A Scriptural Paradigm for Christian Instruction

A Scriptural Paradigm for Christian Instruction
Once a person has heard the gospel, has had significant questions answered and been baptized, there must be a process to "fill in the gaps" of understanding and to provide life disciplines to help them to reach maturity. This matches the pattern found in the early church, as the Scriptures show us that after conversion, young Christians are taught in the ways of God:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. [42] And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:41-42)

A Two-Pronged Approach
As with the case of the proclamation of the gospel, the apostles did not define a specific program of instruction for young Christians. However, there are several passages in the Bible that give suggestions about a systematic definition and instruction in the basics of the faith.

The "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:18-19) contains the mandate "... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Thus imparting information and guidance in obedient life disciplines are authorized.
The gospel of Luke was specifically written to give more information about Jesus to those who had come to believe in him (Luke 1:1-4)
The author of Hebrews identified 6 topics that were considered "fundamentals:" repentance, faith, washings, laying on of hands, resurrection and judgment. These could easily be placed into a post-baptism curriculum.
Various writers of the New Testament make reference to the fact that various traditions and teachings were provided to young Christians very close to the time of their conversion. These things are often vague but sometimes identified specific areas of instruction:

Instructions for church meetings- 1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Hope laid up in heaven- Colossians 1:5
Righteous treatment of other Christians- 1 Thessalonians 4:6
Disciplined living (i.e. work)- 2 Thessalonians 3:6
The reality and fate of false teachers- 2 Peter 3:17

Thus, we see two main elements to this post-baptismal instruction: the imparting of information and the training of actions. Yet, the fact that the apostles did not have a specific "new Christian training program" shows that each church or ministry must take the Scriptural mandates and apply them in a manner that suits the people most effectively. This means taking into account other factors like age, culture, place in life, etc.

The Goal is Maturity
The Hebrew writer mentioned that the mature were those who "because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Paul spoke of Christ being "formed" in the Galatians (Galatians 4:19). Yet, Paul told Timothy to discipline himself towards godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).

An instruction program cannot alleviate the responsibility that individual Christians have towards their own growth, but it should point them in this direction, building their faith and knowledge and equipping them for works of service:

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)