Becoming a Christian and starting the journey of faith can be an exciting and transformative experience. However, it can also be challenging to know how to grow spiritually and walk closely with God as a new believer. What does the Bible teach about the keys to growing and maturing in faith as a new follower of Jesus Christ?
There are several important principles and practices that the Bible highlights as critical for spiritual growth. By embracing these biblical keys, new Christians can establish a strong spiritual foundation and thrive in their new life with Christ.
Prioritize Reading the Bible
One of the most vital habits for growth as a new believer is regularly reading and studying the Bible. God’s Word equips us with truth, guides us in righteousness, and transforms our minds (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Setting aside consistent time each day to read the Bible is crucial for getting to know God more intimately and renewing our minds according to His wisdom.
New Christians should aim to read through books of the Bible systematically while also studying and meditating on specific passages. Joining a Bible study group can also enrich our understanding of Scripture. As we engage with God’s Word, our faith will be strengthened and our relationship with Christ will deepen.
Cultivate a Prayer Life
Prayer is another essential practice for spiritual growth. Through prayer we communicate with God, bring our needs and requests to Him, intercede for others, and submit to His will. New believers must make prayer a consistent habit in order to develop intimacy with the Lord.
Setting aside time for conversation with God each day is foundational. We can bring Him our joys, concerns, thanks, and petitions. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us in our weaknesses when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26-27). As we develop a heart of prayer, we will experience more of God’s presence, peace, and power in our daily lives.
Join a Community of Believers
Active involvement in a local church provides vital relational support and equipping for spiritual growth. Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes meeting together regularly for encouragement, sharing our lives with other believers, and stimulating one another to love and good deeds.
New Christians should commit to regularly fellowshipping with and serving alongside other followers of Jesus. A community of believers helps nurture our faith through worship, discipleship, accountability, and using our gifts to bless others. We grow in maturity as we live out our faith alongside our spiritual brothers and sisters.
Share Your Faith with Others
While new believers have much to learn about following Jesus, they also have a unique passion and testimony to share. New Christians should look for opportunities to have gospel conversations and share with others what Jesus has done in their lives.
Telling friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors about our transformed relationship with Christ both expresses our faith and strengthens it. We reinforce our faith as we articulate it to others, answering questions and explaining biblical truths. Evangelism fuels spiritual growth as we point people to salvation in Jesus.
Seek Sound Biblical Teaching
Accessing solid, doctrinally sound biblical teaching accelerates spiritual growth. New believers should tune in to biblically-faithful preachers, teachers, conferences, seminars, and resources. Paul instructs Timothy to watch his teaching closely and to be nourished on the truths of the faith (1 Timothy 4:6, 16).
We grow as we glean wisdom from seasoned Christians regarding the foundational truths and practices of following Jesus. The body of Christ has a rich legacy of Scriptural study and doctrines to pass on to new believers who want to grow in sound understanding.
Develop Spiritual Disciplines
Certain spiritual disciplines or practices help nurture spiritual maturity and closeness with God. These habits include worship, meditation on Scripture, prayer, fasting, simplicity, solitude, journaling, and more. Mixing up various spiritual disciplines keeps our faith fresh and focused.
New believers should explore and establish patterns of spiritual disciplines that help them carve out intentional time for pursuing God and training their hearts to follow Christ each day. These spiritual practices train our souls to meet with God and know Him more fully in meaningful ways.
Deal Promptly with Sin and Temptation
One key for healthy spiritual growth as a new believer is dealing decisively with sin struggles and temptations. Taking steps to eliminate influences that tempt us, while replacing sinful habits with godly ones, helps shore up our defenses.
As new believers, we must humbly bring sins, shortcomings, and struggles into the light through confession and godly counsel, allowing the Holy Spirit to purify us. We grow through admitting and repenting of sin, claiming Christ’s forgiveness and freedom, and obeying Him in the power of the Spirit.
Serve and Bless Others
Actively serving others both inside and outside the church helps energize our spiritual growth as new believers. Offering our gifts, talents, resources, and time to benefit others gets our focus off ourselves and allows us to reflect Christ’s love.
We must look for ways to do good, meet needs, and bless our neighbors. Serving as Jesus served keeps us connected to Him as the vine, through which His life flows (John 15:5). Using our gifts multiplies our capacity to walk by the Spirit and expands our influence for the kingdom.
Trust Completely in Christ
Above all, thriving as new believers means trusting completely in Christ rather than ourselves. We must depend fully on His finished work on the cross for our salvation, not our own goodness. Our new life is entirely by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Relying on the Holy Spirit’s power within us, not our own strength, is key for spiritual growth. Fixed on Jesus, we can endure struggles, reject sin, embrace righteousness, and walk obediently in His steps each day. Our loving Savior empowers us to follow Him faithfully.
The Christian life is a lifelong journey of growth marked by seasons of planting, watering, pruning, harvest, and renewal. While the road is not always easy, by clinging to Jesus and pursuing growth according to God’s Word, new believers will take great strides in their spiritual maturity, intimacy with Christ, and fruitfulness for His kingdom.