Are you Really Growing?
When was the last time you asked yourself, "Where am I in my discipleship?" Or perhaps an even more searching question: "How is God shaping every part of my life?"
Discipleship can sometimes be elusive.
We can feel as though we aren't moving forward, that we aren't really growing. Others can overestimate their growth because they haven't taken the time to honestly consider the indicators of maturity. And sometimes we can mistakenly think that activity equals growth.
But activity doesn't necessarily mean progress.
We can be very busy and still be going around in circles.
The Israelites discovered this in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:1–3 describes how they travelled around Mount Seir for an extended period—almost thirty-eight years. They were moving, but they weren't necessarily progressing toward the destination God had for them.
It is possible to be active in the Christian life without actually growing as a disciple.
So how do we recognise genuine growth?
This blog series has concentrated up until now on the Stages of Discipleship—helping us gain insight into the pathway of discipleship, from Infancy to Childhood to Adolescence to Adulthood in Christ.
We've explored how God forms us over time. But growth doesn't happen accidentally.
Throughout every stage, God is shaping specific elements of our lives. These elements of discipleship are Character, Spiritual Life, Skills, and Beliefs.
And this gives us an important distinction:
Understanding the Stages helps us recognise where we are. Understanding the Elements helps us recognise what God is forming within us.
The two belong together.
We need to understand both where we are going and what is being developed within us.
Make Your Progress Evident
The Apostle Paul gives his disciple Timothy some wonderfully practical instruction about this.
In 1 Timothy 4:15 he says: "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress."
What a powerful challenge!
Paul tells Timothy to live in such a way that his forward progress becomes evident.
There should be something observable about growth in Christ.
Paul begins with the instruction to "be diligent." The idea carries the sense of taking pains, giving something our complete attention, cultivating it, and being absorbed in it—not simply occasionally, but habitually.
This is a command for sustained personal engagement.
Timothy is to continually immerse himself in these things so that his spiritual progress becomes evident— not only to himself, but to those around him.
But what exactly are these "matters" Paul is referring to?
The preceding verses give us the answer.
Paul tells Timothy, "Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." "Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." "Do not neglect your gift..." "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them..." 1 Timothy 4:12–16
Suddenly we begin to see what growth looks like.
Growth in Character
Paul tells Timothy to set an example in speech, conduct, love and purity.
Our growth in Christ should affect the way we speak.
Are our words encouraging and life-giving? Do we use our words wisely and carefully? Are praise and encouragement becoming increasingly natural to us? Even when life is difficult, are we learning to guard our mouths and speak well?
Then there is our conduct—our behaviour, simply the way we live.
Paul is saying that growth should change the way we behave. Things we once allowed to slide can no longer simply be ignored. The innuendo in our words, the grumbling attitude we tolerate, disrespect toward authority, dishonesty in our dealings—even something as ordinary as how we complete our tax return—these things reveal whether Christ is shaping our character.
And then Paul speaks about love. Not merely affection, but agape—the self-sacrificing love that most clearly reveals Jesus to others. Are we growing in our ability to love people who are difficult to love? Are we genuinely learning to put others first?
And finally, Paul speaks about purity.
What happens in our thought life matters. What we allow ourselves to entertain matters. What we tolerate matters.
Growth in Christ reaches into the hidden places of our lives.
Growth in Spiritual Life
Paul also instructs Timothy to engage deeply with Scripture.
He is to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, preaching and teaching.
This isn't simply about accumulating biblical information. God's Word is to become part of the life we live.
As Colossians 3:16 reminds us, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..."
We meditate on God's promises.
We memorise His Word.
We allow Scripture to shape our thinking.
And then we apply it.
This is spiritual growth—allowing God's Word not merely to enter our minds but to increasingly shape our lives.
Growth in Skills
Paul tells Timothy not to neglect the gift that God has given him. There is an important principle here: God has wired each of us uniquely for His purposes. Growth includes learning how to serve God and His people through the gifts, abilities, skills and personality God has entrusted to us.
We don't all serve in the same way.
We don't all have the same gifts.
But maturity includes discovering what God has placed within us and becoming increasingly effective in using those gifts to serve others and advance His Kingdom.
Growth in Beliefs
Paul also tells Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely.
Our beliefs matter.
Spiritual maturity involves growing in our assurance of faith—becoming increasingly convinced about who God is, what Jesus has done, and why it matters.
We don't simply believe more things. Our understanding of God becomes deeper, our convictions become stronger, and our beliefs increasingly shape the way we live.
Paul brings these things together with one final word: "Persevere in them."
Growth requires sustained engagement.
It takes diligence.
It takes intentionality.
And over time, something happens.
Progress becomes evident.
So Where Are You Growing?
This is where the Stages and the Elements come together.
The Stages of Discipleship help us understand the developmental journey—Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood.
The Elements of Discipleship help us examine the areas in which God is continually forming us—Character, Spiritual Life, Skills and Beliefs.
We therefore need to ask both questions:
"Where am I in my discipleship?" and "How is God shaping every part of my life?"
The first question helps us understand our stage. The second helps us recognise our growth.
Perhaps the most important question is this:
"Is my progress becoming evident?"
Not so that we can compare ourselves with others.
Not so that we can boast about our maturity.
But so that our lives increasingly demonstrate the transforming work of Jesus.
Discipleship is not about going around the mountain again and again.
It’s about allowing Christ to form His life in us as we move forward with Him.
And as Paul challenged Timothy, may we be diligent, give ourselves wholly to these things, persevere in them—and may our progress become evident to all.
Reflection Questions
What stage (Infant-Adult) would you say you are currently in your discipleship journey?
In which of the four Elements—Character, Spiritual Life, Skills or Beliefs—are you seeing the greatest evidence of growth?
Which Element needs greater intentional attention in this season?
Is there an area where you may be very active but not necessarily growing?
How are you assisting others to see real growth in their walk with Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Thank You that You are continually at work in my life, shaping me into the likeness of Your Son. Help me not to confuse activity with growth or movement with progress. Give me the humility to honestly examine my life and recognise where You are forming me.
Help me to grow in character, deepen my spiritual life, develop the skills You have given me, and become increasingly grounded in truth and faith.
Teach me to be diligent and intentional in my discipleship. May my progress become evident—not for my glory, but so that others may see the transforming work of Christ within me.
Continue to form me, Lord, and use every part of my life for Your purposes.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Call to Action
This week, take some time to prayerfully assess yourself across the four Elements of Discipleship: Character, Spiritual Life, Skills and Beliefs.
Don't simply ask, "Am I busy?" Ask, "Am I growing?"
Identify one Element where you can see God's work and thank Him for it. Then identify one area where you need to become more intentional and take one practical step forward.
Let your progress become evident.
This blog was written by Richard Botta.
