The Marion Road exists to help you glorify God through worship, sharing the Good News, making disciples, and serving others as you take next steps in your journey with Christ.
ON-RAMP
Things that might be true about you:
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Have only recently began attending church
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Are unsure if you believe in God in general or Jesus in particular
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Are interested in learning more about what it means to follow Jesus
Spiritual practices you might try:
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Worship – Attend worship, try prayer and Scripture reading (or listening)
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Sharing the Good News – Hear the Gospel where it intersects with your life
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Making Disciples – Find a safe place to ask questions about life and faith
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Serving Others – Find community with others who love Jesus and have common interests
Resources you might explore:
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Books of the Bible:
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Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts – The stories of Jesus and his earliest followers.
Books:
Who is This Man? By John Ortberg
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Website:
Smartphone App:
GAINING SPEED
Things that might be true about you:
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Have been attending worship, might consider yourself a follower of Jesus
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Growing in relationship to God and connection with other followers of Jesus.
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Working through questions about faith, the Bible, existence of God, suffering, etc.
Spiritual practices you might try:
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Worship – Develop a rhythm of spiritual disciplines that is meaningful for you, giving in some way
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Sharing the Good News – Understand and respond to the Gospel where you are
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Making Disciples – Find intentional Christian community, either through programming or organic relationships, that will encourage you in your faith
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Serving Others – Look at your own gifts and abilities, the needs around you, and ask God how you might be able to address those needs.
Resources you might explore:
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Books of the Bible:
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Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians – Letters from the Apostle Paul to early churches, teaching on the message of Jesus and what it means to follow him
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Psalms – Prayers and hymns from the Old Testament
Books:
Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
Simply Christian by N.T. Wright
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
Online Resources:
OCC Next Level: How to Read the Bible by Michael DeFazio
RIGHT LANE
Things that might be true about you:
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Would consider yourself a follower of Jesus, but sorting out what that looks like for yourself
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Wondering what it means to help others grow in their faith
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Interested in using your gifts and talents for the sake of others
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Curious about what it means to officially be a part of Marion
Spiritual practices you might try:
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Worship – Spiritual disciplines apart from Sunday mornings that connect with your specific interests, find places and activities that will help you connect with God, tithing
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Sharing the Good News – Respond to the Gospel as appropriate where you are and learn how you might share it with others
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Making Disciples – Find ways to point those around you into a more meaningful relationship with Jesus, whether they are in your home, workplace, neighborhood, or somewhere else
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Serving Others – Use your gifts and abilities to show others the love of God
Resources you can explore:
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Books of the Bible:
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Genesis and Exodus – First two books of the Bible, telling of God creating the world, humanity rebelling, and God working to set things right.
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1 Peter – Letter from the Apostle Peter to early churches encouraging them to remain faithful to Jesus, even when the world is opposed to them.
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Hebrews – Letter to early churches encouraging them to hold on to Jesus.
Books:
Spirit of Disciplines by Dallas Willard
The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight
The Great Omission by Dallas Willard
Answering God by Eugene Peterson
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
Online Resources:
OCC Next Level: Apologetics by Chad Ragsdale
FULL SPEED
Things that might be true about you:
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Would consider yourself a follower of Jesus and a member of Marion
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Developing meaningful rhythms of spiritual disciplines
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Serving in accordance with your maturity and gifting
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Living in community with others
Spiritual practices you might try:
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Worship – Attending consistently, practicing meaningful spiritual disciplines, including challenging yourself with new practices, giving, either to Marion or to other ministries, beyond 10%
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Sharing the Good News – Building relationships with those who do not know Jesus so that they might hear the Gospel
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Making Disciples – Leading others into a deeper relationship with Jesus, embodying 1 Corinthians 11:1: Follow me as I follow Christ.
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Serving Others – Regularly serving, either at church or somewhere else, as a demonstration of the love of God
Resources you can explore:
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Books of the Bible:
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Isaiah and Ezekiel – Old Testament prophets that call God’s people to repent of their sin and promising the restoration God will bring if they do so.
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Revelation – Last book of the Bible, giving us a glimpse of God’s future restoration of all things at the end of time.
Books:
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Online Resources:
OCC Next Level: The Global Mission by Chris DeWelt