Every pastor knows that solid discipleship materials are vital... But if you're a pastor of a smaller church, you know the challenges: limited resources, time constraints, and often feeling like you're winging it.
I'm a 20 year pastor... and I did that for too long! I was winging it every time someone became a Christian, and I had no materials that I was excited to give out... everything I tried was either too lame and too much like a brochure, or too dense and like the Yellow Pages.
I finally created the NewStart Discipleship family of tools, and have been training pastors how to use them since 2020.
Let's talk about some key questions about discipleship materials, and then I'll have some free samples below:
What Should Discipleship Materials Cover?
I have reviewed literally dozens of discipleship materials... and many of them are very different from each other. Why? Because they have different philosophies behind them!
So here's my philosophy, after years of working on this issue:
Discipleship materials shouldn't just be about learning new facts—they should be designed to form habits that stick for a lifetime. A lot of discipleship programs make the mistake of focusing solely on information. But what happens when we focus on just learning? We produce believers who can rattle off Bible facts but don’t have a framework for actually living it out.
So here's the bottom line: discipleship materials should focus on developing habits that are still transforming new believers 30 years from now! We want to see them build habits that will help them thrive spiritually, not just today, but for decades. Here are the key habits discipleship materials should cover:
Bible Reading – It’s the foundational habit. Consistent time in Scripture feeds the soul. As Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, ESV).
Bible Engagement – It’s more than just reading. Discipleship should include ways to help new believers engage with the Word—through asking questions, meditation, memorization, and, most importantly, obedience. How can they let the Scriptures guide their daily lives?
Prayer Journaling – Encourage new believers to journal their prayers. This practice helps them track their growth, and it deepens their connection to God as they reflect on how He answers prayer over time.
Gratitude – A habit of gratitude changes perspective. Teaching new believers to regularly thank God for His goodness helps shift focus from circumstances to God’s faithfulness.
Scripture-based Prayer – Instead of just praying a list of needs, teach them to pray through the Bible. Using Scripture as a guide for prayer creates deeper, more focused times of communion with God.
Contact with a Mentor or Disciple-Maker – Discipleship is a relationship, not a solo act. Regular interaction with someone more spiritually mature helps new believers stay accountable, ask questions, and keep growing.
"Discipleship isn’t about stuffing information into someone’s head—it’s about transforming their habits, so they can live out the life of Jesus."
If we help new believers develop these habits early on, they will become spiritually strong, resilient disciples, ready to stand firm in their faith, long after their "new Christian excitement" wears off.
How Can I Make Discipleship Materials Easy to Use?
One of the biggest challenges in discipleship is making the materials simple and accessible for new believers. Let’s face it—many of them are overwhelmed already. They’ve just started this journey, and the last thing they need is a complex, burdensome process that makes them feel like they’ll never catch up. So, how do we create materials that anyone can use? Here are a few key ways to make discipleship tools easy to use:
Written with New Christians in Mind – Discipleship resources should be approachable for someone who doesn’t yet know much about the Bible or Christian practices. Avoid "Christianese" that would leave them scratching their heads. Simple and direct is best, without dumbing it down.
Clear Explanations of the Scripture – Let’s not assume new believers already understand Bible passages. Each verse or passage needs to be explained clearly and practically. Help them connect the dots!
Integration with Technology – We live in a tech-savvy world, so why not use that to our advantage? For instance, NewStart Discipleship integrates QR codes with its materials, linking to videos or extra resources with just a quick scan from a phone. This makes it easy to access content and engage with materials in a way that fits into their daily tech habits.
Video Training – Some people just aren’t big readers, and that’s okay! Offering discipleship through video can be a game-changer for those who learn best through hearing and seeing. With video, they can feel as though someone is walking them through the material, instead of just reading it on their own.
Bite-Sized – The journey of discipleship can feel overwhelming, so we need to make the content manageable. Break lessons into smaller chunks—something that can be completed in 10-15 minutes a day. This helps keep the experience from feeling intimidating, and makes it easier for someone with a busy life to stay consistent.
Flexible – Every new believer has different needs. Maybe someone’s coming from a background of church knowledge but has never been discipled, while another person knows nothing about the Bible. Discipleship materials should be adaptable, allowing the disciple-maker to personalize the journey. The goal is spiritual growth, not sticking rigidly to a curriculum.
“Discipleship materials aren’t ‘one size fits all.’ They should be easy to use, adaptable, and fit into the rhythms of the new believer’s life.”
By designing materials that meet new Christians where they are, we’re setting them up for long-term success, not just short-term inspiration. Discipleship that’s easy to use is discipleship that gets done.
