1
What is Spiritual Formation Assessment?
At Trinity Theological College, your training is built on three pillars — Head (academic study), Heart (spiritual formation), and Hand (practical ministry). The Spiritual Formation Assessment measures the Heart — your inward spiritual life, disciplines, habits, and growth.
Unlike your academic exams which test knowledge, and unlike Practical Ministry which measures outward service, Spiritual Formation measures whether you are developing consistent inner disciplines — daily devotion, prayer, sermon engagement, Bible study, worship participation, and spiritual character.
Heart, not performance
This assessment is not about performing for marks. It is about helping you build lifelong spiritual habits. Your teacher and chaplain assess you not to catch you out, but to help you grow. Be honest, be consistent, and be sincere.
How is it different from Practical Ministry?
| Practical Ministry (Hand) | Spiritual Formation (Heart) |
|---|---|
| Measures ministry output | Measures spiritual habits |
| Videos, skits, service, media | Quiet time, prayer, sermon notes, reflection |
| Skill and participation based | Consistency and character based |
| Evidence: videos, service records | Evidence: journal, notes, attendance, mentor review |
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The 6 Areas You Are Assessed On
A
Daily Devotion and Quiet Time Record
Your daily Bible reading, quiet time, personal reflection, and prayer response — recorded consistently every day.
20
B
Personal Prayer and Reflection
Your personal prayer discipline — prayer points, thanksgiving, intercession for others, and sincere personal reflection.
15
C
Sermon / Devotion Notes Record
Notes you take from chapel devotions, Bible study, youth service, main service, fasting prayer, and special meetings.
20
D
Bible Study Participation and Notes
Attending Bible study, participating in discussion, Scripture memorisation, and writing personal application.
15
E
Worship Service Participation
Attendance and attentive participation in TTC devotions, Bible study, youth service, main service, and fasting prayer.
15
F
Spiritual Attitude, Growth, and Discipline
Your teacher or chaplain's pastoral assessment of your reverence, humility, obedience, character growth, and concern for others.
15
3
How to Keep Your Daily Quiet Time Record
Section A (Daily Devotion) is worth 20 marks and is based on how many entries you submit. The ERP auto-suggests your rating based on the count — but your teacher may override if entries are very short, copied, or insincere.
| Monthly Entries | Suggested Rating | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 24 or more entries | Excellent | 20 |
| 18–23 entries | Good | 16 |
| 12–17 entries | Satisfactory | 12 |
| 6–11 entries | Poor | 8 |
| 0–5 entries | Not Done — Grade capped at C+ | 0 |
Each entry should include the following four core fields:
📖 Daily Quiet Time Entry Format
Date
e.g. 12 June 2026
Bible Passage Read
e.g. Psalm 23, John 15:1–8
Key Learning
One thing God showed you from the passage today
Obedience Point
One specific thing you will do or change today based on what you read
Prayer Point
A specific prayer arising from your reading today
Do not copy entries
If entries appear repeated, identical, or written all on one day for the whole week, your teacher will flag this. Copied entries result in a lower rating or a Negative Adjustment, and may be escalated to the Coordinator.
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How to Take Good Sermon Notes
Section C (Sermon / Devotion Notes) is worth 20 marks. Your teacher will assess not just how many notes you submitted, but whether they include the key elements that show you were truly listening and reflecting.
📝 Good Sermon Note Format
Date
12 June 2026
Service Type
Daily Devotion / Bible Study / Youth Service / Main Service / Fasting Prayer / Special Meeting
Speaker
Name of the speaker
Bible Passage
e.g. John 15:1–8
Sermon Title / Topic
e.g. Abiding in Christ
Main Message
What was the main point the speaker was making?
Key Learning
One important thing you personally learned or were challenged by
Personal Application
How will you apply this message to your life this week?
Prayer Response
A brief prayer arising from the message
Aim to cover most services
For an Excellent rating, most daily chapel devotions, Bible studies, youth services, and main services should have notes. The more consistently you cover all services with quality notes, the stronger your Section C score.
