Spiritual Health & Growth Pathways
Next steps and resources to help your group deepen their spiritual health and grow in their faith.
Phase 1
Primary Goal: Establish Spiritual Rhythms
Characteristics: Groups in phase 1 likely have spiritually immature people who have not yet learned how to practice spiritual habits on their own and application of truth is scarce. The focus of this phase is to introduce people to spiritual habits, specifically Scripture and Prayer, and help them move from engaging with God one-two times a week to pursuing and depending on him daily.
Next Steps & Resources
Scripture - The most foundational habit for any Christian is the study of Scripture because this is God's primary way of revealing himself. This is why community groups are centered around reading and discussing the Bible. However, we won't grow much if we only engage with Scripture on Sunday morning and in community group. We need to develop the habit of going to God through his Word personally and regularly. Below are some ideas for helping your group strengthen this habit in their life:
1. Group Preparation - A great starting place for people to begin reading Scripture on their own is to read the passage of Scripture for the upcoming group meeting and go over the questions on their own. This will help people engage with the text personally and be prepared to have a productive discussion during the group meeting.
2. Develop Wise Study Skills - We can't expect to understand, interpret, and apply Scripture with ease or minimal effort. We must learn how to study Scripture accurately so that we can apply it faithfully. For a list of Bible Study Methods and other resources for studying Scripture, visit the Discipleship & Bible Study Resource Page.
3. Scripture Encouragement Partners - If reading Scripture regularly is a struggle, try partnering up with someone from your group and scheduling some check-ins throughout the week. The check-ins can be as simple as sharing what you read recently or what God has placed on your heart to meditate on throughout the week. The purpose is to help you with consistency in reading Scripture, support and prayer when it's difficult to be in the Word, and practice sharing what God is teaching you with someone else.
Prayer - Prayer is a primary way for us to communicate and commune with God. It strengthens our dependence upon him and aligns our hearts with his will. A deep and rich prayer life will lead to abundant joy, peace, and ever-increasing intimacy with Christ. Here are some ways to strengthen people's prayer life:
1. Prayer Partners - Each week have people find a different partner for sharing prayer requests. Encourage them check in throughout the week and actively pray for each other. You can view the prayer partner guide here.
2. Books on Prayer - Read one of these books about prayer with your group:
3. Practice Prayer - Below are some resources to help you pray. Have an extended prayer time in your group each week to practice different styles of prayer together.
Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines - Consider reading one of these books with your community group to introduce them to the importance of spiritual disciplines and how to incorporate them into the normal rhythms of life.
1. Habits of Grace by David Mathis
2. Habits for Our Holiness by Philip Nation
3. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
1. Group Preparation - A great starting place for people to begin reading Scripture on their own is to read the passage of Scripture for the upcoming group meeting and go over the questions on their own. This will help people engage with the text personally and be prepared to have a productive discussion during the group meeting.
2. Develop Wise Study Skills - We can't expect to understand, interpret, and apply Scripture with ease or minimal effort. We must learn how to study Scripture accurately so that we can apply it faithfully. For a list of Bible Study Methods and other resources for studying Scripture, visit the Discipleship & Bible Study Resource Page.
3. Scripture Encouragement Partners - If reading Scripture regularly is a struggle, try partnering up with someone from your group and scheduling some check-ins throughout the week. The check-ins can be as simple as sharing what you read recently or what God has placed on your heart to meditate on throughout the week. The purpose is to help you with consistency in reading Scripture, support and prayer when it's difficult to be in the Word, and practice sharing what God is teaching you with someone else.
Prayer - Prayer is a primary way for us to communicate and commune with God. It strengthens our dependence upon him and aligns our hearts with his will. A deep and rich prayer life will lead to abundant joy, peace, and ever-increasing intimacy with Christ. Here are some ways to strengthen people's prayer life:
1. Prayer Partners - Each week have people find a different partner for sharing prayer requests. Encourage them check in throughout the week and actively pray for each other. You can view the prayer partner guide here.
2. Books on Prayer - Read one of these books about prayer with your group:
- How to Pray: Developing an Intimate Relationship with God by Ronnie Floyd
- When Prayer Is a Struggle: A Practical Guide for Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer by Kevin Halloran
- Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer by Tyler Staton
3. Practice Prayer - Below are some resources to help you pray. Have an extended prayer time in your group each week to practice different styles of prayer together.
