Spiritual Lessons for Growing Believers
Bible Basics from A to Z
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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the believer’s personal commitment to growing in Jesus Christ. This study places emphasis on two growth-related topics: growing into maturity and the believer's growth mentality.
I. God Expects Believers to Grow Into Maturity
Two questions relate to the believer’s growth into spiritual maturity.
In What Should Believers Grow?
Spiritual maturity is the harvest produced in three fields of growth.
1. Believers grow in grace (1 Peter 3:18a).
Most often grace is favor with God. In the context of 1 Peter 3:18, it is the 'grace of living' as Jesus wants believers to live. It is demonstrating a quiet center as believers reflect the character qualities of Jesus Christ. Christians resemble Christ.
2. Believers grow in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18b).
Growing in knowledge includes the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Matthew11:29), the knowledge of His will (Colossians 1:9), the knowledge of His love (Ephesians 3:19), the knowledge of His power (Philippians 3:10), the knowledge of His glory (2 Corinthians 4:6), and the knowledge of His purpose as His Spirit teaches believers His ways (John 16:13). Head knowledge puffs up. But holding the truth in love builds up. To live a life of grace, believers must have a 'working knowledge' of God's Word. Applied knowledge is discernment.
3. Believers must grow in faith and love (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Paul wrote, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the [love] of you all toward each other aboundeth [to overflowing]” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Faith is faithfulness. It is reliability in action. It is the believer's demonstration to God that God can trust the believer. Love is total unconditional commitment no matter what the cost. It is unlimited loyalty. Some believers honor God because they 'have to'. God wants believers to honor Him because they 'want to'. In what ways are you growing in grace/favor, knowledge/discernment, and in faithfulness and in love for Jesus Christ?
How Can Believers Grow?
Typically, this question is answered by engaging in Bible study, Scripture meditation, verse memorization, prayer, witnessing, church attendance, faithfulness in life choices, and in the regular worship of Jesus Christ. The following is a list of 'growth producing' activities:
1. Refuse to doubt your assurance of salvation. Salvation is not a 'think so' relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is a 'know so' assurance that 'once saved, always saved'. (1 John 5:11-13). Grow 'from' your foundational relationship with Christ into a stronger relationship 'with' Christ. Build the superstructure of your spiritual life, with confidence, on this foundational truth: "I know that I am saved."
2. Publicly confess your salvation experience to someone close to you.
A salvation worth having is a salvation worth sharing. Telling someone about your salvation does not make you a missionary. It makes you a witness. God wants His children to tell others about Him (Romans 10:9-11, 15).
3. Read the Bible and pray.
Have a regular planned time of Bible study and prayer, each day, alone with God (see the chapter on a 'quiet time' with God). Since Bible study involves reading God's Word to man and prayer involves man talking to the God Who gave His Word, believers can know God better through Bible study and prayer (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Philippians 4:6-7).
4. Faithfully attend a Bible preaching church.
At church believers worship God, fellowship with other believers, and find encourage¬ment for growth. Although Jesus Christ wants more than attendance (He wants attachment to Him), He wants believers in church on a regular basis, and even more as we see His day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25).
5. Be baptized following your salvation (Acts 2:41).
The first act of obedience in the life of every believer is public baptism (Acts 10:48). Although the act of baptism does not save, baptism does allow the believer to share publicly that he has received Jesus Christ as Savior.
6. Develop a Christian fellowship group.
Godly friendships establish a setting in which the believer builds a life. People are known by the company they keep (1 Corinthians 15:33). Godly relationships encourage spiritual growth. Seek out Christian friends. It will help you grow into maturity for Christ.
7. Make giving the pattern of your life (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
God loves gracious givers. Since God wants believers to be faithful stewards of all they possess, believers need to give of themselves in service and of their substance (2 Corinthians 8-9).
8. Commit God's Word to memory.
The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I [treasured up] in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11). The person who memorizes God’s Word values the God Who gave it. Scripture memorization gives believers an arsenal of spiritual weaponry with which to combat the enemy of our souls.
9. Be accountable to God and others.
Do your best to find an accountability partner who will encourage you to remain faithful to God. Solomon wrote, “Two are better than one . . . For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). An account¬ability friend is a godly believer who agrees to disciple you, help you grow, and help you mature in your faith in Jesus Christ. He is one who holds you accountable to God. He models the faith and mentors your life. Believers in¬crease their ability, stability, and respon¬sibility when they increase their accounta¬bility to God.
10. Serve the living Savior.
Paul wrote, "We are His workmanship (work of art), created unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10). Believers are saved to serve. If casting crowns for faithfulness at the feet of Jesus are one initial means to say thanks to Jesus for providing eternal salvation, it would be a shame to enter heaven empty-handed. Grateful believers serve.
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About the Book
Spiritual Lessons for Growing Believers is a valuable study series designed to help Christians grow into mature believers who actively serve Jesus Christ and is suitable for use in any teaching context - church services, Sunday School, small groups, Bible studies, personal and group devotions, one-on-one and group discipleship studies, Christian Schools, chapels, Christian camps, college and seminary classrooms, seminar and workshop presentations, conference break-out sessions, adult Bible fellowships, mentoring meetings, and elsewhere. The goal of this study series is to produce practicing believers who honor Jesus Christ. Designed as the content manual (text book) for the companion workbook of the same name, Spiritual Lessons for Growing Believers begins with four follow-up sessions for new believers, continues with two transition studies (a baptism class and a membership class), covers twenty-six topics from A to Z (from Assurance to Zeal), and includes two training sessions for disciplers. Packed with information that leads to transformation, the studies in the content book: Spiritual Lessons for Growing Believers provide answers to the questions in the companion book Spiritual Lessons for Growing Believers Workbook and include the content of the author’s follow-up book for new believers: Spiritual Lessons for New Believers. An additional book, written for children: Jesus Loves Me: A Follow-Up Guide for Children completes the series. All four discipleship books are published by WestBow Press and are available through WestBow Press and the author’s website at www.keithpisaniministries.com.
About the Author
Keith D. Pisani is an evangelical pastor, international conference speaker, and regional church leader whose emphasis is evangelism and discipleship ministries. His spiritual growth seminars and presentations have impacted thousands of lives on three continents. His work has seen believers grow from initial conversion into local church leadership and missions ministries.