Interact | Discipleship Ideas

I have found the navigators 2:7 series to be particularly helpful in this area. Sure it doesn't really go into the historical-redemptive purposes of God in the old testament, but it does a great job of explaining why the christian should pray, read the word, get plugged into a church, and evangelize. For a new believer, that's really all I could ever ask for.

Andrew

Thanks! I hadn't heard of that one before.

Has anyone used Francis Schaeffer's 25 Basic Bible Studies? I just heard of it, but haven't seen it in person…

An elder in my church has met with me over coffee twice a month and we have been going through Don Whitney's book "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" and it has been such a growing experience in my life. I owe a lot to these men.

Hi Eric,

For a redemptive-historical overview of the bible on a very basic, easy-to-follow level, I was thoroughly impressed with Steve Levy's Bible Overview.

For a an excellent introductory study on Theology Proper, I'm in the middle of Paul Washer's The One True God (review coming soon!), and I would highly recommend it for basic discipleship.

I've also put together a couple of bible studies designed for basic discipleship: Knowing Our God and Knowing Ourselves. Electronic copies may be downloaded freely here and here/a>.

I enjoy the book, Master Plan of Evangelism. While this is an evangelism book, it really gets at the heart of how to build the Kingdom of God, through discipleship. The book is deceiving in its title because it's not really about typical evangelism, it's about authentic discipleship and helping new Christians mature in Christ, and committing to an ongoing discipleshiping outlook.

Also, The Insider is a good book to walk through with a new convert because it breaks down in real time how God has called the believer to a life of purpose, without the "Purpose-Driven" message (which I am not all too fond of).

Before I go through any books with those whom I am discipling, I really establish trust and invite them into my life. Then I just open of God questions and conversations to try and get all the assumptions out of them so I know what direction to go.

My idea on discipleship is not something rigid, rather it is relational discipleship. The person you are discipling may not even know it.

That's my thoughts!

-Jonathan J.

A fellow just emailed me this…

Belonging at the top of the list would be Sinclair Ferguson's The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction. I have found value in Andrew Murray's An Exciting New Life. Basic and suited to mentoring. Opportunities for "filling in" are there.

Phillip

Ummmmm.., Heidelberg catechism?

There's quite a bit of useful confirmation-style resources available for this sort of thing. I think there's still something to be said for classroom approaches to helping new believers get a solid grounding for their faith, though it's obviously important to have individual mentors as well. As far as specific books go, it would ultimately depend on the mentored - what kind of person she or he was like, and what I thought would speak most clearly to them.

I have recently been reading Bethun's commentary on the Heidelburg Cathechism "Grace Guilt, and Gratitude" published by the BOT and I remember thinking what a great way to start your Christian life by going through those two volumes. From what I heard Sinclair Ferguson has some great material. Also, maybe Discipline of Grace?

I personally think the Spurgen Catechism is a great place to start. We have an elder at our church that is covering a question a week. We are having some great discussions due to it at church and around the family table about it. Wayne Grudems "Systematic Theology" is a great first ST for deeper study.

Teach them from book of Romans, because it deals with the Gospel and the effect of the Gospel to the one who has believed in Christ Jesus. It lays out God's election of Jews and Gentiles.

I'd encourage them to read the book that CS Lewis wrote after the death of his wife.

The day will inevitably come when the new Christian will ask...but what about when Jesus seems nowhere? What then? For all of Lewis' confidence in Mere Christianity or the Screwtape Letters, this book shows us that it's okay to think about where God is the midst of life's tragedies and absurdities.

The Bible will remain the core, but it, too, provides the permission to struggle with truth....Jesus wept....Oh, God,why have you forsaken me?

"It's easier to believe the ones who've been there and back. Who've lost, yet have won in spite of the fact. And who find just one thing upon which to depend and sing in their heart a song that won't end."

The end of the growing disciples' journey is much like the beginning. Maturity moving toward simplicity.

WHC

May I add from earlier post that being in the field with Filipino and Nepalese Christians, there is always a need to translate the teachings into their language or at least use the simplest of English in order to convey the thought. Although I have also used John MacArthur's Saved Without A Doubt as a reference in some of the discipleship sessions we have, I see that they are grounded well in our series on Romans.

D. A. Carson's Jesus Sermon on the Mount and His Encounter with the World is a valuable resource too.

May the Lord bless His work through all of you whom He has called.

In His tender mercies,
Tennessee