4/19/2026 HILL CITY CHURCH

Evaluating Your Spiritual Growth (Part 3)

Pastor David Proffitt


Review Part 1 and Part 2: Every serious area of life requires evaluation. In health, we measure progress. In business, we review results. In education, we test growth. But spiritually, many believers never stop to ask: Am I truly growing? Is my walk with God increasing or stagnating? That is exactly why 2 Peter 1 is so valuable. Peter gives us a divine framework for examining spiritual progress. He teaches us: 1 why growth matters, 2 how growth begins, 3 what God has already given, 4 what steps we must take, 5 what happens if we grow, 6 what happens if we do not grow


1. PETER’S MOTIVE (Verses 12–14) “Therefore I intend always to remind you…” Peter begins by explaining why he writes. A. Growth Requires Reminder - Peter says believers already know these truths. Yet he still reminds them. Why? Because spiritual danger is often not ignorance— it is forgetfulness. Many believers know truth intellectually, but fail to live it consistently. B. Life Is Temporary - Peter refers to his body as a tent. A tent is: 1 temporary, 2 movable, 3 soon taken down. Peter knows his time is short. Therefore, he speaks with urgency. C. Spiritual Wake-Up Call - He says he wants to stir them up. Meaning: 1 awaken them, 2 shake them out of complacency, 3 move them into action.


2. HOW FAITH IS DESCRIBED Hebrews 11:1 / Verse 1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for…” Peter begins the growth ladder with faith. Because all growth begins there. A. Faith Defined - Faith is: 1 assurance of what is hoped for, 2 conviction of what is unseen. Faith means trusting God’s Word before visible proof appears. B. Faith’s Root - The root idea relates to peitho: 1 → persuaded, 2 → convinced, 3 → won over. Faith is not blind emotion. Faith is being convinced that God is true. C. Equal Faith - Peter says believers have faith of equal standing.


3. A PRAYER AND GREETING Verse 2 “May grace and peace be multiplied to you…” This is mor `e than a greeting. It is a declaration. A. Grace - Grace is: 1 undeserved favor, 2 free provision from God B. Peace - Peace is: 1 reconciliation with God, 2 inner calm, 3 wholeness C. Multiplied - Grace and peace are not static. They can increase. How? 1 through obedience, 2 through maturity, 3 through deeper knowledge of God


4. MORE WAYS GOD HAS PRIVILEGED US Verses 3–4 - A. Divine Provision “His divine power has granted to us…” This giving cannot fail because it is divine. B. Life — ZOE Not merely biological life. This is supernatural life. God gives: 1 spiritual power, 2 inner vitality, 3 eternal life C. Godliness - Godliness means worshipful living. A life that honors God and affects the heart of God. D. Glory and Excellence - He calls us to His own: 1 Glory (doxa) — honor, significance, 2 Excellence — moral beauty, virtue E. Precious Promises - Through God’s promises, transformation happens. F. Partakers of the Divine Nature - This does not mean becoming God. It means sharing in His moral character. We receive new identity and new capacity. G. Old Man / New Man Eph. 2:3 / Eph. 4:22–24 / Col. 3:9–10- The old man = former life patterns. The new man = regenerated identity. The struggle is not two natures fighting equally. The struggle is: new identity vs old habits.


5. STEPS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH Verse 5 “For this very reason…” Because you share in the divine nature— now respond. Two Required Responses- A. Make Every Effort - SPOUDE = urgency, haste, all-out effort. Spiritual growth requires intention. B. Supplement - EPICHOREGEO = richly supply, lavishly provide. Do not add growth reluctantly. Add it extravagantly.

The Growth Ladder

1. Faith - The foundation.

2. Virtue - Moral excellence. God’s design for your life lived boldly.

3. Knowledge - Gnosis = progressive understanding. Layers of truth added over time.

4. Self-Control - Mastering passions and desires. Not wearing old clothes(behavior)

5. Perseverance - Hupomeno = remain under pressure. Endure without quitting.

6. Godliness - Reverent life lived before God.

7. Brotherly Affection – Philadelphia - Love for fellow believers. 1 John 3:14,17

8. Love - Agapao, Not emotion. Not feelings. An act of the will. The highest point of maturity.


6. RESULTS OF A PRO-GROWTH LIFE - Verse 8 “If these qualities are yours and are increasing…”

A. Are Yours - You possess them personally.

B. Increasing - They are growing, espanding, multiplying

C. Result - They keep you from being: 1. Ineffective - Lazy, slow, inactive spiritually. 2. Unfruitful - No visible impact.

Application: Growth creates usefulness.

7. RESULTS OF A NO-GROWTH LIFE - Verse 9 “Whoever lacks these qualities…”

A. Blind - Muopazo = shutting the eyes, myopic. Nearsighted spiritually. Can only see the immediate. Cannot see eternal realities.

B. Forgetful - Has forgotten cleansing from former sins. Loses gratitude. Loses perspective. Lives like salvation never happened.

Application: When growth stops, vision shrinks.



8. ENSURING SHORTSIGHTEDNESS DOES NOT TAKE OVER - Verses 10–11

A. Be More Diligent - SPOUDE again: strenuous effort.

B. Make Calling and Election Sure - Calling = salvation invitation, Election = divine purpose, Make it authentic, visible, confirmed.

C. Practice These Qualities - “You will never fall.” Meaning: 1 not collapse spiritually, 2 not tap out under pressure, 3 not become useless

D. Rich Entrance into the Kingdom Verse 11 “There will be richly provided for you an entrance…” Not barely entering— but richly welcomed. Revelation 19:7–8 Faithful living now affects eternal reward later.

CONCLUSION: So how do we evaluate spiritual growth? Ask yourself: 1 Am I adding these qualities? 2 Am I increasing spiritually? 3 Am I effective and fruitful? 4 Or am I shortsighted and forgetful?

FINAL EXHORTATION: God has given: 1 divine power. 2 promises, 3 new identity, 4 all things needed for growth
Now your responsibility is: 1 make every effort, 2 supplement your faith, 3 keep growing. Because one day you will enter the eternal kingdom. The only question is: Will it be barely… or richly?