You Ain’t Grown: The Importance of Discipleship in Spiritual Maturity
You Ain’t Grown: The Importance of Discipleship in Spiritual Maturity
I’ve been working with students for quite some time. It’s always fun to run into one of my former kids or teenagers after not having seen them in years. “Wow, you’ve grown up so much!” It’s exciting seeing the physical growth, the maturity, the development that is so easily missed when we have those day-to-day interactions.
I have the same feeling sometimes when looking at pictures of my now 17 year old daughter. Some of our first pictures together are in the hospital, her tiny body fitting in my hand. From riding stick horses around the bookstore, sliding down slides at the park, eating together during our Daddy/Daughter Dates, and attending an annual Father/Daughter Dance, those pictures always amaze me at how much, and how quickly she is grown.
I miss it in the day-to-day life of family living. When I see her every evening it is hard to see the tiny changes, but when you step back and look at the big picture you see the growth. That’s how it should be.
That’s how it should be for each of us. Even in adulthood people should have the ability to step back, look at our lives, and see the growth. Not physically, although I’ve got that as well, but spiritually. What about you? Can people see how you’ve spiritually grown over the past few years? Are you still maturing?
It’s easy to see the stagnation in others. You’ve seen it before—someone who’s been a Christian for years, sitting in the pews, knowing all the right things to say, yet there’s something missing. Their faith doesn’t seem to have changed them. The spark of new life that should come with following Jesus seems dim. This is not unusual, and it’s not just limited to the person sitting next to you. It's easy to believe that just by being around church for a long time, we automatically grow spiritually, but spiritual maturity is about much more than time spent in the building. It requires intentionality, growth, and a constant pursuit of Christ through true discipleship. Can I ask you, ‘have you been intentionally growing through a constant pursuit of Jesus?’
Spiritual maturity is essential for every believer, but it doesn’t happen by accident. If you’re a long-time Christian, you may have heard the term “discipleship” thrown around a lot. But what does it really mean? And why is it so crucial for growing spiritually? If you’re ready to see your faith grow deeper, let’s dive into what true discipleship looks like, why it’s needed for spiritual maturity, and the practical ways you can pursue it.
What is True Radical Biblical Discipleship?
To understand spiritual maturity, it’s vital to first understand what discipleship truly means. In the context of the Bible, discipleship isn’t just about taking a few notes on Sunday or reading a devotional in the morning. It’s about an all-in, heart-deep commitment to follow Jesus with every fiber of your being. It's not a passive relationship—discipleship requires action.
In the time of Jesus, disciples followed their rabbi closely, not only learning from them but mimicking their lives. A disciple’s goal wasn’t simply to understand their teacher’s words but to embody those words, living them out in every part of their daily existence. A disciple would learn to speak in the same tone and rhythm of his rabbi, interact with his family in the same mannerisms as his rabbi, and interpret Scriptures and the world in the same ways of his rabbi. To follow a rabbi was an endeavor to become just like him.
Jesus calls us to follow Him in the same way. In Luke 9:23, He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” This isn’t just about intellectual agreement with His teachings; it’s about living them out—choosing His way over our own every single day. Radical discipleship means denying ourselves, choosing to follow Jesus even when it’s hard, and letting His life transform ours.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. This is a call to radical discipleship, where every decision, action, and thought is submitted to Christ. Jesus isn’t just interested in what we do on Sundays or in Bible studies; He wants to shape our entire lives. Following Jesus means becoming more like Him in every area of life—at home, at work, in our relationships, and in how we handle our emotions and challenges.
This is where true spiritual growth happens: when we stop compartmentalizing our faith and allow Jesus to shape every part of our lives. Discipleship is not about giving God one hour a week or checking off a to-do list of spiritual activities. It’s about living every moment with Him, learning from Him, and reflecting His character in every situation.
True discipleship is relational. Jesus isn’t calling us to follow a set of rules; He’s calling us to follow Him, to live in a deep, intimate relationship with Him where we learn from His words and His actions. It’s an ongoing, lifelong process of growth and change.
What is Spiritual Maturity, According to the Bible?
Spiritual maturity is more than just knowing facts about God. It’s the process of becoming more like Jesus in how we think, act, and live. In Ephesians 4:13-14, Paul writes, “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
Paul contrasts spiritual maturity with spiritual infancy. Maturity means being able to stand firm in your faith, knowing the truth of God’s Word and being able to apply it in all circumstances. It means choosing to see life and culture through a Biblical worldview. When you’re spiritually mature, you’re not easily swayed by the latest trends, false teachings, or opinions that come your way. You’re rooted in God’s Word, and you know how to navigate life through the lens of His truth.
The Bible also shows us that maturity in Christ is not just about personal growth, but about being equipped to serve others. Hebrews 5:13-14 says, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Spiritual maturity means you’re able to handle more than the basics—it means being able to dive deeper into God’s Word, discern what’s true, and live out righteousness.
