DiscipleshipU A curriculum for spiritual growth designed by and for the Columbus Discipleship Networks Discipleship is an ongoing, lifelong process of being changed by God to increasingly resemble the likeness of Christ. And yet, God has entrusted this vital stewardship to members of the body of Christ (Matt 28:18-20), to disciple each other, helping younger members grow into mature believers who are able to effectively win others to Christ and grow them into maturity as well (2 Tim 2:2). In order to be faithful to this calling and to help others in the discipleship network do the same, we have developed a suggested curriculum, outlining three levels of spiritual competencies in the four areas of the Word,,, and, and have provided suggested resources for each. There are many wonderful resources which may not be listed here; this is simply a selection of some of the best material in our experience to help move a younger believer to a more mature one. In addition, we have outlined a list of competencies and resources that a discipler would want to have when coaching a disciple of that particular level. This material follows that of the curriculum for the disciple. A simple assessment tool has been developed in conjunction with this curriculum to aid in determining where a person might have achieved competencies already, and where there is room for growth. This is included at the end. We hope these resources are helpful to you as you grow with Christ and help others do the same. 1 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
Discipleship Level 101 - Able to develop personal quiet time habit - Able to read the Bible and acquire basic meaning and application - Able to pray conversationally with others - Develops daily personal prayer habit - includes intercession, thanksgiving, confession, praise - Committed to local fellowship group - Can articulate the gospel - Can give testimony - Can discern spiritual interest of nonbeliever - Understands and is committed to the biblical basis for relational evangelism and personal discipleship - Begins to give financially to support local church - Understands God s overarching plan and how they uniquely fit into it - Begin to work on character flaws and interpersonal relationships - Developing a biblical view of self worth and value - Foundations from Search Ministries - Foundations ch. 8-9 - journaling - Have you made the wonderful discovery of the spirit filled life? pamphlet - The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman - I Can Do That! workshop - Involved in an outreach activity or event - Testimony worksheet- My Story - His Story- Gospel tracts - Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels - Who I Am In Christ sheet - Neil Anderson s book Who I Am In Christ - SHAPE tool - Lies I Believe worksheet 2 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
Discipleship Level 102 - Begins to memorize key passages on salvation, faith, God s promises - Deepens knowledge and application of the Word - Can accurately pull out theology, gospel from Bible passages - Can articulate apologetic for the reliability of scripture/ the canon - 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders - Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks - Inductive study worksheets - Gleason Archer paper on Inspiration - Xenos Principles Class #3, Week 10: Biblical Canonicity - How to Read the Bible for All It s Worth by Stuart & Fee - Regularly and effectively prays for others - Initiates prayer with others - Can identify a log of answered items - Claims God s promises in the Word through prayer - Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels - Before Amen! by Max Lucado - by Ole Hallesby - Always True by James McDonald - The Kneeling Christian - Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Spiritual Growth by Ken Boa - The Transforming Power of by Jerry Bridges - Prioritizes local fellowship over other life obligations - Actively engaged in relational evangelism and can work through barriers w/ non-christians - Actively trying to disciple new or immature believers - Can answer basic apologetic questions - Willing to help take lead on evangelistic activity - Can transition from casual to spiritual conversation with a non-believer - Supports local church and other worthy missionaries/ agencies financially - Begins to serve others sacrificially - Works hard to change top one or two areas of character struggle - Working to repair damaged relationships/ past hurts and wounds - Adopts biblical view of relationships and sexuality for self - Gets security and needs met by God - The Ways of the Alongsider - Discipleship Essentials - I m Glad You Asked by Ken Boa and Larry Moody - 30 Ways to Live Missionally in the Marketplace - The Reason for God by Tim Keller - God Space by Doug Pollock - Self Worth Without Self Worship - 51 Character Qualities worksheet - Grow Your Marriage small group - The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller - Wild at Heart (for men) by John Eldredge - The True Measure of a Man (for men) by Richard E. Simmons III - The Search for Significance (for women) by Robert McGee 3 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
