Change is part of life. And we can change for good or change for the not-so-good. In the language of the Bible, changing for good is called growth. It’s normal for living things to grow—under one condition—if they’re nourished. In other words, growth doesn’t happen when we do nothing. Growth is the result of cooperating with God as He works in our lives. Ultimately, He makes things grow. God repeats this urgent message throughout the Bible: It’s time for us to grow up!

How would you define spiritual growth? In our LifePoint language, what is the difference between finding Jesus and following Him?

Read the following passages: 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 4:15, Colossians 2:7. How would you explain God’s heart for your spiritual growth?

How do you wrestle over the tension of your responsibility to take growth seriously verses God’s reminder that He causes the growth? Compare the following two passages: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 and 2 Peter 1:5-9.

Is it possible for a believer in Jesus to not grow spiritually? Is spiritual growth automatic? In what sense are the commands for us to grow reminders that we might not. Sift through these verses for insights: 2 Peter 3:17-18, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 John 2:28.

Let’s get very practical. What are you doing to cooperate with God to insure you’re growing and making spiritual progress? What are your greatest hinderances to growth?

Further Reading

Searching for Reconciliation

Confronting others concerning biblical/theological compromise is never easy or pleasant. Such encounters must be handled with sensitivity to the needs of others, directed by spiritual wisdom and the Scriptures, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul closed chapter two of...

Searching for Courage

On the surface, hearing God and following His commands seems straightforward. However, when God calls us to do something that generates fear in us and feels daunting, second-guessing His call becomes reasonable. Finding the courage to obey such a call is overwhelming....

Searching for the Abundant Life

Jesus explicitly explained his purpose when He said “…I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said similar things many times, and these ideas are repeated, over and over again, by those who wrote the New Testament. Yet many people,...

Searching for Real Friendship

Some relationships may imitate friendship, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible, we’ll identify some distinguishing features of friendship that are often overlooked and discover how to infuse...