Q & A
Q & A Discussion: Bill Tenney-Brittian
How can I measure my group's spiritual progress?
| Topics: | Assessment, Evaluation, Spiritual growth, Transformation |
| Filters: | Coach, Group Leader, Pastor, Train |
| Purpose: | Discipleship |
| References: |  |
| Date Added: | March 02, 2009 |
I've seen a number of spiritual progress inventories over the years, and I've been singularly unimpressed with all of them. Most of them were subjective, which means you can't really know whether a person is progressing or not. In fact, most of them were so subjective that I couldn't tell for sure whether or not I was progressing. Fortunately, there is a sure-fire way to measure an individual's spiritual progress—and by extension, the group's progress.
First, let me quickly point out that a group doesn't have "spirituality." A small group is a collection of folks gathered together. The only way to measure the group's spirituality is to measure whether and/or how the individuals in that group are progressing. So a small group's effectiveness can only be measured by how far it's taking members along the spiritual journey. With that said, let me share one of the most effective tools I've ever encountered for measuring spiritual progress.
There's really only one measure of spirituality that works: evaluating whether a disciple's life is becoming more or less like Jesus. And the only way to measure that is by behavior, or fruit. The fact is, no matter what we say, we behave according to our beliefs. It's one thing to say that I believe in evangelism, for example. It's quite another to share my faith. And yet, if I really do believe in evangelism, then my behaviors will reflect that belief and I'll be sharing my faith walk with others regularly. So, I've discovered that the easiest way to measure these beliefs in your group is simply to ask about behaviors.
For instance, at each small-group gathering, I'll invariably ask the group, "So, what have you read in the Bible this week that intrigued you?" Of course, in most small groups, the first time I ask that question the responses are primarily blank stares and stuttering. However, when I ask the second week, "What did you read in the Bible this week that puzzled you?" I'll get a couple of responses. By week four, I'm getting lots of answers because people get the idea that Bible reading is an expected practice of disciples.
Of course, I don't just ask about Bible reading. I ask about prayer ("What is God saying to you in your quiet times this week?") and faith-sharing ("Who did you share your faith with this week, and how?"). What I've discovered is that our group members' spiritual journey shows measurable progress each week as they get used to these questions. In fact, it typically takes only a few weeks before they start asking the same questions of each other!
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I believe you can measure their spirtual progress by the way they pray and their motivation to do things within the group. when someone progressives spirtually they are going to want to get involved, I would say a volunteer revolution will occur in your group. their going to want to contribute in anyway possible. Thier prayers will get stronger as they get spirtually stronger. I hope this help and God Bless.
I don't think "behavior" is equivalent to "fruit" as you suggest. Righteous behavior is the Pharisees sole focus. Disciples of Jesus look to a righteousness beyond that of the Pharisees, an inner righteousness, heart righteousness. How is this measured? Well, it's not just any behavior, its the unmannered behavior, the behavior on the fly. The behavior when no one is looking and when I don't have the presence of mind not to do what comes naturally. The measure of maturity is "what kind of thoughts and actions are natural and automatic for you?" It's these behaviors that indicate the condition of a heart. And it's the heart's vitality that bears the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and the rest, which before they are behaviors, are conditions of the inner person.
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