How to Use WDA Materials

You can use WDA’s materials to build disciples whether you are a pastor, a Sunday School teacher, a parent, a small group leader or a person who wants to grow as a Christian.

Use WDA's CGC (Christian Growth Checklist) to help determine where a disciple is in the growth process. Download a CGC (PDF) for use in your personal ministry.

Below are several scenarios to show how you might use our disciple building materials. If you have questions and need help, please see Frequently Asked Questions or contact us for a personal response.

If you are a young believer

If you are a leader of a Laying Foundations (Phase II) small group

If you are a Sunday School teacher who wants to focus the content of your class and encourage the practical application of truth

If you are a leader who wants to help people deal with their emotional and relational issues

If you are a mentor (disciple builder) of a young believer (Phase II)

If you want to begin an outreach ministry.

If you are a parent

If you are a Senior Pastor

If you are an Associate Pastor of Christian Education/Discipleship

If you are a Youth Pastor

If you are a pastor seeking tips for initiating Laying Foundations (Phase II) small groups/mentoring in your congregation

If you are a young believer:

• If you do not have another Christian or group of Christians to meet with, begin by reading the Pocket Principles in Laying Foundations (Phase II). Begin with the series entitled “Knowing God.” There are 10 in that series. Be sure to think carefully about the Application Suggestions at the end of each Pocket Principle.
  
  Ask God to give you another Christian (preferably someone who is older than you are in the faith) to meet with so you can be encouraged and ask questions.
  
  Also, begin doing the Devotions. Read the Instructions and then begin with the book of John.
  
• If you have another Christian or group of Christians to meet with, join a small group of new believers and begin studying through the Small Group Studies, beginning with the “Knowing God” series. It will also be helpful for you to read the Pocket Principles in the “Knowing God” series.
  
  Being a part of the small group and building relationships with fellow believers is just as important as the information you will be learning, so attend your small group regularly.
  
  Begin doing the Devotions since meeting with God regularly will strengthen your relationship with Him. Begin with the book of John.

back to top

If you are a leader of a Laying Foundations (Phase II) small group:
(At Phase II, a disciple has become a Christian and completed basic follow-up and begins the process of getting to know God intimately and learning to walk with Him in daily obedience)

• For background and information about the disciple building process read and study: Disciple Building: A Biblical Framework and A Small Groups Manual. Two other sources that would be helpful are: Disciple Building: A Practical Strategy and Disciple Building: Mentoring for Progressive Growth.
• Lead your small group through the Small Group Studies beginning with the “Knowing God” series. You will find instructions at the beginning of the Small Group Studies, and in A Small Groups Manual. You may also give them the “Knowing God” Pocket Principles. (There is not a one-to-one correlation between the Pocket Principles and the Small Group Studies.)
• Lesson #1 of “ Knowing God” will introduce the concept of a devotional time. Encourage group members to have a Quiet Time and to follow the schedule of reading offered in Devotions. This schedule was designed to emphasize the truths a young believer needs to know.

back to top

If you are a Sunday School teacher who wants to focus the content of your class and encourage the practical application of truth:

• If you want to use a lecture format or a large group discussion format, use the Teaching Outlines as a resource for lessons, emphasizing the Suggested Applications at the end of each Outline
• Use corresponding Pocket Principles as a tool to give to students to read on topics after the lesson is given in Sunday School. (Teaching Outlines are the outlines from which the Pocket Principles were written.)
• If you want to have small group discussions, divide your class into small groups and use the Small Group Studies.
• For background and information about the disciple building process read and study Disciple Building: A Biblical Framework.

back to top

If you are a leader who wants to help people deal with their emotional and relational issues:

• For background and information about the disciple building process and how emotional issues affect spiritual growth read Disciple Building: A Biblical Framework.
• Read How Emotional Problems Develop to begin to understand the source of emotional problems and possible approaches to remedies.
• Help people work through The Emotion Workbook, if appropriate.

back to top

If you are a mentor (disciple builder) of a young believer (Phase II):

• For background and information about the disciple building process read and study: Disciple Building: A Biblical Framework and Disciple Building: Mentoring for Progressive Growth. Another helpful resource is Disciple Building: A Practical Strategy.
• Encourage your disciple to join a small group or begin a small group yourself where the Laying Foundations Small Group lessons will be studied.
• Encourage your disciple to begin having a personal devotional time. Use Devotions in Laying Foundations material. Use Pocket Principles in Laying Foundations materials to supplemental Small Group Studies if your disciple is eager and able to learn and apply more truth. (Application is paramount.)

back to top

If you want to begin an outreach ministry.

The Equipping for Ministry (Phase III) resources are available to help a leader (or team of leaders) train a group of believers who are ready to learn the basics of ministry. The resources are designed for a small team that will interact around ministry themes and take action in evangelism. We strongly encourage that the Christian Growth Checklist (CGC) be administered to all participants to determine if this is the appropriate faith challenge for them.

Actually, Equipping for Ministry (Phase III) encompasses two phases simultaneously. Imbedded in the Phase III materials are tools to reach unbelievers and assist (follow-up) people who have recently trusted Christ (both of these groups are in Phase I, Establishing Faith). After leading people to faith in Christ and conducting basic follow-up, the ministry should then implement Laying Foundations (Phase II). (See Phase II information above.)

back to top

If you are a parent:

The current WDA materials are designed to be used with adults, but they can be adapted for youth. The NGP approach (explained in Disciple Building: A Practical Strategy) can be used to design individual growth projects for children.

back to top

If you are a Senior Pastor:

• If practical, mentor or lead a small group of new believers yourself. (see Mentor/Disciple Builder above.)
• If not, become familiar with the overall strategy. (Read Disciple Building: A Biblical Framework and refer periodically to the R-CAPS Grid, R-CAPS Legend and What Jesus Did/What We Can Do for clarification.) Regardless of your involvement, become the emotional champion of disciple building in your church.
• Challenge any leaders who have a vision for disciple building to become Laying Foundations mentors and/or small group leaders.
• Be sure someone meets regularly with these leaders to pray with them and give feedback.

back to top

If you are an Associate Pastor of Christian Education/Discipleship:

• If practical, mentor or lead a small group of new believers yourself. (see Mentor/Disciple Builder above.)
• If not, become familiar with the overall strategy. (Read Disciple Building: A Biblical Framework and refer periodically to the R-CAPS Grid, R-CAPS Legend and What Jesus Did/What We Can Do for clarification.) Regardless of your involvement, become the emotional champion of disciple building in your church.
• Challenge any leaders who have a vision for disciple building to become Laying Foundations Mentors and/or small group leaders with you.
• Meet regularly with these Laying Foundations (Phase II) leaders and pray with them and give feedback.

back to top

If you are a Youth Pastor:

• (See suggestions under “Associate/Discipleship Pastor”)
• Be aware that these resources were not written specifically for a youth audience. Though the concepts are designed for new believers of any age, some of the illustrations may need to be adapted.

back to top

If you are a Pastor seeking tips for initiating Laying Foundations (Phase II) small groups/mentoring in your congregation: (Use any or all of these methods)

• Publically announce the formation of the groups and/or mentor opportunities, communicating the purpose and goals of the Laying Foundations Experience. Invite voluntary participation. Assign those interested to a group or a mentor. Use the Laying Foundations resources.
• Assess all members using the Christian Growth Checklist. Encourage those who need the Laying Foundations Experience to join a small group or connect with a mentor.
• After evangelism and initial follow-up are completed, direct all new believers into a Laying Foundations small group and assign them a mentor. (Consider making these groups extensions of the "new member" process.)

back to top