Discipleship Level 103 - Knows Bible study tools and how to use them (Commentaries, Dictionaries, Concordances, Bible Atlas, etc.) - Basic understanding of how to explain the Word to others - Can explain and reconcile common problem passages in the Bible - Identify spiritual attack & Satan s tactics - Know how to pray against attack/ Satan - Expanded prayer life focuses on others, ministry, and wider prayer for God s kingdom and the world - Able to persist in prayer - Able to identify areas of weakness in prayer and to work on them under grace - Helping take a leadership role in local fellowship - Actively discipling others - Helping their disciple to make a disciple - Models a lifestyle of evangelism where they live, work, and play - Has understanding of major world views and other religions; major similarities and differences with Christianity - Modeling a lifestyle of financial generosity - Can identify lies in self and others and replace with truth - Healthy relationships with God, self, and others - Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties by Gleason Archer - www.blueletterbible.com - http://soniclight.com/constable/ notes.htm - Expositor s Bible Commentary - Bible Knowledge Commentary - How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Stuart & Fee - Victory Over the Darkness by N. Anderson - Satan and His Kingdom by Dennis McCallum - The Best of Prof CDs by Howard Hendricks - Organic Discipleship by Dennis McCallum & Jessica Lowery - Xenos Summer Institute 2013 & 2014 teachings, available online - The Art of Neighboring - Every Good Endeavor (Connecting Your Work to God s Work) by Tim Keller - Jesus Among Other Gods - WorldviewU Workshop - Listening for Leaders Workshop / Listening for Heaven s Sake 4 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
For the Discipler: 101 - Be able to teach basic Bible reading and study methods to your disciple - Model and instruct new believer in prayer basics, including dependence on the Holy Spirit - Begin praying regularly for the disciple - Understand God s role in ministry and pray for his leading in discipleship - Has basic skills to identify spiritual maturity in others and walk a disciple through the four quadrants - Help disciple identify people with whom s/he can find common ground to reach and disciple - Can help disciple acquire gospel fluency and brainstorm evangelism struggles - Can help disciple understand who they are in Christ - Ability to use active listening to build trust and deepen discipleship relationship - Help believer identify key gifts, strengths, personality - Help disciple identify areas for growth and an accountable action plan for change - Develop their personal mission and vision statement for life - Foundations Leader s Guide ch. 10-12 - Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden - Foundations Leader's Guide ch. 8-9 - John Rue s 4-part chart about source of power and will in prayer - The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman - I Can Do That! workshop - SHAPER tool worksheet - Organic Discipleship by Dennis McCallum - Listening for Leaders Workshop / Listening for Heaven s Sake - God s Universal Purpose handout - Discipleship Profile - SHAPE assessment - Prime Movers 5 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
For the Discipler: 201 - Able to defend Biblical canonicity questions to disciple - Able to help disciple study the Bible inductively - Can help disciple use commentary, Bible dictionary - Prays regularly for the disciple in all areas of her/his life - Demonstrates and models vibrant personal prayer life - Prays regularly not just for the disciple, but for expanded reach and influence for Christ - Prays for multiplication for the disciple - Can help disciple identify potential disciples - Able to coach disciple through outreach and able to coach a second generation of disciples - Can answer and teach material on high level apologetic questions - Able to hold disciple accountable for his/ her goals - Knows when and where to refer for therapeutic help in more serious situations - Able to confront serious character and sin issues and help disciple work through them under grace - www.blueletterbible.com - See also resources for the disciple - Same as for the disciple - Real Life Discipleship training manual - Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell - Life Changing Small Groups by Bill Donahue - See also resources for the disciple - Speaking the Truth in Love Workshop - Changes That Heal by Cloud & Townsend - Boundaries by Henry Cloud 6 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
For the Discipler: 301 - Able to coach disciple as s/he teaches the Bible to others - Same as for the disciple - Praying for growth, maturity, and multiplication in discipleship on a regular basis - Same as for the disciple - Can help disciple lead a seeker outreach event or group and follow up - Able to teach and explain basic tenants of other faiths to disciple and show discrepancy with the gospel - Same as for the disciple - Trust Building...loving, listening & leading more like Jesus DVD training. - Able to help disciple identify lies and replace with truth, and develop an action plan - Renewing the Mind Workshop - The Sacred Marriage (marrieds) or The Sacred Search ( singles) by G. Thomas 7 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
