Your spiritual growth is vital in your faith walk. Learn more about how we see spiritual growth at FPC by learning about our Spiritual Growth Map.
Take our SPIRITUAL GROWTH ASSESSMENT
and learn the next steps toward a deeper faith.
EXPLORING God gives the growth
As we explore faith in Jesus, perhaps you are looking for meaning in your life. In this section, we are providing you a space to explore your spiritual growth.
Some things you should know about Spiritual Growth:
- It is not easy: The Spiritual life is not a straight line from one place to the next. The spiritual journey is full of ups and downs. There are amazing highs and devastating lows. It’s also possible to get stuck in your spiritual walk and not grow at all. This is why our Spiritual Growth Map is full of ups and downs.
- You are not alone: Your Spiritual walk does not depend solely on you and your actions. In the Christian spiritual life, Jesus seeks after us, calls us, pursues us…until we turn to him. Jesus is “Emmanuel” which means “God with us.”
- Out of your control: How you grow and when you grow is not up to you. You can receive some amazing teachings and hear great sermons, but it is only God who gives the growth.
The beautiful mystery of Spiritual growth is that God is the one who gives life and growth. We are called to receive and tend and share…
Receive God’s presence, love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Tend to our relationship with Jesus through reading scripture, prayer and worship
Receive Jesus as the Savior of our lives and Lord over all
Tend to others that need Jesus’ love and care through service, compassion & hospitality
Receive the blessing and call God places on our lives for the purpose of His Kingdom
Share Jesus with others as we serve Him in the world
Explore more about Jesus – Read the Bible
Psalm 23 – Jesus is our shepherd
CHECK OUT our Spring 2023 Sermon Series on Psalm 23
Gospel of John – Chapter 1
The divine Savior has come into the world. Jesus is the Word!
Gospel of Matthew – Chapters 5-7
Teachings of Jesus – Gospel of Luke – Chapter 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus – Jesus helps his disciples understand His death and resurrection
The Book of Acts – Chapter 2
The Holy Spirit comes, Peter explains the gospel & the church begins
Revelation 21:1-8
The New Heaven and New Earth – a vision of Jesus’ return
Explore these videos from The Bible Project to learn more about Jesus and the Bible
Learn about Jesus our Messiah.
CONNECT WITH US
- Please come and worship with us!
- We invite you to come on Sunday morning to our Faith Matters Class at 10am in First Hall
- Consider attending our next FPC 101 class to learn more about our church family and how you can get connected.
- Join us at any of our upcoming events – CLICK HERE for schedule.
GROWING Hearing & understanding God's Word
May you live today in Christ’s presence, remembering He is near and will sustain you as you serve in His name. Amen.
Some pointers as you begin this spiritual journey
LISTEN: We are invited to listen to the good news of the gospel by reading the Bible, God’s Word.
EYES WIDE OPEN: As you listen and reflect on scripture, you will find the characters in the Bible are not so different from us. Their stories and struggles help us to understand our own lives more clearly. Through these stories, we also learn about our amazing, grace-filled God.
REMINDER: Only God gives the growth – The beautiful mystery of spiritual growth is that God is the one who gives life and growth.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE: Remember that you are not alone. Jesus is with you and Jesus is with His people, the church. As a believer, you are part of a beautiful purpose (God’s Kingdom) and people (God’s church).
Grow in Faith: One Step at a Time
- Bible Reading
Get to know the 150 most famous stories of the Bible. - Prayer
Pray a Simple Prayer each day. In your prayer do these four things:
Name something you are grateful for.
Name a time when you felt close to God.
Name a time you felt far away from God.
Thank Jesus for his presence and love in your life. - Worship – Worship God
Attend Worship each Sunday
Read the Bible and pray each day
Give a portion of your income to the church - Consider:
Joining a group at church to learn more about God and the Bible.
Serving in a ministry of the church.
Inviting a friend to attend church with you - Reading
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Connect with us
• Please come and worship with us!
• We invite you to come to our Faith Matters Class on Sunday mornings at 10am in First Hall
• Consider attending our next FPC 101 class to learn more about our church family and how you can get connected.
• Find a Community Group
• Men’s and Women’s Gatherings and Studies
DISCOVERING The Kingdom of God Within
May you live today in Christ’s presence, remembering He is near and will sustain you as you serve in His name. Amen.
Some pointers as you discover who you are in Christ Jesus
- It’s all about the journey because we know the destination. Jesus invites us to “Come, and see” and “Follow me.” The beauty of the Spiritual life is knowing that our destination is completely in Jesus. As we travel, remember to enjoy the adventure.
- The Bible is the Living Word of God: As you continue to read scripture, you will discover that you learn and discover new things in the scriptures, even the familiar stories. The Word is alive and meets you where you are in your journey!
- Spiritual Gifts – Each believer has a combination of unique and beneficial spiritual gifts that support Kingdom ministry. Do you know yours? If not, take a survey. Here is a link to a free assessment.
Discover Jesus and his Kingdom: One Step at a Time
- Bible Reading Tips:
Read the entire Bible
Read the Bible in 90 Days [here’s a guide]
Reflectively Read the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
Read a few chapters each day.
Take notes on what you learn about Jesus and about the Kingdom Jesus proclaims.
Choose one way you can live into the gospel each day.