The Puppy That Never Grew Up
Margaret smiled as she opened the door to her cozy suburban home, carrying a squirming golden retriever puppy in her arms. She’d named her Daisy, and the name seemed perfect for the little bundle of energy who wagged her tail at every stranger and licked Margaret’s hands like they were dipped in honey.
Margaret had retired just a month earlier and finally had the time to fulfill her lifelong dream of adopting a dog. Her days had been quiet and predictable since her husband passed five years ago, and she hoped Daisy would bring some life back into her home.
And Daisy did.
For the first few weeks, Margaret laughed at the puppy antics—chewing on her slippers, bounding after the tennis ball with floppy, uncoordinated legs, and curling up in her lap, all 15 pounds of her, at the end of the day. “You’re a rascal,” Margaret would say, scratching behind Daisy’s ears. “But I love you anyway.”
Soon, though, the charm of puppyhood began to wear thin. Daisy had a habit of chewing things that weren’t toys—table legs, shoes, even the corner of Margaret’s favorite armchair. She hadn’t quite grasped the concept of house training either, leaving little puddles and piles in places Margaret didn’t expect. At night, Daisy whined in her kennel until Margaret relented and let her out.
“It’s just a phase,” Margaret told herself, recalling all the dog training books she’d read. “She’s still a baby. She’ll grow out of it.”
Months passed, and Daisy grew. She quickly outgrew her puppy-sized kennel, her paws becoming too large to tuck under her body as she sprawled on the floor. By the time Daisy turned a year old, she weighed 75 pounds and looked like a full-grown dog. Her golden coat gleamed in the sunlight, and her strong frame turned heads at the park.
But Daisy’s behavior didn’t match her appearance.
She still chewed furniture, barked incessantly when left alone, and refused to follow basic commands like “sit” or “stay.” Margaret’s patience, though vast, began to fray at the edges. She doubled down on training, hiring professionals and trying every method she could find. Nothing seemed to work. Daisy acted like a puppy, even though she was physically a grown dog.
One day, after a particularly frustrating morning involving a shredded pillow and another “accident” on the carpet, Margaret called her vet.
Dr. Willis listened carefully as Margaret described Daisy’s behavior, nodding thoughtfully. After a thorough examination, she said, “Margaret, I believe Daisy may have a developmental delay.”
“A delay?” Margaret asked, her brow furrowed.
“Yes,” Dr. Willis explained. “Her body has grown, but her mind is stuck in a puppy stage. It’s rare, but it happens. Essentially, Daisy may never mentally mature the way most dogs do.”
Margaret sat in stunned silence. “So… she’ll always act like this?”
“It’s possible,” the vet said gently. “But she’s not unhappy. Daisy isn’t aware she’s different. She just needs a little extra patience and understanding.”
Margaret left the office with mixed emotions. She loved Daisy deeply, but the thought of dealing with her perpetual puppy behavior was daunting. She’d expected Daisy to grow into a well-behaved adult dog, but now she faced a new reality.
Over time, Margaret adjusted her expectations. She learned to manage Daisy’s quirks, putting away shoes and investing in furniture guards. She found joy in Daisy’s unrelenting enthusiasm for life, even if it meant enduring chewed leashes and muddy paw prints.
But not everyone was as understanding.
When Margaret took Daisy to the dog park, other owners would frown as the large retriever bounded around clumsily, knocking over smaller dogs. “She’s too old to act like that,” one woman muttered as Daisy grabbed her dog’s toy.
Margaret felt a pang of defensiveness but also a deeper truth sinking in: Daisy couldn’t help her immaturity. She wasn’t choosing to stay in a puppy mindset.
One evening, as Margaret sat on the porch watching Daisy chase fireflies, she couldn’t help but think about the people she knew at church. Some had been there for decades, showing up every Sunday, singing the songs, and saying the right things. But when life got hard, they didn’t respond with the faith or wisdom one might expect. They panicked, complained, or withdrew.
“They’re like Daisy,” Margaret thought. “They’ve grown in appearance, but their faith is still immature.”
Unlike Daisy, though, spiritual immaturity isn’t an unavoidable condition. It’s a choice.
Hebrews 5:12-14 came to mind: “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Margaret realized that just like Daisy needed guidance to manage her unique challenges, spiritually immature people needed intentional discipleship to grow. But unlike Daisy, they had the ability to choose growth—to pursue God, study His Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives.
From that day on, Margaret embraced Daisy’s quirks with new understanding and patience. She also began praying for those in her church who seemed stuck in spiritual infancy, asking God to open their hearts to deeper growth.
Daisy remained a perpetual puppy, but Margaret’s love for her never wavered. And through her quirky dog, Margaret found a daily reminder of the importance of choosing to grow in Christ—not staying stuck in old ways, but striving toward the spiritual maturity God desires for all His children.
Because while Daisy couldn’t change, people can. And when they choose to pursue God wholeheartedly, their lives are transformed in ways that reflect His glory and grace.
