The Journey
There are all kinds of journeys in life. Some are slow and relaxing, while others are strenuous and difficult; some advance us to a new place while others lead to a dead-end. Every day we make decisions that will affect the destiny of our lives. This is especially true in our faith journey.
At Guilford College United Methodist Church, our purpose is to meet people where they are and assist them in their spiritual journey towards a Christ-Centered life. Nothing will bring you greater joy, challenge, or meaning than The Journey into life as God intended us to live it. Welcome to the path that will bring you closer to God and others!
To help you assess where you may be on the spiritual journey, you are invited to complete the spiritual mini-assessment. It is available at the Information Center in the lobby, or online.
Click here to take the mini-assessment.
The Journey doesn’t have to be complicated.
We focus on four important areas of growth – learning, connecting, caring, and serving.
LEARNING: Knowing God
We can never fully understand God - but the mysteries and questions are not obstacles to growth - they are an invitation to continually journey deeper in our understanding of God and the Kingdom to which he invites us. As we increase our understanding of the kind of God we worship and serve, we increase our capacity to live the life God designed us to live. Learning Opportunities will lead you to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom.
CONNECTING: Loving God
When we are traveling with God and letting God recalibrate our "heart," we find that transformation becomes a beautiful reality in our life! Taking advantage of Connecting Opportunities will draw you deeper into a level of love for God and neighbor.
CARING/SERVING: Showing God
The Christian life is about living our calling to be salt and light in the world. Reaching out to those who are hurting, struggling, in need, or oppressed is the very heartbeat of Jesus. Serving Opportunities will provide the chance to make a difference in the lives of others.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS TO A CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE!
While The Journey towards a Christ-Centered life is a life-long process, there are some definable traits that paint a picture of what we mean by “a Christ-Centered Disciple.” The goal for every individual is deep intimacy with the Father.
LEARNING:
Christian Essentials – Christ-Centered Disciples understand the essential gospel on which most Christians agree, across denominational lines and centuries, expressed in historic creeds such as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and can share the gospel intelligently with a non-Christian friend.
Bible Understanding – Christ-Centered Disciples know the grand sweep of the Bible’s story of salvation, including a basic timeline of biblical events. They understand the divine/human nature of the Bible and know how to read it, not merely as an ancient document or a reference book of spiritual answers, but for personal spiritual growth.
Church/United Methodism – Christ-Centered Disciples value the church as the Body of Christ, God’s people journeying in community, and know the teachings characteristic of the Methodist movement (e.g., holding together grace and holiness, holding together personal salvation and social justice, free will, a commitment to Christian unity even when opinions differ).
Basic Christian Ethics – Christ Centered Disciples understand how to apply their Christian faith to important ethical issues and are committed to living out Christian ethical principles such as justice, integrity, peace, and responsibility for the well-being of others.
Knowing God’s Will – Christ-Centered Disciples know the broad scope of God's purpose for human beings, and have a growing sense of how to discern God's will for their life through prayer, Bible study and the wisdom of other Christians.
CONNECTING:
Surrender – Christ-Centered Disciples surrender the control of every aspect of their life to Jesus, repenting of sin, setting aside their own desires and sense of importance, and offering their lives in obedient service to God.
Transformation – Christ-Centered Disciples are being continually transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and sense that power molding their values, priorities and relationships into more Christ-like patterns.
Spiritual Disciplines – Christ-Centered Disciples practice various spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, Bible reading, worship, solitude, meditation, fasting) as a means of surrendering to Jesus and opening their life to the Holy Spirit’s transforming activity.
Fruit of the Spirit – Christ-Centered Disciples are continually growing in the inner qualities and outward actions identified as “the fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
Small Groups – Christ-Centered Disciples share their faith journey with a group of Christian friends in mutual encouragement and accountability, developing spiritual honesty and trust through sharing and support.
CARING/SERVING:
Service to Others – Christ-Centered Disciples are instruments of God’s love in a broken, hurting world, living lives of service to others with a strong focus on the Bible’s concern for the poor and for justice.
Sharing Christ – Christ-Centered Disciples are eager to share the good news of Jesus in loving, winsome and non-judgmental ways, and are ready to “give an answer to anyone who asks the reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15).
Spiritual Gifts/Talents – Christ-Centered Disciples understand clearly, with “sober judgment" (Romans 12:3) which spiritual gifts and talents they have, and use those gifts to bless others and build up the Body of Christ.
Financial Gifts – Christ-Centered Disciples view money and material possessions not as a measure of success or as a means of self-gratification, but as a resource for whose use they are responsible to God, and submit their financial lives to God’s guiding and control.
Time – Christ-Centered Disciples see time as a gift from God to be used in keeping with God’s purposes, avoid compulsive busyness, and submit their calendars to God’s guiding and control.
To assist you in your journey toward Christ-Centered living, we have a faith development plan which contains over 200 titles and suggested studies for faith formation. This plan provides direction in identifying and selecting resources to help individuals and groups move along the spiritual journey toward life as Christ-Centered Disciples. To view the GCUMC Adult Faith Development Plan, click here.