Use the Psalms as your prayer book. - Prayer
Pray the ACTS Prayer daily (individually and with your family)– The ACTS prayer is a four-part prayer that leads you through a comprehensive and beautiful way of communicating with God.
A – Adoration – Praise God for his many attributes
C – Confession – Confess your sins and ask to be forgiven
T – Thanksgiving – Thank God for everything He has done, is doing and will do
S – Supplication – Present your requests to God
3. Worship – Worship God
Attend Corporate Worship each week
Read the Bible and pray each day
Give 10% of your income as a tithe to the church (you can begin by giving a smaller percentage and then increase over time)
Invite people you encounter to attend church with you.
4. Be Nurtured
Participate in a group at church to learn more about God and the Bible.
Begin to practice Spiritual Disciplines to grow in your faith.
The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster is an excellent companion in learning and practicing these disciplines.
5. Serve
Serve in a ministry of the church.
Be a Sunday school teacher, serve in the soup kitchen, lead a community group…the possibilities are endless.
Give of your time and be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
Learn more about the Urban Renewal Center
Learn more about our ministry in Kenya through Tree of Lives
Some helpful books:
The Bible
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
The Good and Beautiful You by James Bryan Smith
The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith
Other Resources:
The Bible Project
You Version Bible App – Read, listen to, watch and share the Bible on your phone or device
Connect with us
• Please come and worship with us!
• We invite you to come to our Faith Matters Class on Sunday mornings at 10am in First Hall
• Consider attending our next FPC 101 class to learn more about our church family and how you can get connected.
• Find a Community Group
• Men’s and Women’s Gatherings and Studies
IMPACTING Producing fruit for the Kingdom
As we abide in Jesus and serve him selflessly, we expand the Kingdom of God in us and in the world.
Some pointers as you mature in who you are in Christ Jesus
- Spiritual Maturity – James Bryan Smith writes, “It is the nature of Christ in me, the restored image of God in me, that is the secret to my maturity in Christ. And the world we live in is desperate for this.” Read more about spiritual maturity in Ephesians 4: 1-16.
- Jesus must increase, we must decrease: When John the Baptist speaks about Jesus the Messiah he says that Jesus must increase and he (John) must decrease (John 3:22-36). As we grow in our identity in Christ, we are called to die to ourselves and be alive in Christ Jesus.
- Being a disciple: Read and reflect on what it means to be Jesus’ disciple by reading the new testament. Some scriptures that highlight what it means to be his disciple: Matthew 10, Matthew 16:24-26, Matthew 11:28-30 & Galatians 2:20
Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom Impacts Everyone and Everything Around You
- Bible Reading Tips:
Continue to read and study God’s Word every day.
Use the practice of Divine Reading (Lectio Divina) to meditate on scripture and listen for God.The Steps of Lectio Divina
Choose a text of the scriptures that you wish to pray. Use a narrative in scripture like Jesus healing, Jesus walking on water, etc.
Place yourself in a quiet environment. Calm your anxieties and thoughts, and acknowledge God’s presence.
Offer a prayer to the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance: Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my heart and mind to listen to your Word.1. Lectio: Read the text slowly and prayerfully, constantly listening for that word that God has prepared for you. You may want to re-read the same text multiple times to help quiet yourself interiorly and focus on God’s voice. Listen and receive the Word that God speaks to you.
2. Meditatio: When a word or phrase strikes you, stop and rest with it. Repeat the word or phrase to yourself. Allow it to speak to you in a personal way by pondering the word in your heart, reflecting on what it means to you. Memorize it and repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your thoughts, hopes, memories and desires.
3. Oratio: Prayer is your response to God’s word. It begins your dialogue with God that comes from your heart. Formulate a prayer, as a response to God. What do you want to say to the Lord in response to the Word spoken to you? Enter into this loving conversation with God.
4. Contemplatio: Rest in God’s presence and receive His transforming embrace. Sit still with God, realizing that in this deep and profound relationship, words are not necessary. Be content and at peace with a wordless, quiet rest in God, which brings joy to the heart. Remember that contemplation is not your action or doing, rather it is allowing God to act in you.
2. Prayer
Reflect on Jesus’ prayer for his disciples in John 17:6-26.
Dive deeper into your life of prayer. Prayer by Richard Foster is very helpful.
3. Worship – Worship God
Attend Corporate Worship each week
Read the Bible and pray each day
Give 10% of your income as a tithe to the church (you can begin by giving a smaller percentage and then increase over time)
Invite people you encounter to attend church with you.
Share with others what Christ has done in you.
4. Be Nurtured
Live out John 15 – Seeking nourishment in the Word and in Christian Community
5. Serve
Live out Micah 6:8 – Continually seeking to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world through mission, outreach, service and living.
Learn more about the Urban Renewal Center
Learn more about our ministry in Kenya through Tree of Lives
Some helpful books:
The Bible
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
Prayer by Richard Foster
Other Resources:
The Bible Project
You Version Bible App – Read, listen to, watch and share the Bible on your phone or device
Connect with us
• Please come and worship with us!
• We invite you to come to our Faith Matters Class on Sunday mornings at 10am in First Hall
• Consider attending our next FPC 101 class to learn more about our church family and how you can get connected.
• Find a Community Group
• Men’s and Women’s Gatherings and Studies
Diving Deeper