“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” — 2 Peter 1:5–7 (BSB)
“Let love be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” — Romans 12:9 (BSB)
“You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.” — Psalm 119:68 (BSB)
Spiritual disciplines help goodness take root—reading Scripture, confessing sin, receiving the Sacraments, and seeking accountability in the Church. As I grow in love for God, my desire to please Him increases. His goodness forms me to act with honesty, humility, justice, and compassion in all areas of life.
Canon Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “Goodness is moral beauty—the holiness of God reflected in His people. It grows through reverent obedience and courageous love.”
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) explains, “To grow in goodness is to grow in likeness to Christ. It is not about appearances but about substance—choosing what is right when no one sees, and doing what honors God even when it costs.”
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer trains the soul in goodness through daily confession, the reading of the Law, and Collects that ask for uprightness of heart and holy living. The Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany prays that “we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead.”
J.C. Ryle wrote, “Would you grow in goodness? Then walk closely with God. A holy life flows from a holy heart, and a holy heart is one that is filled with the Spirit and shaped by the Word.” (Practical Religion, 1878)
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) has said, “Goodness doesn’t grow in isolation. It grows when we yield to the Spirit, serve others sacrificially, and live out the Gospel with consistency and conviction.”
Growing in goodness glorifies Christ because it displays His moral purity, resists the corruption of the world, and makes visible the righteousness of God in everyday life.
St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD): “Goodness grows when the soul is watchful, the mind is fed by truth, and the will is surrendered to God. Practice goodness in secret, and your Father will see.” — Homily on Romans, 13
St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379 AD): “The one who desires goodness must first submit to discipline. As the tree grows by pruning, so the soul grows in goodness through self-denial and prayer.” — The Long Rules, 2.6
St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258 AD): “Let your life be upright and your words true. Grow in goodness by imitating Christ, who went about doing good.” — Letters, 63.4
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
