11 Indicators of Spiritual Growth in Children

When we moved into our new house a couple of years ago, I noticed something in one of the bedroom closets. Here is a picture of it. The previous owners had been measuring the growth of their child. They measured his height each year as he grew physically.

You can see from the picture that the child is growing each year.

It’s pretty easy to measure the physical growth of a child. All you need is a tape measure and a pencil. As children’s ministry leaders and parents, we should be measuring the spiritual growth of the children in our ministry.

But the bigger question is this: Which indicators of spiritual growth should we be watching? How can we know if our children are growing spiritually? How can we know where they are at in their walk with Jesus?

Let’s look at 11 key indicators of spiritual growth in children.

They Desire To Talk With God in Prayer.

They will begin asking questions about prayer. They will often initiate a prayer session.  They want to spend time with God. They jump in and engage in the nightly prayer time when going to bed.

They Desire for the Word of God.

 

When a baby is hungry, they usually begin to cry. They need the milk to grow physically.  So God compares the milk to the Word of God. Children need it to grow spiritually. They will begin reading their Bible and devotion books during the week.

They Attend Church and Know What They Got out of It.

On the way home, if you ask, they will tell you what they learned that day. You don’t have to drag them to church, rather they will be dragging you to church.

They Become More Like Jesus With Their Attitude and Actions.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

They develop a sincere passion to know Jesus and follow him. Their outward actions will reflect this from their heart.

They Ask To Start Serving.   

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

They Begin To Obey God’s Word.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only. (James 1:22)

They Begin Manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)