Biblically, we’re called to go from “glory to glory” in our walk with Christ, to be transformed by the Holy Spirit into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV). Many people, however, need clearly stated definitions and goals to know how to grow as believers.
According to researcher George Barna (2009), “People aspire to be spiritually mature, but they do not know what it means. Pastors want to guide others on the path to spiritual wholeness, but they are often not clearly defining the goals or the outcomes of that process.”
The Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) found this to be true as well. In a previous study, four out of five church attenders reported a strong desire to grow spiritually. When asked to define spiritual maturity, several provided only vague or general responses (CBE, 2009). Most believers want to improve their spiritual life, but many have trouble visualizing what “spiritual growth” looks like.
While there is little agreement among the Christian community on a definition of spiritual growth, the Bible clearly indicates that spiritual growth is the work of the Holy Spirit nurturing in us key qualities such as knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. Based on the foundational elements and guiding principles of Galatians 5:22-26 and 2 Peter 1:3-11, CBE has adopted this definition of spiritual growth: Spiritual growth is the transformative process of the Holy Spirit that aligns believers with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Simply said, spiritual growth means becoming more like Jesus. The behavior outcome is: Becoming less of the person I was before I surrendered my life to Jesus and more like Christ in my thoughts, words and deeds.
To measure spiritual growth, we translated these conceptual definitions into concrete, observable behaviors, and then developed a simple Spiritual Assessment Model—grounded in Scripture and our former research—to help people see where they are on their spiritual journey. Are people merely curious about Jesus, do they believe in Jesus, are they active disciples of Jesus, or are they fulfilling His Great Commission by discipling others?
Based on their answers, we then divide populations into four broad personas (P1 to P4), called “P-Levels.” In many ways, CBE’s Spiritual Assessment categorization (below) parallels the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-8. The focus of the parable is not on the Sower or the seed, but on the four soils. It considers our responsibility as Christ-followers to be fertile soil. The supernatural result comes from the divine Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Figure 1: Spiritual Assessment Categorization (P-Levels)
P1: Needs Evangelism (John 1:37-38) – These are people who do not believe they will go to heaven because of faith in Jesus Christ. This broad category includes everyone from the antagonistic atheist to neutral agnostic, to the spiritually curious to those committed to other faiths. It also includes practicing Christians who doubt their salvation, and people who have walked away from their faith entirely. People in this category are questioners and seekers. They might ask questions like: “Is there more to life? Is God real? If so, is there more than one way to reach Him? Is the Bible true? Is Jesus really the Son of God?” How these questions are answered can change everything for them. Among this broad group, we believe the greatest need is evangelism. Some want answers. Many are looking for a sense of purpose and meaningful relationships, but they also need news of the gospel in appropriate and contextual ways. They need to be shown how and why Jesus matters in everyday life.
P2: Needs Discipleship (John 4:28-30) – This group includes people who believe they will go to heaven because of faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, they’re not reading the Bible most days of the week. People who are new to the faith, or who are not growing spiritually, tend to lack core disciplines, such as regular church attendance, prayer, and Scripture reading. Many are intimidated by the Bible and find it difficult to understand, without any connection to real life (CBE, 2024). They need to be equipped to read the Bible well and regularly in their daily lives. They also need help discovering the Bible’s truths so that they can connect meaningfully with God and others (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
P3: Needs Activation (John 6:67-69) – These are followers of Jesus who read the Bible four or more days a week. They’re likely to connect with God through a variety of means, from regular church attendance to individual prayer and worship. Although they are pursuing transformation into the likeness of Jesus, they are not in the habit of discipling or sharing their faith with others. Growing Christians can lack confidence. They need to be encouraged and equipped to engage in the Great Commission.
P4: Active Disciple-Makers (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) – This group consists of people who say they are “saved by grace through faith in Jesus” and engage the Bible four or more days a week on a regular basis. Disciple-makers are intentional about discipling: they continually seek opportunities to interact with others and help believers grow to spiritual maturity. They talk with people about Scripture, their faith, and spiritual struggles. Many also actively share the gospel. Most disciple-makers connect frequently with God through a variety of means, from church attendance to individual prayer and worship. They need resources that equip them to engage with the world around them and that actively aid in their discipling (Bible studies / small group resources). They also need content that helps them better understand Scripture, theology, and spiritual life.
CBE’s Spiritual Assessment Model is not intended to be comprehensive. As evidenced in our categorization, people’s spiritual needs are diverse. Spiritual growth is complex. The process is not always linear; it is often elliptical, with some regression along with progress. In reality, we are like all four types of soil in the Parable of the Sower throughout our lives. Our four categories simply help people understand where they are (or where someone else is) on their spiritual journey at a given time and how to best “nudge” them toward maturity.
Our model, then, can be used as a starting point to identify, understand, and support people at different phases in their spiritual journey. It also provides a visual of spiritual growth with basic, but fundamental growth goals. Because we’ve based our model on frequent Bible engagement, a reliable predictor of spiritual growth (CBE, 2012), it can also be used to establish a baseline with a given individual, community, or population to assess spiritual growth over time.
Obedient response to God’s Word promotes spiritual growth, not through “works-righteousness” generated by human effort, but through what the Holy Spirit does in us and through us. We believe God graciously provided salvation through Jesus, who alone reconciles all who repent of their sin and put their faith in Him. Therefore, this model should not be interpreted as steps to gain salvation, but rather as steps on our spiritual journeys to promote relationship with God and one another.
See related CBE research:
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