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What Your Teacher and Chaplain Look For
Section A — Daily Devotion
Consistent daily entries — not all submitted in one batch at the end of the month
Genuine, personal reflection — not copied from commentaries or other students
Bible reading recorded alongside reflection
Prayer response shows personal engagement with God
Section B — Personal Prayer
A prayer log that shows prayer points, thanksgiving, and intercession for specific people
Evidence of sincere, regular personal prayer — not just formal or written entries
Your teacher uses pastoral judgment here — sincerity matters more than length
Section C — Sermon Notes
Notes that cover most services during the month — daily chapel, Bible study, Sunday services
Scripture reference, main message, and personal application present in each note
Notes that are unique to each service — not repeated entries
Section D — Bible Study
Regular attendance and active participation in discussion
Bible study notes submitted showing your engagement
Scripture memorisation attempted
Personal application written — specific and sincere
Section E — Worship Service Participation
Regular attendance across all worship services and gatherings
Active and attentive participation — not just present in body
Reverence during prayer and worship — phone away, engaged, responsive
Section F — Spiritual Attitude and Character
Shows reverence in prayer and worship
Demonstrates humility — willing to receive correction
Obedient to spiritual disciplines set by the college
Shows genuine concern and care for fellow students
Visible growth in character over the month
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Grade Bands and Cap Rules
A+
90–100
A
80–89
B+
70–79
B
60–69
C+
50–59
C
45–49
F
Below 45
Even if your total score is high, your grade can be capped if you miss certain compulsory requirements.
| Condition | Maximum Grade Allowed |
|---|---|
| Daily devotion entries fewer than 6 in the month | Maximum C+ |
| No personal prayer / reflection record at all | Maximum B |
| No sermon / devotion notes submitted | Maximum B |
| Worship service attendance below 40% | Maximum C+ |
| False or copied spiritual records | Maximum C or Coordinator review |
| Spiritual attitude (Section F) rated Poor | Maximum B |
| Two or more major sections rated Not Done | Maximum C+ |
| Repeated discipline concern | Coordinator review required |
Term average and rounding
Your term grade is the average of your three monthly scores. A score of 79.50 or above rounds up to 80 (Grade A). Below 79.50 stays at 79 (Grade B+).
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Your Monthly Submission Checklist
Before the end of each month, make sure you have the following ready to submit:
Daily Quiet Time log — ideally 24+ entries with Bible passage, key learning, obedience point, and prayer
Personal Prayer log — prayer points, thanksgiving, and intercession recorded
Sermon and devotion notes covering most chapel sessions, Bible studies, and services attended
Bible study attendance and notes from this month's sessions
Monthly self-reflection — a short paragraph on your growth, struggles, and commitment for next month
Student declaration — signed confirmation that all records are sincere and your own
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Tips for Genuine Spiritual Growth This Month
♥
Do it for God, not for marks. The best spiritual formation records come from students who are genuinely meeting with God daily — not from students trying to fill a quota.
♥
Write every day, even briefly. A short sincere entry every day is worth far more than five long entries submitted on a Sunday evening.
♥
Be honest about struggles. If prayer felt dry or devotion was difficult this month, write that honestly. A reflection that shows struggle and seeking is more genuine than one that sounds perfect.
♥
Take sermon notes in real time. Do not try to reconstruct notes from memory after the service. Take them during the message — it also improves your listening.
♥
Ask your chaplain for help. If you are struggling spiritually — with prayer, devotion, or discipline — speak to your chaplain. This assessment exists to support you, not to judge you.
Student Declaration
"I confirm that the spiritual formation records I have submitted — including my daily devotion log, prayer record, sermon notes, and monthly self-reflection — are sincere and reflect my personal participation, prayer, listening, and reflection before God. I have not falsified, copied, or misrepresented any entry. I understand that insincere or false records dishonour God and may result in a grade cap or coordinator review."
Student Name
Student ID
Month