One of the primary goals of discipleship is to help people become spiritually mature followers of Christ. We define life-on-life discipleship in this way:
Laboring in the lives of a few with the intention of imparting one’s life, the gospel and God’s Word in such a way as to see them become mature and equipped followers of Christ, committed to doing the same in the lives of others.
Since helping others become mature in their spiritual walk is a primary aspect of discipleship, we wanted to spend some time discussing what spiritual maturity is, and what it is not.
In short, spiritual maturity does not simply mean you have a lot of Bible knowledge or are committed to working hard to learn more, but rather spiritual maturity involves having both the spiritual life and spiritual skills of a disciple. There are a number of key indicators or fruits that mark someone maturing spiritually, and we will explore those in this article. All Scripture references are from the ESV.
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents:
Consistently Living a Godly Life
A spiritually mature person lives consistently under the control of the Holy Spirit, the direction of the Word of God, and the motivation of the love of Christ. This isn’t about perfection, but rather about developing a pattern of Godly living that becomes increasingly natural over time.
1) Submission to the Holy Spirit’s Direction
Living under the Spirit’s control means developing spiritual sensitivity to His promptings. This involves regular prayer, meditation on Scripture, and intentionally listening for God’s direction. As Paul writes in Galatians 5:16-18, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
2) Devotion to God’s Word
A spiritually mature believer doesn’t just read Scripture casually, but allows it to shape their worldview and daily decisions. This means regular, intentional engagement with God’s Word, not as a mere academic exercise, but as life-giving spiritual nourishment. As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
3) Motivated by Christ’s Love
Spiritual maturity is characterized by actions motivated by genuine love for Christ rather than duty or obligation. This love becomes the driving force behind service, worship, evangelism, and relationships with others. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
Spiritual Gifts
A spiritually mature person has discovered, developed and is using his/her spiritual gift(s). This involves not only identifying these God-given abilities, but stewarding them faithfully for the building up of the church.
1) Understanding the source and purpose of gifts
Every believer has specific spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit for the common good of the church. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 explains it this way, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
2) Identify your Gifts
The mature believer actively seeks to identify and understand their spiritual gift(s). There are helpful classes for this, tests you can take, and it’s a great conversation to have with your discipleship leader or pastor. Until you understand your gifting, it will be hard to develop it or use it to serve others. Paul explains some in Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
3) Developing Your Gifts
Spiritual maturity involves intentional development of these gifts through practice, study, and discipleship. This requires both humility to learn and courage to step out in faith. Peter exhorts us in 1 Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Evangelism
A spiritually mature person has learned to effectively share his/her faith in both word and deed. This involves not just knowing the gospel message, but being able to communicate it clearly and naturally in everyday situations.
1) Natural Gospel Communication
The mature believer has developed the ability to share their faith in organic, relational ways. Rather than relying on memorized scripts, they can naturally weave the gospel into conversations. As Peter instructs in 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Learn how to share the gospel in one minute.
2) Living Witnesses
Effective evangelism flows from a life that demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel. Actions and lifestyle choices should authenticate the message being shared. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
3) Bold in Proclamation
While being sensitive to others, mature believers demonstrate a boldness in sharing Christ. As Paul writes in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Want to learn more about evangelism? Check out our evangelism training article.
Producing Fruit
A spiritually mature person demonstrates clear evidence of fruit in his/her life through several key areas of faithful service and stewardship.
A faithful member of God’s church
The mature believer understands their vital role in the local church body and demonstrates this through consistent engagement, service, and commitment. They recognize that church isn’t just a Sunday activity but a family to which they belong. As Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”
An effective manager of life, relationships, and resource
Spiritual maturity is reflected in how one stewards all that God has entrusted to them. This includes wise management of time, nurturing of relationships, and faithful handling of financial resources. Jesus teaches this principle in Luke 16:10-11, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”
A willing minister to others, especially “the least and lost”
The mature believer actively seeks opportunities to serve others, particularly focusing on those who are often overlooked or marginalized. This reflects Jesus’s heart for the vulnerable and His words in Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
An available messenger to non-kingdom people
A spiritually mature person maintains an ongoing awareness of and engagement with those who don’t know Christ. They remain available and intentional about building relationships with non-believers, ready to share the hope they have in Christ. As Paul writes in Colossians 4:5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
A Life That is Different
A spiritually mature believer demonstrates a life that stands out from the world around them, marked by distinct characteristics that reflect Christ’s transforming work:
Demonstrates a life striving to be Gospel-driven
The gospel is not just the message that saved them – it is the daily reality that shapes their thoughts, decisions, and actions. As Paul declares in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Demonstrates a life striving to be Worship-focused
Their life reflects a constant awareness of God’s presence and worth, leading to regular expressions of praise and thanksgiving. This worship extends beyond Sunday services into daily life. As Romans 12:1 teaches, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Demonstrates a life striving to be Morally-pure
They actively pursue holiness, not out of legalistic obligation but from a heart transformed by grace. This involves making conscious choices to flee from sin and pursue righteousness. As 1 Peter 1:15-16 instructs, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'”
Demonstrates a life striving to be Evangelistically-bold
While maintaining sensitivity to others, they demonstrate holy boldness in sharing their faith, understanding the eternal significance of the gospel message. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7-8, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.”
Demonstrates a life striving to be Discipleship-grounded
They maintain a learner’s heart while also investing in others’ spiritual growth. The mature believer both receives and gives discipleship, understanding this as a crucial part of spiritual multiplication. As 2 Timothy 2:2 states, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Demonstrates a life striving to be Family-faithful
Whether married or single, they honor God’s design for family relationships and demonstrate Christ-like love and commitment in their closest relationships. As Ephesians 5:21 teaches, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Demonstrates a life striving to be Socially-responsible
They understand their role as salt and light in society, actively engaging in their community while maintaining their distinct identity in Christ. Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:13-14, “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world.”
What Spiritual Maturity is Not
Spiritual maturity is the desired life product of life-on-life missional discipleship. It is worth explaining, however, what spiritual maturity is not because there can be some confusion. Here are two illustrations:
Spiritual maturity is not merely having extensive Bible knowledge.
While understanding the Bible is a significant factor driving spiritual growth, mere head knowledge is not sufficient. There is a difference between knowing and living God’s Word. Therefore, life-on-life missional discipleship is focused on applying God’s Truth, not merely understanding it (head knowledge).
Spiritual maturity is not merely having high commitment.
Commitment is an integral attribute of a spiritually mature life, but commitment, even combined with abundant biblical knowledge, does not equate to being a mature Christian.
Conclusion
One of the best tools for growing spiritual maturity is life-on-life missional discipleship. Remember, spiritual maturity is a journey, not a destination. It is about progressive growth in Christ-likeness, demonstrated through consistent living, active service, and genuine transformation. As we train disciples, our goal is not merely to transfer knowledge but to foster genuine spiritual maturity that reproduces itself in the lives of others.
This is one of the key differences between small groups and discipleship groups. Small groups are about community and maybe some Bible study, but in life-on-life discipleship the goal is spiritual maturity. The marks of spiritual maturity we have discussed–fromfrom consistent godly living to demonstrating a distinctly different life–serve as guideposts on this journey. They remind us that true maturity encompasses both internal transformation and external demonstration of Christ’s life within us.
Want to learn more about discipleship and spiritual maturity? We have tons of resources, including the Journey curriculum and discipleship training program. You can learn more about our Journey curriculum and how it helps enable life-on-life discipleship and spiritual maturity in this testimony video.