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Take the Next Faithful Step

Discover the roadmap to deepening your faith journey through empowerment, engagement, embracing beliefs, and abiding in Christ. Learn how to move through stages of discipleship and help others along the way.

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Take the Next Faithful Step

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  1. Take the Next Faithful Step Clear Lake Presbyterian Church Discipleship Leadership Workshop Part 2

  2. Goal: Thriving Communities of Disciples • Ordinary, everyday individuals who are … • empowered by the Holy Spirit, • increasingly devoted to God, • growing in likeness to Jesus, and • living in generous love with their neighbors. • The fruit of this lifestyle is disciples who make disciples, building for God’s Kingdom. • We grow as a disciple when we… • Empower by moving upward – into deeper intimacy with Christ • Engage by moving outward – into fuller participation in God’s mission in the world • Embrace by moving inward – into more authentic relationships with other believers

  3. Tools to help you move spiritually

  4. Stage 1: Come and See • John 1:35-39 • An invitation to move toward belief • Exploring faith, but not committed yet • “I’m curious about Jesus and want to know more about who he was and what he taught.”

  5. Stage 1 Catalysts • Safe place to ask questions about faith • Help in learning how to study the Bible • Finding a place to belong in the worshipping community • Regular invitations to follow Christ

  6. Getting stuck in stage 1 • Enjoy the community without ever making a decision to follow Jesus. Learn all about Jesus without surrendering life to Jesus. • How to get unstuck: Invite a conversation about implications of Jesus’ teaching & person’s involvement in the Christian community. What would it mean for this person to follow Jesus?

  7. Stage 2: Come and Follow Me • Matthew 4:18-20 • An invitation to learn and build a foundation • “The productive life” • “I love to study the Bible and serve my church.”

  8. Stage 2 Catalysts • Practicing spiritual rhythms (practices) • Safe groups to talk about faith & study the Bible together • Opportunities to step outside comfort zone to serve • Safe group to process faith challenges & “walls”

  9. Getting stuck in stage 2 • Limit their faith to knowledge – to what they learn in Sunday school or in a Bible study (consume knowledge without living it) • Scared or unwilling to be vulnerable about real life stuff and how it relates to faith • Sometimes it may be good for a person stuck in stage 2 to give up an education class & try a small group

  10. Stage 3: Come and Be with Me • Mark 3:13-15 • An invitation to intimacy & surrender • An inward journey • “I long to be with Jesus, sometimes without words.”

  11. Stage 3 Catalysts • Margin for spiritual rhythms & regular reflection on faith • Stepping outside comfort zone in: study, spiritual practices, & mission • Micro group of 2 or 3 people that share deeply with one another

  12. Getting stuck in stage 3 • Focus solely on personal spiritual practices – which does not translate into action or an integrated life • It may help a stage 3 person to intentionally choose to go outside his/her comfort zone

  13. Stage 4: Abide with Me • John 15:4-5 • An invitation to sacrifice & obedience • Giving up that which is important to you for what God is calling you to do. • “I am “all in” for Jesus. My whole life is a reflection of Jesus and God’s Kingdom.”

  14. Stage 4 Catalysts • Opportunities to mentor others • Micro groups of 2 or 3 people • Spiritual direction

  15. Getting stuck in stage 4 • Can become isolated – alone with Jesus, apart from the community • Can think we have “arrived” and no longer need to grow • Encourage Stage 4 people to mentor others as a way of getting unstuck

  16. How to know you’re stuck • Discontent with the way things are • Favorite methods for growing don’t work anymore • A hunger for something more • People in stages 1 & 2 need more direction; people in stages 3 & 4 need more discernment

  17. For the stage assigned to your table: • What resources & practices were or would be helpful for me in this stage? • How would I walk with and encourage my best friend in this stage? • How would I walk with and encourage someone who I'm "mentoring" in this stage?

  18. Stage 1 ideas • Empower: Study a Gospel, attend Bible 101 SS class • Embrace: Find a place to belong (we come to know Jesus in community) • Engage: Volunteer at the church; pass out homeless care bags

  19. Stage 2 ideas • Empower: Study the Bible (Bible 101, Community Bible Study); Experiment with spiritual rhythms (like daily prayer, weekly worship, Bible study); participate in 21 day prayer challenge this Lent • Embrace: Join a small group (could be a SS class) • Commend Spiritual Formation 201 • Engage: Volunteer at the church, serve the Clear Lake community as a small group (Galveston Street Ministry, food pantry at Clear Lake Baptist)

  20. Stage 3 ideas • Empower: Go deeper in study – read things that challenge you (like through Faith Seeking Understanding); Experiment with spiritual rhythms that help you “be” with Jesus (contemplative prayer, fasting); attend silent retreat • Embrace: Join a small group that does spiritual practices together • Engage: Find a place to serve outside of CLPC; get to know your neighbors

  21. Stage 4 ideas • Empower: Experiment with spiritual rhythms that help you surrender your agenda to God. • Embrace: Find one or two prayer partners, meet once a week to talk about how faith is intersecting with your life • Engage: Go outside your comfort zone to share Christ with others; Get commissioned to be on mission in your community.

  22. Resources & reading list • www.revealforme.com (helps people identify what stage they are in and offers specific content to help them move to the next stage) • Ascending Leaders small group material (www.ascendingleaders.org), especially Your Pathways • Janet O. Hagberg & Robert A. Guelich, The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith • Greg L. Hawkins & Cally Parkinson, Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth • Stephen A. Macchia, Crafting a Rule of Life • Ben Connelly & Bob Roberts, Jr., A Field Guide for Everyday Mission

  23. Next Steps • Take the next faithful step: • Do one thing that helps you know God better • Talk to someone you lead or are walking alongside about the next faithful step they can take • Next Workshop: Interpersonal & group dynamics • Fall 2017 • Speaker TBD

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