It’s hard to believe, but I recently passed my 25th new-birth day.
It’s been 25 years since the kid version of me accepted Jesus as my personal savior.
A lot has changed since I made that most important decision of my life, but looking back now, I see that God worked all those things together for my good.
No, my life hasn’t always been enjoyable—there were plenty times I wished I didn’t experience much of this life at all. But even those rough circumstances shaped me into a mature Christian who’s grounded in the faith. And today, I want to help you mature too.
So many people treat conversion as if it’s the final stop on the Christian journey, but there is so much more to this new life. All believers are charged with becoming more like Christ every day, and the Bible presents this spiritual growth as both an active and passive process we complete with the Holy Spirit’s guidance (see Phil. 2:12-13 NIV).
To help with this, I’ll show you 25 spiritual growth tips that helped me actively grow the most.
I’ve tried to be specific about each tip here and avoided vague ideas like “keep your eyes on Jesus”. These are all practical instructions you can follow to grow in your knowledge of Christ, become more like Him, and defend the faith once delivered to the saints.
25 Spiritual Growth Tips That Helped Me Grow the Most
1. Read the Bible cover-to-cover (or somewhat close to chronological order) at least once
You can’t grow in your knowledge of God if you’re ignorant of the stuff He wrote (see 2 Tim. 3:16 NIV).
The whole Bible is a story about God and His relation to humanity, so you should definitely read all of Scripture to know more about the faith. It also helps to read the Book cover-to-cover—or somewhat close to chronological order—so everything makes more sense.
No one jumps from chapter to chapter when reading any other book, so why would you jump around like that if you want to understand the Bible’s larger story?
2. Ask God for the wisdom to understand the Bible and to live well in this life
I made a life-changing prayer when I was around 20 years old. I asked God to give me wisdom to understand the Bible and to live well in everyday life.
Doing this is encouraged multiple times in Scripture, and I’m living proof that God follows through on His promise to give that wisdom if you ask (see James 1:5 ESV).
Understanding the Bible is not solely a mental effort. Only the Spirit of God within you can open your eyes fully to the truth He wrote (1 Cor. 2:11 NIV). Asking for the wisdom only He provides will unveil new patterns and connections in Scripture you were blind to before.
3. Invest in a good study Bible
A good study Bible is one of the best resources you can invest in. Useful ones will have commentary from lifelong scholars, introductions that explain historical context, and thoughtful essays covering important doctrines and contemporary issues.
My main Bible right now is the English Standard Version Study Bible from Crossway*. It has all the features mentioned above and I’m a fan of the ESV translation since it’s accurate compared to the original transcripts while still being easy to read.
Now sure, study Bibles are typically on the expensive side, and some people may find all their information overwhelming, but I think they’re an awesome resource for those serious about spiritual growth.
4. Learn how to evaluate pastors and Bible teachers for both accuracy and skill
While God has blessed the Church with many trustworthy pastors and Bible teachers, the unfortunate reality is that many unqualified people try to fill those roles.
Unknowingly learning from a false or unskilled teacher can have a terrible effect on your faith. That’s why it’s especially important as a newer Christian to learn how to tell who’s legit (2 Pet. 2:1-2 NLT).
You can read my articles on How to Spot False Teachers and the 6 Signs of Good Pastors and Bible Teachers to help. The biggest takeaway from those articles though is that you want teachers who align their message with the purpose of the biblical text.
5. Learn how to use proper exegesis when reading the Bible
Learning how to use proper exegesis—or analysis that leads to correct interpretation—massively changes your understanding of Scripture.
So many of us read our own ideas and interpretations into the Bible and don’t realize when we do it. If we want to grow spiritually though, we need to get out the way and let the biblical text speak for itself. That means we use cross-referencing, historical context, and word studies to interpret what some confusing verses actually say (see 2 Tim. 2:15 ESV).
I wrote an in-depth guide on some of those techniques in an article on how to read the Bible. That post will be a great start for you to help get the basics down.
