Growth has become a sort of buzzword these days. But what does the bible say about growth? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today – keep reading to learn about 11 bible verses on growth.
What does the Bible say about growing stronger?
Over and over again, the Bible reminds us that we grow stronger when we fellowship with other believers, pray for others/ourselves, increase our knowledge of our Lord, and worship him.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, Paul even says that this is the whole purpose of the assembly of believers. Colossians 1:9-12 further reinforces this idea by talking about how increasing our knowledge of God fills us with strength and power.
How can I grow more in God?
To grow in God, you’ll need to give yourself completely to His will. This means you’ll need to spend time pondering on the word of God, praying, and relying on the holy spirit to guide you in your everyday life.
Not only will your words act as evidence of the power of God, but your good work will do so too.
As Galatians, 5:16-17 says, you’re going to have to be led by the spirit rather than your flesh if you want to grow in God.
Ultimately, you are going to have to crucify your passionate worldly desires and lean into love, kindness, joy, peace, and any other fruit of the spirit.
How do we grow in faith?
The main way we build our faith is by hearing the word of God – that’s what Romans 10:17 teaches us. So if you want to grow your faith, you need to not only read the Bible but also hang around teachers of the word and hear what they have to say.
The more teachings you listen to, the more you will broaden your knowledge of our Lord and have faith in him.
Listening is not the end goal though – your faith should inspire you to take action. As James 2:26 says, faith without action is dead. So always ensure that you practice what you hear and believe.
Bible verses about spiritual growth
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation – 1 Peter 2:2 NIV
In this verse, Peter reminds us that when we get saved we become spiritual newborn infants. As such, we need to seek out and even crave that which will build us spiritually and expand our knowledge of Our Lord.
Ultimately, it is only through this process that our sanctification can be complete and we can reach spiritual maturity.
That’s why it’s important to always be trying to align your life with God’s word and to even surround yourself with people who will correct you when you get off track.
In many ways, living a spiritual life is like running a marathon. And as Paul said in Philippines 3:12, you should always be looking forward and striving to become a better person.
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready -1 Corinthians 3:1-2 NIV
The book of 1 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christian church in Corinth, Greece. In it, he guides them on how to conduct themselves in their newfound faith.
In this particular verse, he talks about how they are still newborn babies spiritually and still behave as they did before they got born again.
In fact, the verse after this delves deeper into how they are still jealous of each other and quarrel among themselves. All this is happening even though Paul planted the seed of salvation in their hearts and Apollos watered it tirelessly.
Ultimately, Paul concludes that they are not ready for the deeper things of the spirit – the solid food.
And only God can test their good works and facilitate their spiritual growth. If there’s one thing to be learned from this verse, it is that getting saved is only the beginning of our relationship with God.
After our salvation, it is only He who walks with us every step of the way and knows what to do to push us into the next stage of spiritual maturity.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God – Hebrews 6:1 NIV
This verse pushes us to aggressively go beyond the first principles of the oracles of God. In short, it holds us accountable for our own spiritual growth. Because as much as God loves us and will try to help us grow, he can’t force us to do so.
As such, it’s important to constantly work on your spiritual life. As this particular verse advises, we should especially try to go beyond dead works – simply absent-mindedly following rules. After all, even the Pharisees followed the rules of their time yet their hearts were full of pride.
So once you have a clear understanding of the principles of the doctrine of Christ, it’s time to genuinely apply them. Remember, the bible tells us to do everything with all of our hearts, and not just as performances to get into God’s good graces.
As 1 Samuel 16 tells us, God always examines your heart, not your outward appearance or actions.
Bible verses about growth and change
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will – Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Written by the Apostle Paul, this particular verse reminds us that God requires us to submit ourselves fully to him and that this is usually accompanied by a change in our behavior.
When God saves us, we are not expected to continue behaving like the rest of the world. Instead, we are expected to be set apart and grow to be more and more like our savior Jesus Christ.
