Growth happens slowly – in plants, in children, and in faith. The Bible uses many images from nature to describe how people mature. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about growth.
God makes grow
Growth is God's work.
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I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the growth. So now neither the one who planted nor the one who watered is anything, but God, who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7SuccessThanksgiving for the harvest
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And he said: So the kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground and sleeps and stands up day and night; and the seed sprouts and grows, and he does not know how. For the earth brings forth grass by itself, then ears, and then wheat in full grain in the ears.
Mark 4:26-28Spring
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And he said: To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, and with what parable shall we illustrate it? For behold, a mustard seed, when it is sown on the ground, is the least of all seeds; but when it is sown, it grows and becomes larger than all the herbs, and has great branches, so that birds of the air may dwell in its shade.
Mark 4:30-32
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And I am fully confident that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6ChangeEncouragement
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As you have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and firm in the faith, as you were taught, and abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7ThankfulnessFaith
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He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaves do not wither; and whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:3TreesBearing fruit
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The righteous shall be like a palm tree, shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92:13-14
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He is like a tree planted by the water, whose roots are by the stream. Though heat may come, it will not be afraid, though the ground may be parched, and its leaves remain green; and it will not fear when calamity comes, for it will not fail to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:8Bearing fruit
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I will make Israel like a lily, that it may blossom like a rose, and its roots shall spread like Lebanon.
Hosea 14:6Flowers
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For as the vegetation grows out of the earth, and the seed sprouts in the garden, so shall righteousness and praise spring up before all nations from the Lord God.
Isaiah 61:11Flowers
Growing in faith
Verses about spiritual maturity.
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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and forever! Amen.
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But let us be righteous in love and grow in every good thing in him who is the head, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15RelationshipsTruth
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And desire the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow up into salvation.
1 Peter 2:2
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Therefore, give all your diligence to this, and abound in virtue in your faith, and in knowledge in virtue, and in moderation in knowledge, and in patience in moderation, and in godliness in patience, and in brotherly love in godliness, and in love to the brethren in brotherly love. For where these abound, there will be no idleness or unfruitfulness in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8
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But the perfect are strong in faith, discerning good and evil by the senses trained by habit.
Hebrews 5:14
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men.
Luke 2:52SchoolingBaptismal verses
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That you may walk worthy of the Lord in all things, and be fruitful in every good work.
Colossians 1:10Bearing fruitGood works
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We thank God always for you, beloved brethren, as is right, because your faith grows greatly, and the love of one and all toward you abounds.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
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Not only this, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope.
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But now the face of the Lord shines in us all, and we are being transformed into the same image from one glory to another, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18ChangeImage of God
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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Growth is God's work
Paul writes to a church that is arguing about who the most important teacher is: "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6). People can sow and water, but only God can make things grow. Jesus tells a parable about this: A farmer scatters seed, sleeps and stands up, "and the seed sprouts and grows, and he does not know how" (Mark 4:27). Growth in faith requires patience and trust – it often happens invisibly.
How faith matures
The Bible describes spiritual growth with many images: from milk to solid food (Hebrews 5:12-14), from a mustard seed to a great tree (Mark 4:31-32), from a tree rooted by the water (Psalm 1:3). Peter lists qualities that are to grow: virtue, knowledge, moderation, patience, godliness, brotherly love, and love to the brethren (2 Peter 1:5-7). And his final sentence is: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Learn more about Bible verses about bearing fruit, Bible verses about change, and Bible verses about trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you grow in faith?
The Bible calls God's word (1 Peter 2:2), prayer, fellowship, and enduring difficult times (Romans 5:3-4) ways in which God makes faith grow.
What does "God gave the growth" mean?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 that people can plant and water, but the actual growth comes from God.








