Learn, grow, and follow Jesus.
A free video course in the First Principles of the Christian life: twenty-one lessons in four sections, recorded live at our Sunday discipleship class and taught by Pastor Craig Ledbetter.
One of the greatest needs of Christianity is to be discipled: to be taught how to live the Christian life.
Jesus told His disciples to go and teach all nations. The whole purpose of preaching the Bible is first to show people their need of the Saviour, and then to train them as Jesus trained His disciples. These lessons are milk, mixed with just the right amount of spiritual meat, to help any seeking sinner find salvation in Jesus Christ, and every believer find the courage to stand for their Lord.
Watch one video at a time. Answer a few questions to check it landed. Ask anything you like, and Pastor Craig will write back. Lesson 1 is open to everyone; a free account keeps your place from there.
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God.”
What you'll need
What's needed to get started today!
Your Bible
A King James Bible. Every verse in the course is read from it, and you'll be looking passages up as you go. Any printed or phone Bible will do.
The course book
The printed First Principles Discipleship book follows the same 21 lessons with fill-in-the-blank outlines to write in as you watch. Strongly recommended; not required.
Get the bookA free account
Keeps your place, saves your quiz scores, and lets you send questions to Pastor Craig. Not needed for Lesson 1, so you can try before you sign up.
Create your free accountSection 1: The Foundation
- 01 Biblical Salvation What it means to be born again: why everyone needs saving, what Jesus did on the cross, and how a person receives eternal life as a free gift.
- 02 Eternal Security of the Believer Once saved, always saved? What the Bible promises about the security of the believer, and how to deal with sin after salvation.
- 03 Believer's Baptism What baptism is, what it pictures, who should be baptised, and why it is the first step of obedience for a new Christian.
- 04 The Word of God How we got the Bible, why we can trust it, and the proofs that it is inspired and preserved by God.
- 05 Bible Study Techniques Practical ways to read, study, and understand the Bible for yourself, including a daily quiet time and the tools that help.
Section 2: The Church and Your Walk
- 06 The New Testament Church What a church is, why it matters, how it is organised and financed, and how to find your place of service in it.
- 07 Bible Memorization Why hiding God's word in your heart matters, and simple methods to memorise Scripture and keep it.
- 08 Knowing God Who God is: the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and how a believer comes to know Him personally.
- 09 Personal Worship What worship really is, how to worship God in spirit and in truth, and how to make it part of daily life.
- 10 The Lord's Supper The meaning of the Lord's Supper, who should take it, and how to examine yourself before partaking.
Section 3: Living for God
- 11 Prayer How to pray, what to pray for, why prayers go unanswered, and how to build a real prayer life.
- 12 The Will of God How to know God's will for your life, and how to make decisions that please Him.
- 13 Spiritual Warfare The enemy, his tactics, and the armour and weapons God gives every Christian to stand and overcome temptation.
- 14 The Christian Family God's design for marriage, husbands, wives, parents, and children, and how a Christian home is meant to work.
- 15 Finances What the Bible says about money, work, debt, giving, and trusting God to provide.
Section 4: Serving and Standing
- 16 Personal Evangelism How to share the gospel with others clearly and confidently, and why every believer is called to be a witness.
- 17 Wine and Strong Drink What the Bible really teaches about alcohol, and why a Christian is wise to leave it alone.
- 18 The Christian at Work Working as unto the Lord: honesty, diligence, and being a testimony in the workplace.
- 19 Creation and Evolution Why the Bible's account of creation is true, and how to answer the claims of evolution.
- 20 The Future What God has revealed about the future: the rapture, the tribulation, the return of Christ, and eternity.
- 21 Discipleship Becoming a disciple who makes disciples: how to teach others what you have learned.
How the course works
Watch the class
Each lesson is split into short video parts recorded live at our Sunday morning discipleship class.
Answer a few questions
Four quick questions after each video check that the main points landed. Get them wrong and you can try again.
Ask what you like
Anything unclear? Send a question from the lesson page and Pastor Craig will reply to you by email.
About Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Born in Texas in 1963, Craig got born again in 1980 through the efforts of a soul-winner who cared for his soul one Saturday night. That same year God called him to preach and directed his steps to Ireland. Since arriving in 1994 the Ledbetter family has worked at getting the Gospel into as many homes as possible, especially through discipleship. Craig wrote these 21 lessons gradually as he taught people in their homes how to follow Jesus. He has started two churches in Ireland and teaches at Cork Bible Institute. He is married to Nita, and they have 5 children and 8 grandchildren.
Get the printed course book“An excellent resource! I'm 40 years saved and I found this book very helpful. I would have loved to have come across this book when I was a new Christian.”
“This course is a great introduction to basic biblical principles with each topic broken down into easily digestible sections.”
Questions people ask
Is it really free? +
Yes. Every video, quiz, and lesson page is free, and there is nothing to unlock later. The printed course book is sold separately if you would like a paper copy to write in.
Do I need the book? +
No. The videos stand on their own. The book follows the same 21 lessons with fill-in-the-blank outlines, so it makes a good companion if you like to write as you learn.
How long does it take? +
Each video is a single class session, usually 30 to 45 minutes. Most people take one or two videos a week and finish in one to two years. There is no deadline.
Which Bible do you use? +
All Scripture in the course is from the King James Bible. Lesson 4 and Lesson 5 explain why.
Can I do this with a discipler or a group? +
Yes, and it works well that way. Watch the video, talk it through together, then each take the quiz. If you're a church leader, contact us about the Discipleship Director's handbook.
Why do I need an account? +
You don't for Lesson 1. An account lets the hub remember where you are, keep your quiz scores, and send your questions to Pastor Craig. One account also works for Cork Bible Institute.