Introducing structured, Bible-rich, resources for all disciples of Jesus
The church has focused on making disciples for much of its existence - obeying Jesus’ Great Commission. But once it has new converts, they are frequently left to navigate their walk of faith without being taught clearly what discipleship really means in terms of our attitudes and behaviours. In other words, being clear about what is really at the heart of being a disciple and at the core of Jesus’ teaching.
As far as we can tell, in nearly 2000 years no one has reviewed, drawn together, and created a definitive presentation of the key themes from Jesus commands for disciples to learn and put into practice - UNTIL NOW!
There are some sources online that present various lists of all Jesus’ commands but long flat lists are difficult to remember. Similarly some well known authors have developed lists of Spiritual Disciplines that Christians can apply. These are useful and can be very helpful in creating and maintaining a spiritual life but do not wholly cover the breadth of Jesus’ teaching.
The books we introduce here address this problem by setting out a structured approach to understanding and practising discipleship - the result of two comprehensive analyses. They form a suite of materials, for personal use and to help coach others in their own discipleship.
The first investigation was a detailed consideration of the written words of Jesus, found mainly in the four gospels. The second reviewed the whole of the New Testament and created a six layer structure of discipleship themes, that build upon and are consistent with the first study.
From the first analysis, two books are available:
“Teach Them To Obey - All That I Have Commanded You” (a simple explanation of Jesus’ commands - organised into three high level and nine lower-level themes under the key message for each of us to “Become a more intentional disciple”).
Paperback ISBN13: 978-1-9164405-0-0
eBook ISBN13: 978-1-9164405-3-1
“Teach Them To Obey - Studies For Disciples” (A book for personal or group study to explore, teach, and develop personal, practical discipleship in fourteen sessions).
Paperback ISBN13: 978-1-9164405-1-7
e-Book ISBN13: 978-1-9164405-4-8
They are presented in a way that recognises that during Jesus earthly ministry the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out on all believers. In contrast, the books outlined below include broader teaching about the Holy Spirit within and across many aspects of discipleship. This is because further important teaching is contained in the books beyond the gospels and the recorded words of Jesus.
The output from the second analysis has been organised so that it could be presented and understood in in two key forms. The primary aim was to develop an image based approach that summarises discipleship pictorially in successive layers of detail - hence the “One Page New Testament” title. Five increasingly detailed images have been created that in each case represent a complete description of discipleship at the relevant level of detail, all under the slightly re-phrased main message - “Become more like Jesus”.
In addition, a detailed reference book has also been generated that describes each discipleship theme, supported by typically up to 25 scriptures. The analysis centred around a detailed consideration of where discipleship-relevant Greek words appear in the New Testament, and how these have been translated across many Bible versions. These are referenced throughout (using the Strong’s numbering system) for those who are interested. The book also has detailed Appendices that provide:
The list of all themes - organised by their level in the hierarchy.
A mapping of Strong’s Greek words to themes and the related scripture references cited in the book where they are found in the original texts.
A mapping of referenced scriptures to the different discipleship themes.
The books are:
“The One Page New Testament - Key Images” (available as a low cost e-Book or as a free download (from this website)).
PDF Download ISBN 978-1-9164405-7-9
e-Book ISBN 978-1-9164405-5-5
“The One Page New Testament - Systematic Discipleship” (a comprehensive reference source that explains each of 250 themes in five chapters).
Paperback ISBN number: 978-1-9164405-2-4
e-Book ISBN 978-1-9164405-6-2
Most of the the latest materials are presented on social media
Grok (the AI tool on the ‘X’ Platform) characterises the @teachthemtoobey page as follows:
Duncan Matheson's work, particularly The One Page New Testament series, stands out for its structured, thematic distillation of New Testament teachings into practical discipleship tools—emphasizing layered spiritual growth, obedience to Scripture, and daily application through visuals and "Kingdom Actions." Based on this focus, here are several contemporary Christian authors whose writings align closely in promoting systematic Bible study, New Testament-centered discipleship, and transformative faith practices. I've prioritized those with accessible, step-by-step resources for personal or group growth, drawing from evangelical and Reformed traditions.
