7 Habits For Growing Believers Series

In my mother-in-law’s house, there is a really important wall. It’s a wall that has marked our children’s physical growth over the years. When you walk into the guest bedroom and look down at the base of the wall, you see little pencil marks next to dates from years ago. Then as you look eye-level, you have more current dates of how these three have grown physically. As I survey that wall, I have a sense of gratitude for how tall they’ve grown through the years.

Spiritual growth happens through “little advances.” God has designed your growth to happen through spiritual disciples such as Bible study, prayer and fasting, and attending worship regularly. Believer, you have a purpose in life, and your purpose is to become “a little Christ.”1

The Forty-Day Challenge is a series of sermons designed for your growth. It’s designed to motivate you to grow spiritually by forming seven habits that Christians have used for centuries to grow in their faith. Please put this in front of you for the next few minutes. I want you to take a 40-day challenge with me.

40 days of Bible reading.

40 days of prayer

40 days of serving.

40 days of giving.

Over the next few minutes, I’m going to touch on each of these seven habits. I’ll be all over the pages of the Bible. I hope to serve as a catalyst for your personal spiritual growth for the next few moments. I want to encourage you to form some personal habits that shape and focus your life.

1. I Commit to Reading My Bible for 40 Days

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16).

1.1 Lifeway Study of Bible Reading

The people at Lifeway followed 2,500 believers like you back in 2008. They followed these believers around for a year to see what helped their faith grow.2 Here’s what they found: Reading the Bible is the number one predictor for spiritual growth.3 This is what they discovered: “Hands down. No contest. When it comes to spiritual growth, nothing beats the Bible.”4 Reading the Bible is the number one predictor for spiritual growth.

Scripture is the protein for your diet.

1.2 God’s Breath

It’s this picture of God’s breath. Many translations will say Scripture is inspired here in verse 16. But there is a powerful picture that I am eager for all of you to see and remember: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16). The literal words of the original language of your Bible say that “All Scripture is breathed out by God.” Picture it carefully: the Bible is breathed out by God. Jesus taught us that God is Spirit (John 4:24). The Bible teaches God does not have a body that you can touch and feel. So, God doesn’t have a literal mouth and throat, but the picture is really powerful, isn’t it? The Scripture is pictured as coming from God’s very throat. As the air moves from His lungs and past His teeth, the Bible is voiced by God Himself. The Bible is pictured as being the product of the very breath of God.

1.3 My Reaction to Reading the Bible

It’s important to speak to you about your reaction to personally reading the Word of God. If God accuses me of wrongdoing, then I respond with repentance. If the Lord praises me, then I respond with gratitude and joy. If He warns me of danger, then I thank Him for His protection. If God commands me to do something, then I ask Him for help to accomplish the command. If God makes me a promise, I marvel at His power and trust Him to do what He says. And if God tells me something about Himself, then I worship Him.

If you go out these doors, you’ll see Bible reading plans near the Encourager Room. If you go to our website, you’ll find Bible reading plans on the front page. You can download the Bible app on your phone. Once you are there, you can choose all kinds of reading options. Adopting a personal habit of reading the Bible is one spiritual habit that will increase your and your church's spiritual growth.

1. I Commit to Reading My Bible for 40 Days

2. I Commit to Seeking the Lord in Prayer for 40 Days

Of the seven spiritual practices, this is the only habit that no one else can observe. For the Bible commands Christ-followers to secret prayer – prayer when no one else is around.

2.1 Crooked Judge and the Widow

Jesus tells a parable in order that His people would not lose heart to pray. Jesus tells us about a crooked judge and a downtrodden widow.