--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever we may mean by 'Christian…" description: "\"Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is ultimately this: less faith in me, more faith in God.\" — Tullian Tchividjian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png" --- # Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is… ![“Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is ultimately this: less faith in me, more faith in God.” quote by Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png) > “Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is ultimately this: less faith in me, more faith in God.” [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 maturity means relying less on personal ability and more on divine guidance. **In simple terms:** Trust God more, yourself less. Key Takeaway Shift focus from self‑reliance to divine reliance. Themes faith humility spiritual growth Mood reflective inspirational Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - church small groups - personal prayer - life decisions - counseling sessions Key Concepts theology personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - In what areas do you still rely on yourself? - How can you practice surrender while acting? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on faith can lead to passivity if not balanced with action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-growth/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-god/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I think that obstacles lead to growth and ultimately, the most learning I've done in my life is between jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/i-think-that-obstacles-lead-to-growth-and-ultimately-the-most/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [“Growth is not just a concern of sales and marketing, but of product, engineering and support too. It is this organization-wide commitment to growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-ellis/growth-is-not-just-a-concern-of-sales-and-marketing-but-of-product/) [Sean Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-ellis/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/christian-growth-doesn-t-happen-by-first-behaving-better-but-by/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Ultimately faith is the only key to the universe. The final meaning of human existence, and the answers to the questions on which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/ultimately-faith-is-the-only-key-to-the-universe-the-final-meaning-of/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I ultimately have faith though, that good films will find their audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-leonard/i-ultimately-have-faith-though-that-good-films-will-find-their/) [Joshua Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-leonard/) > [You can't do all the work, so surround yourself with people you trust; if this is your show then everything is ultimately your call,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-biegel/you-can-t-do-all-the-work-so-surround-yourself-with-people-you-trust/) [Kevin Biegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-biegel/) > [“Let a living faith run like threads of gold through the performance of even the smallest duties. Then all the daily work will promote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/let-a-living-faith-run-like-threads-of-gold-through-the-performance/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [The right manner of growth is to grow less in one's own eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/the-right-manner-of-growth-is-to-grow-less-in-one-s-own-eyes/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [There is nothing more important to learn about Christian growth than this: Growing in grace means becoming like Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/there-is-nothing-more-important-to-learn-about-christian-growth-than/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Christian growth is forgetting about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard/christian-growth-is-forgetting-about-yourself/) [Gerhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard/) > [“The Bible is different because it is the Word of God, by which He speaks to me. Disagreeing with the Bible would be disagreeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-smith/the-bible-is-different-because-it-is-the-word-of-god-by-which-he/) [Colin S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-s-smith/) > [“Remembering to forget the past allows you freedom from a past that holds back your Christian growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/remembering-to-forget-the-past-allows-you-freedom-from-a-past-that/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [The great triad of enemies for Christian growth contain the world, the flesh, and the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-great-triad-of-enemies-for-christian-growth-contain-the-world-the/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“The danger of having such willing volunteers is that we use them, exploit them and forget to train them. Then they burn out, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marshall/the-danger-of-having-such-willing-volunteers-is-that-we-use-them/) [Colin Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marshall/) > [“Quote from my book DIVINE INTERRUPTIONS: A BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JOB. Available on Amazon. "LIFE lessons are so challenging! God never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-zelenka/quote-from-my-book-divine-interruptions-a-bible-study-through-the/) [Cheryl Zelenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-zelenka/) ## 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 Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is ultimately this: less faith in me, more faith in God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tullian Tchividjian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth-it-is-ultimately-this-less/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth-it-is-ultimately-this-less/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/tullian-tchividjian-1105_christian_whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth_711044.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever we may mean by 'Christian growth,' it is ultimately this: less faith in me, more faith in God.” — 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": "Whatever we may mean by 'Christian...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth-it-is-ultimately-this-less/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/whatever-we-may-mean-by-christian-growth-it-is-ultimately-this-less/#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 } } ] } ```