A conversation with Bill Holdridge
172- The What, Why and How of Barnabas- with Dale Lewis
Some words from poimenministries.com:
“The Barnabas Method has silently transformed over 500 men’s lives across decades, and now this powerful discipleship process is available to every church leader seeking authentic spiritual formation for the men they shepherd.
What’s the difference between knowing biblical information and becoming like Christ? According to Pastor Dale Lewis, most discipleship approaches focus too heavily on knowledge acquisition while neglecting the transformational aspects of spiritual growth.
“Barnabas is about becoming the right person, not just having the right answers,” Lewis explains, drawing from his decades of experience implementing this 13-week process.
The genius of the Barnabas Method lies in its radical relationally. Built on what Lewis calls “the three Ts” – teachability, transparency, and transference – this approach creates safe spaces for men to admit they don’t know everything, share vulnerably about their struggles, and commit to passing what they learn to others. The process unfolds through weekly meetings where men practice focused listening, report on dates with their wives, tackle biblical concepts like new covenant living, and hold one another accountable with remarkable specificity.
Perhaps most counterintuitive is the requirement that the pastor or leader position themselves as a fellow learner rather than an expert who has “arrived.” This vulnerability creates the conditions for authentic community where true transformation can occur. “If you can’t learn from another man,” Lewis warns, “that’s saying something about how much you’re actually going to learn from the Holy Spirit.”
The curriculum traces its origins through a discipleship lineage including Ray Stedman, Harry Ironside, and J. Vernon McGee, but has been refined and streamlined into a reproducible process any church can implement. After completing the 13 weeks, participants are encouraged to begin discipling others, creating exponential multiplication that transforms not just individual men but entire church cultures.
Ready to move beyond programs to transformation? Download the free Barnabas curriculum in any of 103 languages at ScriptureSupply.com and join the growing movement of churches discovering that discipleship isn’t about filling positions—it’s about forming men who increasingly reflect Christ.
Again, to access the curriculum, go to scripturesupply.com, then navigate to Teachings, then to Special Studies, then to Barnabas. It’s all there.
You can download the curriculum in PDF format using the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYlSxeF9mEfTOKoUdx5aC2IqVE1GMQxK/view?usp=drive_link
For Poimen Ministries, its staff, ministries, and focus, go to poimenministries.com. To contact Poimen Ministries, email us at strongerpastors@gmail.com. May the Lord revive His work in the midst of these years!”