When it comes to spiritual growth, the starting question matters: Are we mainly asking what God is doing in us, what we must do to grow, or who we are following? Christians, churches and even denominations often use several terms to describe how believers grow in Christ—spiritual formation, spiritual maturity, and discipleship. These ideas overlap, but each begins with a different starting point, and that starting point tends to shape what we focus on.

Some approaches begin by asking what God is doing in us. Others begin by asking what we must do to grow. But the discipleship lens begins with a different question altogether: Who are we following?

None of these perspectives are wrong. Each highlights something important about spiritual growth. However, when we focus too strongly on only one perspective, individuals and even churches can sometimes become unbalanced.

Understanding these different lenses helps us appreciate their strengths while also recognizing where they can drift off course.

Spiritual Formation

Summary: God shaping the inner life

The language of spiritual formation often begins with the question: “How is God forming us?”

The focus is mainly directed upward—toward God’s work in our lives. Transformation is understood as something God produces in us through the Holy Spirit, through Scripture, through relationships, through circumstances, and through time.

This perspective rightly reminds us that God is the primary agent of change. We cannot manufacture Christlike character simply by trying harder. Real transformation comes from God working within us.

Scripture says: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” — Philippians 2:13

The strength of this view is that it protects believers from relying only on themselves. It reminds us that spiritual growth ultimately depends on God’s grace, and that our part is to trust Him and respond to what He is doing in our lives.

However, when this perspective is emphasized too strongly, it can sometimes lead to passivity. If God is the one forming us, we may assume that change will simply happen in His timing without much intentional participation on our part.

Spiritual formation therefore tends to orient our attention from above—toward God’s work in shaping our inner life.

Spiritual Maturity

Summary: The believer pursuing growth

The language of spiritual maturity often begins with a different question: “What must I do to grow?” Here the focus is directed more toward the believer’s responsibility to pursue growth and development. In this framework, maturity becomes the goal, and believers seek to grow in qualities such as love, humility, wisdom, discipline, patience, and obedience. Growth may also be measured by certain actions or practices. In reality, however, the specific markers of maturity often vary depending on the group, church, or denomination and what they emphasize.

Scripture does encourage this kind of intentional effort: “Train yourself for godliness.” — 1 Timothy 4:7   

The idea of spiritual maturity reminds us that growth requires participation. It does not happen accidentally. It involves choices, actions, habits, obedience, and perseverance.

However, when this perspective becomes the primary focus, growth can begin to revolve more around principles and ideals than around a living relationship with Christ. We may try hard to become more loving or more patient, but without always having a clear picture of what those virtues look like in the real situations of everyday life.

Another challenge is that this approach can sometimes lead to performance and comparison. If maturity is defined by certain measurable markers, people may begin to compare themselves with others: Who is doing better according to the chosen metrics? Who is doing worse?

Spiritual maturity therefore tends to orient our attention from below—toward our own effort to grow toward certain spiritual ideals, and at times toward performance or comparison.

Discipleship

Summary: Following Jesus to become like Him

Yet even with the best intentions, many believers eventually sense that something is still missing. They may know the virtues they are supposed to grow in, but the question remains: What does this actually look like in real life?

This is where the lens of discipleship becomes so important. Instead of focusing mainly on ideals we should pursue or processes we should understand, discipleship points us to a person—Jesus Himself. Rather than asking only what we must do to grow, discipleship asks a deeper question:

Who are we following, learning from, and becoming like?

The discipleship lens begins somewhere different. Instead of starting mainly with God’s activity or our effort, discipleship begins with a person—Jesus Himself. The central question becomes: “Who am I following?”

Jesus did not invite people into a program for spiritual improvement. He simply said: “Follow me.” Discipleship is therefore relational. A disciple is an apprentice—someone who walks with a teacher, learns from him, observes his life, and gradually becomes like him.

Because discipleship centers on Jesus, it naturally holds together both parts of spiritual growth. God is the one who changes our hearts, but disciples also actively learn and practice the way of their Rabbi. This is why discipleship is often summarized in three simple movements: 

• Be with Jesus

• Become like Jesus

• Do as Jesus did

In the rabbinic tradition, disciples tried to imitate their teacher in every part of life. Jesus embraced this pattern but took it even further. The goal was not only to learn His teachings and follow His example, but to become like Him—to reflect His character, His heart, and His way of life.

Instead of chasing abstract virtues like love or humility, the disciple looks at how Jesus lived them. We see love in the way Jesus welcomed the outsider, touched the leper, forgave His enemies, and laid down His life. Through the story of Jesus, these virtues become clear and visible.

In discipleship we are not trying to change ourselves through sheer effort or through passive waiting. Instead, we place ourselves close to the Master—learning His teachings, adopting His rhythms, practicing His way of life, and allowing the Spirit to transform us as we walk with Him. We become what we behold.

As we spend time with Jesus, learn from Him, and follow His example, His life begins to shape our own. Our thoughts, reactions, priorities, and relationships gradually begin to reflect the character of Christ.

Discipleship holds together what the other perspectives emphasize separately: God’s transforming work and our active participation. Transformation comes from the Spirit, but it unfolds as we intentionally follow Jesus in everyday life.

Why the Discipleship Lens Matters

The beauty of discipleship is that it keeps our focus on a person—Jesus. Instead of mainly asking what God might be doing in us (spiritual formation) or what we must do to become better Christians (spiritual maturity), discipleship asks a different question:

Am I truly following Jesus?

Jesus did not invite people to chase spiritual ideals or figure out a mysterious process of growth. He simply said: “Follow me.” When we follow Him, we learn from Him, watch how He lived, and slowly begin to live the same kind of life.

Discipleship holds together two important truths. God is the one who changes our hearts, but we also have a part to play. We intentionally spend time with Jesus, learn His teachings, adopt His rhythms, and walk in His ways. Growth then becomes neither passive waiting nor self-driven striving. Instead, it becomes a relational apprenticeship—walking closely with our Rabbi Jesus until His life is formed in us.

Let us walk in this lifelong path as His apprentices, committed to:

Be with Jesus
Become like Jesus
Do as He did

As we walk this path with Him, the Spirit will patiently transform us until the life and character of Jesus are formed within us.