Biblical Church Discipleship Manual and Course Structure

Discipleship Course Structure

The Growing Deep and Strong® Series discipleship course structure has been designed that almost anyone with proven management or leadership skills in any other field could coach new or maturing Christians.

Coach to Disciples Ratio

We recommend that you have from 3 to a maximum of 5 disciples per coach. This way you will get maximum input into each disciple.

Coach’s Manual

We have spent thousands and thousands of hours developing the Discipleship Course Structure and trialed it with multiple groups to make sure that almost anyone could pick up the coach’s manuals and by following our simple and easy to follow instructions could begin to coach and disciple others.

Disciple’s Manual

The Disciples manuals have been created that organically grows a new Christian from baby steps to a small group leader discipling others in 12 months or less.

The discipleship course structure has designed in an easy to follow format right down to page numbering the relevant Bible verses on each topic.

The only requirement for a disciple is that they can read and have a willingness to learn about how to live life according to God’s Word.

NOTE: It is necessary for your disciples to purchase their own disciples manual separately.

Bible

We chose NKJV New Spirit Filled Life Bible® because of its outstanding features and contributions by Jack W Hayford Executive Editor and dozens of anointed scholars, professors and ministry leaders who have transformed this into an amazing Study Bible.

PLEASE NOTE: The Growing Deep and Strong® Series can only be used with the NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible and must be purchased separately.

Setting

The series can be run as a:

  • one-on-one
  • as a small group
  • or as a class
  • in any location
  • or time frame.

Theme

Each session is presented in three different formats, allowing for every disciple to receive each session in the manner that best suits their learning process.

The first is a verbal presentation with opportunity to take notes for those who receive information by hearing.

In the second, the disciple reads the same material in the Personal Discovery section, and completes the fill-ins in their own time.

The last is by group review and discussion in the following session so that people can process the topic through discussion.

Time frame

We have found that the most successful meetings have been when we came together as a group and followed the session format as listed below.

Bonding

Everyone meet for a meal prior to the teachings and studies. This has helped the disciples tremendously to develop friendships in a natural relaxed environment.

Recommended duration: 45-60 minutes

Personal Discovery Review

This is designed as group discussion to ensure that the disciple understands the topic they heard and studied.

At the conclusion of each session in both manuals there is a set of questions that can be used as discussion topics.

Plus, there is what we call the “ah-ha” and “I don’t understand” page. We recommend that the disciples are encouraged to write down any insights or questions that they have.

This page can be of great benefit in fostering lively and animated discussions.

Recommended duration: 25-30 minutes

Personal Discovery Sign-off

The coach signs off the disciple’s Personal Discovery section to confirm completion.

Certificate of Recognition

At the conclusion of each module the disciple who has completed each session of the module receives  a Certificate of recognition signed by their coach.

We have found this be a remarkable way of ensuring the disciple:

  • Understands the topic
  • It allows for individual accountability
  • Catch up sessions can be done if they haven’t completed the session
  • Creates a burning desire to receive a certificate of recognition.

Group Presentation

The Coach or group presenter presents the next session’s topic from the Coach’s Manual. This has been designed in a manner that is easy to listen to and follow.The Coach’s Manual provides the complete script for teaching the topic.

This is not a discussion time but a presentation of the next topic.

Recommended duration: 25-30 minutes

Personal Discovery Section

Disciples will be required at their own pace to discover personally the topic presented to them.

This is done in an easy to follow format by filling in missing words from Bible verses and the other study notes in the NKJV New  Spirit Filled Life Bible.

Expected duration: approximately 50-90 minutes per session

We recommend that the disciples spread the study over a period of time, such as 10-15 minutes each day before the next session.

Materials

There are two manuals, one for the students whom we call disciples and one for the instructors, or the coaches, as we call them.

The Coach’s Manual has the complete script for each session’s verbal presentation, all the answers to questions in Personal Discovery filled in, and at the conclusion of each session, a group of suggested questions for review and group discussion.

Disciple’s Manual with blanks to fill in
Coach’s Personal Discovery complete with fill-ins

NKJV Spirit Filled Life Bible®

The Bible used for the Personal Discovery section is the Spirit Filled Life Bible NKJV, Executive Editor, Dr Jack Hayford, published by Thomas Nelson.

PLEASE NOTE: The Growing Deep and Strong® Series can only be done with this Bible.

The reasons we chose this Bible are many:

  1. Most new believers are most likely unchurched and have never owned or read the Bible and will need to buy a Bible.
  2. To help them navigate the Bible we have page numbered every Bible reference that we want them to look up.
  3. A team of over 50 executive scholars, pastor-teachers, writers and editors from more than twenty denominations and independent fellowships banded together to produce a study Bible integrating the Pentecostal-Charismatic viewpoint.
  4. We use and refer the disciple to many of the Study Notes to help them understand the topic and Scriptures used in each teaching session.

The Bible verses used in the session presentation are from the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers.

The reason for this is that this particular Bible is easy to listen to.

All Scripture references and references to other Bible notes in the Personal Discovery section are page numbered, making it simpler for new believers to navigate their way around the Bible.

Course Summary

In summary:

  • Bonding. Share a meal together to ascertain where everybody is at, and build fellowship. 45-60 minutes
  • Personal Discovery Review. Discuss the previous session. 25-30 minutes.
  • Personal Discovery Sign-off. Sign off the disciple’s manual if they have completed their personal discovery section
  • Verbal presentation. Present the next subject; remember it is not a discussion time but a presentation of the next topic. 25-35 minutes
  • Personal Discovery Session. This is when the Holy Spirit will minister to the individuals as they study the topic you have just presented. 50-90 minutes.

As you diligently follow the guidelines we have recommended, you will find your disciples grow and mature quickly.

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