The Salvation ArmyArmée du Salut

First Steps Menu Options

"Come and see..." Personal Grid for those exploring faith and/or taking early steps in their discipleship journey, that helps lay foundations of Christian faith.

Using your completed Personal Grid as a guide, choose a Menu Option from the list below, in an area that you want to take a "best next step" of growth.

Menu Options are categorized by one of these three icons: 

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Help you grow in knowledge & understanding

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Spiritual & character formation

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Hands-on application & experience

 1. Effective Personal Witness 

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Complete a 2-week journal of where you see God working in your life and in your world. Note any verses of scripture that stands out to you or appears repeatedly in your life during this time, as well as places or people in which you see God showing up in your everyday life.

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Find two or three people to share your experience of putting your faith in Jesus with, and how he is working in your life. Need help putting some thoughts together? Consider using the template provided at the end of this document to get you started.

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Ask a leader in your church, members of your small group, or friends and family to share their stories of coming to faith in Jesus with you. Ask them to share how God is continuing to work in their lives.

 2. Sacrificial Compassionate Mission 

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Pick a social justice issue to learn about: Watch a documentary or read a book about it. Talk to a leader in your church, and explore what a Christian response to such an issue might look like.

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Take a walk around your neighbourhood. Look for and pray for needs you see, as you walk.

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What service or mission opportunities are available to you in your community, division or territory? Sign up and get involved!

 3. Active Engagement in the World 

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Talk to a couple people in your church that you look to as examples of faith. Ask how they are actively living out their faith in their world.

 4. Healthy Spiritual Habits 

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Ask a leader in your church which small groups or Bible studies may be available to you, and then plan to join one this month.

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Download an app such as Echo Prayer or The Inner Room to help you begin developing the practice of praying regularly.

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Begin establishing the habit of regular reading of scripture. Download the YouVersion Bible app and choose a reading plan that interests you, or download The Bible Project app and follow their weekly reading plan.

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Decide to begin and end each day by spending some time with God in prayer and scripture. Download the Lectio365 app to help you establish this rhythm in your days.

 5. Healthy Spiritual Community 

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Talk to your corps officer/pastor or another leader in your church, and begin exploring the possibility of having a mentor as part of your spiritual journey. Then begin taking the steps together to begin establishing this relationship.

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Identify 1-2 Christlike people in your friendship circles or church and intentionally invite them/give them permission to speak into your life.

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Examine your social media feed - what does it say about the type of healthy spiritual community you are wanting to develop as a follower of Jesus? Are there adjustments that need to be made? If so, make them.

 6. Salvation & Sanctification 

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Write or record your story of experiencing salvation in Jesus and how you're beginning to be made more like him. Then share it with someone.

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Look for the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in your life and in the lives of others. Take note of, or journal areas you see room for growth of these qualities in your life. Ask God to begin developing those qualities in you.

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Examine your social media feed. How does it align with your new life in Christ, and with Jesus' character? Ask God to help you make any adjustments needed - and then begin taking those steps.

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Read through one of the gospels. Note what you learn about Jesus and his call to follow him. What is your experience or need of salvation? How are you being made more like Jesus? Write down your thoughts and share them with someone else.

 7. Equipped for Ministry 

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Explore your unique God-given SHAPE (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences). How can you develop particular aspects of who you are? Take the challenge and work on your SHAPE! Use Congratulations... You're Gifted! Discovering Your God-Given Shape to Make a Difference in the World by Doug Fields to get you started.

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Observe leaders in your church and document what you learn about how they lead. How does the way they lead reflect the character of Jesus?

 8. Entrusted with Ministry 

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Help organize a service project or fundraiser to help support those who are less fortunate in your neighbourhood or world.

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Consider the hours in your day and week. How do you spend them? How many are simply spent "passing time"? How could you leverage some of those hours to contribute to the life of your church or community in some form of ministry? Talk to a leader or mentor about the possibilities and then make a plan, and begin working it out.

 9. Stewardship 

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Talk to your corps officer/pastor about the importance stewardship has in one's faith journey. Consider making a commitment to give regularly to help the ministry of your faith community.

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Chart how you regularly spend your day. Identify times you could better use for God's glory. Talk to a mentor or friend to identify ways you might be able to better steward that time.

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Monitor your daily/weekly screen time updates. Take a look at how much time you're spending and where that time is spent. Are there ways you can spend some of that time differently, that could help you take new steps in your relationship with Jesus?

 10. Discernment & Decision-making 

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Take note of the messages you receive this month through media, at work, friend groups or colleagues, news, legislation, etc. How do these align with what you know of Jesus and a Christlike worldview - or not? Find someone to discuss this with.

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Consider how you make decisions. What factors do you factor in when making them? Did you just go with your gut, compare to what the Bible says, commit to praying about it, seek God's will, gain broader perspective from your faith community? Note patterns in your decision-making process, and make adjustments as needed.

 11. Relation to Authority 

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Think about an area of authority you hold (at work, at home, community involvement, etc.) Have a conversation with a trusted friend or leader in your church and discuss how you use the authority that has been given to you. Is it reflecting Christ's character?

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Where do you find yourself coming in conflict with authority? Why do you think this is? How can you respond in a more Christlike way? Talk to a Christian leader about what you have noticed.

 12. Response to God's Call 

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Talk to your corps officer/pastor or another leader in your church about the importance of being obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading in your life. What are ways you can look and listen for his guidance?

 13. Beliefs/Values/Behaviours 

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Explore the doctrines of The Salvation Army. Read and discuss them with your corps officer or another leader in your church. Write down any questions they raise, and then talk about them with someone who understands them.

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Use The Salvation Army's Day by Day resource as a devotional throughout the month. Put its principles into action.

You've chosen your next step for growth, now make sure you connect with those you're journeying with to let them know what step(s) you've decided to take. Then schedule a Connection Point to let each other know how your steps are going. Use the guide on the next page to help keep your Connection Points intentional and on track!

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