Assessment Question Framework — Navigator Spiritual Formation

Purpose: Guide for creating the pre/post assessment questions for the Navigator discipleship platform. Context: This was originally a client dependency (due April 2). We're now proposing to create these ourselves, grounded in Navigator methodology and spiritual formation research. Related Decisions: DEC-38 (custom assessment engine), DEC-39 (formation metrics over engagement metrics)

What the Assessment Does

The assessment measures where someone is on their spiritual formation journey — not how much content they've consumed. It drives two things:

1. Content routing — A new user takes the initial assessment, and the platform knows whether to surface foundational reading plans, intermediate DLC modules, or leader activation pathways.

2. Growth measurement — The same user retakes the assessment 6-12 months later, and we can show actual movement in formation metrics (not just "they watched 40 videos").

This is the feature no competitor has. YouVersion shows everyone the same content. RightNow Media is a video library with search. The Navigator platform adapts based on measured spiritual formation.

The Four Dimensions

Based on the Navigator heritage (2:7 Series, Design for Discipleship, Topical Memory System) and spiritual formation research (Willard, Foster, Mulholland, REVEAL study), the assessment measures four dimensions:

1. Biblical Knowledge & Engagement

Do they know the Bible and are they in it regularly?

This isn't a theology quiz. It measures the practice of engaging with Scripture — frequency, depth, and application.

Sample questions:

• How often do you read or listen to the Bible on your own? (daily / several times a week / weekly / occasionally / rarely)

• When you read the Bible, which best describes your typical approach? (reading through a plan / studying a specific topic / reading whatever I open to / using a devotional guide / I don't have a regular approach)

• In the past month, have you memorized or tried to memorize a Bible verse? (yes / no / I used to but don't currently)

• How confident do you feel explaining a Bible passage to someone else? (very confident / somewhat confident / not very confident / I wouldn't attempt it)

• When you face a difficult decision, how often does Scripture come to mind as a guide? (almost always / sometimes / rarely / never)

2. Spiritual Disciplines & Practices

Are they practicing the habits that produce formation?

Based on Foster's inward/outward/corporate framework and Willard's abstinence/engagement categories. Measures consistency, not perfection.

Sample questions:

• How often do you pray (beyond meals)? (multiple times daily / daily / several times a week / occasionally / rarely)

• In the past month, have you intentionally practiced any of these? (select all: fasting / solitude / silence / journaling / sabbath-keeping / confession / none of these)

• Do you have a consistent time and place for personal devotion? (yes, daily / yes, but inconsistent / I'm trying to establish one / no)

• How would you describe your current prayer life? (conversational and natural / structured but meaningful / obligation-driven / sporadic / mostly absent)

• When was the last time you went through a season of intentional spiritual growth (study, retreat, intensive)? (currently in one / within the past 3 months / within the past year / over a year ago / never)

3. Community Investment & Relationships

Are they in authentic relationships where they're known and growing?

The Navigator model is built on "life-on-life" — this dimension measures whether someone is actually in those relationships, not just attending a group.

Sample questions:

• Do you currently have someone who knows your struggles, failures, and growth areas? (yes, and we meet regularly / yes, but informally / I used to / no)

• Are you currently in a small group, Bible study, or accountability relationship? (yes, actively participating / yes, but sporadic / no, but I want to be / no)

• In the past month, how many spiritual conversations have you had with another person (outside of a formal group)? (5+ / 2-4 / 1 / none)

• If you were going through a crisis, how many people in your faith community could you call? (5+ / 2-4 / 1 / none)

• Do you feel known — truly known — by at least one other person in your faith community? (deeply known / somewhat known / surface-level known / not really)

4. Multiplication & Service

Are they investing in others' spiritual growth — the Navigator distinctive?

This is the reproduction dimension. The Navigator 2:7 model isn't complete until the disciple is making disciples. This dimension separates consumers from contributors from multipliers.

Sample questions:

• Are you currently investing in someone else's spiritual growth in a regular, intentional way? (yes, mentoring/discipling someone / yes, informally encouraging someone / I want to but don't know how / no)

• Have you ever led a small group, Bible study, or discipleship group? (currently leading / have in the past / no, but I'd be willing / no, and I'm not ready)

• In the past month, have you shared your faith story or the gospel with someone? (yes, in a natural conversation / yes, in a planned context / I wanted to but didn't / no)

• How many people would say you've significantly contributed to their spiritual growth? (5+ / 2-4 / 1 / I'm not sure anyone would say that)

• If someone asked you to disciple a new believer, how would you feel? (confident and equipped / willing but uncertain / anxious / not ready at all)

Scoring & Segmentation

Each dimension scores on a 1-5 scale. The composite creates a formation profile:

How the Assessment Works in the App

Initial Assessment (Onboarding)

• 20 questions, ~5 per dimension

• Typeform-style UX — one question at a time, progress bar, warm/inviting design

• Takes 4-6 minutes

• Results show a formation profile with encouragement (not judgment)

• Platform immediately routes to appropriate content pathway

Follow-Up Assessments (Longitudinal)

• Same questions, re-administered at 3, 6, and 12 month intervals

• Platform prompts reassessment when the time comes

• Results show growth trajectory — "You've moved from Growing to Established in Community Investment"

• Aggregated data feeds the executive scorecard (what David shows donors)

Key Design Principles

• Inviting, not clinical. This isn't a test. Language should feel like a conversation with a mentor.

• Honest without shame. Low scores are starting points, not failures.

• Private by default. Only the user sees their full results. Aggregated, anonymized data goes to leadership dashboards.

• Celebrate movement. Any growth in any dimension is worth celebrating.

What We Need to Finalize

1. Review these questions with Navigators. Do they reflect the Navigator ethos? Are the dimensions right? Is the language right?

2. Confirm the segmentation labels. "Explorer / Growing / Established / Multiplier" — do these map to how Navigators already talk about spiritual growth?

3. Decide on question count. 20 questions (5 per dimension) is the sweet spot for onboarding. Could go to 25-30 for a more nuanced profile.

4. Decide on reassessment cadence. 3/6/12 months? Or should the platform prompt based on activity milestones?

Research Sources

• Navigator 2:7 Series and Design for Discipleship curricula

• Dawson Trotman's 2 Timothy 2:2 multiplication model

• REVEAL Study (Willow Creek) — church involvement ≠ spiritual maturity

• Dallas Willard's spiritual disciplines framework (abstinence + engagement)

• Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline (inward / outward / corporate)

• Robert Mulholland's formation continuum

• James K.A. Smith's liturgical formation ("You Are What You Love")

• Barna Research spiritual maturity indicators

Full research: research/methodology/discipleship-methodology.md