6. Study the character of God and Jesus so you know exactly who you worship and imitate
A lot of people today talk about God and Jesus without actually knowing them. To avoid being part of that group, do a thorough read of all the Gospels, study God’s relationship to the Israelites in the Old Testament, and read the Psalms to note everything said about who God is.
You’ll learn much more about God this way instead of relying on anecdotes from other people.
Remember that our experiences are only valuable if they align with what God wrote about Himself. So let Him have the highest say in how He presents Himself to you.
7. Faithfully attend a church with good expository Bible teaching and join other Christian communities that revere Scripture too
There’s no such thing as a solo Christian (1 Cor. 12:12 ESV, 1 Cor. 12:27 NLT, Rom. 12:4-5 ESV).
No matter how much culture convinces us we don’t need anyone besides ourselves, the reality is that every Christian needs to connect to other members of the family.
We all need a church to serve as a hub for teaching, service, and community. The pastor there should use expository Bible teaching—which means he should read portions of biblical text and explain their meanings in context. The church should also have lifestyle guidelines for its members to ensure nothing contrary to Scripture is promoted. Being around these likeminded people on a consistent basis will make it easier to deny the world’s values and gain loving support when you need it.
You should also look for other Christian communities outside of church too. Just make sure wherever you go reveres the Bible as the word of God. Its members should view Scripture as authoritative, infallible, and always relevant for us today.
8. Learn to be content in all earthly circumstances
Like the Apostle Paul, we should learn to be content no matter what (see Phil. 4:11-13 ESV).
It’s very easy to trust God and embrace the faith when life goes well for you, but true growth happens when God’s goodness isn’t so evident.
I’ve found myself in some very tough circumstances over the past 25 years, yet those tough times were when my faith grew the most. God taught me how to be content with what I had in those moments when I didn’t feel satisfied at all.
God can use similar circumstances for your growth too. All you have to do is change your perspective and stop treating your earthly condition as the ultimate priority in life (James 1:2-4 NIV).
9. Study and understand the importance of Penal Substitutionary Atonement (aka, the gospel)
Do you actually understand the gospel and why it’s good news?
I encourage you to study more about Penal Substitutionary Atonement if you don’t. The goodness of Jesus’s sacrifice only makes sense if you understand how sin affects humanity and our relationship to God.
The reasons why Jesus died on the cross are just as important as the act itself. We as believers should understand the significance of that death and why trusting in it is so important.
10. Complete an honest study of election and predestination without letting your opinions of those doctrines influence your thoughts
Election and predestination are two of the most profound doctrines in Scripture.
I truly believe a correct understanding of those doctrines will transform your faith and let you see the overwhelming love and forethought God put into your salvation. It will also bring assurance of that salvation and prove that none of your mistakes will ever pull you completely away from God.
These complex topics are often misunderstood by people who haven’t diligently studied what Scripture says about them. That’s why I encourage you to complete a study on your own using principles of proper exegesis we discussed earlier.
11. Make time consistently to pray and talk to God about everything in your life
Prayer is simply talking to God, but it’s tough to remember to do so when you can’t actually see Him.
One of the best ways to get around this and make prayer a routine is to set aside a specific time in the day for it. Use that time to bring all your worries to God, repent of sin, and just talk to Him about your day (Phil. 4:6).
Don’t fall into the trap of only praying before meals and at bedtime. God wants and deserves way more from you than that.
12. Learn, understand, and form a solid defense to why homosexuality and other LGBTQ lifestyles are contrary to biblical Christianity
The most controversial stance of biblical Christianity today is its opposition to LGBTQ lifestyles.
Many well-meaning Christians these days have wrongly accepted those sins due to pressure from the world. An honest study of Scripture shows clear condemnation of those practices, however, so we need to know why this stance is important and how to defend it in a loving way.
You can read my article on the Bible’s view of homosexuality for more help on this topic.
13. Challenge yourself to love people who you don’t agree with, who don’t like you, or who live sinful lifestyles—and even pray for their good!
This one is tough.
Anyone can love people who like them. It’s hard to show grace and good will towards those who don’t (Luke 6:32-36 NIV).
