--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christian growth doesn't happen by first…" description: "\"Christian growth doesn't happen by first behaving better, but by believing better--believi ng in bigger, deeper, brighter ways what Christ has already ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png" --- # Christian growth doesn't happen by first behaving better… ![“Christian growth doesn't happen by first behaving better, but by believing better--believi ng in bigger, deeper, brighter ways what Christ has already secured for sinners.” quote by Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png) > “Christian growth doesn't happen by first behaving better, but by believing better--believi ng in bigger, deeper, brighter ways what Christ has already secured for sinners.” [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth comes from deepening belief, not merely improving behavior, trusting Christ's work for sinners. **In simple terms:** Growth through belief, not just actions. Key Takeaway Trust Christ’s work, deepen faith. Themes faith spirituality growth belief trust Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - personal prayer - church study - community worship - mission work - daily reflection Key Concepts theology Christian doctrine faith development Questions to Reflect On - How can deeper belief translate into daily actions? - What practices help align belief with behavior? A Different Perspective Belief alone may not change habits without practical steps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-growth/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ## Related quotes > [a tree is never just a tree, it is bigger and deeper and wiser than a girl like you will ever be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/a-tree-is-never-just-a-tree-it-is-bigger-and-deeper-and-wiser-than-a/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [Believing that no one is better than the other. You know I grew up in the South. My senior year there was a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herschel-walker/believing-that-no-one-is-better-than-the-other-you-know-i-grew-up-in/) [Herschel Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herschel-walker/) > [Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is ultimately this: less faith in me, more faith in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth-it-is-ultimately-this-less/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Forgetting someone is all about believing that someone better is yet to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgetting-someone-is-all-about-believing-that-someone-better-is-yet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Good reputation and growth doesn´t mean to God that the church is alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/good-reputation-and-growth-doesn-t-mean-to-god-that-the-church-is/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [I think it's important to see that success or growth doesn't happen overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-peters/i-think-it-s-important-to-see-that-success-or-growth-doesn-t-happen/) [Maisie Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-peters/) > [Economic growth doesn't mean anything if it leaves people out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/economic-growth-doesn-t-mean-anything-if-it-leaves-people-out/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Workers are not being exploited. But if their share of growth doesn't increase, this could be a potential cause of social tension worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-rogoff/workers-are-not-being-exploited-but-if-their-share-of-growth-doesn-t/) [Kenneth Rogoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-rogoff/) > [Growth doesn't hurt. This is what I've learned. In the end, it doesn't hurt. It hurts while it's happening. But in the end, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/growth-doesn-t-hurt-this-is-what-i-ve-learned-in-the-end-it-doesn-t/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [If you want to reach your potential and become the person you were created to be, you must do much more than just experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-reach-your-potential-and-become-the-person-you-were/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [He thinks he believes only what he sees, but he is much better at believing than at seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/he-thinks-he-believes-only-what-he-sees-but-he-is-much-better-at/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [“False hope is better than believing you're the world's biggest loser.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-ralston/false-hope-is-better-than-believing-you-re-the-world-s-biggest-loser/) [Duncan Ralston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-ralston/) > [There's a lot I don't understand... but not understanding is better than not believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/there-s-a-lot-i-don-t-understand-but-not-understanding-is-better-than/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I always say believe for a bunch, and even if you only get half of it you are better off than believing for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-always-say-believe-for-a-bunch-and-even-if-you-only-get-half-of-it/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We have to get better at believing the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-have-to-get-better-at-believing-the-impossible/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) ## More by Tullian Tchividjian > [Grace is upside-down, to-do-list wrecking, scandalous and way-too free. It's one-way love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/grace-is-upside-down-to-do-list-wrecking-scandalous-and-way-too-free/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“There is but one good,” C. S. Lewis writes in The Great Divorce; “that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/there-is-but-one-good-c-s-lewis-writes-in-the-great-divorce-that-is/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Once God saves us He doesn't move us beyond the gospel, but He moves us more deeply into the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/once-god-saves-us-he-doesn-t-move-us-beyond-the-gospel-but-he-moves/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“An institution theoretically devoted to providing comfort to those in need (the church) is in trouble because it has embraced the same pressure cooker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/an-institution-theoretically-devoted-to-providing-comfort-to-those-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-preacher-who-doesn-t-believe-he-s-that-bad-will-attract-people-who/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/our-assurance-is-anchored-in-the-love-and-grace-of-god-expressed-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [I think for far too long the Church has concluded that Christians don't need the gospel, it's simple what non-Christian people need in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/i-think-for-far-too-long-the-church-has-concluded-that-christians-don/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [While our sin reaches far, God's grace reaches farther. God came after us not to strip away our freedom but to strip away our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/while-our-sin-reaches-far-god-s-grace-reaches-farther-god-came-after/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Jesus has done everything for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/jesus-has-done-everything-for-you/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [If you have suffered the loss of a family member to chronic disease, if you suffer debilitating seasons of depression, if you have lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/if-you-have-suffered-the-loss-of-a-family-member-to-chronic-disease/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The ironic thing about legalism is that it not only doesn't make people work harder, it makes them give up. Moralism doesn't produce morality;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-ironic-thing-about-legalism-is-that-it-not-only-doesn-t-make/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The good news of suffering is that it brings us to the end of ourselves - a purpose it has certainly served in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-good-news-of-suffering-is-that-it-brings-us-to-the-end-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The Gospel is not ultimately a defense from pain, it is the message of God's rescue through pain. In fact, it allows us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-gospel-is-not-ultimately-a-defense-from-pain-it-is-the-message-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [God is inviting you today to appropriately grieve your pains and losses and to acknowledge the world is seriously broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/god-is-inviting-you-today-to-appropriately-grieve-your-pains-and/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) [Explore all 292 Tullian Tchividjian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christian growth doesn't happen by first behaving better, but by believing better--believi ng in bigger, deeper, brighter ways what Christ has already secured for sinners.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tullian Tchividjian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first-behaving-better-but-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first-behaving-better-but-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/tullian-tchividjian-1105_believe_christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first_869239.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christian growth doesn't happen by first behaving better, but by believing better--believi ng in bigger…” — Tullian Tchividjian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tullian Tchividjian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Christian growth doesn't happen by first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first-behaving-better-but-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first-behaving-better-but-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```