Similar Authors:
Dallas Willard:
Emphasizes intentional spiritual formation through New Testament practices, with a structured model for becoming like Jesus via disciplines like solitude, study, and service—mirroring Matheson's layered discipleship levels.
Books - The Divine Conspiracy (1998) and Renovation of the Heart (2002) - These books break down NT themes into practical "curriculum for Christlikeness," much like Matheson's thematic visuals and actions for obedience-based growth.
Richard Foster:
Focuses on systematic spiritual disciplines drawn from Scripture, organizing them into categories (e.g., meditation, prayer, simplicity) for daily NT application, akin to Matheson's "Kingdom Practices.”
Book - Celebration of Discipline (1978) - A timeless guide to 12 NT-inspired disciplines, presented in a clear, progressive structure to foster holistic discipleship—ideal for those building on Matheson's one-page summaries.
John Mark Comer
Advocates a rule-of-life approach rooted in NT rhythms (e.g., Sabbath, slowing down, abiding in Christ), with practical steps for emotional and spiritual health, echoing Matheson's emphasis on discerning truth and loving action.
Book - Practicing the Way (2024) - Structured like a discipleship manual with exercises and NT reflections, helping readers "unhurry" and align with Jesus' way—perfect for Matheson fans seeking modern, actionable depth.
Jerry Bridges:
Distills NT ethics into systematic, grace-centered pursuits of holiness, using Scripture themes to guide behavior modification, similar to Matheson's focus on 65% of teachings challenging thinking and actions.
Books - The Pursuit of Holiness (1978) and Respectable Sins (2007) - Step-by-step biblical unpacking of NT commands for growth, with a no-fluff style that complements Matheson's concise, obedience-driven resources.
NT Wright:
Explores NT themes (e.g., kingdom, resurrection, ethics) in layered, accessible ways, urging readers to live out Jesus' teachings practically—aligning with Matheson's visual summaries and call to "become more like Jesus."
Books - Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship (1995) - Sermons paired with NT theology on daily application, offering a fresh, thematic lens on discipleship that's both scholarly and devotional.
Cynthia Anderson:
Promotes obedience-based multiplication of disciples using NT principles, critiquing knowledge-only models in favor of practical replication—directly paralleling Matheson's systematic, action-oriented structure.
Books / materials - Multiply Movement resources and Disciple Her (2018) - Field-tested guides for one-on-one NT discipleship, emphasizing replication over accumulation, much like Matheson's levels from beginner to advanced.
Dyron Daughrity:
Provides 20 practical NT-based chapters on humble, Christ-like living, focusing on core themes like loving God and others through daily habits—resonating with Matheson's Kingdom Fundamentals.
Book - Following Jesus (2024) - A straightforward small-group study on NT discipleship, with emphasis on focus, humility, and love as actionable steps.
These authors share Matheson's commitment to NT fidelity without overwhelming complexity, often using frameworks for progressive growth. If you're drawn to his visuals and daily posts, start with Comer's or Daughrity's for modern practicality; for deeper theology, Wright or Willard. Many are available as eBooks or audiobooks for easy integration into routines. For more tailored recommendations, exploring X communities around #SystematicDiscipleship or #OnePageNewTestament could uncover user-shared gems.
Why not take 90 seconds to look at video below?
For years, I glossed over the word obey, perhaps because I preferred to think of the task as merely listing the commands of Christ. Teaching to obey is another thing entirely. It requires my own obedience as I make disciples. Duncan Matheson’s work in these books is vital for any Christian. He categorizes more than eighty of Jesus’s commands into three Kingdom Fundamentals and nine Kingdom Practices. This isn’t a watering down of the Scriptures; it is a simplification for the purpose of practical obedience."
—Rev. Craig McClurg – Youth With A Mission (YWAM), USA