Goals for Growth
Discipleship Goals
Discipleship Goals: Adult Beginner
LIFE
- Regularly has at least 10 min. daily quiet time, composed of prayer and systematic Bible reading (starting in John or Romans), and worship.
- Started keeping a prayer journal.
- Able to share the gospel using the Roman Road.
- Has prepared a three-minute testimony and knows how to share it and the gospel with friends.
- Beginning to discover spiritual gift(s), by taking spiritual gifts questionnaire.
- Regularly serving in the church.
- Beginning to give financial support to the gospel ministry.
- Has family dinner devotions, and openness to talk about Christ with family.
- Weekly prayer and encouragement time with spouse (or dating partner).
DOCTRINE:
Have memorized and understood the following Scripture passages:
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Note: Supplemental readings may be assigned from Stott’s I Want to be a Christian, Heidelberg Catechism, or the Belgic Confession, and Randal Young’s Disciple’s Growth Kit.
BIBLE KNOWLEDGE
- Has taken brief notes (a sentence summary for each reading section or passage) on each book of the New Testament.
- Has taken brief notes on the following:
Genesis, Exodus 1-20, Exodus 32-34, *Numbers 11-14, 20:1-13, chap 22-24, *Deut 34, *Josh 1-12, 23-24, *Judges 2:6-3:6, chap 4, 6-8, 13-16, *Samuel, *Kings, *Nehemiah - Has learned how to study a passage of the Bible, so that he/she understands the message of a Bible text, e.g. John 4, using a concordance, Bible dictionary, chain references, and commentaries. What does it say about God, Christ, Holy Spirit, salvation, man, etc.?
- Has had an overview of Bible history explained to him/her. Has skimmed each book of the Old Testament, and has tried to place each book along the timeline.
- Has memorized the principal cities on a map of New Testament geography.
* Optional
Discipleship Goals: Intermediate
LIFE
- Tithes, or gives faithfully and abundantly.
- Volunteered at soup kitchen, or has reached out beyond his/her own comfort zone.
- Prays for world and national concerns.
- Expanded quiet time to 30-45 minutes a day.
- Taken the time management seminar.
- Knows how to coach a new convert (a beginner).
- Received specialized training (e.g. conferences, seminars, one-on-one) to develop spiritual gift.
- Is serving consistently, faithfully, and reliably in a ministry that uses his/her spiritual gift(s).
- Has begun to share the gospel to those not within circle of friends and relatives.
DOCTRINE
- Memorized Scripture passages to defend the Christian faith against Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Knows how to defend the faith against Mormons.
- Has read, questioned, and taken oral quizzes on Christian doctrine.
Reading sources: Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort, Heidelberg Catechism, Boice’s Foundation of the Christian Faith, Sproul’s Essentials of the Christian Faith.
BIBLE
- Has read every book of the Bible at least once.
- Has learned to study the Bible using the systematic plan of outlining, summarizing, questioning, interpreting, applying, quizzing, etc.
- Has memorized the sixty passages of the Navigators topical memory system.
Discipleship Goals: Advanced
LIFE
- Has become an “expert” in using his/her spiritual gift, and is now teaching or modeling the use of this gift to others.
- Is a regular supporter, financially and in prayer, of world missions.
- Has embarked on a genuine missions trip that is one month or longer.
- Is sure of God’s calling of life-long ministry in this world.
DOCTRINE
- Has read one or more books on apologetics. Knows how to use Christian apologetics in witnessing.
- Finished reading Foundations of the Christian Faith or Berkhof’s Systematic Theology. Has been orally tested by the pastor.
- Has read the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort.
BIBLE
- Knows how to study a Bible passage in-depth, using techniques of Biblical exegesis, and an introduction to the use of elementary Greek and Hebrew tools, e.g. interlinears, lexicons.
