Spiritual Growth Resources for the Christian's Walk with God
As Christians we are to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). Here are some resources to assist your own spiritual growth or that of those you disciple as you walk with God.
Click on a tab below to view a list of resources about these aspects of spiritual growth.
Links to other sites will open in a new page to keep the list available to look at additional ministry resources. While seeking to choose sites and resources that are doctrinally sound, we make no claim to total endorsement of any listing. Where possible, we link to merchants with whom we have an affiliate relationship, such as being an Amazon Associate from whom we earn from qualifying purchases. These sites may use cookies to track your activity to ensure that Ministry Tools Resource Center gets commissions from any sales.
General
General Input about Your Walk with God to Help You Grow Spiritually
Articles:
- A Walk with God That Makes a Difference
- All Things Spiritual - Biblical Spirituality
- Biblical Spirituality Tied into Who We are in Christ
- Biblical Spirituality Reflects the Spirit's Work in Lives
- Back to the Basics
- Caught Up in the Mundane Things of Life?
- Christian Life: Destination vs. Journey
- Christian Life: Drudgery vs Joy
- Christian Life: Duty vs. Delight
- Christian Life: Law vs. Grace
- Effects of Sin on Experiencing the Presence of God
- Environment Conducive to Spiritual Growth
- Following Jesus' Example? It's Biblical
- Following Jesus' Example? Cautions
- Fortitude in Our Personal Walk
- God's Search of Who We Are
- Importance of Truth
- Indications of God's Presence in our Lives
- Insecure, Lacking Confidence?
- It's a Walk
- Let's Rise Above
- Life in Christ Jesus
- Living an Abundant Life? - Jesus' Claim
- Living an Abundant Life? - The Difference It Makes
- Living an Abundant Life? - How to Have It
- Living an Abundant Life is Possible Because of Jesus
- How to Have a Good Heart
- Means of Learning About God
- Need a Restart Button?
- Need to Change Your Thinking about the Christian Life?
- Source of Truth
- Sowing & Reaping
- Strength & Courage Needed?
- Struggle to Walk the Walk?
- Stuck but want to Change?
- Tapping into the Riches of God's Knowledge
- Ten Basic Steps Toward Christian Maturity
- The Wheel
- Wait for the Lord
- Walk with God: Being AND Doing
- We All Need God's Power
- We Have Been Blessed
- What are your goals?
- What Type of Heart Do You Have?
- What We Have New in Christ Jesus
- What's at the Root?
- What We Really Believe Matters
Books:
- A Handbook for Christian Maturity 10 Basic Steps Series by Bill Bright
- Experiencing God by Henry T. Blackaby
- Following Christ: Experiencing Life The Way It Was Meant to Be by Joseph M. Stowell
- Growing Deep in the Christian Life by Charles R. Swindoll
- Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado
- Knowing God by J. I. Packer
- The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life by John Bevere
- The Owner's Manual for Christians by Charles R. Swindoll
- What Matters Most: Four Absolute Necessities in Following Christ by Tony Evans
Devotionals:
- How to Live an 'In Christ' Life: 100 Devotional Readings on Union with Christ by Kenneth Berding
- Walk the Walk Devotional Series by Ministry Tools Resource Center
Disciplines
Spiritual Disciplines Help You Grow in the Lord
Articles:
- What are Spiritual Disciplines?
- Why Engage in Spiritual Disciplines?
- What are Examples of the Spiritual Disciplines?
- How to Engage in Spiritual Disciplines
- When You Engage in Spiritual Disciplines
- Reward from Engaging in Spiritual Disciplines
Books:
- Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster
- Habits of a Child's Heart: Raising Your Kids with the Spiritual Disciplines by Valerie E. Hess & Marti Watson Garlett, Ph.D.
- Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed by Donald S. Whitney
- So You Want to Be Like Christ? Eight Essentials to Get You There by Charles Swindoll
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
- The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People by John Ortberg
- The Spirit of the Disciplines : Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard
Spirit
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Your Walk with God & Spiritual Growth
Articles:
- Experiencing the Adventure - Walk in the Spirit
- Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?
- How Critical is the Holy Spirit in Ministry?
- The Wonderful News of the Spirit-Filled Life
- Who Is the Holy Spirit and Why Did He Come?
Books:
- Embraced by the Spirit: The Untold Blessings of Intimacy with God by Charles R. Swindoll
- Spirit-Controlled Temperament by Tim F. LaHaye
- The New Spirit-Controlled Woman by Beverly LaHaye
- The Spirit-Filled Life: Discover the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit by Charles F. Stanley
Traits
Character Development:
Articles:
Christ-like Character Traits Increasingly Found in Christians Who are Growing Spiritually
Discernment:
Articles:
- Bible Teachers, Help Students Be Discerning
- Want to Be More Discerning? - Get Into the Word
- Want to Be More Discerning? - Learn to Love More
- Want to Be More Discerning? - Look at God
- Want to Be More Discerning? - Start from the Inside Out
Faith:
Articles:
Books:
- Faith & Doubt by John Ortberg
- Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith Participant's Guide with DVD by Andy Stanley
- Fresh Faith: What Happens When Real Faith Ignites God's People by Jim Cymbala
- The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
- When Faith Fails by Dominic Done
Freedom:
Articles:
- Declaration of Independence, But Are You Free?
