CHRIST FELLOWSHIP | Helping you find and follow Christ
Your NeXt Step Guide
OUR
IDENTITY
OUR MISSION IS TO BE
People helping people find and follow Christ
OUR HEART IS ALL ABOUT JESUS
All
All
All
All
All
welcome – people of grace
real – people who are authentic
Bible – people guided by the Word
in – people who hold nothing back
together – people who unite to make a difference
OUR FOUR PRACTICES
Engage God individually
Connect in a group
Worship in a gathering
Impact others
CHECK OUR PROGRESS
What’s your next step
to follow Christ?
CONTENTS
NEXT STEP: PRACTICES AND THE PATH
1
A FIRST STEP 3
FOUR PRACTICES
5
PATH TO CHRISTLIKENESS
15
NEXT STEP ASSESSMENT
17
NEXT STEP TOWARDS LEADERSHIP
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People helping
people find and
follow Christ
THE "FOUR PRACTICES"
Engage God Individually
Connect in a Group
Worship in a Gathering
Impact Others
CFHOME.ORG/NEXTSTEP
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THE PATH TO
CHRISTLIKENESS
Christian growth is a process. Take your
NeXt Step to become more like Christ.
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READY TO GET
CONNECTED?
If you are new or want to be more connected at Christ
Fellowship, start by taking the “first step.”
FIRST STEP CLASSES
These classes are offered Sunday mornings during one
of our services almost every month. Learn the heart of
Christ Fellowship, hear from pastors and elders about
our ministries, and discover the next step you can take in
following Christ and serving him with our church family.
FIRST STEP DINNERS
These family-style dinners are held on Sunday evenings
every other month throughout the year. This is a great way
to meet other newcomers, mingle with some of our Life
Group members and talk to a few of our elders and pastors.
Register for the next First Step Class or Dinner online
at CFhome.org/firststep
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ENGAGE GOD
INDIVIDUALLY
READ THE BIBLE
•
•
Read the Bible with a plan (try faithlifebible.com)
Read the Bible online or on your mobile device
with YouVersion.com
PRAY
•
•
•
Follow the example of prayers in the Bible (such as
the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13)
Create a calendar with suggestions of what to pray
for each day of the week (pray for your family on
Mondays, your co-workers on Tuesdays, etc.)
Find a prayer model to help you (search online for
the ACTS model)
STUDY
•
•
Follow the Christ Fellowship study guide available at CFhome.org/studyguide
Use online videos or tools, such as Right Now
Media or bible.org
For more ideas or resources on how you can
engage God individually at Christ Fellowship, visit
CFhome.org/engage-god-individually
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6
CONNECT IN
A GROUP
LIFE GROUPS
Life Groups are designed to be a full
expression of biblical community.
Everyone needs to belong to a family. Life Groups
provide a place for people to fully engage with others,
build deep friendships and experience life together,
just like a healthy family.
As Life Group families grow in number, they expand
to create new groups to share the privilege of
community with more and more people.
In Life Groups, people study God’s Word, care for one
another, grow together and seek ways to serve others
beyond the group. Groups typically meet year-round
in host homes.
We provide reduced cost childcare to help
parents participate in Life Groups.
CFhome.org/childcare
Find a life group today, visit CFhome.org/lifegroups
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CARE GROUPS
We know life can throw some unexpected
punches. That’s why we offer Care and Support
groups to be there for you, like a hospital, when
you need it most.
Celebrate Recovery
Are you struggling with any hurts, habits or
addictions?
CFhome.org/cr
DivorceCare
Is divorce or marital separation a current issue?
CFhome.org/divorcecare
GriefShare
Have you recently lost a loved one?
CFhome.org/griefshare
Boundaries
Are others running your life for you?
CFhome.org/boundaries
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NEXT STEP COURSES
There are times in life when you need to go to school.
So we have Next Step courses such as The Christian
Life where you can dig deeper into questions of faith
and see what God’s Word has to say about it. There are
even courses that your Life Group can take together!
How can you share your faith, comfortably and
naturally with the people at work?
How to Share Your Faith
Defending Your Faith
Want to get a better handle on your finances?
Financial Peace University
Looking to strengthen your marriage or develop your
parenting skills?
