We’re excited you’re working with a Believer.  We’ll show you how to move a Believer,  who needs to be fed, to become a Disciple who feeds themselves.  We promise that if you use STAGES in the way it’s intended, you’ll produce Disciple Makers.  What’s a Believer? Click here for how we define Believer and other FAQs.  Once you’re comfortable with the definition, start the following steps:

MAKE SURE THE PERSON YOU ARE WORKING WITH HAS FILLED OUT THE STAGES ONLINE ASSESSMENT FORM. The assessment will help you understand where they are and what you need to do to help them.  Find the form here.

HAVE “THE TALK” IN YOUR FIRST MEET-UP.  “The Talk” sets the table for your discipleship relationship.  Most versions have an overview of the Assessment, Growth Rhythms, and Meet-Ups.  It also shapes the expectations in a new discipleship relationship for both the disciple and the disciple maker.  More than likely it will take up your entire time for your first encounter especially as you unpack their assessment.  If you are working with someone who has just made a decision for Christ, we suggest you use “The Talk For New Believers.”

START ADDRESSING GROWTH AREAS IN YOUR MEET-UPS.  Choose a lesson below, print it out, and read it together during the Look Up time in your Meet-Up. Use our Meet-Up Guide to help you organize your time.  For an overview of how to lead Meet-Up’s, click here.

THINGS TO KNOW

• FIRST STEPS (FOR NEW BELIEVERS) PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5 ALTERNATIVE: THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST (adapted from Jeff Sundell)
• REPENT & BELIEVE PART 1, PART 2
• REVIEW THE BIG STORY
• GETTING TO KNOW GOD
• VALUING THE BIBLE PART 1, PART 2
• HOW TO PRAY,   A SIMPLE METHOD S.T.P.
• HOW TO READ THE BIBLE USING S.O.A.P   (video option)
• HOW TO READ THE BIBLE USING S.P.E.C.K.A.
• IDENTITY RECOVERY PART 1, PART 2
• THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY- CHURCH

THINGS TO FEEL

• ENJOYING FORGIVENESS
• WONDER AT ADOPTION   (video option)
• GRATEFUL AND CHILDLIKE
• HUNGRY TO FEED
• SENSITIVE TO SIN
• EXCITED TO SHARE

THINGS TO DO

• CONFESS SIN
• SHARE YOUR STORY
• SHARE GOD’S STORY
• BE BAPTIZED
• BE IN COMMUNITY
• PRAY
• READ YOUR BIBLE

Remember to use a Meet-Up Guide to help you organize your time no matter which topic you choose. If you get done with all the material above but still want to spend time working on this stage , check out these extra resources and suggestions.

Paul Johnson, the creator of STAGES, has made an app to house his discipleship material.  You can find it here and download it to your mobile device.