Easter Lilies
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Discipleship Pathway
Where are you today on your discipleship pathway?
A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ who is growing in love for God and others. Jesus calls us to be disciples and to make disciples. And in so being, and in so doing, we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. We are the body of Christ, and each one of us is a part of it.
We are all at different places on our faith journey, but we all want to grow closer to Christ. In order to grow and go with God, you need to know where you are and what your next steps might be.
Take the Discipleship Pathway Survey to help identify where you are today. When you complete the survey, come back to this page and the guidance below to explore your category.
Discipleship Pathway
If you landed here on the Next Step Chart, you are likely interested in finding out more about the Christian faith or you are curious to know what church is like. You are not alone. Jesus extends an invitation to us to “come and see” who He is and whether faith in God really matters or makes a difference.
NEXT STEPS
1. Worship
Worship is an opportunity to experience Christ, who gives revelation through the gathering of his people. This happens through singing, praying, preaching and just being together.
2. Life to Life mentor
One of the best ways to move along your faith path is to experience growth with someone who has been on the journey as well. Life to Life will connect you with a mentor to walk through through this 12-week study together. Contact Marc Donaldson (mdonaldson@marvin.church) to assist with finding a mentor.
3. Social events (meet new people)
Serve Nights, third Monday of every month.
Sign up for and check out our weekly Messenger emails and Sunday bulletins for upcoming events.
4. Book recommendations at this stage
Books that move people toward belief are:
Absolute Basics of the Christian Faith
Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way of Salvation
Thirty Questions, Questions of Life
If you landed here on the Next Step Chart, you are beginning to experience who Jesus is and learning how you can deepen your connection with God. To satisfy the curiosity inside, you may be finding opportunities to serve others, studying the Bible, and participating in small groups, discovering personal spiritual practices, and attending worship.
NEXT STEPS
1. Growing in community
Sunday school, mid-week Bible studies and reading through the Bible in a Year are opportunities for engaging with Scripture in the context of community.
2. Service (to and through the Church)
Through service, we experience the presence of God by offering ourselves as living sacrifices to our church family as we use our time and gifts to help strengthen it and to the world as we are sent to be agents of hope. Learn about opportunities to serve within Marvin and to serve outside of Marvin.
3. Cultivating a spiritual life
Begin to cultivate a daily habit of gratitude, scripture-reflection, and prayer using Marvin’s 40-day Spiritual Life guide found in the information near the Welcome Center.
4. Book recommendations at this stage
A Spiritual Formation Primer
Experiencing God
Practicing the Presence of God
If you find yourself on this step, you may be feeling stuck spiritually. You may feel like you’ve hit a wall. Oftentimes we stall because of some grief, disappointment, or quite simply, what we’ve been doing to grow in Christ isn’t working anymore. You can take steps to get past this blockage, to survive this excruciating experience in order to live out your heart’s deepest desire.
NEXT STEPS
1. Meet with a spiritual leader (for deeper discernment)
Meeting with a pastor, spiritual leader or director can help give you the right questions to ask as you discern next steps in growth and leadership. Check the website for current offerings.
2. The Walk
Over the course of a year, a group of Marvin members considered solutions to breaking through a wall. Their conclusions make up interactive sessions that help assemble the framework to assist you with defining your wall. Then, offer possible solutions in a supportive community group.
3. Book recommendations at this stage
Emotionally Healthy Discipleship
If you landed here on the Next Steps Chart, you are in a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus. You place value on being with God, along with still doing for God. Others will likely notice ways that your belief is changing your character, daily routines and expectations.
NEXT STEPS
1. Class Meetings (life groups)
The Class Meeting is a weekly opportunity for people to lovingly engage one another in conversations about their souls and how the Holy Spirit is at work in and around them.
2. Mentoring (Life to Life)
Develop a spiritual friendship with someone wanting to go through the one-on-one Life to Life experience. Leading and encouraging another person is a catalyst for our own faith journey. To be a mentor, you must have completed Life to Life with a mentor yourself. Contact Marc Donaldson to become a mentor.
3. Deeper spiritual disciplines (tools)
Utilize Marvin’s Deeper Spiritual Discipline “tools” to self-guide in less-practiced spiritual disciplines (fasting, solitude, sabbath and silence). They can be found in the information area near the Welcome Center.
4. Book recommendations at this stage
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Celebration of Discipline
If you are at this stage, you are accepting full access to Jesus’ transforming presence. You are marked by the degree of your surrender to Christ. You can say with the Apostle Paul, “To live is Christ!” As you grow in profound love of God, you are propelled both into service and to invite others to come along with you.
NEXT STEPS
1. Band Meetings (small groups)
A band is a micro-group of three same-gender disciples who meet weekly to master the art of social holiness, deepening our discipleship in the context of real relationship.
2. Meet with a spiritual leader (for deeper discernment)
Meeting with a pastor, spiritual leader or director can help give you the right questions to ask as you discern next steps in growth and leadership.
3. Book recommendations at this stage
Perfect Love: Recovering Entire Sanctification
The Divine Conspiracy
Surprise the World