"Your Next Steps in Spiritual Growth" | April 12, 2026 | Ps Joel Lowery & Micah Fox

There's something electric about watching transformation happen in real time. When we witness someone publicly declare their faith through baptism, we're not just observing a religious ritual - we're watching resurrection power at work. Dead things coming alive. Forgotten dreams awakening. Broken hearts being made whole.

But here's the question that challenges us all: What happens after that initial decision? What does spiritual growth actually look like in the everyday moments of our lives?

The Starting Line Isn't the Finish Line

Inviting Jesus into your heart is monumental. It's the starting line of an incredible journey. But it's exactly that - a starting line, not a finish line. When Jesus saves us, He's not saving our bodies, which will eventually age and decay. He's saving our spirit, which has the capacity to grow and mature continuously until we see Him face to face.

This isn't a topic to take lightly. The goal isn't to barely make it across the threshold of heaven, breathing a sigh of relief that we made it by the skin of our teeth. The goal is to become well-rounded, spiritually mature believers who can stand before God proud of what we did in His name and for His kingdom.

The Building Blocks of Growth

Spiritual growth isn't linear. It doesn't follow a neat, predictable path from point A to point B. Instead, it's more like a series of checkpoints - milestones we encounter as we pursue God with increasing devotion.

Baptism often serves as one of the first milestones. Romans 6:2-4 reminds us that through baptism, we're buried with Christ into death so that we may live a new life. It's a public declaration that says, "I'm not just trying to get to heaven - I'm actively choosing to live my life according to God's design."

But baptism is just the beginning. Three foundational building blocks support ongoing spiritual growth:

Conviction of Sin: We're all human, and by human nature, we all sin. God isn't surprised when we mess up. What He desires is genuine repentance - not just a transactional "sorry" but a heartfelt "help me not do this again."

Prayer Life: God doesn't want a transactional relationship where we only come to Him when we need a Band-Aid for our mistakes. He wants relationship. He wants conversation. Whether that's quiet time in a literal closet or talking with Him during your morning commute, prayer is how we build intimacy with our Creator.

Desire for the Word: Psalm 119:33-37 speaks to the heart posture we should have toward God's Word. The entire chapter explores what it means to hunger for Scripture, to let it feed our spirits and guide our steps.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Tithing

Let's address the elephant in the room: tithing. This isn't about manipulation or ulterior motives. It's about trust. When God asks for 10%, He's really asking, "Do you trust Me with everything in your life, including your finances?"

Tithing is black and white - we're either listening or we're being disobedient. By holding back financially, we're essentially putting up a wall and saying, "God, You can work over here, but please don't touch this area." That wall will eventually become a speed bump in our spiritual journey.

The return on giving 10% isn't necessarily financial (though it could be). The real return is the spiritual growth that comes from declaring, "God, You are Lord of everything in my life."

Bearing Fruit That Lasts

Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Notice the word "fruit" - it implies growth. You'll never see a dying plant produce fruit. Fruit requires life, nourishment, and time.

Each of us will have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to these fruits. That's okay. The question we should ask ourselves every six months is simply this: "Am I more like Jesus than I was six months ago?"

If we try to produce these fruits in our own strength, we'll burn out quickly. But when they come from spending time with Jesus, seeking His face, and allowing Him to transform our hearts, the growth becomes natural and sustainable.

Love That Costs Something

Of all the fruits of the Spirit, love gets top billing. John 13:34-35 makes it clear: "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

But this isn't worldly love - the kind that says, "You're nice to me, so I'll be nice back." This is sacrificial love. The kind that puts others above yourself. The kind that doesn't come naturally to our flesh but flows from the Spirit within us.

This might be the hardest fruit to bear consistently. It's challenging to love people who make poor decisions. It's difficult to extend grace when we feel judged. But this is precisely where spiritual growth happens - in the uncomfortable spaces where our flesh resists but our spirit says yes.

Sharing Faith and Serving Others

Two final checkpoints deserve mention: sharing your faith and serving.

Sharing faith is uncomfortable at first. It requires stepping outside our comfort zone. But like any skill, the more we do it, the easier it becomes. Jesus gives gentle pushes, but we have to decide to take the step.

Serving is something we hear about constantly, yet it's easy to let it bounce off us. "Yeah, people should serve," we think, without applying it to ourselves. But God didn't create us to be sponges that soak up everything others give us. He created us to be cups that overflow, filling other people's cups in return.

We're called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. That's not a metaphor - it's a mandate.

Heaven Is Throwing a Party

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each story ends the same way - with a celebration, a party. Jesus says there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who never strayed.

If heaven throws a party when someone comes to faith, shouldn't the church look a little bit like heaven? Shouldn't we celebrate with the same enthusiasm, the same joy, the same unreserved gladness?

Your Next Step

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, there's a next step waiting for you. Maybe it's baptism. Maybe it's developing a consistent prayer life. Maybe it's learning to tithe in faith. Maybe it's serving in a way that scares you a little.

The beauty of spiritual growth is that it's for everyone - whether you just encountered Jesus two minutes ago or you've been walking with Him for decades. We're all on the same journey, just at different points along the path.

So here's the challenge: What's your next step? What's that one thing that stuck out as you read this - maybe the thing that made you a little uncomfortable or defensive? That's probably your answer.

Don't try to figure it all out at once. Just take the next step. Because when you do, dead things come alive. Chains break. Dry bones wake. And something comes out of the grave every time we call on the name of Jesus.