Spiritual Formation Exercise—Core Practices: Act Like Jesus

Assessment Take a few minutes to read through and think about each of these “core practices” that an apprentice is

learning by following Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to be at work in your spirit to encourage you where you are doing well (strength) and to convict you where you are not (weakness). Get honest with God and yourself about your “practices” and indicate your personal assessment on the continuum below each practice. After your personal assessment, continue to the next step.

Worship--I worship God for who he is and what he has done for me.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Prayer--I pray to God to know him, to lay my request before him and to find direction in

my daily life.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Bible Study--I read the Bible to know God, the truth, and to find direction for my life.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Single-mindedness--I focus on God and his priorities for my life.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Spiritual Gifts--I know and use my spiritual gifts to accomplish God’s purpose.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Biblical Community--I fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God’s purpose in my

life, others’ lives, and in God's world.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Give Away My Time--I give away my time to fulfill God’s purpose.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Give Away My Money--I give away my money to fulfill God’s purpose.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Give Away Faith--I give away my faith to fulfill God’s purpose.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Give Away My Life--I give away my life to fulfill God’s purpose.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weakness Strength

Response

A. Look through your assessment and select one “practice” that you will commit to strengthening during the next few weeks.

B. Design an application project that will help you grow in that particular practice using the four characteristics of a good application project:

a. Personal—I will… b. Practical—I will pray… c. Possible—I will pray 15 minutes each day… d. Provable—I will pray 15 each day this next week.

C. Share your area of needed growth with your SERVICE group. Tell them about your project. Ask

them to pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen you with faith and discipline to follow through on your project.

D. Ask someone in your group to hold you accountable and to ask you about your project. Be

prepared to give a report the next time you are together.