Owning Stage
Owning is where faith moves from belief to action. You take ownership of your growth, invest in others, and intentionally align your life with God’s purpose, both inside and outside the church.
Welcome to the Owning Stage
You’ve reached a pivotal point in your spiritual journey where faith becomes truly yours. You’re no longer just following along with what others expect—you’re taking full responsibility for your spiritual growth and actively pursuing maturity. This is where faith becomes self-directed, intentional, and deeply personal.
What the Owning Stage Looks Like
You take initiative in your spiritual development without needing external pressure or reminders. Your growth is driven by internal motivation.
You own your choices, your spiritual practices, and your relationship with God. You don’t blame others or circumstances for your spiritual state.
You wrestle with difficult questions and develop your own convictions rather than simply accepting what you’ve been told.
Your spiritual disciplines are established habits that you maintain even when you don’t feel like it or when no one is watching.
You’re actively involved in helping others grow spiritually, whether through formal roles or informal relationships.
Your faith influences all aspects of your life, including: work, relationships, finances, and decision-making. It’s not compartmentalized.
Areas of Spiritual Ownership
You Take Ownership of:
- Your Relationship with God: Daily prayer, Scripture reading, and spiritual practices
- Your Spiritual Growth: Seeking out learning opportunities and challenges
- Your Service: Using your gifts to serve others and build the kingdom
- Your Community: Investing in relationships and being a positive influence
- Your Witness: Sharing your faith naturally in your daily interactions
- Your Resources: Stewarding time, money, and talents according to God’s calling
The Owning Mindset
Self-Motivated: You pursue growth because you want to, not because you have to.
Personally Invested: Your faith is your own—you’ve wrestled with it and claimed it.
Others-Focused: You’re looking beyond yourself to how you can serve and lead others.
Kingdom-Minded: You think about how your life contributes to God’s bigger purposes.
Now Find Your Personalized Next Steps
Great! You’ve discovered your faith stage. Now let’s find specific opportunities, groups, and resources tailored to exactly where you are in your spiritual journey.
Finds opportunities based on your faith stage, involvement level, age, and campus
See current groups, events, and opportunities with live availability
Shows opportunities at your specific campus or multi-campus options
Opportunities are ranked by relevance to your current stage and situation
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Common Challenges in Owning
While the Owning stage represents spiritual maturity, it comes with its own unique challenges and temptations.
Pride
The temptation to become self-righteous or judgmental toward those in earlier stages of faith.
Burnout
Taking on too much responsibility or service without maintaining proper boundaries and rest.
Going Through Motions
Maintaining spiritual practices out of habit rather than genuine heart connection with God.
Spiritual Isolation
Becoming so self-directed that you don’t seek input, accountability, or community support.
Performance Orientation
Measuring your worth by your performance rather than God’s grace and love.
Mission Drift
Losing sight of your core calling and taking on too many competing priorities.
Explore Other Faith Stages
Asking honest questions
Building a grounded faith
Taking responsibility
Wrestling with faith
Multiplying faith