Ultimately, our spiritual growth causes the change in our behavior and the latter also feeds into the former. And the more we keep at it, the more how we think and even perceive the world changes. This is the transformation this verse speaks of.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
This is one of the most popular verses in the holy bible and with good cause. It reminds us that you are no longer the same once you get born again. You become a new person and everything that you did before your salvation is washed away.
In fact, this whole chapter reminds us that Jesus became sin for us so that he could reconcile us with God. As such, it reminds us not to focus on our past but rather to focus on building our knowledge of God and acting as his ambassadors.
This not only contributes to our personal growth but can also attract others to God.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness – Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
In this text, the Prophet Isaiah encourages the Israelites, despite their recent unfaithfulness. He tells them that God will make a way for them and save them from their predicaments.
This means that their lives are going to change and this will bring forth great growth.
In fact, in this very chapter, God promises to deliver them from the forces of Babylon. He tells them to look ahead and remember their problems no more.
Even in our everyday lives, this verse and chapter remind us to call out to God when we need deliverance.
And to trust that He will change our lives. Beyond believing, we need to look forward to it as if it has already happened and avoid obsessing over circumstances as well.
Moreover, when we are eventually delivered and are growing into a season, we should not glance back like Lot’s wife.
Bible verses about love and growth
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment – Philippians 1:9 ESV
The book of Philippians is a letter Paul wrote to the Christian church in Philippi. In its first chapter, he greets them and tells them how much he misses them.
Moreover, in this particular verse, he especially hopes that their love for one another, powers of discernment, and knowledge of God grow abundantly.
In the verses after this one, he goes further to cite that these things will help them remain pure when the day of Christ comes.
While this advice was given thousands of years ago, it still holds water to this day, and many of us know it, even when we deny it. After all, didn’t Jesus himself tell us that love is the greatest commandment of all?
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. – Ephesians 4:15 NIV
If there’s one thing that is to be learned from this verse, it’s that love is integral to growth. In fact, the more we love God and each other, the more Christ-like we become.
Not only does this love make us want to do good for each other, but it also makes us want to stay faithful to God.
It also forces us to recognize a greater love than we can imagine – the love of God. It’s, therefore, no wonder that Paul begins this chapter by calling himself a prisoner of the Lord and urges us to continue in service until we reach spiritual maturity.
It is only at this point will we achieve the full knowledge of the son of God and unity of faith, he insists.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold – Matthew 24:12 NIV
In this verse and the entirety of Mathew 24, Jesus is telling his disciples about the end of days. He tells them about how there will be wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, and other problems during that time.
More importantly, he tells them how much harm people will do to each other, and how this will make the love in their hearts decrease.
Ultimately, this verse shows us that just as love can help you act Christ-like, evil actions can make you love people less.
This means that the constant practice of good work can help you learn to love more and even push you forward in your spiritual journey, as long as you’re genuine.
Bible verses about growth and strength
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me – 1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
This particular verse is located in a chapter that celebrates love. It not only talks about the qualities of love, but it also makes it clear that it is the foundation of our faith. In fact, this chapter goes on to say that love is even greater than hope and faith.
But this verse talks of more than love, it reminds us that as we grow up, we see things differently and have different capabilities. So just as children get stronger as they get older and behave differently, so do Christians as they grow spiritually.
While you may only understand a few spiritual gifts when you first get saved, your knowledge is only in part.
Ultimately, this encourages us to be persistent in our faith and be more open to moving from pure spiritual milk to solid food.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31 NIV
If there’s one thing that this bible verse teaches us, it’s that God will grow our strength when we most need it. Even where those who are younger than us will stumble and fall, God will renew our strength.
So when things get tough, never hesitate to cry out to God.
He will give you more strength than you need to overcome your challenges. That’s why it’s commonly said that God qualifies whom he chooses instead of choosing the qualified.
So even if you don’t feel qualified for the assignment ahead of you, believe that you can do it.
Remember, Philippians 1:6 tells us that God will complete the good work he starts in us, until the day of Jesus Christ. So be confident in this and trust the process.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, the bible is full of verses about personal, spiritual, and even career growth. It guides you on hard work, spiritual growth, love, and even change. So study it consistently and fix your eyes on our savior Jesus Christ.
