A repeatable rhythm for meeting with the person you’re discipling.
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17 · ESV
A reading guide from The ChurchHitchcock, TX
One-on-One Meeting GuideThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
The idea
A rhythm you can repeat.
Discipling someone gets a lot less intimidating when you have a simple shape for your time together. This guide gives you one — a one-hour rhythm you can run again and again.
It’s not a script to read word for word. It’s a track to run on, so you can stop worrying about what comes next and focus on the person in front of you.
“As iron sharpens iron, two people who meet with purpose leave sharper than they came.”
Based on Proverbs 27:17
The Church01
One-on-One Meeting GuideThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
The format
One hour, five parts.
Adjust the timing to fit your people, but keep the flow. Each part has a purpose.
Catch up10 minHow’s life, really? Ask about family, work, and heart. Presence comes before progress.
Look back10 minHow did last week go? Follow up on what you talked about and what they committed to. Celebrate wins; be gentle with misses.
Open the Word20 minRead a passage together. Ask what it says, what it means, and how it applies. Let them do most of the talking.
Look ahead10 minWhat’s one thing to put into practice this week? Make it clear, small, and specific.
Pray10 minPray for each other before you go. Model honest, dependent prayer — it’s caught more than taught.
The Church01
One-on-One Meeting GuideThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
Keep these handy
Questions that open people up.
When the conversation stalls, reach for one of these. Good questions do more than good advice.
How is your heart today, honestly?Ask firstGets past “fine” and into what’s actually going on underneath.
Where did you see God at work this week?Notice HimTrains the habit of looking for God in ordinary life.
What’s been hard lately?Go deeperGives permission to be honest about struggle, not just success.
What is God teaching you right now?ListenInvites them to put words to what the Spirit is doing.
Is there anything you’re avoiding or hiding?Be braveAsked gently and over time, this question brings things into the light.
How can I actually help and pray for you?Show upMoves the relationship from talk to tangible care.
The Church02
One-on-One Meeting GuideThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
Make it stick
A few ground rules.
Meet regularly.
Consistency builds trust. Pick a rhythm — weekly or every other week — and protect it.
Keep it confidential.
What’s shared stays between you, unless someone’s in danger. Trust is everything.
Go first.
Model the vulnerability you hope to see. Share your own struggles and growth before you ask them to.
Point to Jesus.
You’re not the answer — He is. Keep aiming the conversation back to Him and His Word.
Give it time.
Real change is slow. Don’t quit when it feels unimpressive. Faithfulness over months and years bears fruit.
Take a minute
Before your next meeting, pick one passage to open together and write down two questions you’ll ask. A little prep makes a big difference.
The Church03
Keep going
Now just keep showing up.
You don’t have to be impressive — you have to be consistent. Run the rhythm, ask good questions, point to Jesus, and keep showing up. God does the growing.
Use this alongside Disciple-Making 101, and reach out anytime you get stuck or have questions.