3. MATURING IN CHRIST

(Sanctifying Grace)

Creating a Sacrificial Life

 

You are here  (Maturing in Christ) if you:

  1. Are learning to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
  2. Are learning to love others as you love yourself
  3. Live your life in a way to make God’s love real in the world
  4. Desire more of Jesus
  5. Are cooperating with the Holy Spirit
  6. Have been growing in your faith, recognizing the difference Jesus is making in how you live

 

Maturing in Christ – Jesus’ desire is not for us to remain where we were when we accepted His invitation for a relationship, but to grow in that relationship by following Him, obeying His commands, loving Him and others, and becoming more like Him each day.  This is the work of sanctifying grace.  We cannot do any of this without the empowering of His Holy Spirit that He sends to reside within us.

 

Hear the Word

  • Participate in WORSHIP (Traditional Worship, FaithLink, or Palabra Viva) on a regular basis
  • Participate in SMALL GROUP (Sunday School, Women's Circles, Men's Groups, Youth Group, Step Up, GEMs, Home Groups) on a regular basis

    • (Refer to The Columns or First Weekly for class offerings.)

  • Participate in Bible Study Fellowship / Precepts or other Bible-intensive studies
  • Participate in Bible study (short-term or long-term)
  • Participate in Bible study regarding the Holy Spirit
  • Keep daily appointment with God for Bible reading/meditation and prayer
  • Commit to memorize 4 or more verses a month

Open your Heart

  • The Wesley Challenge - 21 Days to a More Authentic Faith
  • The Wesley Prayer Challenge (21 days)
  • Participate in church and/or silent retreat
  • Attend a 3 day spiritual renewal experience (The Great Banquet, Awakening)
  • Participate in a spiritual pilgrimage
  • Participate in a Wesleyan discipleship band/class meeting or a reunion group for accountability
  • Mentor new believers/members
  • Soul Feast, Marjorie Thompson or other spiritual formation group
  • Journal your prayers or what God is speaking to you through His word
  • Stephen Minister training
  • Commit to practice the discipline of fasting at least once a year
  • Invite new person to lunch after church

 

Love like Christ

  • Use your spiritual gifts to serve in an area of ministry within and outside of the local church
  • Participate on global mission trips
  • Give to the needy anonymously, comfort the brokenhearted, visit the sick and those in prisons (Isaiah 61:1-2)
  • Practice forgiveness freely

 

Yield to the Spirit (In All Things)

  • Live out your faith in an authentic and organic way with those you come in contact with daily by walking in the Spirit
  • Abide in Christ
  • Transforming Evangelism - Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith (6-week study)
  • The Intercessory Life (6-week study)
  • Disciple's Heart, Jim Harnish (6-week study)
  • Commit to giving a tithe of your income and additional offerings