Scripture tells us multiple times not to return evil for evil though (1 Pet. 3:9 ESV). And every time we do good to those who don’t like us, we become more like Jesus who gave up His life for His enemies (see Rom. 5:6-8 NIV).
14. Make a budget of money, work, or time you can give freely for charitable purposes
Just like prayer, it can be easy to overlook the act of giving if you don’t prioritize it.
I think the best way to grow in the habit is to budget what you want to give early in the year instead of just giving when you feel like it.
You can do the same thing with more than just money too. Maybe there’s time you want to give volunteering at your church or somewhere else throughout the year. Look for pockets in your calendar when you can make that desire a reality and schedule it as soon as you can.
Locking yourself into planned actions this way ensures the good desires of your heart won’t be strangled by the numerous distractions of life.
15. Familiarize yourself with the depth of God’s sovereignty and why it makes worry, outcome attachment, and political obsession worthless
The more you understand God’s sovereignty, the less you care about all the changes in this world.
People, circumstances, and politics may change, but God doesn’t. And since God is in control over all creation, you don’t need to worry about the landscape around you.
A big part of maturing as a Christian is trusting that God is in control and relying on Him as the ultimate source of provision (Matt. 6:31-33 NIV). Nonbelievers, by contrast, do have reason to worry. They’re dependent on other humans with changing wills, values, and goals.
God’s children should always know their Father has the final say though, and that is one of the most freeing feelings you can have.
16. Look for ways to humble yourself when your desire to be praised arises
I’ve learned that if I don’t humble myself, God will quickly do it for me (see Matt. 23:12 NIV). That’s one reason why I try to downplay my achievements and elevate others when I have the chance.
That doesn’t mean I lack confidence or self-esteem, but the world’s idea of those concepts often goes beyond what’s healthy and innocent, and I can’t let myself go down that slippery slope.
I’ve learned to give God the glory, spread the goodwill to those around me, and quiet that desire within to be seen as more than I am. I admit this is still a struggle for me at times, but it’s something you and I have to master in order to grow.
17. Study respected Christians you know, write down the godly characteristics they have, and plan different ways you can follow their model
Paul wrote to Corinthian believers telling them to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1), and like those early Christians, we can look to mature believers in our lives as models for Christ-like living.
I know plenty family members, friends, and pastors who do a great job of modeling different aspects of Christian character, and I hope you know some good models too.
Whoever they are, think about what makes them good Christians and write down some of the goldy characteristics they have. Then ask God to develop those same traits in you and actively work to express them.
18. Find direct biblical support for every spiritual teaching before you accept or promote it
This small habit is one of the easiest ways to grow in the faith.
Remember that no one’s thoughts or arguments about Christianity matter if they don’t align with direct Scriptural support (see Matt. 15:9 NLT).
It’s common for people to speak boldly about matters the Bible is silent on or only touches in a vague way. As a maturing Christian though, you want to know Scripture so well that you can tie any teaching to its direct biblical support, or at least do like the Berean Christians and search the Scriptures to confirm whatever said is true.
19. Brainstorm areas where you can be more patient and self-controlled, and ask God to help you improve
Some of the most mature Christians I know are extremely patient.
I’ve trained myself to be efficient in many areas of life and I still struggle mightily when others slow me down, so I greatly admire people who’ve learned to be unfazed by those inconveniences.
Patience, long-suffering, and self-control are necessary for us to build and maintain good relationships. Those traits also reflect God’s character towards our sin in a profound way.
Ask God to develop those traits of His within you and remember that a mature and loving heart endures many wrongs (Eph. 4:2 NIV).
20. Accept Christianity as a worldview, not a modifier for what you think is more important
Far too often, the word “Christian” is used as an adjective instead of a noun.
You have Christian nationalism, Christian politics, and Christian [insert secular thing here that’s not really the focus of Christianity].
It’s so easy to be ensnared by movements that are more earthly than spiritual. That’s not to say every social movement or secular event is worthless, but mature Christians discern when the focus of Scripture isn’t actually being sought.
