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For the past several weeks our pastors have been leading the congregation in steps toward spiritual growth. Follow the steps below to develop your own Personal Spiritual Growth Plan. 5 Steps Towards Spiritual Growth Step 1: Instructions
- Read through the definitions of the Essentials for Growth and take time to look at the Bible verses that are referenced with each one.
- Use an additional notebook or journal to prayerfully and carefully answer each question to help assess where you are in each of these areas.
- After answering the questions about where you are, take some time to brainstorm ideas about how you might grow in each of these areas. Remember, at this point these are simply ideas for you to process in the coming weeks.
- Start praying about which areas God is calling you to grow in this year and how.
- IMPORTANT: Take time to talk in your cove group, family, or other circle of accountability about what you are thinking about and hearing from God.
Step 2: The Essentials of Growth Gather: Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47 Gather is defined as an invitation into intimate Christian community. The membership promise for Gather is: I promise to worship at Chapel Hill regularly and to share my life with others in this church family. Glorify: Mark 12:29-31; Romans 12:1-2 Glorify is defined as a life that is a reflection of Jesus—24/7. The membership promise for Glorify is: I promise to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. Grapple: Luke 6:46; Luke 9:23-25 Grapple is defined as a sincere and prayerful commitment to the Lordship of Christ over my entire life. The membership promise for Grapple is: I promise courageously to learn to follow Jesus and make Him Lord of every area of my life. Give: 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7 Give is defined as a joyful dedication of ourselves and our money to the cause of the Kingdom of God. The membership promise for Give is: I promise to be obedient to God’s claim on my money and my talents for his work at Chapel Hill. Go: Matthew 28:18-20 Go is defined as a resolve to break out of my comfort zone into the world with the love of Christ. The membership promise for Go is: I promise to stretch myself to reach others with God’s love, truth and justice.
Step 3: Questions for Discernment
(How might God be calling me to grow in the following areas and what might He have me do?) Gather - Have I made it a priority to attend worship services weekly?
- Am I regularly meeting in a small group that helps me grow in Christ?
- Have I been hospitable to others by looking up, opening up, and following up?
Glorify - Am I regularly spending time connecting with God through prayer, Bible study and scripture memory?
- Is what I’m reading, viewing, and doing glorifying to God?
- Am I worshipping God outside of worship services on Sunday? How?
- Do I need to change the way I behave at work, school or home?
Grapple - What habits, hurts or hang-ups are limiting my spiritual growth?
- Are there things that I’m afraid of exposing in my life?
- Over what area of my life is Jesus not Lord?
Give - What did I give to God’s work last year? $_____________.
- Have I prayerfully determined a percentage of my income to give to God’s work? What is it? _______%
- Am I controlling my spending and debts in a Christ honoring way?
Go - Am I engaging in Christ’s call to be making disciples? With whom? _________________
- Have I stepped out of my comfort zone for Christ’s sake? How? _____________________
- Am I faithfully serving in some ministry for Christ’s sake?
- What have I done to promote the love, truth and justice of Jesus? __________________
Step 4: Discerning God’s Leading in Spiritual Growth - Prayerfully review the 5 G’s and the questions under each.
- Circle up to 3 of the G’s the Spirit may be leading you to grow in.
- List 1 or 2 things you could do to mature in these areas.
- Pray about these things this week.
- Talk with a trusted Christian friend this week about what God is leading you to do.
- Tell the Lord what you intend to do. Listen for confirmation and guidance.
Step 5: Commit to a Personal Spiritual Growth Plan [link]
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