Take the Guesswork out of Spiritual Maturity
...Free Spiritual Growth and Development Survey
Ever wonder how you are doing spiritually? Are you moving forward toward the mark of Christlike maturity or have you become stagnate? What obstacles are hindering your spiritual growth? Do you even have a clue what it takes to nourish your spirit and grow in Christ?
A 2009 study by the Barna group revealed that most Christians, including pastors, have only a vague understanding of spiritual maturity. Most struggle to define it yet alone live in pursuit of it. If church leaders lack clarity when it comes to the spiritual growth process, how can they guide others in the process.
The Barna study suggests that most people define spiritual maturity as one's ability to "live by the rules". However, Jesus was far more concerned about the inner condition of our hearts. We can all attempt to apply an external solution to an internal problem. But what if we genuinely hunger for life transformation. How do we enter into the type of relationship with Christ that moves us forward into maturity?
A 2009 study by the Barna group revealed that most Christians, including pastors, have only a vague understanding of spiritual maturity. Most struggle to define it yet alone live in pursuit of it. If church leaders lack clarity when it comes to the spiritual growth process, how can they guide others in the process.
The Barna study suggests that most people define spiritual maturity as one's ability to "live by the rules". However, Jesus was far more concerned about the inner condition of our hearts. We can all attempt to apply an external solution to an internal problem. But what if we genuinely hunger for life transformation. How do we enter into the type of relationship with Christ that moves us forward into maturity?
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Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit is certainly an indicator of maturity. Are we able to walk in love, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, self-control, etc., regardless of our circumstances?
Still, we do well to ask, "does this fruit stem from a genuine abiding relationship with Christ, or are we merely applying a great deal of self effort to live out what we know is expected of us as Christians?" Furthermore, if we are not producing the kind of fruit that honors God, how do we identify the cause and correct the problem? |
The free Spiritual Growth and Development Survey provided below can help you get an accurate picture of how you are doing at the root level of your spiritual walk. The right fruit will manifest as a result of a healthy, biblical root system. This instrument is designed to identify your mindsets and performance in six key categories. These categories work together to promote optimal spiritual health that leads to maturity.
Go ahead, download the test for free. After taking the test and calculating your scores, come back to this page learn more about your results!
Go ahead, download the test for free. After taking the test and calculating your scores, come back to this page learn more about your results!
Free Spiritual Growth Survey
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Spiritual Growth Survey Results
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(A) Awareness: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Ps. 139:23)
This category reflects how conscious you are concerning your feelings, wants, needs and thoughts. It reveals whether or not you are in touch with your core beliefs. It shows how well you manage life according to your real values. Emotional health is also indicated by this category. More... (C) Cooperation: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” (Phil. 2:12) In its simplest description cooperation refers toyour response to God's invitation for relationship. Are you intentionally pursing Him? Cooperation is revealed by the amount of time and effort you put into knowing God (seeking Him out). It also tells of your willingness to "be known" by Him, indicating your level of availability to the King. (D) Dependency: "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Phil. 2:13) Mature Christians recognize and accept their dependence upon God knowing it is He that forms Christ within them. This category is useful to reveal your level of trust that God can and will complete the work He began in you. One of the "hazards" of Christianity is the temptation to believe one is capable of living a fruitful, Christ-like life based upon human effort. Dependency merely models a humble heart that recognizes its never-ending need for Christ. This dependency forms the foundation of trust that is needed to live by faith. |
(E) Environment: See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none ofyou may be hardened by sin's deceifulness. (Heb. 3:12-13)
Your environment feeds into your beliefs and attitudes. What goes into us from those around us often produces some type of fruit - good or bad. If you are primarily in a negative, sinful or belittling environment, it is quite probable that doubt, shame, fear, and a hardened-heart will be produced. Likewise, a positive, "life-giving" enviroment brings forth faith, hope, love, purity, etc. (F) Freedom: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, becausee through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Roman 8: 1-2) Christ came to set the captives free. Yet many believers struggle to live victoriously in this freedom. Besetting sins, faulty beliefs, fears, doubts, and generational patterns of behavior need to be confronted and brought into alignment with God's truth. Christ did not come to "clean up" the flesh, but to crucify it so that His Spirit may live in us instead. It is in the revelation and response of THIS relational reality that freedom is experienced. (I) Identity: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1) As Christians, we need to firmly settle the issue of our worth. It is only when you are rooted and establish in your identity that you will begin to fulfill your destiny. Do you live with the understanding that you are already "accepted in the beloved"? Learn more about identy and self-worth issues and check out the free Identity in Christ Devotional Guide. |
