Faith Development

Job 19: 25-27

Galatians 5:16-26

Matthew 13:31-33

Faith Development

Intentional Faith Development refers to all the ministries that help us grow in faith outside of weekly worship, such as bible studies, Sunday School classes, support groups, and prayer teams.  Congregations who practice Intentional Faith Development offer opportunities for people to learn in community for people at all stages of faith.  They offer ministries that help people grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God.  Intentional refers to deliberate effort, purposeful action, and high priority.

Through the personal practice of Intentional Faith Development, we do the soul work that connects us to others, immerses us in God’s Word, and positions us to grow in grace and mature in Christ. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our own spiritual maturation.  We learn in community.  While I do believe it is possible to believe in Christ, accept him as Savior, and serve him without going to church, it is so much easier to do so within a community of others who are intentionally working to develop their faith, explore their doubts together, wrestle with the questions that come to all of us at critical points in our lives. We can do so much more together than alone.

What drives a lot of unchurched seekers and young people away from a church they visit for a few times is they see too many congregation members who are not growing in their faith, not engaged in groups who will deal honestly with the questions and issues they are facing in their lives. They see too many congregation members who come to church once a week and consider that ample time for God. Seekers are just that, seeking to learn about God, seeking to understand what God wants in their lives, and they come to a church hoping that by engaging  with others who are further along in their faith journey, they will find some support and answers. Instead they too often see an acceptance of the status quo, and often worse, a stagnation of faith, a lack of evidence that faith in God has any real relevance to life from Sunday afternoon to the following Sunday morning.

Young people want to be engaged in service, hands on missions locally, and sometimes elsewhere. They like to find new ways of doing the “old” things, new ways of worshipping, but also they want involvement. Examples of that are here in our own congregations, with Colby Childs and Kate Spence and their work in Honduras. But it cannot be involvement imposed upon them or involvement that means they have to do something the same way it has been done for the past many years.

Faith develops by opening ourselves to others in new relationships. Faith develops by sharing. Faith also develops by doing, taking risks in mission.

The common theme over time from the early disciples to those now who strive to help churches become and stay healthy, growing, and vibrant is people furthering and deepening a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Healthy churches that have a large percentage of adults who are furthering and deepening their relationship with Christ, who are growing and being intentional about faith development are the ones who are going to the next level of being the church of Jesus Christ. They understand the purpose of the church in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In Bishop Schnase’s language, they practice radical hospitality, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity, and passionate worship. 

When we participate in a bible study or some other faith study we are not learning for the sake of intellectual curiosity or to be able to quote Scripture or appear to be scholarly. As we mature in our faith we grow in our love of God and our love of others, are able to weather the storms of life, be present for others, be faithful when circumstances raise doubts and know life is not just about us. Mature believers know it is okay to ask questions and to have doubts. Even more importantly, they know it is valuable to share those with others who are on a faith journey and growing.

We can all learn to practice radical hospitality just by deciding to meet someone new each week, and beginning a relationship of trust and caring with at least one or two new people a year.  We can all be intentional about our faith development by committing to attend at least one Bible study outside of Sunday School in the next 6 months, or starting a small group Bible or book study in our home, or gathering people together with shared interests with a devotion and prayer.  

We can even combine radical hospitality with this growth in our faith and invite our neighbors and new friends. We can ask “Lord help me to do what you are blessing – what would you have me to do?” We can set a goal that one year from now we will be closer to Christ, and we will have truly brought closer to Christ another person who does not now consider God as important in their life.

 Sometimes, though, we think of faith development as a real drudge in our lives when what really happens when we are intentional and committed is that our lives become better as we change to become new creations living out the fruit of the Spirit with a Purpose Driven Life knowing the answer to “What on earth am I here for?” 

It is important for us to be able to articulate what we believe through discussions, sharing our thoughts so that we know where we stand. If we never say anything or are always spoon-fed we can be lead astray or we will find it difficult be able to share our stories or lead anyone to Christ.

I hope that you all will be willing to continue your faith development by participating in at least one faith study this year because it is in listening to the questions and thinking about the answers together that each of us will find our own way of living out God’s purpose for our lives. And that is how this church will grow to be a vibrant, discipling church.

Amen