Christianity is an all-encompassing worldview. Everything we think is important in life ties back somehow to the Bible’s larger message.
We can use our knowledge to point people in the right direction when they notice problems Scripture explained thousands of years ago. What we can’t do, however, is ignore biblical solutions to those problems in favor of man-centered action (see John 18:36 ESV).
21. Recognize faith in Christ as primarily a spiritual issue and not a mental one
A lot of newer Christians get frustrated when they can’t counter every argument from an atheist or when they can’t convince their friends to join the faith. That frustration would make sense if people’s belief depended solely on us and our words, but this isn’t the case.
It doesn’t matter how perfect your gospel presentation is or how much bulletproof logic you show. Your audience will not believe unless God opens their eyes to the truth (see John 6:44).
It’s only our job to deliver the mail. We explain the Bible’s message and do our best to provide logical and anecdotal support for it, but that’s where our responsibility ends.
Understanding this will help you stay consistent with evangelism while protecting you from anger and unjustified guilt.
22. Remember that God’s discipline is real and proof that He loves you enough to set you straight
A big misconception immature Christians have is that God only brings pleasant experiences to His followers.
We’re quick to connect promotions, marriages, and new houses to God’s loving provision, but we act as if Satan is the sole reason why we would ever have a bad time.
We have to remember that God is sovereign though, not Satan. God allows us to experience good and bad things in our lives according to His will. And sometimes, that means God is the one who leads us down a rough path.
Discipline is most notably a case where this occurs. God, like the loving parent He is, disciplines us in order to set us straight (Prov. 3:11-12).
A hidden sin you’ve been expressing might cause you to get sick out of nowhere for example or even get you pulled over by the cops. Those bad experiences that seem random and unfair could actually be God working to shake you up.
23. Find specific ways to use your talents and gifts for God’s purposes and invest in those opportunities often
God gives spiritual gifts and other talents to Christians as He sees fit (1 Cor. 12:4-7 ESV).
The Bible says Christians “are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10 ESV).
We’re works of art who are meant to do good in this world with the gifts we’ve been given. And in order to grow, we need to find outlets for those gifts and invest in them as best as we can.
I personally have the gift of teaching and I’ve always loved different forms of content creation, so writing like I do here is a perfect outlet for what I have.
You should evaluate yourself and see what you’re particularly good at and spiritually inclined to do. Then look for useful ways to express those gifts in a way that honors God.
24. Admit your faults to others and value relationships more than winning arguments
A lot of us get big ideas when we think of spiritual growth. We think it’s about becoming a spiritual genius who can run circles around others in theology. Or maybe it’s about becoming a cool stoic who isn’t fazed by earthly desires.
One of the true signs of spiritual growth, however, is the ability to foster good relationships.
A great way to stay on good terms is to admit your faults and value the bond of relationships more than winning short-term arguments (see James 5:16 NIV).
Spiritually mature people know when to express themselves and then let things go. They know how destructive our flesh can be when we foolishly indulge its desire to always be seen as right.
25. Recognize your role in the body of Christ and appreciate fellow Christians who serve different roles than you
A big fact to remember about spiritual gifts is that they are all important and deserve respect (1 Cor. 12:21-25 ESV).
A Christian who treats others with kindness and shows hospitality is just as important as a pastor with a public ministry.
We’re all members of the same body and we’re all equals in the same family. A big part of spiritual growth is recognizing those truths and appreciating the diverse gifts and roles we have (Eph. 4:15-16 NIV).
Your New Birth Is Just the Start
The 25 tips above helped me level up as a believer, and I believe they’ll help you do the same.
The Christian I am today is much different than the Christian I was many years ago. The longer I live, the more I die, and the more Christ makes Himself apparent in me.
God wants you to experience similar change.
Now of course, I’m not perfect—none of us will be until the end of this age (1 Cor. 15:49 NIV). Until then though, we should all strive to be more like our Savior as best as we can.
God allows us to endure trials and grow spiritually so we can encourage others in this Christian race. So hopefully the lessons you learn will also help fellow believers along the way.
-Drew
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