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Fifteen Core Traits of a Deeply Committed Christian

KNOWING GOD

Christian Essentials—Deeply committed Christians 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 non-Christian friends.

Bible Understanding—Deeply committed Christians 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/Denomination—Deeply committed Christians value the church as the body of Christ, God’s people journeying in community, and know the teachings characteristic of their particular denomination.

Basic Christian Ethics—Deeply committed Christians 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—Deeply committed Christians 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 lives through prayer, Bible study, and the wisdom of other Christians.

LOVING GOD

Surrender—Deeply committed Christians surrender the control of every aspect of their lives to Jesus, repent of sin, set aside their own desires and sense of importance, and offer their lives in obedient service to God.

Transformation—Deeply committed Christians are being continually transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and sense that power molding their values, priorities, and relationships into more Christlike patterns.

Spiritual Disciplines—Deeply committed Christians practice various spiritual disciplines (for example, 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—Deeply committed Christians are continually growing in the inner qualities and outward actions identified as “the fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (NRSV).

Authentic Community—Deeply committed Christians share their faith journeys with groups of Christian friends in mutual encouragement and accountability, developing spiritual honesty and trust through sharing and support.

SERVING GOD

Service to Others—Deeply committed Christians are instruments of God’s love in a broken, hurting world, living lives of service to others with a strong (though not exclusive) focus on the Bible’s concern for the poor and for justice.

Sharing Christ—Deeply committed Christians are eager to share the good news of Jesus in loving, winsome, and non-judgmental ways, and are ready to “give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

Spiritual Gifts/Talents—Deeply committed Christians 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—Deeply committed Christians 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 they submit their financial lives to God’s guiding and control.

Time—Deeply committed Christians 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.

Fifteen Traits