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Most people who follow Jesus know they are supposed to grow in their faith. But what does that actually look like? And how do you know where you are in that process? This post walks through what it means to be a disciple, what spiritual infancy looks like, and what practical steps you can take to move forward in your walk with God.

What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus?

Jesus gave a clear picture of what a disciple looks like in Matthew 4:19: "Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men." From that one verse, three things stand out.

A Disciple Knows and Follows Jesus

You can know about Jesus without actually following Him. Many people believe God exists, believe He created everything, and even attend church regularly without ever making a personal decision to follow Christ. Being a disciple starts with a moment where you choose to get up and follow Jesus. It is a decision of the will.

A Disciple Is Being Changed by Jesus

Jesus said, "I will make you." That means the process of becoming a disciple is ongoing. What you started out as is not what you will ultimately be. Think of a cook who takes raw ingredients and turns them into something delicious, or a builder who takes scraps and creates something beautiful. God does the same thing in us. We are always being shaped, always becoming more of what He intends us to be.

A Disciple Is Committed to the Mission of Jesus

The mission is fishing for people. The church preaches the gospel, prays that it takes root in someone's heart, and then disciples that person into maturity. Jesus modeled this perfectly. In John 17:4, before going to the cross, He prayed: "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you've given me to do." That work was pouring into His disciples for three years until they were ready to carry the mission forward.

What Is a Spiritual Infant?

When someone gives their life to Christ, they are born again. That is a beautiful thing. But it also means they are starting from zero. J.B. Phillips' translation of 1 Peter 2:2 puts it this way: "You are babies newborn in God's family, and you should be crying out for unadulterated, unmixed, true spiritual milk to make you grow in salvation."

Spiritual infants share a few common characteristics.

They Are Dependent

Just like a newborn needs someone to feed them, change them, and care for them around the clock, new believers need the church family. They cannot grow on their own. This is why getting connected to a local body of believers is not optional. It is essential.

They Are Confused

New believers are stepping into faith in a world that is often hostile to Christianity. They may be coming from a different religion, a different denomination, or a secular background. They hear conflicting messages from culture, professors, and even well-meaning family members. They need someone to sit down with them and walk through the basic truths of Scripture so they can build confidence in what they believe.

They Are Untaught

No one is born knowing how to read the Bible, pray, share their faith, or understand who the Holy Spirit is. These things have to be taught. Matthew 28:19-20 makes this clear: "Go and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey all the things I have commanded you. And be sure of this, I am with you always to the end of the age."

Teaching never stops. Discipleship is a lifelong process.

Why Connection Is Critical for New Believers

A Dartmouth University study compiled 30 years of data on the crisis of American childhood. The findings line up remarkably well with what Scripture has always taught.

  • Humans are hardwired to form relationships. Genesis 2 says it plainly: it is not good for man to be alone.
  • The absence of a nurturing environment during early development profoundly affects long-term health and relationships. This is true spiritually as well. What happens in the early stages of your faith shapes how far you go in every stage that follows.
  • Connectedness, the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself, is a deep human need. When you come into the family of God, you realize you are part of something far bigger than your own life.
  • Early investment and nurturing pays lifelong dividends.

The study concluded that the two institutions most responsible for providing this kind of connection have grown significantly weaker over the last 50 years. Those two institutions are the family and the church. The very things God designed to help people grow are the ones that have been most under attack.

What Happens When Believers Stay Stuck in Spiritual Infancy?

Paul addressed this directly with the church in Corinth. He wrote: "Dear brothers, I have been talking to you as though you were still just babies in the Christian life who are not following the Lord, but your own desires. I cannot talk to you as I would healthy Christians who are filled with the Spirit. I had to feed you milk, and not with solid food, because you couldn't digest it. You are not stronger, and even now you still have to be fed with milk, for you are still only baby Christians, controlled by your own desires, not God's."

One of the clearest signs of spiritual maturity is when you want to know more about what God wants for your life than what you want for yourself. When believers stay focused only on their own needs, preferences, and comfort, it is a sign they have not yet grown up.

Hebrews 5:12-14 echoes this: "You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very principles in God's Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk. You will never be able to eat solid food and understand the deeper things of God's Word until you become better Christians and learn right from wrong by practicing."

What Are the Next Steps for Someone Who Wants to Grow?

Growth does not happen by accident. It requires intentional choices. Here are the practical steps for anyone who wants to move forward.

Get Baptized

Baptism is not about earning salvation. It is about publicly identifying with Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, He was identifying with humanity. When we are baptized, we are identifying with Him. Going under the water represents dying to sin. Coming up out of the water represents walking in newness of life. If you have never been baptized by immersion since becoming a believer, this is your next step.

Attend a Foundational Class

Classes like "Follower of the Way" exist to give new and growing believers a foundation. Topics include your identity in Christ, who the Holy Spirit is and how He works, basic theology, how to read your Bible, and how to share your faith. These are not optional extras. They are the building blocks of a healthy spiritual life.

Get Connected to Community

You were never meant to grow alone. Getting connected to a small group, a Bible study, or a serving team puts you in relationship with people who can pour into your life what God has already poured into theirs.

Start Giving

Generosity is one of the clearest indicators of spiritual maturity. Infants take. Adults give. When you begin to invest financially in the work of God's kingdom, it reflects a heart that has moved beyond self-focus. As one pastor put it, the greatest theological document you have is your bank account.

Life Application

This week, take an honest look at where you are in your spiritual growth. Not where you think you should be, and not where you want others to think you are. Be honest with yourself before God.

Then take one concrete step forward. Sign up for a foundational class. Reach out to someone who can disciple you. Schedule your baptism. Join a small group. Give toward something beyond yourself. Growth does not require a giant leap. It requires one act of obedience at a time.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I following Jesus, or am I simply familiar with Him?
  • Am I allowing God to change me, or am I resisting the process?
  • Am I connected to a community of believers who are helping me grow?
  • What is one area of my spiritual life where I have been stuck, and what is the next step I can take this week?
  • Does the way I spend my time and money reflect someone who is growing toward spiritual maturity?

God's goal for every believer is not just to get them saved. It is to see them become mature, reproducing disciples who help others do the same. The question is not whether growth is possible. The question is whether you are willing to make the choices that lead to it.