Spiritual Growth Process
We believe spiritual growth is a process. It takes time, but it doesn't
happen automatically. There are things that only God can do (like giving
you new life through Christ), but there are also things that you do
with the help of others. We believe the elements below are essential to
your growth (or maturity) as a Christian.
Birth
Becoming a Christian happens before you can
grow as a Christian. This new birth or new life comes only through a
relationship with Christ. This relationship comes as you believe in
Jesus Christ as God’s Son, the Savior and Lord of all humanity.
Baptism
Baptism identifies you as a Christian. It
is a picture of what happened when you became a Christian. When you are
lowered under the water in baptism you are showing that your old way of
life has been put behind you or buried (under the water). When you are
raised back out of the water you are showing that you’ve come to life
again, but you’re following a new way of life. This is why only
believers should participate in baptism—only they have a new way of
life!
Connection
A Christian cannot grow without being
connected with other Christians in a church. A church is the primary
place where you develop significant relationships with other believers.
Through these relationships you will be strengthened, encouraged, and
challenged. Through these relationships you will grow so that you can
experience life in a way you never imagined.
Worship
Worship basically means giving glory to God
because of Who He is and what He has done. Your worship is expressed by
the things you say and do every day. It is something you do (as a
participant), not something you watch (as a spectator)! It includes what
you do with others (in a worship service) and also what you do alone
(as you read God's Word and pray to Him).
Service
God made you as a unique person. You have a
distinct personality and passion as well as unique experiences and
abilities. In addition, as a Christian God has given you a particular
spiritual gift. God designed you for a special ministry and He will
enable you to carry out the special service He has for you. We serve God
in and through the church as well as in other parts of the world.
Investing and Inviting
God wants to use you in
investing in the lives of other people and inviting them to experience
life at its very best that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ and
through becoming a part of His body, the church.
Obedience
God’s Word gives us the only unchanging
standard by which life decisions should be made. But it can only impact
our lives when we first know what it says and then do what it says. And
when we’re obedient to God we will experience at its very best.
Giving
God wants you to trust Him in every area of
your life. Finances are one area where many Christians struggle the most
in trusting God. They don’t believe they can make it if they give
generously to God’s work through the church. But giving at least a tithe
(10%) of your income will help you grow in your faith as you see God
provide for all your needs.