7-Day Plan · Step 3 of the Pathway

Growing as a Disciple

Growth is not achieved by effort alone; it is the fruit of remaining in Christ. Seven passages on abiding, a renewed mind, walking in the Spirit, trials, service, and putting the Word into practice.

Grow in the Word. Walk in the Commission.

7 daysKJV ScriptureRead · Understand · Apply · Pray

How to use this plan

Each day follows the same seven steps. Read the passage first and let Scripture speak before the commentary does. All quoted Scripture on this page is the King James Version; everything outside the quotation boxes is explanation written to help you understand and apply the passage.

Read — the passage itself, in full.
Understand — what it means in context.
Key Truth — the central point in one sentence.
Reflect — an honest question to sit with.
Apply — one concrete action.
Pray — bring the day to God.
Next Step — what carries into tomorrow.

Day 1

Abide in Christ

Read

John 15:1–11 (King James Version)
¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
⁶If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
⁹As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
¹⁰If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 15:1–11 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

Jesus calls Himself the true vine and His Father the husbandman. The branch has one task: to remain attached. “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” He states it without softening: “without me ye can do nothing.” Abiding is not passive — His words are to abide in the disciple, and He speaks of keeping His commandments as He kept His Father’s. The Father prunes fruitful branches so they bear more fruit, which means that God’s cutting back is not rejection but care. And the purpose is joy: “that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

Key Truth

Fruit comes from abiding in Christ, for without Him we can do nothing.

Reflect

Are you trying to produce spiritual fruit by effort, or are you staying close to Christ and letting Him produce it?

Apply

Set aside ten unhurried minutes today with Scripture open and no other task. Abiding begins with actually being with Him.

Pray

“Lord Jesus, You are the true vine and I am a branch, and without You I can do nothing. Keep me abiding in You, and let Your words abide in me. Produce Your fruit in my life in Your own way and in Your own time, and let Your joy remain in me. Amen.”

Next Step

Tomorrow’s passage shows where this growth changes a person first — in the mind.

Day 2

Renew Your Mind

Read

Romans 12:1–2 (King James Version)
¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1–2 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

Paul begins with “therefore,” resting everything on the mercies of God he has spent eleven chapters describing. Because of those mercies, he urges believers to present their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The offering is the whole ordinary self, not a religious portion of it. Then two commands stand opposite each other: “be not conformed to this world,” and “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Conforming is pressure from outside; transformation works from within as God renews how a person thinks. The result is discernment — “that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Key Truth

God transforms believers by the renewing of the mind, not by outward conformity.

Reflect

What shapes your thinking most in an ordinary week — Scripture, or the voices you spend the most hours with?

Apply

Name one belief you hold that came from the world rather than from God’s Word, and find one passage that speaks to it.

Pray

“Father, by Your mercies I offer myself to You as a living sacrifice. Guard me from being conformed to this world, and transform me by the renewing of my mind. Teach me to prove Your good, and acceptable, and perfect will, and give me grace to walk in it. Amen.”

Next Step

A renewed mind is God’s work in us. Tomorrow names the Person who does it.

Day 3

Walk in the Spirit

Read

Galatians 5:16–26 (King James Version)
¹⁶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:16–26 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

Paul gives both the command and the reason: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” The flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another, and the believer feels that conflict. Paul then lists the works of the flesh plainly — including not only the obvious sins but also hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, and envyings, which are easy to excuse. Against these he sets the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Note that it is fruit, singular, and that it is the Spirit’s, not ours. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts. He closes practically: “let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Key Truth

The fruit of the Spirit grows in those who walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.

Reflect

Which item in the list of the flesh’s works do you most easily excuse in yourself because it seems respectable?

Apply

Choose one fruit from verses 22 and 23 that is most needed by the people around you, ask the Spirit for it, and practise it deliberately in one conversation today.

Pray

“Holy Spirit, lead me today, and help me walk in You rather than in the flesh. Put to death in me what belongs to the old life, and grow in me the fruit that You alone produce, so that the character of Christ is seen in my life. Amen.”

Next Step

Tomorrow deals with the circumstances God uses to mature a believer — the hard ones.

