The journey to becoming a church of missionary disciples
Stages, signposts and helpful resources to use together as a church
AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A church family, it may seem like a big step to start sharing our faith with those in our day to day lives who don’t have faith. But in the process of growing in confidence as missionary disciples, we can take smaller steps along the way.
One of the biggest barriers to living and sharing faith in everyday life is confidence
Many of us have a strong internal faith but lack the confidence to talk about it with others. But as we spend time with Jesus through worship, fellowship and prayer, the Holy Spirit will ‘send us out’ into our daily lives to share the Good News we have discovered for ourselves. This can be a daunting prospect and a process of change for individuals and your church as a whole. Church leaders and congregations across the country (that is to say, worshipping communities, chaplaincies, Fresh Expressions and many others) say that one of the biggest barriers to living and sharing faith in everyday life is confidence.
And it’s not just those in our congregations who feel this way. Clergy, churchwardens and others who are deeply committed to God can struggle with confidence, too.
So, how can church leaders help people explore how their faith shapes every part of their lives, and encourage them to live it out day by day?
There’s no need to do everything at once. We can begin by creating opportunities to reflect, ask questions and grow in confidence.
Exploring
This first stage offers two sets of questions to help people reflect on how their faith shapes their lives and can be shared with others.:
1. Canterbury’s Changing Lives conversations
These two questions can be used in small groups, committees (including Parochial Church Councils, or PCCs) and, as confidence grows, with whole congregations.
They encourage people to reflect on how God is at work in their lives and the difference this makes:
- How is God/Jesus changing your life right now?
- How can we support each other to be seven-day-a-week disciples?
You’ll find resources at the bottom of this page to help you initiate these conversations.
2. Bath & Wells’ everyday questions
These 40 questions cover a wide range of topics, from belief to science. They’re particularly useful for groups who are at an earlier stage in their faith journey or who feel less confident talking about their faith.
The questions invite people to explore everyday issues and consider how their faith might shape their responses. They’ve proved popular with children and young people, as well as adults.
You can download the questions in the Resources section below.
How long will this stage of exploring take?
We suggest a pattern to noticing change that follows:
- Imagine. What changes would you like to see, hope to see, dream of seeing!? Have you noticed any changes in people’s conversations, levels of trust and openness, more outward reflection on their faith journey?
- Identify. What have you seen or heard that is different in what – or who – people are praying for? How do people respond to the questions initially? How do they respond after a month, or longer?
- Insights. What does this show you about the ways in which your culture is changing? What have you learnt that works well in your context to begin conversations about everyday faith? What needs to be done next, or to help strengthen this?
Ask these questions before you start using the resources. Check in again after a couple of months, and again at six months. If you’re noticing the changes you want to see – great! You’re ready to move on to the next stage. If you’re not yet seeing these changes, or you’re just starting to see some, don’t worry – every church (and every individual) is in a different place on their spiritual journey. The ‘How to’ guide for the Changing Lives Conversations has suggestions about how and where you can try these questions. And, above all, don’t forget to pray!
Enabling – Eight Shifts
At this stage, church leaders look at small changes they can make to help people think about their faith beyond the church building. This might mean including everyday life in our prayers, celebrating the work and service that members of our congregations offer each day, and using sermons and liturgy to help people explore how their faith can make a positive difference in every part of life.
There are eight shifts that churches can explore. Each includes a key question, a practical activity, a story from someone who has tried the shift, and a link to Faith at Home, which supports young people in living out their faith in everyday life.
The shifts complement one another, so you can explore more than one at a time. Download the Eight Shifts resource below to find out more.
How long will this stage take?
It is expected this stage will last around 6-8 months. This will of course vary in individual contexts, and it will also depend on how many of the shifts you and your church try.
What changes should we look out for?
As you begin these shifts, it can help to think through what you hope will change, so you can notice if it happens. There are three things to be aware of:
- Attitudes and actions. Have you noticed any changes in people’s conversations, levels of trust and openness, a more outward reflection on their faith journey? Are people talking about a difference in confidence around faith?
- Issues and priorities. Have you noticed any changes in the issues people consider to be important? Are you discussing different things, or discussing things differently on your PCC? Is there a difference in what, and who, you are praying for?
- Groups and networks. Are people suggesting new ways of meeting or organising the life of the church? Have people mentioned networks and groups they are interested in that support faith in the whole of life?
The Church Development Tool (details below) is also now available to measure a starting point for discipleship and help you track progress as you grow together.
Tracking your progress
As well as making some of these small shifts, the Church Development Tool is now available to measure a starting point for discipleship. Find out more about it on the Church of England website.
