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SPIRITUAL GROWTH DEFINING THE TERMS The Roots - Communion with God Bible reading - reading or listening to portions (i.e. a paragraph or chapter) of God s word to gain familiarity with the text and to hear what the Spirit reveals about God, his character, and his plan. The aim of Bible reading is not only information but also transformation how these truths should change how I believe and live. Bible meditation - reflectively repeating a smaller portion of scripture, remaining open to the Spirit s voice and direction Prayer - expressing my heart to God, whether in worship, adoration, a cry for help, confession of sin, giving thanks, or making requests for myself or others Worship - declaring God s supreme worth, whether in word, song, or service, individually or with other worshippers Sabbath - setting aside time each week to rest from labor, contemplate God, and enjoy his gifts Fasting - abstaining, for a designated time, from all food, some food, or any good but distracting activity Silence - quieting my body and my soul to be still before God Solitude - spending undistracted time removed from others in the presence of God The Trunk - Community with other believers Bible fellowship - hearing God s word in community with others learning from their personal experiences and gleaning from their reading, study, and meditation on the Bible Discipleship - a relationship of mutual challenge, encouragement, and support in the pursuit of growing in Christlikeness. Such a relationship helps connect my personal communion with God to the fruit that is or is not growing in my life. This is necessary due to my blind spots and the disconnects between faith and practice. Mentorship - looking to believers more mature and experienced than I am for wisdom, perspective, guidance, and help Accountability - disclosing struggles with and engagement in hidden sin to a trusted Christian friend for the purposes of encouragement, prayer, help, and rebuke 2
The Fruit - Living Like Jesus Love - unconditional affection for another displayed through self-giving Impartiality - freedom from judgment, prejudice, or assumptions in my interactions with others Generosity - glad willingness to share my resources with others as God leads Empathy - listening attentively to others and entering into their emotional reality Self-control - saying no to short-term pleasure in sin and yes to eternal pleasure in God Joy - spiritual gladness that transcends circumstances Peace - tranquility and harmony within my heart and in my relationships Witness - sharing my personal testimony and the gospel of Jesus with others Disciple-making - intentional engagement in Jesus Great Commission to invite others into and train them in a life of following him Wisdom - viewing all of life from the perspective of God s rule Endurance - bearing up under the pressures of life in hope of Jesus coming Kindness - tenderness and consideration when interacting with others Alertness - spiritual sensitivity to where God is at work and eagerness to join what he is doing, locally and globally Compassion - gut-wrenching reaction to the needs of others and resolve to move toward them with practical help Gratitude - thanksgiving to God and others for what they have given me Encouragement - identifying and celebrating evidences of God s grace at work in the lives of others 3
SPIRITUAL GROWTH SELF ASSESSMENT This form is for you only. We are not asking that you submit the form to anyone but honestly answer these questions for the sake of growth in Christlikeness. The graphic of the tree included in this packet represents three key aspects of spiritual growth: communion with God the roots; community with believers the trunk; and living like Jesus the fruit. Our communion with God and community with believers produces the character of Christ in our lives. This is a lifelong work of the Spirit that requires intentionality on our part. To help us be intentional in our growth toward Christlikeness, we should examine ourselves regularly as the Scriptures direct (Lamentations 3:40; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4). This spiritual growth assessment is not intended to be a comprehensive assessment of all spiritual disciplines but rather a tool that can help each of us become more aware of some areas of strength and some areas for more focus and growth. Carefully consider each statement. Circle the number that represents the extent to which you agree the statement is true about you. Higher numbers represents areas of strength while lower numbers represent areas for more growth. After you have completed this assessment, please fill out the FEEDBACK sheet accompanying this package and put it in the offering plate during worship service or give it to an Adult Bible Fellowship leader or a Pastor by October 28 th. You will discuss what you learned from this assessment in your Adult Bible Fellowship on October 28 th. Bible Reading and Meditation 1. I read the Bible daily. 2. I read the Bible to know God better. 3. The Bible influences how I think and act. 1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Agree 4= Strongly Agree Prayer 1. I engage in a daily prayer time. 2. I spend time listening to God. 3. I have felt God s presence during prayer time. 4. I seek God s guidance for my life through prayer. Confession 1. I confess my sins to God in prayer. 2. I confess my sins to other believers. 3. I forgive those who hurt me. 4
4. I recognize that I hold beliefs or act in ways that the Bible calls sin. 5. I seek to overcome my sin through repentance, belief in God s promises, and the help of others. Fellowship with Believers 1. I actively seek interactions and relationships with others in the church. 2. I support and encourage other believers in their spiritual growth. 3. I have someone who supports and encourages me in my spiritual growth. 4. I make an effort to be involved in and feel a part of the church community. 5. There are people in the church I can talk to about my personal struggle with sin. Witnessing Locally and Globally 1. I look for opportunities to share the gospel with others. 2. I make my faith in Christ known to others around me (neighbors, co-workers, etc.). 3. I am open to showing and sharing Christ s love wherever God wants me to go. 4. I support the cause of world missions through prayer or in other ways. Ministering 1. I seek ways and give time to help others, inside and outside of church. 2. I serve Christ by contributing time to a ministry at the church. 3. I make supporting the church financially a priority. Overall Spiritual Growth 1. I can think of a specific area where I have grown spiritually in the last year. What area? 2. I can think of specific areas where I need to grow. Where? 3. I believe that spiritual maturity is an ongoing, lifelong pursuit. 4. What God is leading me to do next is: 5
SPIRITUAL GROWTH SELF-ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK Your feedback will help Groveton Baptist Church leaders know what is working well now and what types of activities or tools might need to be put in place to support and facilitate our individual spiritual growth. Please provide your responses (check box or write in other response) to the two questions below and submit this form either in the offering plate during worship service or give it to an Adult Bible Fellowship leader or a Pastor by October 28 th. You do not need to provide your name unless you would like to follow up with one of the Pastors. You will discuss this feedback and what you learned from the assessment in your Adult Bible Fellowship on October 28 th. I. What is currently helping you grow spiritually? (Check all that apply) Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) class Preaching of the Word on Sunday mornings Worship in song on Sunday mornings Personal in-depth Bible study Personal, regular time with God in prayer Reading books Listening to worship music Listening to sermons on TV, radio, or internet I have one or more people who help me grow spiritually Group meetings other than ABF within the church (Please describe ) Group meetings outside of church (Please describe ) Other (Please describe ) II. What can the church do better or provide to help you grow spiritually? (Check all with which you would likely participate) Offer class series on various spiritual disciplines (e.g., how to study the Bible; prayer; meditation; fasting) Create small groups with a specific focus on spiritual growth Identify online resources that you can access at any time Identify useful books to read Individual help with problems or sins that are holding you back Help you identify a mentor who is further along and can help you grow Help you identify an accountability partner Other (Please describe ) If you would like to meet with a Pastor to discuss your own spiritual growth or your ideas for cultivating spiritual growth at Groveton Baptist Church, please provide your contact information below. Name: Phone: E-mail address: 6