Lesson 10: Three Ways to Grow Your Faith

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3

When someone asks me a question I do not know how to answer, I tell them, “I do not know, but my phone does” as I begin to search the Internet for answers. A large and growing number of people in today’s world are coming to faith in Christ because of how far technology can go. Radio, television and the Internet share the gospel to millions every day! But how can we really grow as followers of Jesus? Here are three ancient secrets for Christian growth we still need in the modern age:

1. Take God’s Word to heart
The Bible has many examples, stories and commands meant to get us to read it —and know it. One of the clearest commands is found in 1 Peter: “As newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow” (1 Peter 2:2). Search your heart. If you find you truly do want to know what God wants to show you, you have already taken this command to heart! How can you really say you follow Jesus if you don’t know what He taught? Read it, or listen to it, regularly. Come to know it. Do this with purpose in mind: growth in your relationship with the Lord. Remember, He’s there with you as you read it. He will unlock it for you — if you ask. He will help you keep it, and prompt you to rely upon it, for guidance in your life.


2. Be part of the body of Christ
How do you know if you are a gifted painter? You paint! As you walk with Jesus, it is also important to be doing the things you know He has gifted His followers to do. “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11-12). These gifts are given to grow the whole church! God has gifted you. Try serving in various ways. You will see more results, and feel more joy, as you serve in some ways than in others. Think of the gift God gave you as an investment in the church itself - He wants you to help build it up, making the whole body grow stronger.

3. Take care to bear fruit
Jesus is our Creator and Owner (Colossians 1:16), our Lord and Master (John 13:13), who calls us “friend” (John 15:14-16). He did not save us to simply live life as we choose, but to live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15). How do we do that? By bearing His fruit. There are two kinds: good works (which make others glorify God, Matthew 5:16), and the multiplication of other believers, (Matthew 13:23).

All of this shows the best way for us to grow is to go public as a serious follower of Jesus. For something as serious as this, we cannot afford to be satisfied with a phone that is “smart!” I need to know what it really means to follow Jesus. I need to put it into practice and I need to do it in such a way that I am seeing good results.

Pray: Lord Jesus, I want to grow to know You, not just to know where I can find facts about You. Amen.
Suggested scriptures to read: 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 4:14-15,
Memorize: Galatians 5:22-23 – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”