Sample New Believer Discipleship Materials
Here are the most impactful discipleship materials for new believers I've seen. They can help you guide new Christians effectively. I'm including links where you can download samples of each of these for free!
1. NewStart Discipleship Journal
The NewStart Discipleship Journal is a 50-day Bible reading plan specifically designed for new Christians. This journal helps new believers establish foundational habits in their walk with Jesus.
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Covers 50 key passages of Scripture.
Daily Videos: Each day includes a short video that explains the day's reading, providing context and application.
Prayer and Meditation: Promotes daily prayer and reflection on the Scripture.
Mentorship Connection: Encourages regular contact with a mentor to discuss learnings and challenges.
With discipleship materials like this, pastors don't need to feel unprepared to guide new believers ever again. With this journal, you don’t have to create a plan from scratch—just print and go!
Download a free copy here:
2. The Obedience Challenge
The Obedience Challenge is a 90-day study focused on the commands of Jesus. It's designed to help new believers understand and live out Jesus' teachings in practical ways.
Comprehensive Study: Covers 48 commands of Jesus.
Daily Videos: Each day includes instructional videos to explain the commands.
Prayer Focus: Encourages a daily 4-minute prayer challenge.
Community Engagement: Reminds new believers to connect with mentors and fellow Christians.
This resource is especially useful for pastors who struggle to simplify the essence of discipleship. It ensures new believers are not just hearing Jesus' words but learning to live them out.
If you'd like a free sample copy of this PDF, here it is:
3. The Baptism Challenge
This 21-day Bible study prepares new believers for baptism, ensuring they understand its significance and are ready to share their testimony.
Daily Bible Study: Explains the meaning and importance of baptism.
Testimony Writing: Helps new believers articulate their faith journey.
Daily Videos: Provides simple explanations from an experienced pastor.
Prayer and Evangelism: Encourages daily prayer and outreach to family and friends.
This resource tackles the issue of new believers not fully understanding baptism, making it a memorable and spiritually enriching experience.
Here's the link to download a free copy:
4. Moving From Me to We
This 40-day study focuses on the "one another" commands of the Bible, helping new believers integrate into the church community. I've written extensively on the value of community for discipleship. It's incredibly important!
Daily Bible Study: Covers the "one another" commands.
Community Focus: Emphasizes the importance of living in Christian community.
Daily Videos: Provides teaching on each command.
Prayer Challenge: Encourages daily prayer for strength to live out these commands.
For pastors who struggle with connecting new believers to the church community, this resource offers a clear pathway to belonging and active participation in church life.
Again, this is one that you can get a free copy of right here:
5. How to Pray the Psalms
This 21-day devotional guide helps new believers learn to pray using the Psalms, turning their prayers into a conversation with God.
Daily Devotionals: Guides believers through praying a different Psalm each day.
Prayer Structure: Encourages praise, confession, repentance, and requests.
Interactive Videos: Provides daily videos to enhance understanding and practice.
Spiritual Growth: Helps believers develop a deeper, more personal prayer life.
We were talking about habits above. This resource addresses the need for new believers to develop a robust prayer life, grounded in Scripture. To download a free sample copy of this discipleship material, use this link:
6. The Gospel Challenge
This resource helps new believers understand the Gospel deeply through a study of the book of Romans.
30-Day Study: Focuses on the fundamental truths of the Gospel.
Daily Videos: Breaks down complex theological concepts into understandable teachings.
Prayer and Reflection: Encourages daily meditation on the Gospel message.
Mentorship and Discussion: Promotes regular conversations with mentors.
This resource ensures new believers grasp the core of the Christian faith-- the Gospel. With all of the thin, false, or watered-down Gospel ideas out there, there's only one that still truly transforms lives! This study of Romans helps new believers recognize and live out the true Gospel of Jesus.
I'm currently doing the video work for this one. As soon as I finish writing this post, I'm going to grab my preaching Bible, and teach thru the final chapters of Romans. This one will be out in the fall of 2024.
Why Choose NewStart Discipleship Materials?
As a pastor who has spent years discipling new believers, I designed these tools to be practical, biblical, and easy to use. Whether you're leading a congregation of 10 or 100, these resources provide a clear, actionable plan for making disciples.
Benefits:
Clear Pathway: Each resource is part of a well-defined discipleship pathway.
Customizable: Print as many copies as you need, or even white-label the materials with your church's branding.
Support and Guidance: Each tool comes with instructional videos and support materials to help you succeed.
By using these resources, you can transform your approach to discipleship, ensuring that no new believer falls through the cracks. Embrace the NewStart Discipleship tools and watch your disciples start making progress -- and being able to multiply.
For more details, visit NewStart Discipleship. Start equipping your new believers with the best discipleship materials today!
