discipleship pathway

Newborns-12th Grade

At First Farragut, your child will learn more than just a random assortment of Bible stories. We have developed a lifelong discipleship pathway that intentionally moves children from hearing about God, to understanding who God is, to developing their own relationship with God, to living out their faith independently.

Foundational truths

At every age, children will understand and expand upon these three foundation truths at an age-appropriate level.

The Discipleship pathway overview

Early Foundations

Newborns-2 Years Old

I am loved by God.

Preschool Foundations

3-5 Years Old

God made me, God loves me, and I can learn about Him.

Biblical Foundations

K-5th Grade

I know the Bible's big story and am learning to follow Jesus.

Faith Exploration

6th-8th Grade

I can explain what I believe and ask honest questions.

Personal Faith & Formation

9th-12th Grade

My faith is becoming my own, and I am learning to live it out.

Lifelong Discipleship

High School Graduation

I am equipped to continue growing in faith and serving Christ beyond this ministry.

The discipleship pathway detailed breakdown

early foundations

Newborns-2 Years Old

Our goal: Children begin developing a sense of security, belonging, and familiarity with God's love through relationships, experiences, music, and play.

By the time children graduate into preschool, we want them to have experienced:

  • God made me.

  • God loves me.

  • The Bible is a special book that teaches us about God.

  • Jesus loves children.

  • We can talk to God.

  • We can sing songs to God.

  • Church is a place where people love God and love one another.

  • We can show love through kindness and caring for others.

Preschool foundations

3-5 Years Old

Our goal: Children begin understanding who God is, recognizing familiar Bible stories, and developing simple language to describe their faith.

By the time children graduate into Kindergarten, we want them to have a basic understanding of the following:

  • God made everything, including me.

  • God loves me, and Jesus loves me.

  • I am special because God made me.

  • God is always with me.

  • God has a plan for my life.

  • God made every person, and we should love others.

  • Jesus is God's Son.

  • Jesus loves children.

  • Jesus taught people how to love God and others.

  • Jesus performed miracles.

  • Jesus died on the cross and rose again.

  • We can follow Jesus.

  • The Bible is God's true Word.

  • The Bible teaches us about God and His love.

  • The Bible contains stories about God, Jesus, and God's people.

  • Bible stories are found in different books.

  • We can listen to and learn from the Bible.

  • God created the world.

  • God is good.

  • God forgives us.

  • Jesus is God's Son.

  • God loves everyone.

  • We can pray to God.

  • We can thank God.

  • We can ask God for help.

  • We can worship God through singing.

  • We can listen to Bible stories.

  • We can love others like Jesus loves us.

  • We can share, help, forgive, and be kind.

  • We can make choices that honor God.

  • We can tell others that Jesus loves them.

  • Church is a family of people who love God.

  • We worship God together.

  • We learn about God at church.

  • We can help others through our church.

Biblical foundations

K-5th Grade

Our goal: Children develop Biblical literacy, understand the big story of Scripture, learn foundational Christian beliefs, and begin developing personal habits of faith.

By the time children graduate into First Students, we want them to have and understand the following foundations:

  • God created the world and everything in it.

  • God created human beings in His image.

  • Every person has value, dignity, and worth.

  • God knows me, loves me, and desires a relationship with me.

  • Sin separates us from God, but God continues to pursue us.

  • God's love is not dependent on our performance.

  • God has given each of us gifts and abilities that we can use to serve others.

  • God has a purpose for our lives.

  • Who Jesus is.

  • Why Jesus came to earth.

  • Why Jesus taught, performed miracles, and welcomed people.

  • Why Jesus died on the cross.

  • What the resurrection means.

  • What it means to accept God's grace and follow Jesus.

  • What it means to be a disciple.

  • Know that the Bible is made up of 66 books.

  • Recognize the Old and New Testaments.

  • Be able to locate books of the Bible independently.

  • Understand the difference between a book, chapter, and verse.

  • Know that the Bible is made up of different types of writing.

  • Recognize the major sections of Scripture.

  • Understand the basic timeline of the Bible.

  • Recognize major Biblical people and events.

  • Understand that the Bible tells one overarching story of God's relationship with humanity.

  • Be able to locate a passage when given a reference.

  • Begin reading short passages independently.

  • Understand that context matters when reading Scripture.

  • Recognize that the Bible was written in different historical settings and literary forms.

  • The Trinity: One God, three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  • Creation.

  • Sin and forgiveness.

  • Grace.

  • Salvation through Jesus.

  • The resurrection.

  • Eternal life.

  • The Holy Spirit.

