Barnas 10-Stop Journey Research Report

George Barna’s Spiritual Transformation Study

What started as a straightforward research project on how God transforms lives took an unexpected turn for George Barna. Six years into the study, Barna uncovered something far deeper and more profound than he initially anticipated. His research revealed key developmental processes, shared experiences, and common obstacles that shape the spiritual journeys of Americans from all walks of life.

While each individual’s story is unique, Barna identified a recurring pattern—a “spiritual roadmap”—that outlines a normative path for those seeking to grow in Christ-likeness.

Through his research with The Barna Group, Barna identified ten stages of spiritual transformation:

1. Ignorance of the concept or existence of sin.
2. Awareness of sin but indifference toward it.
3. Concern about the implications of personal sin.
4. Confession of sin and seeking forgiveness.
5. Commitment to religious activities.
6. A prolonged period of spiritual discontentment.
7. Personal brokenness and the realization of deeper needs.
8. A choice to fully surrender and submit to God.
9. Experiencing profound intimacy with and love for God.
10. Experiencing profound compassion and love for humanity.

Barna’s study reveals a sobering reality: most Americans never progress beyond the third stage, where they acknowledge sin but fail to fully engage with Christ in addressing it. Even among born-again Christians, many stall at stage five, where their faith revolves primarily around religious participation, not transformative growth.

This finding presents a significant challenge for committed followers of Christ. It calls us to not only pursue deeper spiritual maturity but also to help others move beyond these early stages—toward a life fully surrendered to God’s transformative power.