Growing Deeper in Your Marriage
Parenting with a Purpose
Each of us is at a different place on the path
to Christlikeness. Find all our courses at
CFhome.org/academy
LIFE STAGE GROUPS
We have various groups that are gender specific or
designed for special stages of life:
Men: CFhome.org/men
Women: CFhome.org/women
Moms Connection: CFhome.org/moms
Young Adults: elevateministry.net
Students: CFhome.org/students
Children: CFhome.org/children
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WORSHIP IN A
GATHERING
PRAISE
•
•
•
Attend Sunday worship services weekly
Actively engage in worship through singing,
praying and celebrating the Lord’s Supper
Follow the Lord in believer’s baptism
LEARN
•
•
Take notes during the weekly sermon
Discuss your personal takeaways with family or
friends
GIVE
•
Give generously to support the ongoing ministry
of the church
• Give to Make Room or special offerings that help
people in our church or community
• “We Support Our Own” - Give to support global
workers and global projects
For more ideas or resources on how you can
worship in a gathering at Christ Fellowship, visit
CFhome.org/worship-in-a-gathering
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IMPACT
OTHERS
DAILY LIFE | WORK AND HOME
•
•
•
Share your personal testimony or the gospel - visit
CFhome.org/stories
Pray for a friend/co-worker who doesn’t know
Christ
Teach your family Bible stories
CHURCH | GROUPS AND GATHERINGS
• “Attend One, Serve One” - serve during a Sunday
worship service
• Find an ongoing place to serve
WORLD | NEIGHBORS AND NATIONS
•
•
•
Serve at VBS, tutor kids at Webb Elementary or
volunteer at Clothe a Child
Serve at a 3e McKinney event that helps people in
our community
Go on a short–term mission trip
For more ideas or resources on how you can
impact others at Christ Fellowship, visit
CFhome.org/impact-others
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THE PATH TO
CHRISTLIKENESS
Where are you on the path?
1
EXPLORING
“I believe in God, but am not sure about Christ. My faith is not a
significant part of my life. I need to know more.”
Whether you’re curious about God or have questions about
faith or honestly aren’t sure of your next step, exploring is a
great place to be.
2
STARTING
“I believe in Jesus and have trusted my eternal destiny to him. I am
working on what it means to get to know him.”
New to your faith or want to learn more about what it
means to follow Christ?
3
GROWING
“I have been a Christian for quite a while. I feel really close to
Christ and depend on him daily for guidance.”
One of the best things you can do is keep investing in your
relationship with Christ and others.
4
MATURING
“My relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in
my life. It shapes everything I think and do.”
Be a person that helps others find and follow Christ by
sharing your experience and helping others along the path.
Need help finding where you are on the path? Try the Next
Step Self Check Up or start with the First Step Class to
get to know others who can help you find your next step.
CFhome.org/nextstep, then download the Self Check Up.
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4
3
2
1
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TAKE THE
NEXT STEP
ASSESSMENT
Curious about where to start? We
provide an online tool to help you
self-assess where you are in your
progress toward Christlikeness.
Take the Next Step Self Check Up
online at CFhome.org/nextstep
then click on Self Check Up.
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NEXT STEP
ACADEMY
The NeXt Step Academy offers
a collection of Christ Fellowship
courses and workshops to equip you
with biblical knowledge, godly character and ministry
skills that will help you take your best NeXt Step along the
pathway towards Christlikeness, and to prepare you to
serve others.
NeXt Step Certifications are designed to better equip you
to reach maturity in Christ and to serve others through
various leadership positions.
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Want to develop
as a leader? We
have several
certifications to
help train and
equip you.
FACILITATION
Wisdom by Design - six
hours of training for
adults interested in
enhancing their ability to
facilitate small groups.
NEXT
STEP
ACADEMY
COMMUNITY
Serve the least-reached and
the underserved in our local
community. Gain biblical
training and practical
hands-on experience.
CARE
Develop a deeper
understanding of how to
care for others spiritually.
Learn to be a coach,
mentor, shepherd, or
group leader.
CFHOME.ORG/ACADEMY
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GLOBAL
Think you might be called
to “go” cross-culturally?
Gain biblical training and
global ministry
experience.
Considering full-time
ministry or looking for
hands on experience?
INTERNSHIP
One year program
with hands on ministry
experience and training
as you consider
vocational ministry.
BIBLE
These courses offer a great
overview of the foundational
beliefs of the Christian faith
that we all need to know
as we seek to find and
follow Christ.
CHURCH PLANTER
RESIDENCY
Three uniquely designed
phases to prepare you
for church planting
with Christ Fellowship,
as we multiply to be in
more places to reach
more people.
LEADERSHIP
Gain a deeper knowledge
and develop the tools you
need to mentor and lead
others on their path to
Christlikeness.
GLOBAL WORKER
If you’re interested in
getting certified or
have any questions,
visit CFhome.org/
certification
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Three uniquely designed
phases to prepare you
to be sent as a global
worker into our areas
of strategic focus
(China or Uganda).
2801 Orchid Dr, McKinney, TX 75070
CFhome.org | 972.547.7000
@CFhome