  • The Church as the body of Christ.

  • Baptism and Holy Communion.

  • The importance of loving God and loving our neighbors.

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  • Know how to pray independently using their own words.

  • Understand the Lord's Prayer.

  • Understand why we worship.

  • Participate in corporate worship.

  • Read a short Bible passage independently.

  • Identify a Bible verse and reflect on what it means.

  • Understand the importance of gratitude, confession, and asking for help.

  • Begin developing a personal relationship with God rather than relying entirely on their parents' or teachers' faith.

  • The Ten Commandments and their purpose.

  • The Fruit of the Spirit and what each characteristic looks like.

  • The Golden Rule.

  • The importance of forgiveness.

  • How to treat others with dignity and respect.

  • How to recognize opportunities to serve.

  • How to make choices that reflect the teachings of Jesus.

  • That following Jesus includes loving people who are different from us.

  • That we can make mistakes, receive forgiveness, and try again.

By 5th Grade, these concepts will have been introduced in our Kids Grow program in a continuous rotation. We hope for your child to have memorized or become very familiar with the following:
Books of the Bible
Big Picture Gospel Overview (Creation, Fall, Rescue, Restoration)
The Lord's Prayer
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Armor of God
The 10 Commandments
The 10 Plagues
Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27)
John 3:16
The Apostles' Creed
Days of Creation

Faith exploration

6th-8th Grade

Our goal: Students begin moving from a faith they have been taught to a faith they understand, examine, question, and begin claiming as their own.

By the time students graduate eighth grade and enter high school, we want them to have established the following foundations:

  • Understand what it means to be created in God's image.

  • Understand that their identity and worth are rooted in God's love, not popularity, appearance, achievements, or the opinions of others.

  • Understand that God knows them personally and desires a relationship with them.

  • Understand that God has given them gifts, abilities, and opportunities to serve.

  • Recognize that following God doesn't mean life will always be easy.

  • Understand that God's plans for our lives don't always look like our own plans.

  • Begin exploring what it means to discover their calling.

  • Understand the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

  • Explain why Jesus' death and resurrection are central to Christianity.

  • Understand salvation, grace, repentance, and forgiveness.

  • Understand the difference between knowing about Jesus and choosing to follow Jesus.

  • Understand what it means to be a disciple.

  • Recognize that following Jesus is a lifelong process, not a one-time decision.

  • Begin exploring what it means to share their faith with others.

  • Navigate the Bible independently.

  • Understand the difference between the Old and New Testaments.

  • Recognize the major Biblical genres.

  • Understand the basic historical context of Biblical passages.

  • Understand why context matters.

  • Recognize the overarching narrative of Scripture.

  • Know how to use cross-references and study resources.

  • Begin identifying the original audience and purpose of a passage.

  • Understand the difference between what a passage says and what we think it means.

  • Begin developing a consistent personal Bible-reading habit.

  • Understand that Christians can sometimes interpret passages differently and learn how to approach those conversations respectfully.

  • The Trinity.

  • The nature and character of God.

  • The problem of sin and evil.

  • Grace and salvation.

  • Justification and sanctification.

  • The Holy Spirit.

  • The Church.

  • Baptism and Holy Communion.

  • Resurrection and eternal life.

  • The Kingdom of God.

  • Christian ethics and morality.

  • Develop their own prayer life.

  • Understand different types of prayer.

  • Develop a personal Bible-reading routine.

  • Understand the purpose of worship.

  • Participate in corporate worship.

  • Learn about fasting, service, generosity, and solitude.

  • Understand the importance of Christian community.

  • Begin recognizing how God speaks through Scripture, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and Christian community.

  • Understand how the teachings of Jesus apply to friendships, family, school, and relationships.

  • Recognize the importance of integrity.

  • Understand forgiveness, reconciliation, and boundaries.

  • Learn to respond to conflict in Christlike ways.

  • Understand how their words and actions affect others.

  • Recognize the importance of serving people in need.

  • Begin thinking critically about social pressures, technology, and cultural influences through the lens of their faith.

  • Understand that loving others does not mean agreeing with everyone.

  • Understand the purpose and mission of the Church.

  • Understand the basics of the United Methodist tradition.

  • Know why United Methodists practice baptism and Holy Communion.

  • Understand what it means to be part of a local church.

  • Participate in service and mission opportunities.

  • Understand that they have a place and purpose in the Church right now, not just when they become adults.

Students that choose to engage in Confirmation Class and be confirmed in the church should know and have a basic understanding of the following:

  • United Methodist doctrine as reflected in the Articles of Religion and John Wesley’s teachings.

