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Your Journey of Discipleship at Crossroads.

   We are all on a journey of faith in God through our growing relationship with Jesus Christ. As Disciples   of Christ we are always seeking to move forward; to grow closer to Christ and become more like Him. As we reflected on the Characteristics of Discipleship, we realize that they represent spiritual practices or disciplines. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in England in the mid-eighteenth century called these practices, Means of Grace.  They are means by which we can open ourselves more fully to God's grace. The metaphor "Forward" captures these spiritual practices in a way that is easy for us to remember and identify with. They can be visualized as seven Roads that we all journey along, sometimes moving forward, sometimes getting stalled, sometimes even moving outward to reach others along the way.

  Our journey of spiritual growth as a disciple is like driving home on a 
highway or road.

Not all roads lead us to spiritual growth. Some roads are risky or even dangerous and may take us to unwanted places. However, there are seven clearly marked roads that we can travel that will reliably lead us on our journey of spiritual growth.  Each of the seven characteristics of spiritual growth in our FORWARD acronym can be thought of as a unique road to our destination home - of becoming ever more like Christ. As we journey, we look for mile markers or signposts to know where we are, to gauge how far we have come and to look ahead to see the journey that remains. The road has hills, twist and turns along the way. We stop occasionally to refuel and rest. The road is not without its obstacles. There may be the occasional pothole along the way.  More information about the potholes are identified in the material for each road.  

 

 

 Click on the Cross in the Center of the picture below to begin your journey and see where you are starting from!

Once you understand where you are on your journey, click on the individual roads to begin to Grow FORWARD.

Click to Enter Fellowship Road Click to Enter Outreach Road Click to Enter God's Work Road Click to Enter Prayer Road The Cross Click to Enter Stewardship Road Click to Enter Worship Road Click to Enter Service Road Click to Enter Fellowship Road Click to Enter Outreach Road Click to Enter God's Work Road Click to Enter Prayer Road Click to Enter Stewardship Road Click to Enter Service Road Click to Enter Worship Road

How Do I Grow FORWARD?

1.  As you consider where you are on your journey, you will find there are a number of opportunities available at Crossroads to help you continue to grow forward. Reflect over the Grow FORWARD Self-Assessment Survey you just finished. Where are you making good progress? How can you hold the gains in those areas? Where are you struggling to grow forward? There are a couple of strategies you can consider.  One may be to choose one or two roads where you are struggling to grow forward and concentrate your efforts on those areas. Alternatively, you may want to pick one road that you are currently traveling and wish to continue your good progress and choose another road that you have not traveled or where you may be further behind and concentrate on moving forward on that road as well.

 

2.  After you have chosen the one or two “roads” you want to journey, this booklet will serve as your GPS or map, giving direction on how you can safely and reliably get to the next signpost.  This booklet is organized so that one section is devoted to each of the seven roads.  Within each of these sections, you will find one page devoted to each of the five signposts along the road.  Now, look at your survey results.  Choose a road you would like to travel.  Turn to the section in this booklet that corresponds to that road.  In that section, look for the page that corresponds to the signpost you had marked for that road in your survey.  This page will provide you with the activities and contact information you need to take you to the next signpost

 

3.  At first, you may want to begin by traveling forward on one or two roads.  Over time concentrate on beginning travel on the other roads of discipleship as well.  Ultimately, the goal is to embrace all seven roads (characteristics) of a disciple of Christ.  However, remember this journey is a trip of a lifetime!  Literally!  Do not become overwhelmed; just concentrate on making one step at a time!

 

 “Potholes” We Could Encounter on Our Journey

 

The road is seldom smooth and easy. There are always some obstacles or “potholes” along the way. If you bump into a pothole, remember that you are in good company!  Other people have encountered similar challenges on their journeys. Many have successfully traveled beyond the pothole and have shared their wisdom in the pages that follow so that we can learn from their experiences and continue our journey forward.  So don’t be discouraged. That is part of the power of Growing FORWARD together. While your journey of spiritual growth is uniquely yours and very private, there are many here at Crossroads who have faced similar struggles and found a way. The good news is they are ready to share with you and encourage you on your journey. You can do it!