Following Jesus · Study Guide
Week Four
How Do I Grow in My Relationship with God?
Spiritual growth begins with relationship, not religious performance.
Many Christians sincerely want to grow closer to God. They want a stronger faith, deeper prayer life, better understanding of Scripture, greater victory over sin, and a life that increasingly reflects Jesus.
But spiritual growth can sometimes feel confusing. Are we supposed to try harder, read more, pray longer, or simply become more disciplined?
This week will help us understand that spiritual growth begins with relationship, not religious performance. We grow as we remain connected to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us.
We grow in our relationship with God by remaining connected to Jesus, depending upon the Holy Spirit, receiving God's Word, developing a life of prayer, walking in obedience, living in Christian community, and allowing God to transform us through every season of life.
Read Before You Begin
When you think about spiritual growth, what do you usually imagine?
Teaching Summary
Spiritual Growth Begins with Relationship
Jesus described our relationship with Him using the picture of a vine and branches.
— John 15:4
A branch cannot produce life by itself. It receives life from the vine.
Christian maturity is not becoming increasingly independent from Jesus.
It is becoming increasingly dependent upon Him.
God Is Already at Work in You
— Philippians 2:13
God does not save us and then leave us to transform ourselves.
The Holy Spirit convicts, teaches, encourages, strengthens, corrects, comforts, and gradually forms Christlike character in us.
God works in me, and I respond to His work.
God's Word Renews Our Minds
We are constantly being shaped by something: culture, relationships, fear, ambition, entertainment, past experiences, and the opinions of others.
— Romans 12:2
God's Word teaches us who God is, who we are, what is true, what is wise, and how Jesus calls us to live.
As our thinking changes, our lives begin changing.
Reading Scripture Is More Than Completing a Task
Bible reading can become another checklist item: read the chapter, mark it complete, move on.
But Scripture is meant to shape us.
— Psalm 119:105
We read asking what God is revealing, what we should believe, what needs to change, and how we should respond.
Prayer Deepens Relationship
Prayer allows us to bring our whole lives before God: gratitude, fear, confusion, questions, failure, pain, hope, needs, decisions, and worship.
Prayer is not about producing impressive language. It is about honestly coming before our Father.
Prayer Also Teaches Surrender
— Luke 22:42
Prayer is not only asking God to change our circumstances. Sometimes God uses prayer to change us within those circumstances.
Lord, help me want what You want.
Worship Reorients Our Hearts
Worship is more than singing. It is the orientation of our whole lives toward God.
Worship reminds us that God is holy, good, faithful, powerful, present, and worthy.
Our circumstances change. God does not.
Obedience Produces Growth
— John 14:15
Knowledge becomes transformative when truth becomes obedience.
We may understand forgiveness. Growth happens when we forgive.
We may understand service. Growth happens when we serve.
Truth becomes maturity when it becomes obedience.
Start with the Next Step of Obedience
Spiritual growth can feel overwhelming when we focus on every area that still needs to change.
God often does not show us the entire journey. He shows us the next faithful step.
What is the next faithful step?
The Holy Spirit Produces Fruit
Galatians 5 describes the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Fruit grows gradually.
Small changes matter: more patience, greater compassion, quicker repentance, deeper trust, and greater willingness to forgive.
Gradual does not mean insignificant.
Christian Community Helps Us Grow
— Hebrews 10:24
Other believers help us see what we cannot always see ourselves.
They teach us, encourage us, pray for us, correct us, and walk with us through difficult seasons.
We grow together.
Serving Helps Us Grow
Spiritual growth is not only about what we receive. It is also about what we give.
Serving moves our attention beyond ourselves, develops compassion, reveals gifts, and teaches dependence on God's strength.
Who can I serve?
Trials Can Produce Growth
Difficult seasons often reveal what we trust, what we fear, where we are weak, and what matters most.
Some of the deepest growth in a Christian's life happens during seasons he or she never would have chosen.
God does not waste suffering.
Growth Includes Failure
Mature Christians still fail.
Spiritual maturity means increasingly knowing what to do when we fail: confess, repent, receive forgiveness, learn, get back up, and continue following.
— 1 John 1:9
Growth Requires Patience
Spiritual maturity is usually slow.
Peter did not become mature overnight. Jesus patiently formed him over years.
Do not confuse slow growth with no growth.
Spiritual Disciplines Create Space for Growth
Scripture reading, prayer, worship, fasting, silence, solitude, service, generosity, fellowship, and confession do not earn God's love.
They create intentional space for us to pay attention to God.
Practices repeated over time shape lives.
Growth Is More Than Knowing More
Bible knowledge and theology matter, but knowledge alone is not spiritual maturity.
Truth should eventually become visible through humility, love, wisdom, compassion, faithfulness, and obedience.
What kind of person am I becoming?
Take Time to Reflect
- In what area of my spiritual life have I seen the most growth recently?
- Which practice is strongest in my life right now: Scripture, prayer, worship, obedience, community, or service?
- Which one has been neglected?
- Is there something God has already shown me that I need to obey?
- Am I primarily trying to grow through my own strength, or am I learning to depend upon the Holy Spirit?
- Who currently helps me grow spiritually?
- What difficult season has God used to deepen my faith?
- What is one realistic next step I could take this week?
Talk About It Together
- Why is relationship with Jesus more foundational than simply trying harder?
- How does Scripture actually change the way we think?
- What makes consistent prayer difficult?
- Why does obedience often produce growth that knowledge alone cannot?
- How has another Christian helped you grow?
- Why can suffering become spiritually formative?
- How should Christians respond when growth feels slow?
- Which spiritual discipline has been especially helpful in your life, and why?
John 15:1–8
Read John 15:1–8 slowly.
Jesus uses the picture of a vine and branches to describe spiritual growth.
Jesus repeatedly tells His disciples to remain in Him.
“Without Me you can do nothing.”
Connection with Christ eventually produces visible character, obedience, love, and faithfulness.
Spiritual growth is not primarily: Try harder. It is: Stay close to Jesus and respond faithfully to His work in you.
Father, thank You that You are already at work in me. Help me remain close to Jesus and depend upon Your Spirit rather than my own strength. Give me a hunger for Your Word, teach me to pray honestly, help me obey what You show me, and place people around me who will help me grow. Use even difficult seasons to make me more like Christ. Give me patience with the process and courage for the next faithful step. Amen.
Five Days in Scripture
What does Jesus say about remaining in Him?
What does a transformed life look like?
What does the Holy Spirit produce in us?
How does Christian community help us remain faithful?
How can trials and obedience contribute to maturity?
For each reading, ask:
What is God doing?
What response does He ask from me?
What evidence of growth should become visible?
Stay Close to Jesus
Spiritual growth is not primarily about trying harder. It is about remaining closer to Jesus.
God is already at work. His Word renews us. Prayer deepens relationship. Obedience puts truth into practice. The Spirit produces fruit. Other believers help us grow. Trials can deepen faith.
Do not become discouraged because growth is gradual.
Stay close to Jesus. Take the next faithful step. And trust God with the process.