This study explains the five basic stages we go through on our faith journey. Five levels of faith with biblical examples for each.
Let me talk to you for a moment—just you and me.
You’re here because something inside of you longs for a deeper relationship with God. You want more than just routine. More than just going through the motions. I believe that’s why you’re listening right now—to grow, to stretch, to reach new levels of faith.
Now, we’ve already talked about why faith matters, and I hope you’ve taken the time to find your personal reason for wanting to grow in it. If you haven’t, let me encourage you—pause and get that reason clear. Because this journey we’re on? It’s not casual. It’s intentional. You need your “why.”
I also walked you through what faith is. But today, I want to take you deeper—into something I’ve taught for over 35 years. We’re not just talking about “the faith”—as in doctrine, beliefs, theology. That matters, but what I’m talking about here is your personal trust in God. Your day-to-day, moment-by-moment, God-I-trust-You kind of faith. That’s what I’m helping you build.
There are five levels of faith. I need you to memorize them. Not for a test. But because these levels will become anchors in your spiritual walk.
Here they are:
- Imitating faith
- Affiliating faith
- Searching faith
- Solidifying faith
- Mature faith
Say them again. Let them settle in.
Let me break them down for you—personally.
- Imitating Faith
This is where I don’t understand yet—I just copy what I see. Like a child. I see others taking the Lord’s Supper, dropping money in the basket, raising their hands—I don’t get it all, but I do it. And that’s okay. It’s still faith. It’s basic. But it’s real.
Simon the sorcerer is our best example here. He believed, he was baptized—but he didn’t understand. His faith was more mimicry than maturity. He saw power and wanted it, tried to buy it. That’s imitating faith—doing what others do without grasping the heart behind it.
- Affiliating Faith
Now I’m beginning to understand, but I still believe mostly because you believe. I go to church because my people go. I believe certain things because my church believes them. That’s affiliating faith.
The townspeople in John 4 had this kind of faith at first. They came to Jesus because the Samaritan woman told them about Him. But then—something happened. They heard Him for themselves. And they said, “Now we believe not just because of what you said—but because we’ve heard Him ourselves.”
That’s the shift. That’s the move from affiliating faith to something more.
But let me tell you why it’s dangerous to stay in an affiliating faith. If your faith is tied to a person, and that person falls, moves away, or lets you down, your faith may fall too. That’s why so many burn out. They’re propping up others while never really standing on their own. If that’s you—I see you. But I want you to move forward.
Ask yourself this: Do I believe what I believe because others believe it? If the answer is yes, you’re in an affiliated faith. That’s fine to start—but it’s time to grow.
- Searching Faith
This is where the real transformation happens. I stop saying, “Well, my pastor said,” or “That’s what I was taught.” I start asking, “Is that really what God says?” I dig into the Word for myself.
The Bereans in Acts 17 modeled this beautifully. They examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul taught was true. They didn’t just accept it—they searched it out.
And listen, if you’re a parent—please, let your kids search. I know it can look like doubt. I know it’s scary. But searching is healthy. Without it, they’ll either stay shallow, fall away, or find answers somewhere else. Encourage them to own their faith.
If you’re in the searching stage, keep going. Don’t be afraid of your questions. God is not threatened by your hunger for truth.
- Solidifying Faith
This is when I say, “Okay—I’ve searched, I’ve wrestled, and now I believe. I’m standing firm.” I’m done floating. I’m rooted.
That’s where Timothy was. Paul told him to “kindle afresh” the gift inside of him. He had faith passed down from his mother and grandmother, but Paul called him to own it, to ignite it, to solidify it.
And hear me—this is more than checking theological boxes. This is about saying, “I know whom I have believed, and I’m convinced.”
- Mature Faith
This is the goal. And it’s not perfection. It’s resilience. It’s the kind of faith where no matter what happens—I’m not turning back.
Paul on that storm-tossed ship in Acts 27 is my favorite example. With the wind howling and death staring them all in the face, he said,
“The God to whom I belong and whom I serve… I believe that it will happen exactly as He told me.”
That’s mature faith. That’s fearless faith. That’s where I want to get you.
I want you to get to the point where you say, “I know who I belong to. I know who I serve. And I believe God—no matter what it looks like, no matter what it feels like.”
Friend, I’m not just teaching you these things to give you more information. I want transformation. I want you to have:
- Endless faith—a faith that endures no matter how long the road.
- Fearless faith—a faith that doesn’t flinch in the storm.
- Mature faith—a faith that stands when nothing else does.
So what now?
Memorize those five levels. Keep them in front of you:
Imitating. Affiliating. Searching. Solidifying. Mature.
Ask yourself—where am I right now? And more importantly, where do I want to be?
I’m here to help you get there. Let’s go to the next level of faith—together.
I’ll see you in the next class.
Discussion Questions
- Practice saying the five levels of faith out loud until you can say them all without looking at the book.
- What level of faith do you believe you are at right now?
- Have you ever been discouraged from searching out your faith or have you ever discouraged someone else from searching?
- If you have children, how can you encourage them to search out their own convictions without them drifting away from Christ?
- Is it possible to be at different levels of faith in different aspects of your Christianity at the same time?
