Getting Acquainted & Faith History

Part I.   Formative Figures

1. Were your parents religious?  Spiritual?  (Would you make a distinction here?)  In what ways did they influence your faith formation as you were growing up?
2. Were there other adults who had an important influence on your early religious nurture?  Who were they and what influence did they have?
3. In your adult years what ministers, friends, teachers, or authors have had a special hand in shaping the faith you now hold?  What were their contributions, both positive and negative?
4. Follow up on the influential figures to find out if they ever shared their own faith experiences.  Did they pray, read Scripture, attend church, engage in ministry inside the institution or in mission outside the church in everyday life?  Did their ministry inside or outside the church include evangelism, relief of people's needs, action or involvement for greater justice?  In what ways?

Part II.   Personal Journey

1. Was there a time when you consciously decided to become a Christian?  What were the circumstances?  Did any particular experiences of God lead up to or accompany this?
2. Have you ever had what might be called a conversion experience or a major renewal experience?  If so, please share about it.
3. Have you had or do you now have a continuing sense of the presence of God or of God's hand in your life?
4. What has been the best experience of God's activity in your life?
5. Was there ever a time when you felt particularly let down by God?
6. In what way do you wish God would help you most in your life right now?

Part III.  Particulars of Faith

1. Do you remember God having a hand in your choice of vocation?
2. Do you remember God having a hand in your choice of spouse?  Do you sense God's leading in your life as a single person?
3. If you are a parent, how do you hope to influence your family as a person of faith?
4. How does Jesus Christ influence your concept of God?
5. Have you ever had any particular experiences of the Holy Spirit?
6. What do you think God most wants to accomplish in the world?
7. What has been your worst experience of the church?
8. What has been your best experience of the church?
9. When you worship, what do you hope will happen?
10. What do you expect most from clergy?
11. Please tell about the significance of Baptism in your life of faith.
12. Speak of the values of the Lord's Supper for your faith journey.
13. What part does prayer play in your life?  What do you pray about?  What happens as a result of your prayers?
14. Have you ever been part of a prayer group?  How did it affect your faith life?
15. How has or does serious illness or tragedy affect your relationship with God?
16. Speak of the Bible as an influence/power in your life.
17. How important is it for you to tell others about Christ?
18. Is racial injustice a faith issue for you?  How do you express your concern?
19. How do you account for poverty from a religious point of view?
20. How should religion and politics interact?
21. Do you think there are times when it is justified to disobey the law for religious reasons?  Have you ever put yourself in such circumstances?
22. How do you think God feels about our nation?
23. How do you think you are doing as a Christian?
24. Do you have what used to be called a "besetting sin," some particular failing that keeps recurring?  Do you find help from God to stay on top of it most of the time or does it win most of the time?  (Do not ask to identify the failing.  Leave it up to the other to say or not.)
25. As you think back over your responses, are there any you are uneasy about?  Would you like to add anything?