The following assessment is designed to be used in tandem with the curriculum above. For each quadrant (,,, and ), the competencies are divided into three tiers, corresponding to levels 101-301; the level of mastery of items in each tier bracket should tell a person how her/his disciple or self is doing in each of the areas. See the curriculum for ideas of how to progress in each area. Discipleship Assessment Discipleship Survey: The Bible 1 Do you read the Bible on your own? Never Occasionally Often Daily 2 When reading the Bible, are you able to understand the basic meaning and apply it? Never Occasionally Often Almost Always 3 Have you memorized key Bible verses on topics such as salvation, faith, or God s promises? None One or two Several Many 4 How often do you need other people to explain the meaning or relevance of Bible passages? Almost Always Often On Occasion Rarely 5 When presented with a passage of scripture, how often do you think you are able to explain its relevance to the death of Christ on the cross? Rarely Occasionally Often Almost Always 6 Do you know how the Bible was written, transmitted, and translated, and reasons for believing that it is the inspired, authoritative Word of God? Not Really Limited Knowledge For the Most Part I Could Teach Others 7 Do you know how to use Bible study tools such as a commentary, Bible dictionary, and concordance? Not Really Limited Knowledge For the Most Part I Could Teach Others 8 How confident are you that you could teach the Bible to others? Not At All Limited Confidence Some Confidence Very Confident 9 When you encounter a problem passage, are you able to explain and reconcile it to other passages in the Bible? Never Occasionally Often Almost Always 8 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
Discipleship Survey: 1 Are you able to pray conversationally with others? 2 Do you pray regularly on your own? Never Occasionally Often Daily 3 When you pray, does your prayer contain the elements of intercession, thanksgiving, confession, and praise? Never Occasionally Often Almost Always 4 Do you pray for the needs of other people? Never Occasionally Often Daily 5 Do you ever initiate praying together with other people? Never Occasionally Often Daily 6 Do you have a record of prayers God has answered? Not At All A Few Several Many 7 Do you incorporate scripture into your prayer? Never Occasionally Often Daily 8 Are you able to sense when Satan is attacking yourself or others? Never Occasionally Often Very Regularly 9 Do you know how to pray against Satan and his tactics? 10 Do you pray for other ministries and the work of God throughout the world? Never Occasionally Often Very Regularly 11 Are you able to identify areas of weakness in your prayer life and work on them under grace? Never Occasionally Often Very Regularly Discipleship Survey: Personal/ 1 Do you understand God s overarching plan and how you fit into it? 2 Do you have a sense of areas in which God might be trying to grow your character? 9 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
3 Do you have an understanding of what the Bible says about your self-worth and value? 4 Can you think of others whom you have served sacrificially recently? Not At All Yes, This Month Yes, This Week Yes, Many 5 Can you identify one or two areas of ongoing character development in your life, both in ways God has changed you and in the work there is still left to do? 6 Do you have an understanding of the Biblical view of sexuality, and are you committed to that? 7 Do you get your security and significance needs met by God, rather than worldly pursuits? 8 When you think things about yourself or others which are not true, are you able to identify those lies and replace them with Biblical truth? Discipleship Survey: 1 Are you committed to a local Bible study or Church small group? I attend rarely I attend sporadically I attend often I attend almost always 2 Can you explain why Jesus needed to die and how we are able to accept salvation to another person? 3 Can you give a short personal story, or testimony, explaining how you came to have personal faith in Christ and how that has changed your life? 4 When talking with a person who does not know Christ, are you able to discern how interested that person is in spiritual things? 5 Do you know the Biblical basis for relational evangelism (sharing Christ with others in the context of a close personal friendship) and personal discipleship (helping another grow in their faith through study, prayer, ministry coaching, and counseling, in the context of a close personal friendship)? 10 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015
6 If you answered affirmatively to the previous question, are you committed to a lifestyle of evangelism and discipleship in your own life? 7 Do you give financially at all to support your local church? 8 Are you able to bring up spiritual topics in conversations with your non-christian friends and steer them toward Christ? 9 Can you help a non-christian evaluate and examine, perhaps eliminate, barriers in coming to know Christ? 10 Are you actively seeking younger or peer believers who you could help in their Christian faith? 11 Are you able to answer basic apologetic questions about Christianity and the Bible? 12 Do you actively seek opportunities to share the message of the gospel with non-christians? 13 Do you give financially to missionaries or other charitable Christian agencies? 14 Have you ever been asked/ offered to help lead a small group or Bible study? Never I ve Offered I ve Been Asked I m Leading 15 Are you actively discipling a younger believer? Never I have in the past I m seeking to Yes 16 If you answered affirmatively to the previous question, are you helping that person to build a ministry of his/her own? 17 Do you have a basic working knowledge of other major world views, their beliefs, and where they agree and differ with Biblical teaching? 18 Are you committed to a lifestyle of generosity, increasing the amount that you (and spouse, if applicable) give to your church and other Biblical agencies each year? 11 Columbus Discipleship Networks The Columbus Discipleship Networks 2015