  • Old and New Testament study — understanding the biblical narrative, key stories, and the role of Scripture in the faith.

  • The sacraments — meaning and practice of baptism and communion.

  • United Methodist history and polity — the church’s heritage, governance, and mission.

  • Discipleship and spiritual practices — prayer, worship, Scripture reading, acts of mercy and justice, Christian accountability, and living out the faith in community.

  • The vows of baptism/confirmation — preparing students to understand and affirm these commitments on Confirmation Sunday.

personal faith & formation

9th-12th Grade

Our goal: Students develop a personal, growing faith that influences their decisions, relationships, worldview, and understanding of their purpose in the world.

At this stage, we want to shift students from what they believe and focus more on why they believe it. By the time they graduate high school, we want the following for them:

  • Understand their identity as children of God.

  • Understand that their worth is not determined by worldly standards.

  • Recognize that they are created in God's image and that every person deserves dignity and respect.

  • Understand God's character and faithfulness.

  • Understand that God's love remains present through suffering, disappointment, and uncertainty.

  • Recognize their spiritual gifts, talents, and passions.

  • Understand the difference between God's calling and personal ambition.

  • Begin discerning how God might use their lives to serve others.

  • Understand that God's plan is not necessarily a predetermined career, relationship, or life path.

  • Articulate the Gospel in their own words.

  • Explain the significance of Jesus' incarnation, life, death, and resurrection.

  • Understand grace and salvation.

  • Understand repentance and forgiveness.

  • Understand what it means to surrender their lives to Christ.

  • Recognize the cost and joy of discipleship.

  • Understand how to share their faith without forcing it on others.

  • Recognize that following Jesus continues throughout adulthood.

  • Independently navigate Scripture.

  • Understand the Bible's historical and literary contexts.

  • Recognize different Biblical genres and how to approach them.

  • Understand the importance of interpreting Scripture in context.

  • Learn basic principles of Biblical interpretation.

  • Use study Bibles, commentaries, and other reliable resources.

  • Compare Scripture with Scripture.

  • Recognize that some passages are difficult and require careful study.

  • Understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.

  • Develop a sustainable habit of reading and studying Scripture.

  • Understand how Scripture informs Christian belief and practice.

Students should be able to explain and thoughtfully engage with:

  • The Trinity.

  • Creation and the image of God.

  • Sin and human brokenness.

  • Grace, salvation, justification, and sanctification.

  • The work of the Holy Spirit.

  • The Kingdom of God.

  • The Church and its mission.

  • Baptism and Holy Communion.

  • Resurrection and eternal life.

  • Christian ethics.

  • The problem of evil and suffering.

  • The relationship between faith and science.

  • The existence of other religions and differing worldviews.

  • Doubt, questions, and the importance of seeking truth.

  • Have an established personal prayer life.

  • Know how to study Scripture independently.

  • Understand and participate in corporate worship.

  • Understand spiritual disciplines and how they nurture faith.

  • Know how to find a healthy Christian community.

  • Understand the importance of accountability and spiritual mentorship.

  • Recognize the importance of Sabbath and rest.

  • Understand how to seek God during difficult seasons.

  • Have experience serving others as an expression of their faith.

  • Apply Biblical principles to real-world decisions.

  • Understand how Christian faith influences relationships, dating, friendships, family, and work.

  • Understand Biblical principles regarding money, generosity, and stewardship.

  • Understand the Christian response to injustice, poverty, and suffering.

  • Practice loving their neighbors, including those with whom they disagree.

  • Understand forgiveness, reconciliation, and healthy boundaries.

  • Recognize the importance of integrity in private and public life.

  • Understand that their faith should influence how they treat people.

  • Develop a heart for mission and service.

  • Understand the purpose and mission of the Church.

  • Know what it means to be an active member of a local church.

  • Understand the importance of Christian community beyond youth group.

  • Understand their role in the larger Church.

  • Be familiar with the United Methodist Church and its beliefs.

  • Have opportunities to serve and lead.

  • Understand baptism, Communion, and the importance of participating in the life of the Church.

  • Know how to find a church community when they leave home.

  • Understand that ministry and discipleship are lifelong, not something that ends when youth group ends.

  • Prevenient grace: God's grace is at work in us before we even recognize Him.

  • Justifying grace: God's grace forgives and restores us through Jesus.

  • Sanctifying grace: God's grace continues transforming us as we grow in holiness and love.

  • The importance of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience in our faith.

  • The call to grow in personal and social holiness.

  • The importance of works of mercy and works of piety.