How does a Christian grow up in the faith?

In Psalm 119:9-16, the psalmist asks, "How can a young man cleanse his way?" and answers: by God's Word. Dr. Toby Holt shows what it means to take your faith seriously and grow up spiritually. Spiritual maturity means taking personal ownership of your faith through steady time in God's Word — not growing godly "by osmosis." The psalmist hides God's Word in his heart so he will not sin, treasures it above riches, and meditates on it. Ignoring Scripture is like assembling a complex set without the instructions.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why is God's Word essential for spiritual growth? Because it is how God cleanses, guides, and matures His people. There is no growing up in the faith apart from it.

2. What does it take to develop lasting convictions? Hiding God's Word in the heart and valuing it above everything else — built by treasuring Scripture, not skimming it.

3. How do we move from shallow to serious faith? By intentional, regular time in God's Word — meditating on it and delighting in it. Maturity comes by ownership, not osmosis.

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." — Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.