Lesson 3: How do people grow in their faith?

In the last lesson, you began thinking about the right person for you to help grow in faith. You learned how to ensure you’re both going in the same direction.

If you’re suspicious when you hear simple formulas for your spiritual growth, you are not alone.

How the Spirit of God works to transform the ways we think, feel and act is a mystery.

You cannot make someone else grow.

As you begin making disciples, knowing that you are not responsible for someone else’s relationship with God is the most important lesson you need to learn.

Every follower of Jesus is ultimately responsible for his or her own growth. But equally, we’re not designed to grow in isolation from one another. The Bible describes us as parts of a body, intended to grow together.

Here are five ways to help someone else grow:

• Create an environment that helps another person grow. This can look like setting aside a time and place to meet regularly or providing some resources that help that person learn what it means to follow Jesus. It should be a setting that is comfortable for both of you to openly discuss topics that may be personal and difficult.

• Teach that person how to read and study what God says. When you read and meditate on the Bible, God’s Spirit, known as the Holy Spirit, reveals truth to your heart and draws you nearer to God.

• Invite that person into your life to see how another person depends on the Holy Spirit for strength and direction.

• Pray with and for that person. Prayer is simply the act of relating to or communicating with God. Without prayer there is no relationship with God (1 John 5:14).

• Show that person how to love others in practical ways by sharing the story of Jesus’ love together. Loving our neighbors is a cause and an effect of growth. Look for neighbors, coworkers and strangers to show kindness to with your disciple. (https://get.missionhub.com/)