Day 4

Grow Through Trials

Read

James 1:2–8, 12 (King James Version)
²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
⁵If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
¹²Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

James 1:2–8, 12 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

James does not tell believers to enjoy trials or to pretend they are pleasant. He tells them to “count it all joy” — to reckon, to weigh what God is doing — “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” Patience is to have her perfect work, so that believers may be “perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Because trials raise questions, James offers the remedy: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.” God does not scold those who ask. But the asking must be in faith, not wavering, because a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Verse 12 adds the end of the matter: blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life.

Key Truth

The trying of faith works patience, and God gives wisdom liberally to those who ask Him.

Reflect

In your current difficulty, have you actually asked God for wisdom, or only for the difficulty to end?

Apply

Ask God specifically for wisdom about one hard thing you are facing, and write down the request with today’s date so you can look back on it.

Pray

“Father, You know this trial, and I do not pretend that it is easy. You have said that if any of us lack wisdom we may ask of You, and that You give liberally and do not upbraid us. So I ask. Work patience in me through the trying of my faith, and keep me from wavering. Amen.”

Next Step

Growth turns outward tomorrow, in the mind of Christ toward other people.

Day 5

Serve Others

Read

Philippians 2:1–11 (King James Version)
¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1–11 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

Paul asks the Philippians to be likeminded, “doing nothing through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves,” looking on the things of others and not only on their own. Then he grounds it in Christ: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Christ, being in the form of God, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,” and humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, “even the death of the cross.” Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name, at which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christian service is not a technique; it is the mind of Christ worked out among people.

Key Truth

Believers are to have the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself and took the form of a servant.

Reflect

Where do you look mainly on your own things? Whose interests are you overlooking?

Apply

Meet one practical need today without announcing it, and without expecting anything in return.

Pray

“Lord Jesus, You were in the form of God, yet You made Yourself of no reputation and took upon You the form of a servant, obedient even unto the death of the cross. Let this mind be in me. Free me from strife and vainglory, and teach me to look on the things of others and not only on my own. Amen.”

Next Step

Tomorrow asks whether what you are learning is reaching your conduct.

Day 6

Be a Doer of the Word

Read

James 1:19–27 (King James Version)
¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
²⁰For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
²⁴For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 1:19–27 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

James begins with everyday conduct: “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,” because the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. Believers are to lay apart filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, “which is able to save your souls.” Then comes his central command: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” He illustrates it with a man who looks at himself in a glass, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looked like — hearing without doing is that forgetful. The one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it “shall be blessed in his deed.” James ends with what real religion looks like: a bridled tongue, visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keeping oneself unspotted from the world.

Key Truth

Be doers of the word and not hearers only.

Reflect

Think of the last passage that struck you. Did anything in your actual conduct change afterwards?

Apply

Take one thing you have read in this plan so far and do it today. Not study it again — do it.

Pray

“Father, make me swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. Keep me from deceiving myself by hearing Your Word without doing it. Help me receive the engrafted word with meekness and continue in it, so that what I hear from You shows plainly in how I live. Amen.”

Next Step

Tomorrow closes the plan by looking at where a maturing disciple is headed.

Day 7

Live to Make Disciples

Read

Matthew 28:16–20 (King James Version)
¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
¹⁷And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 (King James Version)
¹Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Matthew 28:16–20 on BibleGateway ↗2 Timothy 2:1–2 on BibleGateway ↗

Understand

These two passages show growth reaching its purpose. In Matthew, the risen Christ claims all authority in heaven and earth and sends His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” — the same obedience this plan has been about, now taught to others. In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” and then to commit what he has heard to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Growth in Christ is not meant to terminate in the person who receives it. What God works into a disciple, He intends to work through them into others.

Key Truth

What Christ works into a disciple He intends to pass on through them to others.

Reflect

Of what God has grown in you over the past year, what is now solid enough to help someone else with?

Apply

Name one believer who is a step behind you in something God has taught you, and offer to walk through it with them.

Pray

“Lord, thank You for the growth You have given, none of which began with me. Keep me strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Help me teach others to observe what You have commanded, and let what You have taught me reach faithful people who will be able to teach others also. Amen.”

Next Step

The next plan, Sharing Your Faith, prepares you to speak the gospel clearly and graciously.

The Pathway

Grow in the Word. Walk in the Commission.

Growing outward

Abiding, a renewed mind, the Spirit’s work, trials, service, and obedience are not private achievements. The next plan prepares you to speak clearly and graciously about the Christ who has been growing you.

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