How Do You Know You're Growing Spiritually

God wants us to grow. Growth is healthy. 

But, how do we measure our spiritual growth? How do we KNOW we are growing and not just doing a bunch of “spiritual activity.”

What does spiritual growth look like? First, it’s important to understand what growth is and what growth isn't. 

Growth is not how many.  

It's not how many gatherings we attend at church. It's not how many verses we memorize in the Bible. It's not how many minutes we spent in a devotion time this morning. It's not how many Christian books we read this last year. It's not a matter of how many. 

In fact, you can read and study a book of the Bible many times. Over and over. Learn all the facts. Memorize every verse, and STILL not have grown one bit. How? Because, its not about how many things you’ve checked off your Christian check-list.

Did you apply anything you learned? How did what you read CHANGE you and grow you? 

Many people have thought through the years that if they just attended church more that somehow they would automatically grow. It doesn't work that way. Just doing things doesn't necessarily mean we’re growing. It's not a matter of how many. 

Growth is how much.  

It's the quality of life. It's, how much closer I am to God than I was at this time last year? It's how much more I love my wife and kids because of God's grace. It's how much my character is being changed by God's power. 

It's not a matter of quantity it's a matter of quality. Jesus didn't say, "I came to give you more things to do in your life." He said, "I came to give you an abundant life. A new quality of life."

How much more love do you have? How much more joy and patience and peace?

Do you truly look more like Jesus? Do you have more of his character? OR are you just doing religious activities and learning facts?

There is a difference.

Ephesians 4:22-24 "Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”