Lesson 1
The Father and the Son
Knowing and Resembling Our Father
Learn from Jesus the Son to trust, honor, obey, and depend on the Father, then reflect the Father’s love in relationships with others.
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A Basic Discipleship Course · Free Certificate Course
Relational Discipleship: Cross Training
Instructor: Pastor Paul J. Bucknell
Grow in love for God and others through twelve biblical relationship pictures that show how Christ forms trust, obedience, devotion, service, mercy, faithfulness, cooperation, and fruitfulness in everyday life.
“You shall love the Lord your God ... You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37–40
Course Goals at a Glance
See where this course is taking you
Cross Training joins two great biblical concerns—loving God wholeheartedly and loving people rightly. Each lesson brings together what a relationship picture teaches about God and how that same truth reshapes our earthly relationships.
Know God Better
Understand how the Father, Shepherd, Teacher, King, Priest, Redeemer, and Vine reveal Christ’s ways.
Love People Biblically
Learn how those same truths reshape fathering, serving, praying, showing mercy, marriage, teamwork, and care for others.
Grow in Christlike Character
Strengthen obedience, trust, purity, compassion, faithfulness, cooperation, and fruitfulness.
Live on Mission
Move from private belief to practical discipleship, helping others know Christ and grow in Him.
Free Enrollment
Enroll in Relational Discipleship
Your private My Progress link keeps the required introduction, lesson video and handout completion, quiz scores, and certificate status together. Email enrollment first sends a confirmation link. WhatsApp enrollment immediately prepares a message containing your private progress link plus the free PDF and EPUB book links.
Already Enrolled?
Use the private My Progress link BFF sent or provided when you enrolled. If you lose it, enroll again with the same email address to receive a fresh link, or use the same WhatsApp number to recreate the prepared WhatsApp message.
Begin Here
Required Introduction
Before Lesson 1, read Introduction: Why Relational Discipleship? It explains why Cross Training joins our relationship with God to our relationships with other people and establishes the purpose of the twelve relationship pictures.
Open Required Introduction View/Download PDF
Certificate requirement: Mark the introduction reading complete from its course page.
Course Lessons
12 biblical relationship pictures
Lesson 2
The Shepherd and the Lamb
Reflecting God’s Love
Receive the Good Shepherd’s care, provision, and protection, learn to trust Him in fear and uncertainty, and extend His care to others.
Open lesson →Lesson 3
The Teacher and the Disciple
Learning Like Christ
Grow as a lifelong disciple who listens to Christ, tests other influences by His Word, applies what He teaches, and helps others follow Him.
Open lesson →Lesson 4
The King and the Kingdom
Extending God’s Glory
Live as a loyal member of Christ’s kingdom, placing His will above personal preference and joining His mission through obedience, prayer, and witness.
Open lesson →Lesson 5
The Bridegroom and the Bride
Love and Constant Service
Treasure Christ’s covenant love, remain devoted to Him, live in expectation of His return, and protect purity in thought and conduct.
Open lesson →Lesson 6
The Judge and the Guilty
Living in a Just World
Face God’s perfect justice and our guilt, rejoice in the mercy offered through Christ, and learn to pass that mercy on to others.
Open lesson →Lesson 7
The Priest and the People
Learning Compassionate Prayer
Understand Christ’s priestly work, depend on Him as mediator, and embrace the believer’s calling to pray, intercede, and care for others.
Open lesson →Lesson 8
The Master and the Servant
Devotedly Serving God and Others
Follow Jesus the Servant Leader by making yourself available to God, obeying Christ readily, and serving others faithfully with what He has entrusted to you.
Open lesson →Lesson 9
The Redeemer and the Chosen
We Belong to Him
Receive the security and purpose of being chosen and redeemed by God, then express His kindness even in difficult relationships and circumstances.
Open lesson →Lesson 10
The Cornerstone and the Living Stones
God’s Design for Me
Build on Christ the Cornerstone, accept God’s design for your life, and grow as a living stone fitted together with other believers in love.
Open lesson →Lesson 11
The Husband and the Wife
Faithful to My Commitment
Use marriage and Christ’s relationship with the church to understand headship, covenant commitment, faithfulness, respect, and enduring love.
Open lesson →Lesson 12
The Vine and the Branches
Abiding in Christ
Depend on Christ as a branch depends on the vine, receive the Father’s pruning, remain close through obedience and prayer, and bear lasting fruit.
Open lesson →Helpful Resources
Book and overview resources
Free course book: Enrolled students receive the PDF and EPUB links in their enrollment email or WhatsApp message. Keep that message or downloaded copy for the required lesson readings.