Being an Influence for Christ Class 5

Adult Class

Being An Influence For Christ Class 5

December 2007-February 2008

In discussing the great privilege we have of helping someone else on his journey of faith, we would benefit by knowing where a person is in his journey! Many have undertaken to chart the progress of faith, and the most widely used method is based on the Engel scale, developed by James Engel in 1975. He saw the faith journey as a staircase, with each step upward representing a significant growth toward full life in Christ. The Engel scale has been widely adapted and revised by other church growth writers and researchers. This is my attempt at using the same method to demonstrate a person’s growth toward life in Christ.

In order to preserve the entire scale intact, I’ve printed it on the reverse side.

Effective evangelism moves a person one step closer to obedience. Effective discipleship moves a person one step further in godliness. Our responsibility in both cases is to provide cultivation of faith and obedience (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). It is critical to our spiritual and emotional health to remember that:

Conversion is the work of God; it is not our role.
We have a role to play in bringing the message of the gospel to lost people.
Evangelism is a process, not an event. We have an opportunity to be a part of the process of a person’s coming to obedience.

Steps of Faith

	Position	Behavior	Need	Example
+ 4	Improving discipleship, godliness	Helps others in faith journey, becomes intentional in discipleship, selfless	Somebody to mentor	2 Timothy 2:1-2
+3	Discovers and develops spiritual gifts for service in the church	Takes on new roles, excels in ministry tasks—team player	Leadership role, expanded vision of self, church, ministry	1 Thess. 3:1-3
+2	Reorders family life, personal finances and interests to reflect Christ’s agenda	Giving as a % of income, shift in priorities, integration of Christianity	Coaching, challenges to meet, leadership training	Acts 16:1-5
+1	Begins discipleship training	Personal prayer, Bible reading, disconnection/ reconnection more obvious	Support, encouragement, monitoring, inclusion in ministry	Acts 11:25-26
0	Surrender to Christ	Baptism	Encouragement, rejoicing	Acts 8:36-39
-1	Is willing to confess, repent and be baptized	Faithful in attendance including Bible class	Personal challenge to obey and be faithful	Acts 5:12-14
-2	Knows facts, implications of gospel	Begins to alter some behaviors	Presence and support, positive encouragement and inclusion	Acts 17:10-12
-3	Aware of basics of gospel: sin, righteousness, judgment, atonement	Attends services, knows some people in the church	Presence and presentation: full information from friend or relative	Acts 26:24-29
-4	Looks positively at the Bible	Sometimes looks at the Bible, may attend some services	Presence, encouragement, opportunities for basic information	Acts 24:22-26
-5	Accepts responsibility to God	Tries to do right most of the time, respects faith	Presence, modeling of Christian behavior, talk about Bible texts	Acts 18:12-16
-6	Believes there is a God	Self-directed, judges his truth to be best, tolerant of faith	Presence, emotional connection with known Christians	Acts 17:21
-7	Superficial awareness of God	Self-directed, avoids truth, disdains faith	Presence, emotional connection, cultivation of friendship	Acts 17:32