Growing in Faith

A Message About Spiritual Practices and Disciplines

From Rev. Dwight E. Bowers

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, taught that Christians were always “going on to perfection”. What he meant was that we don't become Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) in an instant, but we continue to grow spiritually after that decision.

Whether we are brand new Christians, or have been going to church all our lives, we have room to grow. “Growth” is a critical word in understanding what Wesley meant. We can “learn” about Jesus, the Bible and Christianity, but that is not the same thing as “growing”. “Growth” refers to the kind of person we are, and we are becoming. Things “learned” may have little lasting effect on us. Christian growth is not about acquiring a great knowledge about religious trivia, but becoming the person Christ can help us become.

We often hear about the need to have “a personal relationship” with God or with Christ. Stress is on the word “personal”: I can have a relationship with Christ. I can have a sense of God relating to me! I can grow in faith, understanding and courage. I can grow to the point where I can stand strong in faith, even when I don’t know all the answers, because I have grown to trust the relationship. It is “personal” in the sense that there is not just some general Christian knowledge that affects or directs every Christian; but each of us can have a unique and personal experience of faith that helps us grow and venture forth in faith.

What are some ways we can nurture this growth in ourselves? Here are a few suggestions. We can grow…

Through Reading and Study

Regular Bible reading gives us direct teaching from Jesus and from some of the great persons in the Bible. We can learn not only from their teaching, but from their experiences. When we come to see it, there is remarkable consistency in how God has related to people over time. We can read with open and receptive hearts and minds so that we are not just reading Bible stories, but find there are lessons and experiences speaking directly to us and to our situations.

We can also benefit from reading the writings, life stories and prayers of people who have taken their faith experience seriously. The church offers opportunities for us to participate in classes and groups where others study and wrestle with the meaning of scripture.

Through Prayer and Meditation

Regular times of prayer and meditation are a great asset for spiritual growth. It is important, if we want to grow in faith, to make a habit of spending time talking to and listening for God, even when we don’t especially feel like doing it. Sporadic devotional times have about as much lasting effect upon us spiritually as sporadic exercise has for us physically.

We might initiate times of prayer or devotion by reading scripture, a devotional booklet or the words of a hymn. We use something to pull our attention away from routine concerns and help us focus spiritually on our time with God. We should also allow times of silence when God has opportunity to fill our thoughts and hearts with anything God desires to share. Sometimes, though, there are no thoughts or words, just a sense we have of spending time with someone we love and who loves us.

Through Worship

Worship allows us to connect (or reconnect) with and enjoy the presence of God.

By setting aside a “Sabbath Day” in the first of the Ten Commandments, God pointed to our need to engage in regular rest and worship. The need to engage in this spiritual rhythm is basic to our human identity.

While we can worship alone, there are times when it is especially important for us to participate in a worshiping community. We join our voices with others in praise to God. We open ourselves to being part of a community shaped and informed by stories and teachings in scripture readings and sermons. Sometimes the words of a pastoral or congregational prayer have an uncanny way of speaking our thoughts and concerns.

The Bible speaks of worship when it says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV).

Through Our Stewardship, Our Vocation and Our Daily Living

People often think about “money for the church” when they think about “stewardship”. Stewardship, though, is far more than giving money to a church! True “stewardship” is about how we spend our time, our money and our lives everyday. We bring a consciousness of God and of God’s teaching and purpose into everything we do. The Bible urges us to “live such good lives” that others might be moved to “glorify God”. (I Peter 2:12, NIV).

Growing Christians will learn how to reflect what God is doing in their lives with every dollar they spend, every hour in their “daytimer”, and every thing that they do. That is what John Wesley was talking about when he spoke of “going on to perfection”.