Goals for Growth

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:

Bible: 2 Tim 3:16	Assurance of salvation: John 3:16, 5:24, 10:28
Total Depravity: Romans 3:10-12	Assurance of God’s love: Rom 8:38-39
Jesus is God: John 1:1	Assurance of God’s forgiveness: 1 John 1:9
Jesus is Man: Heb 4:15	Assurance of God’s help: Phil 4:13, Matt 6:33
Jesus the only way: Acts 4:12, John 14:16	Assurance of change (sanctification): 2 Cor 5:17
Salvation by grace: Eph 2:8, 1:11	Great Commission: Matt 28:19
God’s sovereignty: Rom 8:28	The chief purpose of life: 1 Cor 10:31
The Greatest Commandments: Matt 22:37-39	Has memorized the Roman Road,and understands and believes in his/her own assurance of salvation and Gospel basics: Rom 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9

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

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.

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.