The Seven Stage Model of Spiritual Formation

 

 

 

 

1. Wandering Stage

1. Moral Autonomy                          1. Sovereign Shaping                    1. Revelation
2. Theological Vagueness                 2. Regeneration                          2. Repentance & Faith
3. Teleological Ambiguity
4. Psychological Fragmentation        

 

2. New Life Stage  

1. Spiritual Simplicity                       1. Sovereign Protection                1. Stability
2. Emotional Instability                     2. Integrity Checks                       2. Community
3. “First Love”                                3. Obedience Checks
4. Sincere Hunger                           4. Faith Checks

 

3. Learning Stage

1. Increasing Hunger                       1. Literary Influences                   1. Get the “Big

    Picture”

2. “Leader Worship”                                    2. Mentoring Influences                2. Understand Grace
3. Doctrinal Rigidity                         3. Flesh Acts
4. Theological Imbalance                  4. Relational Insights       
5. Immature Zeal                            5. Ministry Tasks

6. Continued Checks

 

4. Active Stage

1. Ministry Busyness                                    1. Ministry Assignments                1. Humility
2. External Focus                            2. Giftedness Discovery                2. Hunger for More
3. Spiritual Superficiality                   3. Spiritual Warfare
4. Over-commitment                       4. Authority Insights
5. Increasing Dissatisfaction               5. “Faithful with Little” Principle

6. (Later) Ministry Conflict

7. (Later) Leadership Backlash

5. Deepening Stage

1. Honest Reassessment                   1. Conflict                                   1. Quit old way of living
2. Heightened Awareness of Sin        2. Crisis                                      2. Seek a new way
3. Revised Concept of God               3. Isolation
4. Increasing Desperation                 4. Continued Flesh Acts
5. Total Abandonment                     5. Continued Checks

 

6. Mature Ministry Stage

1. Union with Christ                         1. Crises                                     1. Continued Trust &
2. Psychological Integrity                  2. Destiny Insights                            Obedience
3. Mature Acceptance                      3. Ideal Role Discovery
4. True Trust & Rest                                    4. Continued Checks
5. Ministry Fruitfulness

 

7. Christlike Stage

1. Complete Dependence                1. Crises                                     1. Physical Death
2. Perfected Love                           2. Continued Checks
3. Moral Purity
4. Indifference to Circumstance
5. Life of Prayer