Maturing in Christ



Maturing in Christ

Mission: Moving Mountains 2003

|Growth Components |Basic Level |Advanced Level |Mature Level |

| |(1-2 years) |(2-5 years) |(5 + years) |

| | | | |

| |Is committed to a cultivating a personal relationship with |Deepening love relationship with God - prays daily for |Practices God’s presence in prayer and worship through out|

|Prayer |God and has set up daily time and place to meet with God |one half hour. |the day. |

| |Utilizes ACTS prayer model. |Practices intercession for others. |Hears God speaking more and takes on greater prayer |

| |Faith in God is growing; prayer consists of making requests|Practices Scripture prayers. |burdens. |

|Relationship to God through prayer|to God and believing in Him for answers. |Co-mentors prayer group in practice of conversational |Greater power in prayer through answers in healing, |

|individually and corporately |Has initial understanding/practice of the conditions for |prayer and deeper prayer life. |deliverance and overall intercession. |

| |effective prayer. |Keeps prayer requests, answers and insights in journal.|Overcomes Satan through effective use of the weapons in |

| |Prays daily for short times and in a small group |Mentors others in deeper prayer life. |spiritual warfare prayer and living a holy life. |

| |fellowship. | |Prays for long periods of time i.e. silent retreats, days |

| |Begins to teach 1-2 others in knowledge and practice of | |of prayer) using fasting. |

| |prayer | |Mentors others in deeper prayer life. |

| | | | |

| |Beginning understanding/practice: read, hear, study, |Able to use the Word to overcome temptation, sin and |Has memorized many verses/passages of Scripture with great|

|Word |memorize and meditate model of Bible intake. |the Enemy. |understanding that comes from obedient application. |

| |Understanding of the power and authority of God’s Word. |Practices the Inductive Bible Study Method. |Deepens in ability to solve life problems with the Word. |

| |Learning through the Word the basic doctrines of the |Grows in ability to memorize and meditate on increased |Able to know and to do God’s will based on deeper |

|Mastery of the Word for personal |Christian faith. |Bible passages. |understanding of God’s values and desires. |

|obedience and the ability to teach|Beginning to apply the Lordship of Christ to all of his |Begins to use Scripture to find answers to life’s |Able to effectively teach others the Word in various |

|others in God’s way |life. |problems. |settings and methods. |

| |Begins to memorize 1-2 verses per week and to meditate on |Teaching the Word to others: small groups, larger | |

| |them. |classes. | |

| |Begins teaching others: one on one, family members. | | |

Maturing in Christ

|Growth Components |Basic Level |Advanced Level |Mature Level |

| |(1-2 years) |(2 – 5 years) |(5 + years) |

| |Practices simple confession, repentance and renewal in the |Understanding deeper levels of his own sinfulness and |Deeper awareness of personal sin with confession and |

| |Spirit based on biblical understanding of his own |how to overcome sin /Satan. |repentance leading to greater holiness. |

|Character |sinfulness. |Growth in several character qualities and a plan for |Deeper living out of Christ’s love, righteousness, |

|Qualities |Beginning understanding/practice of godly character |continued maturing in more qualities. |provision and identity. |

| |qualities, and fruits of the Spirit as a disciple of Jesus.|Understands the cost of discipleship and is committed |Strong in the Lord. Able to resist Satan consistently with|

| |Desire to grow in a few basic character qualities and |to it. |power and grace in facing persecutions. |

|Conformity to the image of |begins to plan for this growth. |Discovering more of God’s will for his life and is |Maturing in all character qualities that mark a man/woman |

|Christ through growth in |Knows who she/he is in Christ. |quick to obey. |of God. |

|character |Learning to resist Satan, and overcome sin and temptation. |Able to face persecution and trials with God’s power to|Total reliance on the Holy Spirit to live and work through|

| |Teaches 1-2 others/ family about biblical character growth.|persevere. |him. |

| | |Mentors 3-5 others in growing in Christ like character.|Mentoring a growing number of disciples to follow his |

| | | |example. |

| | | | |

| |Motivated by the Word with a desire to share Christ with |Shares regularly the full plan of salvation (with |Able to relate to many types of non-believers in |

|Witnessing |those closest to him. |several verses). |loving/winsome ways that is drawing them to Christ. |

| |Prays for unsaved closest to him. |Is leading people to Christ and following them up |Shares his faith regularly with prayer and fasting for |

| |Able to share his testimony of personal faith in Christ. |according to a plan. |souls which God has burdened him with. |

|Evangelism of non-Christians |Begins to share Gospel using simple approach (memorizes a |Has a growing love for the lost further away - growing |Becoming a World Christian: heart for evangelizing and |

|with world vision perspective|few verses). |a world vision. |discipling people groups from around the world. |

| |Is able to lead someone to Christ and begin discipling |Reaches out in love and service to his community by |Mentors his faith community in this lifestyle, corporately|

| |them. |showing and telling the good news of Christ. |and individually. |

| | |Mentors 3-5 believers in this lifestyle. | |

Maturing in Christ

|Growth Components |Basic Level |Advanced Level |Mature Level |

| |(1 –2 years) |(2 –5 years) |(5 + years) |

| | | | |

| |Begins regularly attending local church with a growing |Growing love for fellow believers and commitment to the|Deep love for the body and growing commitment to humbly |

