Running The Bases

GROUNDED BEFORE GROWTH • FORMED BEFORE FUNCTION • FAITHFUL BEFORE ENTRUSTED

Running the Bases is a four-level discipleship pathway designed to help believers grow step by step—from understanding the foundations of their faith to becoming mature, dependable, and prepared to serve within the life and mission of the local church.

Each base represents a stage of spiritual development. The goal is not simply to produce believers who know more Scripture, but believers whose knowledge of God is shaping the way they live, relate to others, make decisions, handle responsibility, and serve.

Second Base: Formation focuses on the inner growth that must take place before greater responsibility and ministry are entrusted. Through eight practical, biblically grounded lessons, believers will learn to experience the joy, hope, peace, and mercy of salvation; establish healthy spiritual habits; understand sanctification; surrender to the lordship of Jesus; pursue holiness; develop character and integrity; handle relationships and conflict biblically; and become faithful stewards of what God has placed in their hands.

Formation helps believers understand that spiritual maturity is more than church attendance, information, gifting, or enthusiasm. God is shaping the whole person. He is developing humility, obedience, faithfulness, self-control, healthy relationships, responsibility, and a life that increasingly reflects Jesus Christ.

The complete Running the Bases pathway moves believers through four intentional stages:

First Base — Foundations: becoming grounded in the essential truths of the Christian faith.
Second Base — Formation: allowing those truths to shape the inner life and everyday walk.
Third Base — Function: discovering how God has equipped each believer to serve and strengthen the church.
Home Plate — Fulfillment: living out faith through service, discipleship, leadership, testimony, and participation in the mission of the church.

Running the Bases is designed as more than an individual study. It is a practical discipleship pathway pastors and church leaders can use to help people grow in an intentional order—grounding them in biblical truth, forming their lives before placing them into function, and developing the faithfulness needed to carry greater responsibility.

The goal is a believer who is biblically grounded, spiritually formed, relationally healthy, familiar with the life and culture of the local church, and prepared to serve with humility, wisdom, faithfulness, and a clear understanding of why ministry matters.

Grounded Before Growth • Formed Before Function • Faithful Before Entrusted