The foundation of a house is fairly simple and straightforward, not complex like the architectural details that follow in the construction process. Upon a good foundation, a variety of houses can be built: contemporaries, Victorians, even log cabins. No builder, however, would attempt to construct a house without a well-constructed foundation. And, perhaps even more futile, attempting to construct the foundation after the rest of the house is under construction.

Foundational discipleship is a process of relational teaching through example that must be built into a new Christian in the first few months of their newfound faith. It focuses on the first few months of a Christian’s faith. It instructs relationally. It teaches basic disciplines while understanding the problems that new Christians face. Foundational discipleship is the same for all Christians, all denominations, all nations, and all peoples. Formational discipleship, which is the deliberate, ongoing, and maturing of followers of Jesus in the ways of God, is different for all Christians, all denominations, all nations, and all peoples. A Russian flat looks very different from a Southern antebellum mansion, but the foundations are the same!

There are four distinctives of foundational discipleship:

• One-on-one relational instruction
• Awareness of the temptations that all new Christians confront
• Development of the foundational disciplines of prayer, Bible study, fellowship and evangelism/discipleship
• Completed within the first three months of their new faith

In the Sermon on the Mount (Mt.7:24-27), Jesus teaches that a Christian with the proper foundation will live in a house of faith that withstands the storms of life. With this foundation, a Christian can become a doctor, lawyer, pastor, or teacher. Without this foundation, the Christian doctor, lawyer, pastor, or teacher could profess Christ for years, but sooner or later, will find themselves vulnerable to trials, temptations, false teaching, or despair. A house will fall unless it has the right foundation.