Testing · Matthew 4:1–2
Jesus in the wilderness
After His baptism, Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. His experience gives a striking picture of testing following a public beginning.
A 40-day discipleship pathway
Your first 40 days can shape a life of discipleship.
A guided start for new Christians, built to help each person become ready to be a disciple through Assessment, Education, and Effort.
A practical sequence from new faith to readiness for discipleship.
The First Forty uses the RCI change readiness framework as a template for supporting the start of this journey.
One pathway, three parts
Each part builds on the last.
A 40-day program shaped to support a new Christian’s growth toward being ready to be a disciple.
PART 1
Assessment
Begin by reflecting on where you are now and what becoming a disciple means in your life.
Explore AssessmentPART 2Education
Build understanding through learning shaped around the first steps of Christian discipleship.
Explore EducationPART 3Effort
Take what you are learning into practice, one step at a time, as you continue your first 40 days.
Explore EffortWhy forty days?
A biblical pattern for seasons of transition.
Across Scripture, 40-day periods often mark testing, preparation, or transition between one chapter and the next. The First Forty takes that pattern as a meaningful frame for supporting the early days of discipleship.
Renewal · 1 Kings 19:8
Elijah’s journey
After exhaustion and despair, Elijah received food and rest, then traveled 40 days to Horeb, where he encountered God.
Preparation · Acts 1:3
Jesus prepares His disciples
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples over 40 days, teaching them about God’s kingdom before they carried His mission forward.
The First Forty is inspired by this biblical pattern. It does not suggest every new Christian’s first 40 days are the same; it offers a structured season of support as faith begins to take shape in daily life.
More 40-day moments in Scripture
The pattern appears in other seasons too: the flood and a new beginning (Genesis 7:12, 17); Moses on Sinai receiving the Law (Exodus 24:18); the spies exploring Canaan (Numbers 13:25); Jonah’s warning to Nineveh (Jonah 3:4); and Jesus’ 40 days of appearances after the resurrection (Acts 1:3). The Bible also describes longer 40-year seasons, including Israel’s wilderness journey.
Part 1 · Begin with reflection
Assessment.
A starting point for considering a person's readiness and the path ahead.
The first part of The First Forty is Assessment. It creates a place to reflect on the beginning of faith and the changes that come with choosing to follow Christ.
Using the RCI framework as its template, the program keeps readiness in view as it guides a person through the first 40 days.
A thoughtful place to start
The assessment belongs to a larger pathway: reflection leads into learning, and learning leads into effort.
Part 2 · Learn and grow
Education.
A chance to build understanding as a new Christian takes the next steps in faith.
The second part is Education. It supports learning during the first 40 days, helping connect the beginning of Christian faith with readiness to live as a disciple.
The First Forty places this learning inside a change readiness framework, with attention to Context, Value, Information, Commitment, Belief, and Effort.
Explore the readiness frameworkPart 3 · Put learning into practice
Effort.
A continued step toward becoming ready to be a disciple.
The third part is Effort. It points toward practicing what has been learned and continuing to grow beyond the first steps.
The aim is not simply to complete 40 days, but to support a person as they move toward a life of discipleship.
The RCI change readiness framework
Readiness has more than one dimension.
The Readiness for Change Institute, LLC’s framework provides the template for how The First Forty lays out the program.
The pathway is organized around three parts, with these six areas informing its readiness lens:
01
Context
02
Value
03
Information
04
Commitment
05
Belief
06
Effort
Who the program serves
A beginning supported by a community.
The First Forty is designed for people at the beginning of their Christian journey, including new Christians and those recommitting to their faith.
Pastors and camp counselors are also among the people the program is intended to serve, as they support others becoming ready to be disciples.
Questions about The First Forty
A clear view of the pathway.
A simple overview of who it supports and how the program is structured.
What is The First Forty?
The First Forty is an educational app created to support people through the first 40 days of becoming a Christian and help them become ready to be a disciple.
Why focus on 40 days?
Throughout Scripture, 40-day periods often mark testing, preparation, or transition. The First Forty draws on that biblical pattern to offer intentional support during the early transition into discipleship. It is a framework for support, not a claim that every person’s experience is the same.
How is the program organized?
The pathway has three parts: Assessment, Education, and Effort. Each part contributes to a guided start in discipleship.
What is the RCI framework?
The Readiness for Change Institute, LLC provides the change readiness framework used to shape the program. Its areas are Context, Value, Information, Commitment, Belief, and Effort.
Who is the program for?
The First Forty is intended for new Christians and recommitting Christians, as well as pastors and camp counselors who support them.
Start the journey