Promoting Spiritual Growth

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Willow Creek Community church decided to survey it's members about how they were going in becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. The results staggered them.

So they extended the survey to 80,000 people from over 200 churches. Here is what they discovered through the process.

 

Firstly, there is a spiritual continuum:

Exploring Christ- “I believe in God but I’m not sure about Christ”

Growing in Christ- “I’m working on what it means to trust in Jesus”

Close to Christ- “I feel close to Christ and depend on Him daily for guidance”

Christ-centred- “This is the most important relationship in my life”

Spiritual attitudes and behaviours increase significantly in frequency and intensity as people move along the continuum.

Secondly there four categories of spiritual catalysts:

1) Spiritual beliefs and attitudes

2) Organised church activities

3) Personal spiritual practices

4) Spiritual activities with others.

These catalysts to help movement along the continuum. Below is a table of what is most influential for each movement  

	Exploring Christ		Growing in Christ		Close to Christ		Christ-Centred
Beliefs and attitudes		Salvation by grace The trinity Personal God Christ is first Authority of the Bible		Personal God Salvation by grace Authority of the Bible Christ is first Identity in Christ		Giving away my life Christ is first Identity in Christ Authority of the Bible Stewardship
Church Activities		Serve the church Weekend services Small groups		Serve those in need Serve the church Adult education classes Small groups		Serve those in need Additional teaching/worship service
Personal spiritual practices		Reflection on Scripture Bible Reading Prayer to seek guidance Prayer to confess sins		Reflection on Scripture Prayer to seek guidance Tithing Solitude Bible Reading		Reflection on Scripture Solitude Bible Reading Prayer to confess sins Tithing Prayer to seek guidance
Spiritual activities with others		Spiritual friendships		Evangelism Spiritual friendships Serving those in need Spiritual mentors		Evangelism Spiritual mentors Serving those in need

 This is a very simple and straightforward approach to spiritual growth. The only problem is that nearly every Christian surveyed indicated that they had stalled in their Christian life at some stage. In fact, 22% of those surveyed were currently stalled.

It's hard for an organisation to change this, because the solution is found in returning to spiritual practices, going through a personal crisis or being inspired. There is also the problem of people (17% of survey) being dissatisfied with their church). They suggest that the dissatisfied are addressed and their issues thought through rather than shrugged off.

The one thing they did want to emphasise is that the Bible is the most powerful catalyst for growth. Not only does it help movement, the Bible was significant in helping the stalled and dissatisfied

So how can these findings help us to promote spiritual growth?