Spiritual Health Check-Up
Jul 8 2025 - Eric Buresh
One of our Grace church planters asked for thoughts on how to gauge the spiritual health of his flock (and urged me to share my response here). While a little longer than a normal post . . . here it is:
Since it is our task to imitate Christ, let’s imagine that the Divine Physician walks among us, stethoscope of the Spirit in hand, measuring the pulse of the soul. What questions would He ask to assess the development of His children? What signs would show whether the saints under your care are on time, delayed, or perhaps even advanced?
It’s hard to condense the Word into the most critical, but here are seven marks the good Doctor might examine—signposts of spiritual health:
1. Are They Feeding on the Word?
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2
The infant cries for milk—and the maturing soul alive in Christ cries for Scripture as if they were in a dry and thirsty land. If the appetite is absent, something is wrong. There is a progression here as well. The Doctor will ask: “Is My child learning to feed themselves with the Bread of Life, or are they still waiting to be spoon-fed on Sundays?” Maturity is evidenced by hunger for the Word, i.e., for Christ. The great commandment is to love Christ, and the most direct evidence is whether your people love Christ revealed (i.e., the Word).
2. Are They Walking in Increasing Obedience?
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
The child who hears but does not walk is like one with legs that never strengthen. The Doctor will examine: “Do they take steps of increasing obedience, even when it costs? Do they turn the other cheek? Forgive enemies? Give sacrificially? Or do they sit stationary in the comfort of their old self pride?”
3. Are They Loving the Brethren?
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Love is both a feeling and a family/covenantal commitment. The Doctor looks for warmth and increasing commitment among the siblings: “Do they bear one another’s burdens? Serve without applause? Rejoice and weep together? Or is the fellowship cold and distant?”
4. Are They Speaking Spiritual Truth in Love?
“Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” Ephesians 4:15
Spiritual speech is a sign of maturing life. The Doctor listens closely: “Do My children speak about Me? Do they confess My name to each other and others? Do their tongues evidence their faith?” A silent mouth often indicates an immature or shrinking soul. Out of their heart, their words flow. So listen closely.
5. Are They Resisting/Fleeing Temptation?
“Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3
The growing child doesn’t just reluctantly obey, but they flee when temptation approaches. They desire to resist sin and be more like Christ because they see Christ as the most beautiful thing. The Doctor asks: “Are they still playing with their old serpents? Or have they begun to flee youthful lusts, fight sin, and prize holiness?” No child is sinless—but the mature no longer cherish their old chains and they actively fight against them.
6. Are They Bearing Fruit — In Joy?
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:8
Growth is not measured in knowledge but in fruitfulness. The Physician inspects the vine: “Are My children becoming more patient, more kind, more joyful, more faithful? Is there fruit of the Spirit in season?” Joy is one of the most tell-tale signs of true growth in faith. Many people do acts of love, but they do them reluctantly or out of duty and obligation — those acts are moralistic (or religion). But, when you find someone joyfully loving others and joyfully obeying Christ, now you have a real sign of maturing faith.
7. Are They Longing for the Father’s Presence?
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” Psalm 73:25
The mature child wants more than the Father’s gifts or blessings—they want the Father Himself. The Doctor peers into the heart: “Do they seek My face, or only My help? Do they long for My return? Do they delight in My presence?” This is the highest test—whether we desire God. We were made to enjoy God’s presence. The cross happened to make a way for us into God’s presence. If we are not longing for God’s presence both now (imperfectly) and perfectly in the future, we either don’t understand or don’t have a mature belief.
All seven of these markers stand on the foundation of faith. All these markers are really marking the progression of dependent faith. And that faith is itself a gift from God. So, remember, growth occurs in God’s timing, and it is often slow by our standards. Some limbs strengthen late. Some eyes open gradually. But the One who began a good work will complete it.