of it?” Their answer to this question told me whether they were a good candidate to invest time and energy in to help them grow in Christ.  

If they answered, “maybe” or “someday when things slow down a little,” then I knew they were not able to prioritize the time required to invest in their own spiritual development. But if the person answered with a clear and firm “yes – I would love for someone to show me how to read the Bible and get something out of it,” which happened often, then I knew that was a person who possessed the hunger to grow as a believer.  

The Navigators, founded by disciple-maker Dawson Trotman, had a rule of thumb for choosing the men and women in whom they would invest. They used the acrostic F.A.T. They were looking for believers who were faithful, available and teachable. 

If you hope to disciple men, or women to disciple women, you need to find a person who is faithful, available and teachable.  

To be faithful means they keep their word. They show up when they say they are going to show up. They complete the assignments you ask them to do. When Jesus called the 12 disciples, he called men who were disciplined enough to hold down a job and fulfill the basic responsibilities of life. 

You also need to find a person who is available. Oftentimes those who will make the best disciples for Jesus are already living an active life. They are busy. But they are spiritually aware enough to know that they need to grow in their relationship with Christ and in their obedience to His word. If they prioritize their Christian development, they will carve out time for meeting together for the purpose of discipleship.  

Finally, you need to find someone who is teachable. You cannot pour water into a full glass, and you cannot disciple someone who already knows, or who thinks he or she already knows, all the answers. You need to find someone who is teachable.  

If you show up for the meeting and one you are discipling begins to correct your theology and wants to teach you, then the relationship is backwards, and you need to release that person to go start multiplying other disciples. A teachable person is eager to learn and obey the teachings of Christ. They know they have room to grow, and they believe there are some things you can teach them.  

The greatest way to make the biggest impact with your life is to multiply it by making disciples.  

I hope these questions will help you as you start sharing what God has taught you with someone who is not as far along in the faith as you are.