Lifelong Discipleship

How vital is your congregation when it comes to Lifelong Discipleship? Take our quiz and find out!

Please note that this quiz only reflects the individual quiz taker's perceptions. To dive deeper encourage your session, deacons, or other small group to take it; then share your answers and talk together. If you want a fuller, richer dive into your congregation's vitality makeup related to all 7 marks consider the US Congregational Vitality Survey.

To learn more about the mark of Lifelong Discipleship check out the video below.

Lifelong Discipleship Interviews

Congregational Faith Formation- It ain't what it used to be but it can still be amazing
A follow-up to the May 2022 Presbytery meeting, this interview with Stephanie Fritz, Mission Coordinator for Christian Formation for the Presbyterian Mission Agency focuses on tips for congregations, especially those struggling with providing opportunities for Faith Formation. Stephanie speaks to the challenges of avoiding burnout in volunteers, how grandparents and older adults can have significant impact on children and youth, the strengths of small congregations, and more.

Adult Faith Formation, an interview with Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka. Lifelong Discipleship means growing in faith doesn't stop with confirmation. In this interview, Rodger addresses questions on developing attractive options for adult learners, where to find resources, support for teachers and recruitment tools as well as how to have meaningful conversations about our faith, including with those who have been hurt by the church in the past.

Prayer and Community
One of the essential faith practices lifted up within our denomination is prayer. Among our confessions our Brief Statement of Faith reminds us: "In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing..." Roxanne Rhinehart, an elder at Good Shepherd Trinity in Milwaukee, takes this belief to heart and in this interview shares how prayer in community has impacted her faith journey. For more on ways you can develop or strengthen your own prayer practices check out this resource from the Presbyterian Mission Agency: Practicing Prayer.

Paying Attention to Grace
A conversation with Scott Samuelson, Associate Pastor at Crossroads Presbyterian Church. As a lifelong disciple, Scott grew up in the church, and along the way he's discovered that his faith keeps evolving and deepening as he attends to the ways in which God's Spirit is at work in his life and ministry and the varying life moments "where grace can seep in."

Faith Practices Toolkit: Resources and links from the Office of Faith Formation of the Presbyterian Mission Agency

Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living

Opening Doors to Discipleship: A path for congregational faith formation and ministry discernment

Resources for Children and Families

Ten Ways to Pray with Kids from Illustrated Ministries

Sabbath Practice Ministry Kits for Children from the PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly

Lessons from the Table by Holly Percel Albrecht from PCUSA Peacemaking: lesson plans for teaching children about the Lord's Table

Faith5 from Faith Incubators: A simple faith practice for use at home and in the congregation for connecting people with God and each other.

Story Path by Union Presbyterian Seminary : Uses children's literature to connect to Biblical stories and children's faith

Resources for Youth and Adults

Visual Bible Commentary: short videos great for individual study and reflection or for use in a Zoom or other classroom setting for group study

Enter the Bible by Luther Seminary: a rich collection of biblical commentary and history.

TheoEd "is a faith-based speaker series that brings together leading thinkers in the church and the academy to give the talk of their lives in 20 minutes or less. Its speakers deliver neither sermons nor traditional lectures. Rather they offer TED-style talks that seek to spark conversations about God, religion, and the power of faith to change lives and communities."

The Minor Leagues: a collection of worship and study resources from Ann Gibbs, PBY Milwaukee staff

On-line Daily Devotion

Morning Prayer produced by the National Cathedral: the link will connect you to the National Cathedral website worship resource page which includes a service of daily prayer.

Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network Resource Library

The Ancient Practice of Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)
The ancient practice of Lectio Divina combines the practices of reading the Scriptures and prayer in an effort to listen for God's word and how God speaks to us each day. The following resources provide brief introductions to Lectio Divina and its history as well as aides to engaging this process yourself or in community.
Introductory Video by Becky Eldridge author of Busy Lives, Restless Souls, and provides both the history of the practice and a simple introduction.
Father Josh provides a more informal introduction and adds a fifth step to the practice that of moving from contemplation to action.
The Scottish Bible Society provides a more detailed introduction as well as resources that link the practice to the weekly lectionary readings for worship.
Dwelling in the Word is similar to Lectio Divina with fewer steps and is meant to be used in community.