Strong faith. What difference would rock-solid faith make in your life? Would you be willing to put some effort into developing stronger faith? This course will teach you what strong faith is and how to reach it using the Bible as your guide. You will learn not only how to enrich your faith but also how to develop a stronger faith in others.
This first lesson explores six good reasons why you should want to work on having stronger faith.
“Why Should I Grow in My Faith?”
A Personal Message from Curtis Hartshorn
Hi, my name is Curtis Hartshorn, and I’m so thrilled to welcome you to this class on Reaching New Levels of Faith. This truly is a dream come true for me. I feel a little like Esther—remember when Mordecai told her, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” That’s exactly how I feel right now. God has brought me through so much in my journey, and to be able to connect with BibleTalk.tv and speak to thousands of you… it’s overwhelming—in the best way.
I want to start by telling you something personal. I didn’t always believe in God. In fact, I came to faith from complete unbelief. I was immersed into Christ at age 20. And I remember stepping into ministry and being shocked—shocked at how two people could grow up in the same home, hear the same sermons, go to the same Bible classes, and yet one would thrive in faith while the other would drift away. That question gripped me: Why? Why do some grow and some fade?
That’s what launched this journey for me—teaching classes, doing workshops, holding seminars, and eventually writing a book called Reaching New Levels of Faith. You don’t need the book for this class, but I want you to know it’s available through BibleTalk.tv if you’re interested. What I do recommend, though, is getting the student workbook. It’s going to help you follow along, take notes, and go deeper. And above all, I urge you—open your Bible. Don’t just listen to these lessons. Sit down with the Word of God. Let Him speak directly to you.
Now, before we dive into what faith is and the different levels of faith, I want to start with a really important question—one I’ve been asked more than once:
“Why should I grow in my faith?”
Maybe you’ve thought something similar: “I believe in God. I’ve repented. I’ve been baptized. Isn’t that enough? Why go to all this trouble to grow?”
It’s a fair question. So let me give you six biblical reasons why I believe you should want to grow your faith—why I’m urging you, right now, to make this class a personal priority.
- God Wants Me to Grow
The very first reason is simple—but powerful. God wants your faith to grow. In Matthew 17, we see Jesus return from the Mount of Transfiguration to find His disciples failing to cast out a demon. And He’s frustrated—not because they didn’t try, but because their faith was too small. He tells them plainly:
“Because of the littleness of your faith…”
And then He compares real faith to a mustard seed. Not because it’s tiny—but because of what it becomes. In Matthew 13, He already told us that the mustard seed grows into a great tree. So what Jesus was saying is this:
“I want your faith to grow.”
God doesn’t want your faith to stay where it started. Even if it begins small, it must become strong. That’s the kind of faith that moves mountains.
- I’m Either Moving Forward or Backward
There’s no such thing as “holding steady” in the Christian life. If I’m not moving forward, then I’m slipping backward. That’s what the Hebrew writer was warning about in Hebrews 5. He said:
“By this time you ought to be teachers…”
But instead, they were still on milk—not solid food. Spiritually speaking, they were stuck in infancy. Let me tell you—God is not okay with that. Just like a parent would be deeply concerned if their child suddenly stopped growing, God is grieved when I stop growing. And He calls me out of that.
So I ask you—are you progressing, or regressing? Be honest. Because this course is here to help you move forward.
- Without Spiritual Growth, the Church Won’t Grow
You want your congregation to grow? You want to see more souls saved, more lives transformed? Then you need to know this: numerical growth won’t last without spiritual growth. I’ve seen it—we baptize a few people, the church gets excited, but if we don’t edify—if we don’t grow deeper—it all falls apart.
In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us how the church grows:
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ…”
Growth—real growth—comes when every part of the body is working and building itself up in love. You want the church to grow? Then start by growing your own faith. You’ll be amazed how God uses that.
- If God Doesn’t Get Me, Satan Will
That may sound harsh, but it’s true. There is no neutral ground in the spiritual world. In 1 Peter 5, I’m warned that Satan is like a roaring lion, prowling, looking for someone to devour. And do you know who he targets? The weak. The isolated. The spiritually lazy.
If I’m not under the mighty hand of God, I’m wide open to the enemy.
Jesus said it plainly in Matthew 12:30:
“He who is not with Me is against Me.”
There’s no middle. If God doesn’t have my heart, then Satan is coming for it. And he’s patient. He’ll wait for me to drift. That’s why I must grow in faith—so I’m not vulnerable to being devoured.
- Without Faith, I Can’t Please God
Hebrews 11:6 says:
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
Not difficult. Impossible.
So if I want to live a life that honors God, a life that brings Him joy, a life that reflects His glory—I need faith. And not just saving faith, but growing faith. The kind of faith that leans into God, that trusts Him more, that walks with Him through trials. That’s the faith that pleases Him.
- Faith Growth Builds Unity in the Church
I didn’t expect this one at first. But after teaching this material across the country, I started getting feedback from elders and ministers who said,
“Something’s changed. Our church feels closer now.”
And I realized why. When I begin to understand how faith grows—and how other people are growing too—I stop being so critical. I become more patient, more compassionate. I recognize we all struggle. We’re all trying. We’re just at different stages of the journey.
In 2 Timothy 2, Paul tells us to be kind, patient, and gentle—even when people are wrong—because God is still working on them. And when I believe that… I start treating others with the grace I need too.
So there you have it—six reasons why I believe you should want to grow your faith.
- Because God wants it.
- Because you’re always moving—one way or another.
- Because spiritual growth leads to church growth.
- Because Satan is watching.
- Because faith pleases God.
- And because faith unites us.
Now, here’s what I need from you. Pick one. Pick one of those six reasons—or come up with your own. But get clear on your motivation, because it’s what will carry you through all 16 lessons.
I am so excited to walk through this journey with you. In the next class, we’re going to define what faith is, and I’ll begin to show you the levels of faith and the struggles that come with each stage.
So grab your Bible, get your workbook, and bring a ready heart. You’re about to reach a new level of faith—and I promise you, it’s going to be worth it.
Discussion Questions
- Can you list the six reasons given in this lesson for working on our faith?
- Why do you think some Christians are not motivated to want to develop a stronger faith?
- Can you see how it is God’s desire for you to be growing in your faith?
- How does growth take the boredom out of life?
- What is going to be your personal motivation for wanting to grow in your faith?
