OBSTACLES TO GROWTH SURVEY
Version 2.0

Please report any problems with this survey to Professor Michael Zigarelli.

FOR BEST RESULTS, PLEASE READ THIS FIRST

This is a tool designed to help you understand some of the obstacles that may stand in the way of your spiritual growth. By "spiritual growth," we simply mean growing toward Godliness in your daily life - in all that you think, say, and do. As a Christian-based instrument, the assumptions underlying this tool are rooted in Christian scripture and theology. However, the survey is designed for use by both Christians and non-Christians.

Please answer each question to the best of your ability, thinking carefully before responding. Your results will be no more accurate than the accuracy of the information you provide. For this reason, we have made this an anonymous tool. You need not be concerned about anyone knowing who you are when you answer the questions. We do ask for some demographic information at the end (it is important to help us better understand the spiritual growth process), but we do not ask for your name or email address.

Please direct any questions or problems with this instrument to Professor Michael Zigarelli at michzig@regent.edu.

 

Part 1: Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements:
Strongly Disagree
 
Disagree
 
Neither Agree nor Disagree
 
Agree
 
Strongly Agree
   
1
2 
3
 4
5
6 
7
8 
9
1. There are people close to me who love God with all of their heart
2. To grow spiritually requires that a person make growth a top priority in life
3. I would say that I am a God-centered person
4. The person closest to me would assist me if I wanted to improve my spiritual growth
5. The person closest to me loves God with all of his or her heart
6. Spiritual growth should be more important to people than it is
7. It is a high priority for me to try to please God in all that I do
8. The pain in a person’s life is an opportunity to grow spiritually
Strongly Disagree
 
Disagree
 
Neither Agree nor Disagree
 
Agree
 
Strongly Agree
   
1
2 
3
 4
5
6 
7
8 
9
9. Praying often is necessary for spiritual growth
10. The people closest to me are more spiritually mature than I am
11. The people closest to me encourage me to grow spiritually
12. To grow spiritually, one should regularly practice the “spiritual disciplines”
13. God makes the rules for my life, I don’t
14. I know the steps I must take to become a more Godly person
15. The busyness of my life gets in the way of developing my relationship with God
16. I am kept back from growing spiritually by friends and/or family

 

Part 2: Please indicate the extent to which each statement is true of you


   
Never true of me
 
Rarely true of me
 
Sometimes true of me
 
Often true of me
 
Always true of me
   
1
2 
3
 4
5
6 
7
8 
9
17. I rush from task to task
18. I eat quickly
19. I turn to God when making choices
20. I feel guilty when I relax
21. I act as if what God thinks of me is more important than what people think of me
22. When I do not need to hurry, I tend to hurry anyway
23. I am exhausted at the end of my day
24. I do God’s will

Part 3: Please answer a few brief questions to help us understand the spiritual growth process.

In exchange for providing this free and anonymous service, we ask that you answer a few questions in support of our discipleship research. Please take just another minute with this survey and help us to help others. Thanks!


25. Please tell us whether you have ever completed the Obstacles to Growth Survey before (you may complete it as many times as you'd like) : Yes      No

26. Your gender
 Male      Female
27. Your race
Black     White     Asian    
Hispanic Other
28. Your age on your most recent birthday
29. Do you have a high school degree? Yes      No
30. Years of college you completed
31. What is your marital status?
   
32. For how many years of your life have you been (or were you) married? If you've never been married, please enter zero.
   
33. How many children do you have?
   
34. In a word or two, what is your current occupation (e.g., teacher, manager, student, housewife)?
35. The number of years you have been a Christian
36. Your Denomination

     
if you selected "other", please specify

37. Country

38. Your state, if you live in the United States
39. In your job, how many employees report to you?
   

40. If you are completing this survey as part of a group assessment (e.g., for a church, a school, a company, etc.), please write the name of that group here