|Fellowship |love for fellow believers. |Body. |serve as leader. |

| |Understands biblical model of the Body of Christ and |Leading others in a small group to have a growing |Has grown in unity/partnership mindset and relationships |

| |begins initial commitment to Body. |prayer life, deep worship, Bible study. |with many other believers not of his own group. |

|Attitudes / actions that build up|Meets with a cell group of other believers for regular |Study and practice of the ‘one anothers’ from Scripture|Able to lead others in synergistic body life – effective |

|the body |worship, prayer, Bible study and mutual care. |for growing mutual care within the body. |ministry using people’s gifts and strengths. |

|Care / encouragement | |Able to resolve conflicts and lead group in confession,|His/her shepherding leadership has mentored others to lead|

|Body life (prayer / worship as a | |forgiveness, and reconciliation. |likewise. |

|body) | | | |

| | | | |

|Ministry |Initial understanding of the various gifts and |Spiritual gifts have been identified through Scriptural|Growth in leadership skills and character of a leader. |

|Leadership of God’s people |ministries needed to serve the church and community. |study. |Able to teach effectively from the Word, lead Bible study,|

|Skills and service aimed at |Beginning awareness of one’s own spiritual gifts. |Leadership in appropriate ministries are bearing fruit |worship and prayer according to gifting. |

|empowering believers to reach out|Desire to serve the body and initial participation in |Effectively discipling others to identify gifts and |Effective discipleship relationships continually |

|to community and world |areas of ministry. |engage in ministry. |multiplying. |

| |Initial biblical study of principles and goal of | |Personal vision is to develop other leaders to replace |

| |ministry, methods and motives; and biblical leadership.| |him; always teaching what he knows to lead others into |

| | | |greater maturity in Christ. |

Maturing in Christ

|Growth Components |Basic Level |Advanced Level |Mature Level |

| |(1 – 2 years) |(2 – 5 years) |(5 + years) |

| | | | |

| |Begins study of biblical role /relationship of spouses |Growing in balance between work, ministry, and family |Deep regular family worship times - prayer with spouse. |

|Family |to one another, to their children, and all other |time. |Teaches / models to children how to live in godliness in |

| |relatives with input from a mentor. |Growing in greater love/commitment to spouse and in |midst of worldly pressures: sexual purity, self-discipline|

| |Identifies differences between cultural norms and |meeting their needs. |with money, time, friendships, etc. |

|Being a godly spouse / parent |patterns for family life and God’s way from Word. |Prays regularly with spouse and family in a growing |Family is reaching out to serve, evangelize and disciple |

|(role based on Scripture) |Committed to living God’s way: husband as spiritual |devotional time. |others in their community and to the world. |

|Nurturing family to grow up into |leader of home loving and serving family; wife as |Disciples children in ever deepening walk with the Lord| |

|maturity in Christ |submitted helpmeet. |as whole-life disciples. | |

| |Initiates regular family devotions: Bible study, | | |

| |worship and prayer. | | |

Adapted from Chris Adsit’s “Personal Disciple-Making”

Maturing in Christ

|Growth Components |Basic Level |Advanced Level |Mature Level |

| |(1- 2 years) |(2 –5 years) |(Completed by 3+ years) |

| | | | |

| |Initial biblical understanding of stewardship: living |Growing in biblical understanding and practice of time |Habitual time-style that is lead by Spirit - throughout |

|Stewardship of Time |out all aspects of our lives under Christ’s authority. |stewardship with observable fruits of joy and peace. |each day’s activities, throughout weekly/monthly time |

| |Begins to prioritize time to knowing God and serving |Implementing Focused Living planning model. Lives out |goals and commitments. |

|Use of time under the Lordship of|His people and the world. |of roles, goals, monthly calendar for effective, godly |Life marked by balance not busyness; peace and joy not |

|Jesus Christ |Begins to evaluate all other commitments, activities |stewardship of time. |stress or anxiety. |

| |and relationships under the biblical principle of |Mentoring 3-5 others in time stewardship as described |Reaping the rewards of fruit that surrender of time to the|

| |stewardship and implements a basic plan. |above. |Lord’s purposes yields. |

| |Begins being mentored by more mature Christian in the | |Mentoring many others through example and teaching in |

| |stewardship of time. | |stewardship of time. |

| | | | |

| |Initial biblical understanding of the stewardship of |Growing in biblical understanding and practice of |Life marked by the rewards of much fruit born through a |

|Stewardship of Money |our money according to God’s purposes and heart |money/resources stewardship with observable fruits of |lifestyle of generosity with money/resources. |

| |-commitment that all we have is HIS. |joy, peace, prosperity and generosity. |Living out the thrill of partnering with God in His |

| |Creating a budget and learning to live within it along |Growing in faith by giving of our money and resources |Kingdom enterprises. |

|Use of money/resources under the |with our families. |generously in response to God’s leading. |Seeing these fruits grow in the lives of several others |

|Lordship of Jesus Christ |Learning to tithe, save and plan - teaching this to our|Mentoring 3-5 others in resource stewardship, |whom we are mentoring in the stewardship of money. |

| |families. |challenging their faith and ours. . | |

| |Begin being mentored by a more mature Christian in the | | |

| |stewardship of resources. | | |

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