Common mistakes to avoid
Treating discipleship as programme completion: Don’t just check boxes. The goal isn’t finishing materials; it’s becoming like Christ.
Rushing through content: Quality matters more than speed. Better to deeply grasp one session than superficially cover three.
Knowledge without application: James 1:22 warns against being hearers only. You must apply what you learn.
Isolation without community: Don’t disciple in isolation. God designed growth to happen in community.
Performance-based use of grace-based materials: Ironically, you can use VICTORY (designed to prevent performance-based Christianity) in a performance-based way. Don’t let FAITH resources become another religious checklist.
Skipping earlier resources, don’t jump to FAITH Plus without Simple FAITH and Foundations. You’ll miss essential foundations.
Never revisiting completed materials: Mature Christians regularly return to basics. Revisit earlier resources throughout your life.
The biblical foundation for progressive discipleship
The FAITH pathway reflects biblical patterns of progressive discipleship:
Jesus’ approach
Jesus discipled the Twelve progressively:
Stage 1: Come and see (Initial exposure – John 1:39)
Like Simple FAITH: basic introduction to who Jesus is.
Stage 2: Come and follow (Deeper commitment – Mark 1:17)
Like FAITH Foundations: learning to follow daily
Stage 3: Come and be with Me (Intimate relationship – Mark 3:14)
Like VICTORY: living from relationship, not performance
Stage 4: Come and remain (Abiding fruitfulness – John 15:4)
Like FAITH Plus: mature discipleship bearing fruit
Jesus didn’t teach the Twelve everything at once. He progressively revealed the truth as they were ready.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12, NKJV)
Paul’s approach
Paul distinguished between spiritual milk and solid food:
I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able. (1 Corinthians 3:2, NKJV)
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14, NKJV)
Milk (Simple FAITH & Foundations): First principles, basic truths
Solid food (FAITH Plus): Advanced teaching for mature believers
The FAITH pathway provides milk for babes and solid food for the mature, just as Scripture prescribes.