In a culture where the #1 obstacle of disciple making is busyness a person’s availability can’t be ignored. As you talk with those you’re considering, which ones are loudly (& perhaps proudly) proclaiming their busyness? A person who can barely find time to meet with you for their own benefit, is unlikely to find time to disciple someone else. Since we all make time for what’s most important to us, this is actually a priority issue.

Teachability is a measure of both humility and hunger.

Let’s face it, some people aren’t interested in growing or learning. They just don’t have the hunger to grow. Others have the hunger to grow, but distrust everyone who isn’t their favorite Christian celebrity. As you spend time around your potential picks do they seem hungry to learn? Are they eager to learn from you? It’s important not to confuse teachability with a willingness to jettison their beliefs for yours. The Bereans were praised by Paul because they didn’t simply trust what he taught, instead they checked it against Scripture. Teachability is a genuine desire to learn and grow, but it’s also a commitment to wrestle with different viewpoints in order to become like Him.

FAT, it’s simple and easy to remember, but since our culture has an obesity problem, it’s not a comfortable term. For this reason, many view FAITH is more palatable. This acronym adds an “I” and a “H”, here’s what they stand for:

Initiative is a leadership quality born out of ownership.

A person who is invested in the outcome is willing to do things to reach the destination. A disciple who is an initiator will be an asset to promote disciple making. Since we already have faithfulness, initiative skews our thinking towards developing skilled leaders over faithful disciples. All of us are called to disciple making, but only some are called to become leaders (1 Tim 3:1).

Heart for God & People

If a person didn’t exhibit a heart for God would you be considering her as someone to disciple? Since we can’t disciple non-believers, I hope not! On the other hand, there are many faithful, available, and teachable people who are not-yet-relational. Amongst these are many introverts, the highly intuitive, and the relationally wounded, who on the outside don’t appear to have a heart for people.

Why FAT > FAITH