- Navigators: How to Pray (Resources for how to pray and what to pray about)
- How to Pray the Bible
- Different Types of Prayer
- 6 Tips to Refresh Your Prayer Life
- 40 Things to Pray About
- Practicing the Way: Prayer (Requires registration, 4 video sessions on prayer)
Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines - Consider reading one of these books with your community group to introduce them to the importance of spiritual disciplines and how to incorporate them into the normal rhythms of life.
1. Habits of Grace by David Mathis
2. Habits for Our Holiness by Philip Nation
3. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
Phase 2
Primary Goal: Develop Consistency
Characteristics: Groups is phase 2 likely have people who read the Bible and pray inconsistently, may not know how to engage with habits such as sabbath or fasting, and still struggle to live in obedience to God's Word. The focus of this phase is to help people develop consistency and introduce them to new spiritual habits to deepen their faith.
Next Steps & Resources
Practicing the Way - Consider going through this course with your group to develop more intentional spiritual habits. It consists of 9 practices that are each covered in four weeks. You will watch a video to learn more about the discipline and have practical steps to implement it yourself. You don't have to go through all 9 practices, you could start with one that is unfamiliar or one that you want to develop further. You can find the course here.
Accountability Partners/Groups - Have people pair up or get with a smaller group of 3-4 (same gender) for accountability, prayer, and encouragement. This goal is to help people develop honesty and vulnerability, practice confession, pray for one another, and encourage each other through the seasons of life. Here is a guide to help people get started.
Attend Christian Belief - This class teaches the foundational theological beliefs of Christianity and how these doctrines shape our everyday lives. Participants will dive deep into each doctrine looking at what Scripture says and how the Church has historically taught it. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of Christian beliefs, develop confidence in communicating them, and learn how to live in light of the truth of Scripture. This class is offered once a year; for any information about it, please check the events page.
Encourage Serving - One of the best ways to exercise our faith and grow spiritually is to serve others. You can find opportunities to serve at Coastal here, or you can find a list of volunteer opportunities within the community here.
Accountability Partners/Groups - Have people pair up or get with a smaller group of 3-4 (same gender) for accountability, prayer, and encouragement. This goal is to help people develop honesty and vulnerability, practice confession, pray for one another, and encourage each other through the seasons of life. Here is a guide to help people get started.
Attend Christian Belief - This class teaches the foundational theological beliefs of Christianity and how these doctrines shape our everyday lives. Participants will dive deep into each doctrine looking at what Scripture says and how the Church has historically taught it. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of Christian beliefs, develop confidence in communicating them, and learn how to live in light of the truth of Scripture. This class is offered once a year; for any information about it, please check the events page.
Encourage Serving - One of the best ways to exercise our faith and grow spiritually is to serve others. You can find opportunities to serve at Coastal here, or you can find a list of volunteer opportunities within the community here.
Phase 3
Primary Goal: Cultivate Maturity & Multiplication
Characteristics: Groups in phase 3 likely have people who have deeply formed spiritual habits, regularly pursue the Lord and seek to live in daily obedience and dependence. The focus of this phase is to cultivate maturity by moving from personal growth to helping other people grow spiritually.
Next Steps & Resources
Apprenticeship & Multiplication - Who can you develop as a future leader? Start giving them opportunities to lead the group and speak to them about the idea of multiplying your group. Find more information about apprenticeship and multiplying community groups here.
Mentorship - Encourage your group members to find someone in a life stage or two behind them to mentor. This is a great opportunity for them to share their faith and help someone else grow. Find more information about mentoring here. Below are some resources people may find helpful for mentorship:
One-to-One Bible Reading
Growing Together
Fighting Shadows
Kingdom Man
Mentorship - Encourage your group members to find someone in a life stage or two behind them to mentor. This is a great opportunity for them to share their faith and help someone else grow. Find more information about mentoring here. Below are some resources people may find helpful for mentorship:
One-to-One Bible Reading
Growing Together
Fighting Shadows
Kingdom Man