There is nothing more difficult to gauge or measure than spiritual growth. However, we must do our best to try. After conducting the REVEAL survey with over 6000 of their own church members and another 300 people who had left their church within the previous year, Willow Creek started involving other churches in the research. Specifically, they surveyed 80,000 people in 200 congregations. The focus this time was extended to include research into what people really want from their church, the barriers they face, and what draws them closer to Christ.
Many insights emerged including one of the top answers to the questions “What’s the most important thing you want from your church?” as being ”Challenge me to grow and take the next step in my spiritual life.”
Spiritual Catalysts
Fifty factors were assessed as to their impact on spiritual growth. These fall within four categories of spiritual catalysts:
1. Spiritual belief and attitudes. Foundational beliefs are critical. Key beliefs include: salvation by grace, he trinity, a personal God, Christ is first, the authority of the Bible, identity in Christ, giving away my life and stewardship. Two beliefs catalyze growth across all three movements across the spiritual continuum: “Jesus as first in life” and “the authority of the Bible. “
2. Organized church activities. The catalytic power of the church is limited primarily to the first two movements of spiritual growth. Church activities provide an ‘on ramp’ to spiritual growth.
3. Personal spiritual practices. Reflection on Scripture is the number one factor across all three movements.
4. Spiritual activities with others. Spiritual community is a critical catalyst for spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is not linear or predictable. It is a complex process as unique as each individual, and it progresses at a pace determined by each person’s circumstances and the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Other Insights
From the wider church surveys, it was discovered that 32% of people fell into the struggling, unhappy groups of “Satisfied but Stalled (15%),” “Dissatisfied and Stalled (7%),” and “Dissatisfied but not Stalled (10%).”
People who are Stalled spiritually fall mostly in the earlier segments of spiritual growth. People get “un-stuck” by re-engaging in spiritual practices.
Dissatisfied people are present in all segments. Usually these feelings arise from three unmet important elements in the weekend services: (a) “Relevant Bible teaching to help me with everyday life,” (b) “Is challenging and thought-provoking,” and (c) “Provides in-depth study of the Bible.” Addressing these unmet expectations will resonate with all people, regardless of their satisfaction with the church and no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.
Two other breakthrough discoveries were: (1) Christ-centered people show enormous capacity for increased kingdom impact and (2)the Bible is the most powerful catalyst for spiritual growth.
More Strategic Responses
In addition to the continued focus on the strategic responses agreed to after the initial REVEAL survey, Willow Creek made three more responses:
1. They determined to be as radical in equipping believers to live Christ-centered lives as they are in reaching seekers. Christ-centered people are the engine that drives everything in the church. The church must do more to equip and empower them, while not neglecting evangelism. They will do this by challenging people to become disciples and equipping them to make disciples.
2. They are morphing their midweek believers service into a variety of “next step” learning opportunities. Their midweek meetings are for extended times of worship and advanced Bible teaching. However, they are now offering more options for learning, including smaller specialized classes targeted at people in various stages of spiritual growth.
3. They are offering a broader portfolio of targeted experiences and resources to catalyze spiritual movement. People come to church because they want to grow. They recognize that something is missing in their lives and they see something more they desire, entering church buildings in hopes of closing that gap. They don’t want to leave empty-handed. They want to leave feeling that they have moved closer to their desired destination.
In addition to weekend and midweek services, they are offering a portfolio of community experiences, rather than forcing everyone into a church–organized small group. While they believe it is true that everybody needs to be in community, they now understand that forming community will look different depending on a person’s spiritual maturity level. One person may need an ALPHA group, another may need to connect with a spiritual friend, another may desire a structured Bible-study curriculum, while another might want a relational group with accountability and wisdom in return. As people grow spiritually, they tend to desire less structured community experiences, though not less challenging or helpful. Experiences to encourage Christ-like service are also important in assisting people to grow.
There is nothing more difficult to gauge or measure than spiritual growth. However, we must do our best to try. After conducting the REVEAL survey with over 6000 of their own church members and another 300 people who had left their church within the previous year, Willow Creek started involving other churches in the research. Specifically, they surveyed 80,000 people in 200 congregations. The focus this time was extended to include research into what people really want from their church, the barriers they face, and what draws them closer to Christ.
Many insights emerged including one of the top answers to the questions “What’s the most important thing you want from your church?” as being ”Challenge me to grow and take the next step in my spiritual life."
Conclusion
This more extended survey led to two conclusions: (1) churches need to do a better job at equipping the Christ-centered group and (2) they need to help all people engage more deeply with the Bible. If the church doesn’t harness and support the enthusiasm and engagement of Christ-centered people, they will bail – not on God, but on us as churches.
The above material has been summarized from the book FOLLOW ME: What’s Next For You? by Greg L. Hawkins and Cally Parkinson (Willow Creek Resources: Barrington, IL, 2008).