Church Resources: How Should Christians Use Them?

 

Christians today have access to an incredible variety of resources designed to support spiritual growth. To better understand how young believers view these tools, we surveyed 185 Christians. Most respondents were female (63%), under age 35 (72%), from the United States (70%), and evangelical (70%). You can view the full dataset at Different Forms of Church and Biblical Resources.

 

🏠 How Christians View “Church”

 

Most participants affirmed their local church as a valid expression of the church (86%). However, many also recognized:

·       Community-based Christian relationships (61%)

·       Online fellowship or Bible study (46%)

This shows that young Christians see the church as both local and relational, extending beyond the walls of a building.

 

📈 What Most Helps Spiritual Growth

 

Respondents identified the local church as the strongest source of growth in:

•      Prayer (86%)

•      Praise (90%)

•      Fellowship (90%)

•      Outreach (81%)

•      Learning Scripture (86%)

 

But other resources also played meaningful roles:

•      Christian community outside church supported growth in all five areas (41–51%).

•      Online interactions with individual Christians (31–43%) and organizations (26–33%) were especially helpful for learning the Bible (56%).

•      Local parachurch organizations were less influential (12–22%).

 

🛠️ Which Church Resources Help Most?

 

Within the local church, the most helpful resources were:

•      Lead pastor’s sermons (79%)

•      Worship services (70%)

•      Fellowship (59%)

•      Bible studies (58%)

 

The least helpful were:

•      Accountability groups (22%)

•      Non-teaching service roles such as helps ministry or childcare (21%)

 

Parachurch organizations supported about one-third of participants, especially through:

•      Bible study (38%)

•      Fellowship (37%)

 

Online resources also played a significant role:

•      Streaming other churches’ worship services (40%)

•      Streaming sermons (27%)

•      Streaming their own pastor’s worship services (35%) or sermons (34%)

•      Internet-based Bible study groups (35%)

•      Online fellowship (30%)

 

How Can Christians Best Use These Resources?

 

🧠 1. Adopt a Growth Mindset

 

Spiritual maturity requires intentionality. No one else can ensure we receive the nourishment we need; we must choose to pursue it.

 

📚 2. Include the Five Tools of Maturity

 

Acts 2:42–47 highlights five essential practices of the early church:

•      Praise

•      Prayer

•      Fellowship

•      Bible study

•      Outreach

No single resource—no matter how strong—can meet all five needs. A balanced approach is essential.

 

🎯 3. Set a Spiritual Growth Plan

 

Evaluate the resources available to you and intentionally build rhythms that strengthen each of the five tools.

 

🤝 4. Cultivate a Heart of Service

 

As you grow, look for ways to pour into others. The goal of maturity is not only personal benefit but also equipping ourselves to serve fellow believers in word and action.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Our survey shows that young Christians draw from a wide range of resources (local church, online tools, Christian relationships, and parachurch ministries) to support their spiritual life. The local church remains central, but believers are supplementing it with digital and relational resources that help them grow.

 

By intentionally incorporating praise, prayer, fellowship, outreach, and Bible study into daily life, Christians can cultivate a mature and balanced walk with Christ.

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

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Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and/or do your own research into the scriptures.

What is Discipleship

 

Thank you for visiting my blog. It is a privilege to share these insights with you, and I hope you find them encouraging. Teleios’ mission is to demonstrate the truth of the Bible through scientific research and to provide practical tools that build scriptural understanding and confidence.

 

Recently, we conducted a survey exploring how young Christian’s view Bible study and discipleship. We received responses from 822 participants:

• 25% were under 18;
• 55 % were between 18–30;
• Half lived outside the United States;
• 80% identified as evangelical; and
• 85% said they were saved by grace.

You can read the full findings here: https://teleiosresearch.com/what-are-young-christians-bible-study-habits/.

From this research, several fascinating themes emerged—especially around the question: What is discipleship?

 

🧭 How Young Christians Define Discipleship

 

The most common response (62%) was “seeking God the best way I know how.”

 

This is an interesting and heartfelt answer, but it differs from the historical and biblical meaning of discipleship.

Traditionally, a disciple is a learner or follower of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.

 

The Greek word used in the New Testament—mathētēs (μαθητής)—literally means a learner or pupil. Christ’s disciples learned directly from Him, and the New Testament gives additional examples such as Paul mentoring Timothy.

 

Biblically, then, discipleship implies direction, instruction, and guidance—not simply self‑directed spiritual effort.

 

👥 What Our Participants Chose Next

 

More aligned with the biblical definition, participants also selected:

• Being taught by a more mature Christian (50%)
• Being part of a small group (40%) 

Both can be effective when they are grounded in Scripture and led by someone who understands the Bible well.

 

Mentoring—our modern term for guided discipleship—remains especially valuable for young believers. It is difficult to navigate the Christian life efficiently without someone to help you begin well.

 

Less common responses included:

• Having a prayer partner (40%)
• Having an accountability partner (30%)

These can be helpful, but only when the partner is spiritually mature. When both individuals are young in the faith, it can become a “blind leading the blind” situation.

 

⚠️ A Word of Wisdom

 

Your time is precious. Seek out resources and mentors who can help you grow in biblical knowledge efficiently and faithfully. Strong guidance early in your Christian walk can help you serve God more effectively—and avoid avoidable pitfalls in career, family, and marriage.

 

Thank you again for reading. Join us next week as we explore more insights from Teleios research.

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

Website – http://teleiosresearch.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TeleiosVideos

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@teleiostiktok

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teleiosresearch

 

Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and/or do your own research into the scriptures.

 

 

Are there benefits to a Christian society?

 

Christianity underpins the foundation of Western society. Recent Teleios research has shown that individuals in societies embracing biblical values have better wellbeing than those in non-Christian nations and are characterized by other positive measures within the economic, legal, security, health, and educational realms that might serve as markers of personal happiness. Nonetheless, some deny the historical and current benefits of Christianity. 

 

Teleios conducted a survey regarding the benefits of Christian society on an Instagram account frequented by Christian adolescents and millennials. There were 565 responses. The majority of responders were: female (78%), < 35 years (67%), primarily from the United States (60%) or Europe (13%) and primarily evangelical (88%). See the full report at Benefits to a Christian society.

A slight plurality (46%) believed they were living in a Christian versus secular based society (45%). Respondents noted advantages to living in a Christian society, compared to any other type of society (41%) and compared specifically to a secular society (18%). Participants indicated the top 3 potential advantages of a Christian society were a stronger moral (82%) and ethical base (71%) as well as greater love among people (75%).

Within the advantages noted of a Christian society in relation to government, the top three responses were: recognizing the primary biblically mandated role of government to keep order in society (60%); maintain individual rights, especially freedom of religion and expression (56%); and reduce corruption (54%).

In contrast, the greatest potential disadvantage of a Christian society was seen as Christians becoming too complacent with power and forgetting the love of Christ (64%). Participants believed most often Christians could help maintain a balance between preserving freedom and avoiding religious despotism by assuring the church and individuals are teaching the word of God (60%).

 

This survey suggests that young Christians recognize generally the benefits of Christian society. However, they lack a more complete knowledge of the benefits of biblical principles within society. This provides an opportunity for Christian teachers and pastors to teach young people to understand our heritage and scripture’s formative role and impact upon it.

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

Website – http://teleiosresearch.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TeleiosVideos

X - https://x.com/TeleiosTweets

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@teleiostiktok

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teleiosresearch

 

Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and/or do your own research into the scriptures.