The first element of lifelong faith formation is establishing a clear vision of maturing in Christian faith. Faith is a gift from God, guided by the Holy Spirit, and formed over time in families, relationships, and communities. It matures as people come to know, love, and serve God.

At its heart, Christian faith is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and a lifelong commitment to follow his way of life. To be a disciple means walking with Christ throughout all stages of life, growing in communion with him, and becoming witnesses of God’s reign in the world. As leaders and faith mentors, we must ask:

• What is our vision of maturing in faith?
• What goals guide our discipleship efforts?
• How might this vision unfold in our congregation?

How do we intentionally nurture people at every life stage—from childhood through older adulthood? When congregations embrace this vision, faith formation becomes not simply a set of programs but a pathway of growth and discipleship across the entire lifespan.

Robust Christian faith is holistic—integrating belief, belonging, and practice. Jesus’ commandment to love God and neighbor (Matt. 22:37–39) provides the framework:

• Head (Informing): Faith seeks understanding. Discipleship involves study, reflection, and discernment. People learn the Christian story—its Scriptures, creeds, worship, and ethics—and make it their own with personal conviction.
• Heart (Forming): Faith builds relationships. Discipleship involves hospitality, prayer, worship, and community. People grow in trust, belonging, and identity as disciples of Jesus.
• Hands (Transforming): Faith is lived out. Discipleship involves love, justice, peace-making, stewardship, and service. People are called into lifelong conversion and into transforming society toward God’s reign.

This threefold vision shapes people into followers of Jesus whose faith is informed by knowledge, formed in community, and transformed in daily living.

From the earliest days, Christians described themselves as followers of “the Way” (Acts 9:2). Discipleship begins with Jesus’ call, not human choice, and it transforms lives through new commitments. Authentic discipleship is participation in the mission of Jesus—living out the Good News in word and action.

The characteristics of discipleship include:

• Knowing Jesus Christ personally and following his lead.
• Anchoring life in the study of the Bible and Christian tradition.
• Worshiping God in prayer, thanksgiving, and ritual.
• Living faith as a way of life—integrating belief and daily action.
• Bearing witness to God’s work through testimony and story.
• Loving and serving neighbors, including strangers and enemies.
• Practicing forgiveness and seeking reconciliation.
• Living prophetically by confronting injustice and calling for mercy and peace.
• Caring for creation and stewarding God’s gifts.
• Using spiritual gifts in service to the church and the world.
• Discipleship is not an occasional practice but a lifelong calling for all who follow Christ.

A shared vision of discipleship takes shape through ten goals for lifelong faith growth. These goals guide churches in creating age-appropriate, intergenerational, and family-centered experiences.

• Develop and sustain a personal relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Live as a disciple of Jesus Christ, making faith a way of life.
• Read and study the Bible, applying its message to daily living.
• Learn the Christian story and teachings, integrating them into life.
• Worship God in community and through the seasons of the church year.
• Pray regularly—alone and with others—seeking spiritual growth.
• Live with moral integrity, guided by Christian ethics.
• Serve others, care for creation, and act for justice and peace.
• Engage actively in the life and ministries of the Christian community.
• Use one’s gifts and talents in service to God, the church, and the world.

Each goal integrates informing (knowledge of faith), forming (relationship with Christ and community), and transforming (living faith in action). Together, they provide a framework for guiding people from childhood through older adulthood.

This vision shifts faith formation from a program-centered model to a person-centered journey. Instead of siloed age-group ministries, congregations cultivate faith through intergenerational, family, and peer-based experiences centered around the ten goals.

• Faith formation must also recognize the diversity of people’s spiritual-religious identities:
• Engaged – vibrant faith, active in community.
• Occasionals – occasional participants, faith less central.
• Spirituals – living spiritual lives apart from church.
• Unaffiliated – disconnected from church and religion.

By contextualizing the ten goals within local culture and mission, churches can offer pathways for all people to mature in faith, whether deeply engaged, occasionally involved, spiritually seeking, or unaffiliated.

When churches adopt a vision of holistic, lifelong discipleship, they create a shared roadmap that empowers people of all ages to grow in Christ. This vision includes:

• Equipping families as the first teachers of faith.
• Blending intergenerational and age-specific formation.
• Creating flexible, personalized pathways for growth.
• Grounding everything in the ten goals of maturing in faith.

With this vision, congregations become places where discipleship is not just taught but lived—where people know, love, and serve God across their entire lives.

Closing Thought
Faith maturity is not measured by knowledge alone but by a lived, resilient, and integrated discipleship. As leaders, we must paint a picture of what that looks like to follow Jesus everyday, everywhere, with everyone.