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How Do We Grow Spiritually?

How Do We Grow Spiritually?

How Do We Grow Spiritually?

by Janine Schenone on March 14, 2022

How Do We Grow Spiritually?

Our RenewalWorks coordinator, Ward Fleri, and I met today with Loren Dixon from the RenewalWorks program to talk about spiritual growth and how to foster it in church members. Our RenewalWorks committee has been talking about spiritual growth, and wondering how to foster it, and how to know that we have grown spiritually. How do we measure it?

Loren said that most people have too big and lofty a notion of spiritual growth, that people expect to see a dramatic transformation from not feeling so spiritual to being a holy swami who is always at peace with everyone. For Christians, she said, spiritual growth means growing in our love of God and neighbor. This happens in small, sometimes undiscernible steps, until a year or two later, we realize we have grown.

One of the ways I grow spiritually is by meeting new people, or by spending time with people I would not normally be around. It turns out that Loren suggested this as a wonderful small step for church members. Go out to coffee with a new church member. Get to know the next-door neighbor you have always found a little annoying. Call the niece who didn’t come for Christmas.

I have found myself stretched by spending time with neighbors, not because they are difficult people, but because we are very different in some ways. It takes a few encounters for me to learn about what is important to them, and it takes a few encounters for them to trust me, the weirdo priest. I can tell you that each encounter stretches me in a good way as I try to seek and serve the Christ in my neighbor. I leave slightly changed each time.

Spiritual growth can be that easy—listening deeply to a new person at coffee hour, sharing a story with a different person in our Embracing Evangelism forum on Sunday, speaking kindly to the bank teller—loving in a small, new way.

I pray that this season of Lent will give you opportunities to grow in small ways—even if it is only to appreciate one new person in your life. God's blessings to you!

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Tags: spiritual growth stretch

About the Author
Janine Schenone

My personal journey to Good Samaritan began in my Roman Catholic childhood. Although devout, I eventually left the Catholic Church in 2003. I tried nondenominational churches, but the rock concert feel and the separate room for kids just didn’t work for me.

In the Episcopal Church, I found the liturgical richness and ancient creeds of the Church—and women priests! I also loved Episcopalians’ emphasis on social justice and concern for the marginalized. More than anything, I love the Episcopal Church’s “big tent”—its intention to include many viewpoints and cultures. We don’t have a lot of black-and-white positions. The Episcopal Church makes me work out what I believe and put it into practice every day.

I have also found deep community in the Episcopal Church, both with God and with my church members. At Good Samaritan, our Community Life dinners, Bible studies, youth group, mission trips, food drives, retreats, and just plain old Sunday worship help us develop deep friendships among both longtime members and new people.

I invite you to stop by some Sunday and check us out. Then I'd love to talk over a cup of coffee or tea. I’m at janines@goodsamchurch.org.

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