Journey to faith: The Five Thresholds
The Five Thresholds is a helpful tool that illustrates how people tend to explore faith. Developed by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship*, we have adopted it as a framework to help TOLI field staff most effectively disciple clients.
“This is the journey of how people tend to explore faith. Once we understand the process, we can be more helpful to friends moving through each threshold. God is already at work in our friends; discerning what thresholds they are in allows us to be more helpful to their faith journey. May God give us wisdom, courage, and love as we help our friends grow toward their next step of faith.”*
TOLI clients in your care may have a wide range of familiarity with Jesus Christ. Some may have never heard of Jesus Christ. Some may practice a different religion. Some may identify as a “Christian” or a church-goer but not know Jesus Christ as a person or as a personal Savior. Different backgrounds, exposure to believers, or experiences with the church means that clients’ spiritual needs differ greatly.
Spend some time learning about the Five Thresholds below. Think about your clients and what Threshold they may be in. The coaching tips below and the Resources in our Workshop can help you most effectively bear witness to the life and light of Jesus Christ.
LEARN THE THRESHOLDS
+ THRESHOLD 1: trust
People today often start in a place of skepticism or distrust toward Christians. In Threshold 1, they move into a relationship of trust with a Christian friend. Trust is the seed that catalyzes the journey of faith.
In John 4:1-26, Jesus built trust with the Samaritan woman by initiating a conversation and inviting her into further, deeper conversation.
CLIENTS IN THIS THRESHOLD do not yet have a reason to trust a Christian.
OUR ROLE is to gain trust by loving genuinely and asking questions. Pray for God to soften our heart, to intercede in the client's life, and for opportunities to be involved in their lives.
+ THRESHOLD 2: Curiosity
It’s possible to have a trust relationship with somebody for years without them having any interest in our faith. Threshold 2 is where they become curious. Learn how to ask questions that spark curiosity.
In John 3:1-15, Jesus stokes Nicodemus' curiosity by giving him surprising responses that push the conversation deeper.
OUR ROLE is to encourage questions and live curiously. Prepare two good questions: one to get the conversation started, and a follow-up one to keep the conversation going.
+ THRESHOLD 3: Open
Threshold 3, where people go from being closed to open to change, is the most misunderstood and mysterious of the thresholds. Your friend’s questions move from curious, often intellectual or academic, to the personal realm, and they start to examine their life. Our friends desperately need someone who is willing to offer them the truth - in love - to encourage them to be open to change.
In John 5:1-15, Jesus invites a sick man to change by asking a him an obvious question - "do you want to get better?"
OUR ROLE is to challenge our friends to grow in areas of personal struggle by asking them to invite God to make that change (via prayer!). Pray with your friend to invite God into the parts of their lives they want to see change happen.
+ THRESHOLD 4: Seeking
Threshold 4 is where someone moves from simply being open to change to actually seeking after Jesus. People often begin by looking everywhere and investigating everything; Jesus is one of many options they’re exploring. We have the joy of focusing them in on Jesus and helping them ask him the questions they need answered in order to trust him. In Mark 10:46-52, Jesus invites Bartimaeus to ask Jesus directly for what he's looking for."
OUR ROLE is to help them engage stories of Jesus and show them how Jesus engages their questions and longings (via bible study!).
+ THRESHOLD 5: Following
This is the wonderful moment when someone puts their trust in Jesus for the first time. As a friend, in Threshold 5 we can help them see how good Jesus and the kingdom of God are, as well as the cost involved in following Jesus. We also need to celebrate with them and continue to support them in their new journey of faith.
In John 4:27-42, Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah to the Samaritan woman, returns to her village and invites the villagers to meet Jesus for themselves."
OUR ROLE is to share the gospel and invite them to say yes to following Jesus.
*All Five Thresholds materials are used with permission. You can read more at InterVarsity.org.