Why Longevity in the Church Doesn’t Equate to Spiritual Maturity
There’s a dangerous myth in the church that longevity equals maturity. Just because you’ve been attending church for decades doesn’t mean you’ve matured in your faith. Longevity can simply mean you’ve been around a long time; it doesn’t automatically mean you’ve grown closer to Christ or become more like Him.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul writes, “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.” Here, Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, and though they’ve been believers for some time, they still aren’t spiritually mature. Paul had to speak to them like infants because they weren’t ready to digest deeper truths.
This highlights an important point: spiritual maturity is not about how long you’ve been in the faith. It’s about how you’re living out your faith. Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Are you becoming more like Him every day? If not, then spiritual maturity isn’t taking place, no matter how long you’ve been in church.
The Benefits of Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual maturity brings many benefits. It’s not just about personal growth—it’s about becoming the person God created you to be and making a lasting impact on the world around you. Here are some of the key benefits of spiritual maturity:
Peace that Surpasses Understanding: As you grow in your faith, you begin to experience a peace that doesn’t depend on your circumstances. The world around you may be chaotic, but you have a firm foundation in Christ. You trust that God is in control, and that trust leads to peace. Jesus promised us this peace in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Strength to Endure Life’s Challenges: Spiritual maturity equips you with the strength to endure life’s trials. You learn to persevere through hardship, knowing that God is using it to grow you. In James 1:2-4, we’re told to “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Stronger Relationships: As you grow in Christ, you become more like Him in your relationships with others. You develop patience, kindness, humility, and love—qualities that build stronger and deeper connections with those around you. In Ephesians 4:2-3, Paul writes, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Greater Ability to Discern God’s Will: Spiritual maturity enables you to discern God’s will more clearly. You become more attuned to His voice, more sensitive to His leading, and more confident in making decisions that align with His will. As you mature, you become more aligned with God’s purposes and better equipped to live them out.
A Greater Impact on Others: As you mature in Christ, your life becomes a testimony to others. You become a living example of God’s grace, power, and love. People around you notice the difference in how you handle life, and that can draw them to Christ.
The Marks of Spiritual Maturity
How do you know if you’re growing spiritually? Here are some key marks of spiritual maturity:
Love for Others: As you grow in Christ, your love for others deepens. You begin to love people the way Jesus loves them, unconditionally and sacrificially. This means being patient with others, forgiving easily, and seeking their good above your own.
Faithfulness: Maturity is marked by faithfulness in all areas of life. You remain committed to Christ, no matter what. You are faithful in your relationships, your responsibilities, and in your service to others.
Humility: The more you grow spiritually, the more you realize that all your progress is due to God’s grace, not your own efforts. Humility means recognizing your need for God and putting others before yourself.
A Desire for Holiness: As you mature, your desire for holiness increases. You want to live in a way that honors God and reflects His character. You begin to hate sin and long for purity.
A Heart for Service: Spiritual maturity means becoming more others-centered. You start looking for ways to serve those around you, whether it’s within your church, your community, or your family. You no longer live for yourself, but for God and others.
Steps to Developing Spiritual Maturity Using Discipleship Practices
You don’t want to be stuck in the puppy stage. Not only do you not want to be seen in that light by God or others, but you want to experience the fullness of what God has for you. You want to develop into a true disciple of Jesus with a solid, biblical worldview, and the ability to help others. To grow spiritually, you need intentional discipleship. Here are some practical steps to help you develop spiritual maturity:
Commit to Daily Bible Study: The Word of God is your primary tool for spiritual growth. Spend time reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture daily. This is where you learn who God is and how He wants you to live. James 1:25 says, “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
Engage in Regular Prayer: Prayer is how you communicate with God. It’s where you find strength, guidance, and intimacy with the Father. Make time for prayer each day, both to talk to God and to listen to Him.
Find a Mentor: One of the best ways to grow spiritually is to find someone who is more mature in the faith and learn from them. A mentor can provide wisdom, guidance, and accountability.
Get Involved in a Small Group: Spiritual growth is best done in community. Find a small group where you can study God’s Word, pray, and serve together. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Serve Others: Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve. When we serve others, we reflect Christ and grow in humility. Look for ways to serve in your church, community, or family.
Live Out What You Learn: Spiritual maturity isn’t just about knowing more; it’s about living out what you learn. Apply God’s Word in your daily life. When you do this, your faith becomes real and impactful.
Conclusion
Spiritual maturity is the goal of every disciple of Jesus. If you truly are a Christian, the Holy Spirit will prompt you to take further steps. That’s His job. Don’t ignore Him. It’s not about how long you’ve been a Christian; it’s about how much you’ve allowed Jesus to transform your life. Discipleship is the pathway to that transformation. Through intentional study, prayer, service, and relationship with others, you can grow into the mature follower of Christ God has called you to be.
So, are you ready to grow? Are you ready to stop being content with spiritual infancy and pursue the fullness of life in Christ? It’s time to step up and take your discipleship seriously. God is waiting to transform you, and He’s got a plan for you. Let’s get started.
Before you go, check out these other encouraging articles:
Discipleship Essentials: The Absolute Must-Haves To Beginning A Faith Journey