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. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows what it means to take your faith seriously and grow up spiritually.

Spiritual maturity, Dr. Holt explains, 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 resolves to meditate on it and delight in it. Dr. Holt compares ignoring Scripture to assembling a complex set without the instructions, or sailing without a map. Real growth comes from intentional, daily attention to what God has said.

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. Convictions are 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)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Psalms Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.