With Him: A Biblical Model of Discipleship for Men

by Ken G. Smith

This short book calls men to discipleship that is modelled on Jesus. Jesus lived, taught and ministered alongside his disciples, taking them "with Him" wherever He went. This sort of discipleship isn't easy, it takes time, openness and commitment; but Kenneth shares how this principle has given him more purpose and joy as a pastor. He explains how it's possible to find godly men to disciple and how you can practically start using the "with him" principle. The book is also packed full of Kenneth's experiences of seeing men he has discipled then go on to disciple others.

The "with him" principle isn't new or difficult to understand. It's a model of discipleship that will stretch and challenge men to a Christian life that demands their all.

Genres: Christian, Discipleship, Christian Living, Evangelism, Theology

63 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2017

Reviews

[Reed Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought me great joy as I read every line. I am so thankful to have had a man in my life who challenged me to discipleship and to live life “WITH HIM”. It made me reminisce on all of the memories and conversations I shared with the man who discipled me. This book also left me hungry to make disciples. “Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Matthew‬ ‭9:37-38‬). I don’t pray this prayer enough. God would you provide faithful men who would go to the harvest and be able to teach others also!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was present at our church's Midweek Bible Study in Larne, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland which was conducted by the author of this book. The main point I took from the study was that when the church is functioning properly it grows as a matter of course. See Ephesians 4: 11 - 16, especially v 16.

This book explains and expands this idea. It shows that churches have failed in their central task of making disciples. Indeed, for many years I have thought that they are more concerned with making converts rather than disciples. It does what a good book should; create new avenues of thought in the reader and dig deeper those old avenues when they are correct.

The book is simple and can be read very quickly but it is one to which the reader will wish to return.

[Bradley Somers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little guide for discipling men has many excellent yet obvious instructions for discipleship. The principles are not simply for men or have any unique characteristics that apply to how discipling men might be different than discipling women. It is written in an obvious western cultural context. Further, it is written in a western cultural manner with a great deal of author bravado.

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure this needed a while book to make its point, but it's a good one: if Jesus made his disciples by them spending time "with him" - we should do the same if we want to make other disciples.

In short, if men are discipling other men (or women are discipling other women) they need to invest time to really get alongside someone and walk with them.

[Jonathan Downing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly impractical. I recognise it's hard to squeeze much into fifty pages but I didn't feel this told me anything I didn't already know. "come alongside less mature Christian men to disciple them". Yes, okay then; now let's get into some details!

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read about what it means to disciple men. Liked it because it was straight to the point and clear. I appreciate the author’s views and how he reminds us what really matters. Very well done

[Ryan Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short summary on how to make disciples, very good!

[Grant Gunston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read this little book twice now and it’s really good. Practical. I recommend it.

Here are some notes:

*With Him*
Jen G. Smith

A Helpful, practical, understandable, doable how-to on disciple-making.

It inspires and encourages one to go out and put it into practice.

_Find_ hungry faithful available people who want to grow. Do it _prayerfully_.

Some key ingredients:
- faithfulness (model it),
- ⁠friendship,
- ⁠practice.

Discipleship in character, fruits of the Spirit and practical wisdom happens between the lines as your mentee who is with you observes how you handle different situations.

Disciple them in
1. Having a goal. What does maturity look like for them?
2. ⁠feed on God’s Word.
3. ⁠pray (use the Lord’s prayer and also ask things in faith)
4. ⁠obey God’s word (ABCD -
- Analysis of what the passage says,
- ⁠Basic / key verse,
- ⁠Commit to obedience where you are not currently obeying (Write it down and share with others),
- ⁠Difficulties (identify and follow through).
5. Get involved in a church and engage
6. ⁠share the gospel (disciples must go on to disciple others and be multipliers).

[Randall Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Him is short, succinct, and clear in its call to Christian men to be discipled and to disciple others. I found it challenging and inspiring to remember that “you must be what you want others to become” and to think how I can be more active in seeking to help other men grow in their faith.

