Podcast Summary

Overview

Episode Title: Jesus Grew
Podcast: Church of the Highlands – Sunday Messages – Audio
Date: October 5, 2025
Host/Speaker: Church of the Highlands (Lead Pastor Sam)
Series: Goodness of God (Week 5)

Theme/Purpose:
This message explores the biblical concept that Jesus Himself grew—in wisdom, stature, and favor—and presents this as both a mandate and a model for every believer’s spiritual growth. Drawing primarily from Luke 2:52, the speaker highlights how spiritual progress is not just possible, but expected for those who follow Jesus, and unpacks how the life and growth of Jesus provide a practical blueprint for all believers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. The Mandate for Growth (00:06–16:00)

• Growth is Central to the Christian Journey:
  • "In the Bible, we have a mandate for growth. This really isn't optional if you're a follower of Jesus. It means to be in a process of growth." (00:08)
• Biblical Concept of Growth:
  • Growth in the Greek (NT) = “advancing” or “progress.” God’s involvement always initiates growth (creation, Israel’s journey, etc.).
  • "Anytime God gets involved in any situation in Scripture, it begins to grow and advance." (00:10)
• The Process, Not Perfection:
  • Growth is a continuous process: “It’s about progression, not perfection. It’s about being in a progress process of growth, of advancing.” (00:14)
• Personal Reflection on Growth:
  • Pastor Sam shares personal stories about wanting to get better as a leader, dad, pastor, and acknowledging feeling intimidated but trusting God for growth.

II. Growth Requires Intention (16:00–25:00)

• Intentional, Not Accidental:
  • "Growth is not accidental. It is intentional. This is not optional...God expects us to put our here. I am, Coach, put me in." (17:00)
• Paul’s Example (Philippians 3):
  • Pressing on towards the goal, not being stuck in the past (“let go of what’s behind”) and straining toward what’s ahead.
  • "Not that I've already obtained all of this...but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3, 20:00)
• Mandate for Progression:
  • “The mandate is not perfection, but it is progression.” (21:45)

III. The Model: Jesus Grew (25:00–54:00)

• Jesus as Our Model for Growth:
  • "The model is Jesus...But I felt the spirit of God say: lean in right here." (25:50)
• Theology of Jesus: Fully God, Fully Man:
  • Teaching on "Hypostatic Union": Jesus uniquely is both fully God and fully man.
  • “Jesus is one person with two natures...fully God, fully man, united without confusion, change, division, or separation. He is fully God, fully man, and he is fully good.” (43:00)
• Why Jesus is Our Model:
  • As God, He sets the standard; as man, He understands and identifies with us.
  • “As God, He can save us, but as man He understands us.” (45:00)
• Memorable Contrast Table:
  • As God: saves, never changes, gives rest, raises the dead, cannot sin, etc.
  • As Man: tires, hungers, weeps, is tempted, enters humbly, grows.

Quote:
“Jesus will never ask you to do something he has not done first. He will never. He always goes first and we are able to follow in his path. Jesus grew intentionally because he was fully man and he understands any situation you’re in...” (49:00)

IV. The Method for Growth (54:00–77:00+)

• Scriptural Foundation:
  • Luke 2:52: “Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man.”
  • This single verse covers the “hidden years” (ages 12–30) and is presented as the blueprint for holistic growth.

1. Grow in Wisdom (56:00–61:30)

• Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom:
  • Knowledge = information, Understanding = synthesizing/meaning, Wisdom = application.
  • Quote: “Knowledge can puff up...But how many of y’all would agree it does not fix the problems of our world.” (58:30)
• Pursuing Wisdom:
  • Wisdom only comes from God, especially through consistent engagement with Scripture.
  • Practical Tool: The SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) for Bible study.
• “Every single day, I need to be in the Word of God...the Word of God has never failed to deliver wisdom into my life. But don’t just stop at reading it—how quickly can I apply what I read to my life?” (61:10)

2. Grow in Stature (61:45–69:00)

• More Than Physical:
  • Stature = trust, consistency, integrity; a “life that carries authority and weight,” i.e., character.
  • Quote: “Stature is felt when people encounter us...A life of character.” (62:50)
• Growth Through Suffering:
  • Referencing Romans 5: character is forged through perseverance in suffering.
  • “How do we grow in character? Pain—which we wish we didn’t have and God doesn’t cause, but he will use—is a beautiful school for growing in character.” (65:00)
• Practical Examples:
  • Decisions in marriages, business, or at ethical crossroads—choose God’s way in difficulty to build character and hope.

3. Grow in Favor (With God and Man) (69:10–77:00+)

• Relational Goodwill:
  • Favor = increasing relational goodwill with God and people; living “vertical and horizontal” lives.
  • Authentic growth in relationship with both God and community.
• Getting Planted in the Church:
  • Psalm 92: Flourishing comes by being “planted” in the house of God.
  • Quote: “How do we grow in favor with God, in favor with man? We don’t just attend...we get planted in the house of God.” (72:00)
  • Commitment to regular in-person worship, community groups, and service (Growth Track, Dream Team).
• Encouraging Newcomers:
  • Welcoming those new to Highlands, inviting them to take the next step toward belonging and service.
  • Quote: "Your opportunity for growth is to get planted. And the next opportunity for that in the growth track...is tonight. If you know, you know; it’s time for a church to become your church..." (75:00)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On God’s Unchanging Love:
  • “God loves us the way we are, but...he refuses to leave us that way. That's the goodness of God.” (13:45)
• On the Model of Jesus:
  • “Jesus is the way and He’s also the what. So He is the standard. He is truth. He is God, but he’s also the ‘Hey, come and follow me and you will know how to live that.’” (47:15)
• On Application of Scripture:
  • “The broken connection could be that third idea, the ‘A’ in SOAP, and that is application. It’s just taking a moment every single day before you leave your time with God and saying, ‘How can I apply this to my life?’” (61:15)
• On Growth and Pain:
  • “Every single time I turn pain into perseverance, what does it produce? Character...not a wall built in a day, but every single decision builds on itself. And guess what it brings with it? Hope.” (66:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:06–16:00: Setting the theme, mandate for growth, and recap of the series.
• 16:00–25:00: Growth is intentional, not accidental, and illustrated through Paul's example.
• 25:00–54:00: The model of Jesus’ growth—exploring His divinity and humanity; the hypostatic union.
• 54:00–61:30: Growing in wisdom—knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and daily application through Scripture.
• 61:45–69:00: Growing in stature—character built through perseverance in suffering.
• 69:10–77:00+: Growing in favor—importance of community and belonging in the local church.

Summary Takeaway

“Jesus grew.” This simple, profound truth is the blueprint for all believers—a mandate (we’re expected to grow), a model (Jesus Himself grew, fully God yet fully man), and a method (wisdom, stature, and favor as described in Luke 2:52). Growth is not accidental; it’s a daily, intentional pursuit, grounded in Scripture, built through character-forming choices, and made real in authentic community. The life of Jesus shows us both where we’re headed and how to get there—step by step, by grace, together in God's house.

For anyone who missed the episode, this message is an inspiring call to “roll up your sleeves,” trust in God’s process, and actively pursue growth in every area of life, empowered by Jesus’ example and presence.