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Creating Discipleship Materials

Complete Blueprint for Developing Effective, Reproducible Discipleship Curriculum

Strategic design, content creation templates, production workflow, and distribution systems for maximum ministry impact.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

β€” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Why Create Your Own Materials?

Pre-packaged curriculum is convenient. But custom materials are powerful.

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Community Alignment

Materials align with your specific community and culture

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Theological Integrity

Reflects your church's theology and doctrine consistently

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Real Issues

Addresses your people's actual struggles and questions

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Reproducible & Sustainable

Can be used repeatedly and shared across groups

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Cultural Integration

Becomes part of your unique ministry DNA

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Adaptable

Can be refined and improved based on feedback

The Power of Reproducible Curriculum

Reproducibility matters because it enables multiplication at scale

1

Leaders Multiply Naturally

Most new leaders reproduce what they've seen, not what they create from scratch. Reproducible materials enable multiplication.

2

Quality Consistency

Ensures every small group gets core content, not just what individual leaders create on their own.

3

Sustainable Growth

As your ministry grows, reproducible materials scale better than leaders developing everything from scratch.

4

Theological Consistency

Protects your theological integrity across all groups and locations.

5

Leader Efficiency

Leaders focus on shepherding people, not curriculum development every week.

5 Types of Discipleship Materials

Choose the right format for your ministry context

Bible Study Guides

Structured lessons for group or individual study

Intermediate

Devotional Content

Daily readings with reflection questions

Beginner

Training Curriculum

Multi-week courses for discipleship

Advanced

Small Group Discussion Guides

Weekly meeting outlines and questions

Beginner

Evangelism Tools

Tracts, presentations, and conversation guides

Intermediate

Curriculum Design Framework

Define your designer disciple, create scope & sequence, and build learning outcomes that transform lives

Defining Your Designer Disciple

Before designing materials, define what you're designing towardβ€”the mature disciple you envision.

Has a vibrant relationship with Jesus (prayer, Scripture, worship)
Lives with integrity in all settings
Loves others sacrificially (family, church, community)
Manages money generously
Serves faithfully
Shares faith naturally
Handles conflict with grace
Pursues ongoing spiritual growth
Invests in developing others
Lives missionally

Sample Scope & Sequence

A 3-year progressive journey from foundation to multiplication

Year 1

Foundation

  • Relationship with Jesus
  • Identity in Christ
  • Basic disciplines
  • Basics of faith
Year 2

Growth

  • Character development
  • Relationships and love
  • Conflict & forgiveness
  • Managing resources
Year 3

Multiplication

  • Serving others
  • Sharing faith
  • Mentoring
  • Leadership development

Learning Outcomes Framework

For each unit, define outcomes across four dimensions:

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Knowledge

What should people know?

Understanding Jesus' command to love others biblically

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Skills

What should people be able to do?

Ability to demonstrate sacrificial love and manage conflict

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Character

How should people be transformed?

Heart transformation toward genuine love and humility

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Community

How should they relate to others?

Stronger relationships, deeper community bonds

6-Step Creation Process

1

Identify Need

What gap exists in your ministry? What are people asking for?

2

Define Outcomes

What transformation do you want to see? Set clear goals.

3

Outline Content

Break it into logical sections. Create a clear structure.

4

Write & Design

Create the content. Make it visually appealing.

5

Test & Refine

Use it with a small group. Gather feedback and improve.

6

Distribute

Share it with your ministry. Make it accessible.

6 Essential Content Elements

Clear Learning Objectives

Why it matters: People know what they'll gain

Scripture Foundation

Why it matters: Everything is rooted in God's Word

Practical Application

Why it matters: Bridges knowledge to action

Reflection Questions

Why it matters: Promotes personal processing

Real-Life Examples

Why it matters: Makes concepts relatable

Simple Design

Why it matters: Easy to read and follow

Complete Production Workflow

A proven 6-phase process from planning to launch

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Phase 1

Planning

2-4 weeks
  • Define scope & outcomes
  • Assemble team
  • Create outline
  • Assign writers
  • Set timeline
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Phase 2

Writing

4-8 weeks
  • First draft completion
  • Internal review
  • Revision based on feedback
  • Finalization
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Phase 3

Design

2-4 weeks
  • Visual layout
  • Graphic creation
  • Formatting
  • Final design review
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Phase 4

Testing

1-2 weeks
  • User testing with small group
  • Feedback collection
  • Revision based on testing
  • Final adjustments
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Phase 5

Production

1-2 weeks
  • Final proofing
  • Print/digital preparation
  • Quality assurance
  • Ready for launch
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Phase 6

Launch

1 week
  • Leader training
  • Distribution
  • Initial support
  • Feedback collection

Quality Assurance Checklist

Theology Review

  • Sound Scripture interpretation
  • Aligns with church theology
  • No doctrinal errors
  • Jesus/Gospel central

Accessibility

  • Readable fonts & colors
  • Multiple formats available
  • Inclusive language
  • Clear navigation

User Testing

  • Clear & understandable
  • Engaging content
  • Appropriate difficulty
  • Practical application

Distribution Strategies

Multiple channels to maximize reach and impact

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Print Distribution

Advantages:

  • βœ“Tangible & memorable
  • βœ“No tech required
  • βœ“Works for all ages
  • βœ“Portable

Considerations:

  • β€’Printing costs
  • β€’Update challenges

Formats:

WorkbooksHandoutsStudy guidesBound books
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Digital Distribution

Advantages:

  • βœ“Easy to update
  • βœ“Lower cost
  • βœ“Global reach
  • βœ“Easy sharing

Considerations:

  • β€’Requires technology
  • β€’Screen fatigue

Formats:

PDFWord docsWeb pagesMobile apps
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Hybrid Approach

Advantages:

  • βœ“Best of both worlds
  • βœ“Flexible options
  • βœ“Wider audience
  • βœ“Future-proof

Considerations:

  • β€’More complex
  • β€’Higher initial cost

Formats:

Print + digitalEmail integrationLMS platformsCommunity portals

Ready to Create Kingdom Impact?

Access the complete 18-page expanded guide with detailed templates, design principles, production workflows, distribution strategies, and case studies of successful materials.

Everything you need to create professional, effective discipleship materials