There’s no secret formula or hidden prescription. God wants faithful me who will obey His word. Thus, becoming a discipler and discipling others begins with a clear goal, to “help men become mature in Christ so that they know how to make decisions based on the Word of God [and} make disciples.” This means learning how to feed oneself from the Bible, pray, obey the scripture, be connected to a Biblical church, and take the gospel to others.

This is a good reminder of the fundamentals and a call to extract ourselves from wordly distractions for investing our lives in following Jesus.

[Tim Franks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is sure a great model for doing ministry, life on life with deep love, care, and accountability. It fits very much with the model of how Jesus led His disciples in such a unique and wide open way. This is book is a little basic and repetitive at times, good for a one time read for all looking to help others grow in their faith through organic discipleship. One side note is that the author Ken G. Smith is the person that the Lord used to lead Rosaria Butterfield to the Lord which is such an unbelievable testimony in itself.

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful short book. The 6 steps right at the end helpfully reminded me what I can be doing to others.

Although, I feel like The Vine Project: Shaping your ministry culture around disciple-making goes into more detail about it.

[Ben Popham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sharp - clear and concise, this book is excellent for cutting staleaight to and highlighting an often neglected part of the way we do church - and shows how discipleship is a key part of the building of the church it is easy to neglect. The years of experience that the author has is evident in the writing of this book - it’s length (or lack of) is a sign of the author’s experience and wisdom rather than that there is little to say on this topic.

[Evan Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

At 60 pages this small book is barely more than a pamphlet, but I feel like it is worth keeping in my library for the simple challenge it offers.

The book outlines a very simple and straight forward plan for being and making disciples all underneath the overall heading of "with him."

Essentially boiled down we need to spend time with Christ and invest time in others pointing each other toward Christ.

[Andrew Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was fine; but, as I was reading, I kept wondering when the actual book would start. I was also expecting the book to focus more on "how" to have disciples (it's hard to make disciples if you don't have anyone who cares to listen to you). Though, to the author's credit, most of the book is spent on "why" discipleship is important and "what" needs to be taught and modeled in discipleship.

[Christopher Goins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good! He focuses on one idea: being “With Him.” That is, he briefly traces the master-to-mentor relationship throughout scripture as the way men (and women) grow in the faith.

Jesus did it first with his disciples. Paul did it with his. And they were, in turn, able to produce disciples who were also able to produce disciples and teach today.

Oh, and the opening poem was great!

[Jonathan Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short but useful and encouraging read. This book gives a useful insight into how Biblical discipleship, particularly for men should look and is a helpful reminder of how important it is.
A particularly wise and challenging quote was 'If you expect to be someone who trains others, you must be what you want other men to become'

[Thomas Landt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple and clear outline of several key points when pursuing discipleship of men. Draws very important lessons from Jesus and scripture while incorporating Smith’s valuable experience discipling others. Wished for more in depth discussion on the actual nitty gritty day to day work of discipleship, but still learned some important concepts.

[Seth Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ken Smith brings years of experience and practical wisdom to this little book on why we need to be discipling others in order to grow in our own walk with God. And provides a guide as to what godly discipleship is, and how one should go about discipling.

[Dustin Tramel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We imitate Jesus and take another or others with us." p.26 "In short, one can see in people the traits of their teacher." p. 20 "Whom do you have with you whom you are coaching to walk with Christ?" p. 17

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple and short book on discipleship.
More than anything, I feel it raises awareness to something that has lost emphasis in the recent past, and challenges the reader to do something about it.

[Will Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looked at previous reviews, some along the line of its repetitive. But I think what the book says is very valuable. If we put this into practice, it would change many lives and I'm sure expand the church.

[Helen Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful book, suitable for men and women

[Grant Fawcett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an important little book. Such a vital reminder and encouragement.

[Andy Huette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful little booklet that wonderfully exhorts believers to simple life-on-life discipleship.

[Ian Rees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very straightforward call to leaders to ensure they disciple men.

[Tyler Eason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little guide provides a good overview to the heart behind discipling others and some practical tips to make it happen.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and straight to the point. The model of discipleship presented is much needed in the American church.

[Chase Pheifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite simple yet very convicting.

[Justice Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. Really simple read with a simple theme that I think so many young men miss.

[Andy Treece · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars