Suggested Curriculum

The Bible is our primary textbook when it comes to all matters of faith and life. Yet to many people it seems to be so complicated, and this concept is perhaps enhanced by the numerous books and 'Bible-study helps' that have been published for (would-be) disciples. Whilst not wishing to undermine all the abundant material available (to which this document also becomes an addition!), my concern is to show how the Bible itself really already is a fantastic 'text-book' in the alpha to zeta stages.

Considering the New Testament in the first instance, I have noticed and discerned the following structure:

Noting the above, I suggest the following bible-based curriculum to aid 'conversion' and ongoing growth in the Christian life.  This teaching process should occur best of all within the context of a genuine Christian community and can also be used as foundational building stones in establishing new Christian communities:

Alpha
Mark (+ any other of Matthew through Romans) (+ essential background from Genesis 1-12 and other Old Testament texts) to lead to conversion and being saved! We must communicate some understanding of what the Kingdom of God is and the nature of Messiahship (see 'The Gospel' earlier), which may require first of all clarification of the fact of God's existence, the nature of humanity and the form of the universe (both of which point to the veracity of the necessity for the biblically revealed God) - ie. coming to hold a true worldview.

I would thus say that the following steps could most reasonably be expected to be followed:

a) Pre-evangelism  [P] (laying a foundation of trust, integrity, interest, "shifting the mind onto spiritual things", showing that there is someone who is interested in them);
b) Evangelism [E] (the five evangelistic steps);
c) Foundations [F] (Genesis 1-3, 4-12, Isaiah 61:1-2 & Luke 4:14-21, an overview of this whole document and stages Alpha through Zeta)
d) Discipleship Contract [M] (read Mark's gospel)
e) Sealing the Contract [B] (water baptism in response to verbal faith in Jesus Christ)

Now since not all people will make a decision for Christ at the defined point in the above process (at the end of stage 2, Evangelism), but they may wish to continue to meet with you for Bible studies and learn more, the above five points can be tackled according to the following flow diagram (in which 'C' stands for Celebration Sundays or Church Services or other Group Evangelistic Events):

The following two diagrams give helpful big-picture overviews of world history and the way of salvation:

The way of faith

The way of unbelief, pride, "works"

(The two paths of Abel-Cain, above, is derived from Edith Schaeffer's book "L'Abri")


Beta, Gamma, Delta: phase 1
Ephesians & Philippians for an understanding of your identity in Christ, plus Romans 1-8.
Luke-Acts as a prelude to studying Colossians, Galatians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, for an understanding of life by the Spirit and not in the flesh and not under law.

Epsilon
In the context of seeking advice from other Christians who know you, and whilst being aware of the desires of your heart, your established abilities, your personality and your experience, study Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12, and 1 Peter 4 (here we find lists of spiritual gifts) and ask God to reveal to you what gifts you have. Then study 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon putting yourself in the shoes of the recipients of those letters and discern how one should exercise the gift one has received.

Beta, Gamma, Delta: phase 2
John as a prelude to studying Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 & 3 John, Jude, Revelation, for an understanding that Jesus alone is the Messiah, and that He really is all sufficient, and that we should never swerve away from Him, and that truly in Him we know what God is like!

Zeta
Matthew as prelude to 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, then followed by Romans, putting yourself in the shoes of the writer and the recipients, so that as witnesses, evangelists, and leaders, we know the right use of the law, what the Christian life is, and how / how not to teach and lead in the above.

Whilst having divided the New Testament (NT) up in such a fashion, allow me say that I believe all the elements of alpha through zeta can be found in the four Gospels, in the 'narrative alpha', since Jesus' life necessarily encompassed all these things. He taught concerning the Kingdom of God, He lived it out in practice, and made it possible for us to be a part of this Kingdom through His death and resurrection. We are called to emulate all these things - teach, live, even sacrifice ourselves for others that they may enter the Kingdom - and the rest of the NT is basically extrapolation or application to new converts around the world of all Jesus said and did! Narrative alpha encompasses systematic alpha plus beta through zeta.

(I also sense that in Romans, the systematic alpha, we also have all of alpha through zeta; A being in chapters 1-11, and B,C,D,E,F being in chapters 12-16.)

Furthermore, the Gospels are what the whole Old Testament (OT) always looked forward to, always talked about, and always were pregnant with in its narratives, teaching, and prophecies. Thus the OT is never redundant, and always provides for us rich background and never redundant information for living the Christian life. Thus I suggest a few ways to study and read the OT:

a) in the above curriculum, whenever NT passages refer back to or may be 'similarly found' in OT sections, these sections should be read and studied in their OT context, and then full riches will be abundantly added to you in your faith! (especially when the same themes exist).

b) when reading the OT, note and absorb the following things -
the nature of God
the nature of humanity
the nature of world history, the cosmos, the spiritual realm
the nature of how God deals with & relates to mankind.
the nature of the People of God, in times of obedience and disobedience
the nature of the future
the nature of the Messiah & His Kingdom
the nature of the People of God in the Messianic Kingdom
God's righteousness (tseddeq), justice (mishpat) and covenant faithfulness (hesed), the three of which produce shalom.


May God bless your journey into the Christian life!

Allow me to finish with the words King David once said:

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him"
(Psalm 34:8).