1) Spiritual Integrity:
Describe how
are you doing in your relationship with God?
Describe your inner
life with God (i.e. spiritual disciplines like time with God through prayer and
time with God through His Word)? What do you do? When? Where?
What has God
shown you recently from your time alone with Him?
Describe your recent
spiritual life in community with one or more people where the Word is
communicated and there is prayer time?
What are the
greatest hindrances to your inner life relationship with God lately?
What are the
most serious temptations you are facing lately? In what areas of your life are
you most vulnerable to temptation?
What kind of
God-honoring good works and ministry are you doing for God’s glory lately?
How have you blessed others?
Whom have you communicating Christ
to?
How have you been using your
spiritual gift(s) and resources to help and serve others in need?
2) Family Integrity (if applicable):
How are you
doing in your relationship with your wife and your children (quality time with
them; caring, loving, serving, providing for them, spiritual interaction,
conflict/resolution)?
What are the
greatest hindrances to your God-honoring relationship with your immediate family
members?
3) Vocational Integrity (if applicable):
Are you being God-honoring and responsible
according to your job description, expectations from your leader(s)? How are
you contributing value to the organization to the glory of God?
4) Sexual Integrity:
How are you
doing lately with your thoughts and desires related to impurities and lust?
How are you doing
at avoiding external sources of lust-oriented content like various forms of pornography;
or other videos, pictures, writings, lyrics and such that can trigger lust in
your life?
How have you
failed with lustful thinking, desires, and behaviors recently?
Have you been
engaging in any sexually questionable/immoral associations/communications with
others? (if married, no flirting or sexual activity outside of marriage; if not
married, no sexual activity with another person)
5) Relational Integrity:
How is your
relationship with others, people outside your immediate family (like extended
family, co-workers, classmates, teammates, neighbors, church folks…)? no lying,
slandering, gossiping, tearing down others; instead be loving toward others,
show them grace and truth; be supportive of leaders in your life
6) Financial Integrity:
Are you making
timely payment of bills? What are you doing to get out of and/or avoid any
unhealthy debt? How are you being a
steward of God-given resources in your life? How are you exceling in being a
cheerful giver, tithing, offerings, generosity,…? Are you struggling with
materialism? envy? greed? Lack of contentment related to stuff and things in
your life?
7) Demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit;
Gal. 5:22-25 ESV 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And
those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk
by the Spirit.
How are you doing recently with
demonstrating and expressing the nine elements of the Fruit of the Spirit? Which ones are you not doing well at recently?
8) Your Hallmark
Purpose (Mission) Statement:
Mike’s:
I am pressing on as a maturing
Christ-follower, a winsome Christ-like instrument of righteousness and
encouragement to others, engaging in good works, all for the glory of God. The
two key verses are Philippians 3:14 (I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus. ESV) and Romans 6:13 (Do not
let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead,
give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new
life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory
of God. NLT).
How are you
doing at being this person? Living this out regularly?
9) Your Resolutions
Examples from Mike:
Today and here on forward, by the grace of God
- I belong to
Jesus Christ; He is Creator, Savior and Lord of my life; He has redeemed me.
- I will trust
Him and live for/with Him according to God’s Word for His people today.
- I will develop
my inner life in Christ by spending regular quality time praying to God.
- I will develop
my inner life in Christ by spending regular quality time in God’s Word;
learning it, living it, praying it, and proclaiming it.
- I will seek
to be Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and God-glorifying in all I am and do.
- I will build
up believers in Christ and build (relational & spiritual) bridges to
nonbelievers.
- I will be a
Great Commandment Christian (seeking to love God with my all and to love my
neighbor as myself).
- I will be a
Great Commission Christian (making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them
what Christ has commanded).
- I will love
God through worship, and love people through fellowship, discipleship, ministry
and witnessing.
- I will be a
generous steward of God’s resources.
- I will pour
out the Fruit of the Spirit in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, & self-control.
- I will love
my wife (Kym) and our kids (Luke, Josh, Zachary, and Elle) as the five most
important people and primary disciple-making mission field in my life.
- I will be
faithful to God, my wife, our kids and to the work God has called me to.
- I will lead
those people whom God has called me to lead.
- I will pursue
excellence and quality at what God has called me to be and do.
- I will engage
in the good works God calls me to engage in.
- I will care
for myself in a God-honoring way.
- I will be
this person and do these things to the glory of God by God’s grace and my
proper response to Him in faith and obedience.
10) Your Top Values
Mike’s example
Belief, Faith, Family, Grace, Truth, Learning, Improvement, Communication,
Influence, Discernment, Purpose, Significance, Wisdom, Integrity, Humor, Effectiveness,
Efficiency, Priorities, Thankfulness, Fellowship
Describe how
you are doing at holding these values up as important in your life?
11) Your Church’s Vision & Mission Statements
(if applicable): Thomas Road Baptist Church (Lynchburg, VA) exists to
bring glory to God by making a positive difference in the lives of people! To change our world by developing Christ
followers who love God and love people!
Six core values:
1. Commitment to Scripture 2.
Culture of prayer 3. Lifestyle of worship 4. Connection to community
5. Heart for serving 6. Passion
for sharing
How are you doing at contributing to and engaging in this
vision/mission statement and carrying out these core values?
12) The Spiritual Leadership Standard in
God’s Word for Deacons is a good spiritual standard for any Christian man who
seeks to grow/mature in Christ:
1 Tim. 3:8-13 ESV Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to
much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9They must hold the
mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10And let them
also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves
blameless. 11Their wives£ likewise must be dignified, not
slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12Let
deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own
households well. 13For those who serve well as deacons gain a
good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in
Christ Jesus.
Is there
anything the Holy Spirit is convicting you about recently that you feel the
need to share with me, your Christian brother? If so, what? Have you been
truthful about this?
How can I, your
brother in Christ, be an encouraging resource to you in your life right now?
How can I,
your brother in Christ, pray for you this coming week/month?
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs
27:17 NKJV
Therefore, confess
your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James
5:16 ESV
submitting to one
another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 ESV
Dear
brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are
godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And
be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians
6:1 NLT
What are your thoughts on these discussion points/questions? Do you have some others?
Mike
