Discover Your Path with the Church Experience Assessment
I want to introduce you to a tool I’ve created to help you find clarity and direction: the Church Experience Assessment. This resource is designed to help you put words to your feelings and guide you toward practices and communities that can bring healing, rest, and renewed purpose to your spiritual life.
What Is the Church Experience Assessment?
The Church Experience Assessment is a reflective tool I developed to help you identify and express the emotions tied to your church involvement. It’s a structured yet compassionate way to evaluate how you’re feeling—whether you’re wrestling with a lack of genuine connection, the exhaustion of constant demands, or the monotony of predictable routines. Through a series of thoughtful questions, the assessment helps you gain clarity about your spiritual and emotional state, validating your experiences and offering a starting point for healing.
The questions are designed to uncover feelings of disconnection, such as the emotional numbness that can creep in when you feel overlooked or the exhaustion that comes from overcommitting to church activities. For example, you might be asked how often you feel a sense of belonging during services or whether the pressure to participate in programs leaves you feeling depleted. By answering honestly, you’ll begin to see patterns in your experience, helping you understand why you feel the way you do.
Naming Your Feelings with Clarity
One of the most powerful aspects of the Church Experience Assessment is its ability to help you articulate what you’re feeling. I’ve seen firsthand how many believers struggle with a lack of authentic community, where the promise of family turns cold when doubts or struggles surface. Others feel drained by the relentless cycle of activities—services, small groups, volunteering—that leave little room for rest. And for some, the predictable rhythm of church life, with its repetitive formats, can strip away the vibrancy of worship, leaving you spiritually unfulfilled.
The assessment gives you language to describe these experiences. If you’ve ever felt a deep sense of isolation after being excluded by those you trusted, or if you’ve found yourself dreading yet another church event because you’re already stretched thin, this tool helps you name those feelings. It might reveal that you’re experiencing spiritual doubt, a common response to witnessing actions that contradict the love and grace we’re called to embody. As Jesus reminds us in John 13:35 (NIV), “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” When that love feels absent, it’s natural to question and feel disconnected.
Guiding You to Life-Giving Resources
Once you’ve identified your feelings, the Church Experience Assessment takes the next step by pointing you to resources that have helped others in similar situations. These recommendations are rooted in gospel-centered practices that prioritize healing, rest, and authentic spiritual growth.
For Feelings of Brokenness: If you’re struggling with isolation or distrust, the assessment might guide you toward finding a safe community where authenticity and grace are prioritized. It could recommend joining a small group that fosters genuine relationships, or even seeking guidance from a Christian counselor to process your hurt. Lamentation, as modeled in the Psalms, can also be a powerful way to express your pain to God. Psalm 34:18 (NIV) assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
For Burnout: If you’re feeling exhausted from overcommitment, the assessment might suggest resources on setting healthy boundaries and prioritizing rest. Jesus Himself modeled this balance, as we see in Mark 6:31 (NIV): “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” You might be directed to teachings on Sabbath rest or practical guides for saying no without guilt, helping you rediscover a sustainable rhythm for your faith.
For Boredom: If you’re feeling disengaged, the assessment could point you to resources that help you reconnect with your purpose in Christ. This might include Bible studies that dig deep into Scripture, podcasts that address the real-life challenges you face, or creative ways to worship that break free from routine. Colossians 3:17 (NIV) encourages us, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Exploring new ways to live out this verse can bring fresh meaning to your faith.
A Path to Healing and Renewal
The Church Experience Assessment isn’t just about identifying struggles—it’s about helping you move forward. It connects you with practices and communities that can bring healing, like forming small groups where you can share your journey honestly, or engaging in personal spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation that resonate with your soul. It might also encourage you to explore new ways of worship, perhaps in a home gathering or an outdoor setting, where you can experience God’s presence in a way that feels true to your heart.
This tool is a reflection of my own journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’ve seen how stepping away from rigid structures can lead to a deeper, more personal relationship with Christ, and I want to help you find that same freedom. As Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The Church Experience Assessment is here to guide you toward that rest and renewal.
Why This Matters for Your Journey
This assessment is more than a tool—it’s a companion for your spiritual journey. It reminds you that you’re not alone in your struggles, and there are others who have walked this path and found hope on the other side. By giving you language to express your feelings and pointing you to resources that can help, it equips you to live out your faith in a way that’s authentic and fulfilling. Whether you choose to return to a traditional church setting after a season of healing or continue exploring faith beyond those walls, the goal is to help you grow closer to Christ in a way that brings you joy and peace.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your faith journey, I invite you to try the Church Experience Assessment. Let it help you discover the path to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus, rooted in His love and grace.
My Prologue
To the one who’s been considering quitting their church, and to the one who hasn’t walked into a church in years, this is for you.