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Principles of Growth

What’s your favorite sport or hobby? What if you could get lessons from the greatest of all time? Wouldn’t you want them to teach you on their turf with their methods?

Okay, so growing closer to Jesus isn’t a sport. But if it was, Jesus’ home-field advantage would be relationships, and His methods might be honest conversations. Basically, you’re growing closer to Jesus the way Jesus showed us how. That’s incredible, right? 

Over the years, our church has identified three key principles of growth in our staff and volunteer leaders. 

1. People grow best when they own their own growth (Matthew 5:6). People are like trees. You can’t force them to grow. You can add water, fertilizer, and give them a great environment to grow. But the act of growing is between the tree and how God made it to grow. Your group won’t make you grow, and you can’t make people in your group grow. But you can own your own growth while contributing to an environment where others can easily grow. 

2. Growth starts with self-awareness (Romans 12:3, 1 Timothy 4:16). You can’t grow what you don’t know. Thankfully, conversation with others is a great way to gain self-awareness. Let your group become like a mirror for you to look into, and you’ll begin to see unlimited opportunities for growth.

3. People grow in the game (James 1:22-25). Okay, maybe following Jesus is a sport. Seriously though, we grow when we have no other option. When it’s suddenly time to pray for each other out loud, so you just try it. When you volunteer for the first time with a local non-profit. You grow when it’s your turn to host conversation—or maybe even start a new group!

As you watch today’s video and read today’s Scriptures, answer this question. Which principle of growth do you need to focus on, personally? How about your group?