- Freedom Available to All
- The Essence of True Freedom
- The Source of True Freedom
- The Outworking of True Freedom
Grace:
Articles:
Books:
- Captured By Grace: No One is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God by David Jeremiah
- Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine by Max Lucado
- Grace Walk by Steve McVey
- In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado
- The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn
- Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges
- What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
Gratitude - Being Thankful:
Articles:
- 23 Bible Verses About Thanksgiving and Gratitude
- A Thanksgiving Acrostic
- Growing in Gratitude
- In the Midst of Crisis, Give Thanks
- Responding to God's Enduring Love
- Showing Thanks, Not Just Saying Thank You
- What are You Thankful For?
Holiness:
Articles:
- Who Desires a Church That is Holy?
- A Church That is Holy -- Really?
- Your View of the Holiness of God Matters in Ministry
Books:
- Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell
- Holiness: The Heart God Purifies by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
- Rediscovering Holiness: Know the Fullness of Life with God by J.I. Packer
- The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Humility - Being Humble:
Books:
- Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney
- The Blessing of Humility by Jerry Bridges
Joy:
Articles:
- Are We Pointing People to the Source of Joy?
- Christian Life: Drudgery vs Joy
- Not Finding Much Joy in Ministry?
- Possible Joy
- Purposeful Joy
- Reflecting the Joy of the Lord in Ministry
Love:
Articles:
- 10 Commandments Teach How to Love God
- 10 Commandments Teach How to Love People
- Breaking Through the Walls
- Compelled by Love?
- Consideration & Compassion Showcase His Love for People
- Demonstration of Love Driven by Hate
- Keeping the Right Priorities Takes Perspective
- Keeping the Right Priorities Takes Divine Power
- Love One Another
- Loving God the Top Priority in Your Church?
- Loving People a Priority in Your Church?
- Motivated by Love to Love
- To Love More & More
- WALK with God: Acrostic of Four Essential Characteristics
- Want to be More Discerning? - Learn to Love More
- What Does the Bible Say About How to Love?
Books:
- Life Changing Love: Moving God's Love from Your Head to Your Heart by John Ortberg
- Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs For by Jerry Sittser
- Neighborliness: Love Like Jesus. Cross Dividing Lines. Transform Your Community. by David Docusen
- The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
- The Great Commandment Principle by David Ferguson
- A Walk Thru Love: Loving God, Loving Others in Walk Thru the Bible Series
Peace:
Articles:
- Peace Like a River
- Too Hard to Make It Through Life Without Peace - Part 1
- Too Hard to Make It Without Peace Part 2 - Realistic Expectations
- Too Hard to Make It Without Peace Part 3 - The Right Focus
- Too Hard to Make It Without Peace Part 4 - The Right Pursuit
- Too Hard to Make It Without Peace Part 5 - Being Ready for Spiritual Battles
Books:
- Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado
- Anxious for Nothing: God's Cure for the Cares of Your Soul by John MacArthur
- Finding Peace: God's Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear by Charles F. Stanley
- Finding Peace In Life's Storms by Charles H. Spurgeon
- Found: God's Peace: Experience True Freedom from Anxiety in Every Circumstance by John MacArthur
- God Is In Control: My Unshakeable Peace When the Storms Come by Charles F. Stanley
- The Peace God Promises: Closing the Gap Between What You Experience and What You Long For by Ann Spangler
- Winning the War on Worry: Cultivate a Peaceful Heart and a Confident Mind by Louie Giglio
Wisdom:
Articles:
- Acquiring Wisdom
- Making the Most of Every Opportunity Requires Wisdom
- Wisdom Needed
- Wisdom Needed in Ministry - ASK For It
- Wisdom's Foundation Contrasted
- Wisdom's Outcomes Contrasted
Resources:
Warfare
Christians Desiring to Grow will Undoubtedly Face Spiritual Warfare
Articles:
- Biblical Principles for Spiritual Battles
- God's Power for the Church: Spiritual Weaponry
- Obstacles in Becoming More Purposeful: Resistance in the Spiritual Realm
- Prepare for Spiritual Warfare: Put On the Armor of God
- Strength for Spiritual Battles
- Too Hard to Make It Without Peace - Being Ready for Spiritual Battles
Books:
- Guide to Spiritual Warfare by E.M. Bounds
- Praying God's Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds by Beth Moore
- Standing Strong: How to Resist the Enemy of Your Soul by John MacArthur
- The Adversary by Mark I. Bubek
- The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson
- The Covering: God's Plan to Protect You from Evil by Hank Hanegraaff
- When the Enemy Strikes by Charles F. Stanley
Church Leaders May Need to Pull On God's Spiritual Weaponry in Various Leadership Responsibilities
- Assessments: Use of Spiritual Weapons in the Assessment Process
- Church Growth: Attacks Against Church Growth
- Church Growth: Attacks Against Church Growth Need God's Protection
- Conflict Management: To Rise Above Conflict, Remember Who’s the Real Enemy
- Decision-Making: Strongholds Affecting Decision-Making
- Decision-Making: How to Demolish Strongholds So We Make the Best Decisions
- Decision-Making: Protection for the Decision-Making Process
- Delegation: Realistically View Delegation
- Policies: God's Your Defender, Not Your Church Policies
- Safety Issues: The Real Enemy of Church Safety
- Staff Evaluations: Spiritual Truths for Staff Evaluations
- Staff Evaluations: Spiritual Armor for Staff Evaluations
- Team Building: Perspective to Function as a Team
- Time Management: Busyness Affects Ministry
- Vision & Goals: Vision and Goals Protected by Spiritual Means
Remember that the objective of spiritual growth is that we become more fully devoted followers and lovers of Jesus Christ. These resources can help in that growth process but the real source of strength and sustenance to bear spiritual fruit comes from abiding in Him. (John 15:1-10)