09/18/2026
New Lifeway Data: Men and Women Grow Differently—Plan Accordingly
Women score higher on several discipleship “signposts.” Men lead in one place churches often underuse: sharing Christ.
Lifeway’s July 2026 analysis of the State of Discipleship study finds women averaging 68.3 vs. 66.9 for men across eight maturity markers. Men score higher in sharing Christ (56.7 vs. 53.5), are more confident evangelizing (86% vs. 82%), and more often attend a retreat for growth (38% vs. 32%). They also memorize Scripture more frequently.
LMM’s Project Twelve and Bold Gatherings lean into that strength—accountability, retreats, and sending men as witnesses.
How does your church disciple men as men, not as a generic adult class?
https://research.lifeway.com/2026/07/14/men-and-women-have-unique-discipleship-strengths-weaknesses/