“These personal notes are shared from sermons, classes, activities, journals, and reflections on faith. They do not represent the official views of Vox Church, and this site is not formally affiliated with Vox Church. To learn more about Vox Church and its beliefs, please visit voxchurch.org.”

Vox Sunday Sermon – Slow Grow – Overview (Head- Heart- Hands) – Part 0

Written by

Jay Downes

in

Sermon by – Lead Pastor Justin Kendrick – Vox Church

My Notes…

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:22-23 NIV

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalms 34:8 NIV

Two Types of Growth

There are two fundamental types of growth:

  1. Growth in Quantity – Volume
    • Expanding reach, influence, and achievement.
    • Increasing in numbers or capacity.
  2. Growth in Substance – Depth and Maturity
    • Moving from child to adult or acorn to oak tree.
    • Developing wisdom, knowledge, grace, patience, love, compassion, and understanding.

Substance Fuels Volume

  • Growth in substance fuels sustainable growth in quantity.
  • True achievement is not the goal—it is the byproduct of the fruit of the Spirit.
  • As we grow in wisdom and maturity, our capacity for meaningful impact increases.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33

Christian Growth Is Not Automatic

  • Spiritual maturity does not happen by default—it requires intentional pursuit.
  • Christian growth is a process, not an event.
  • The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) grows through consistent obedience, surrender, and time with God.

Deep Roots Lead to Strong Branches

  • A tree with deep roots can withstand storms and bear fruit in every season.
  • In the same way, spiritual depth produces lasting influence and strength.
  • Maturity is not measured by outward success but by inward transformation.

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.”
— Colossians 2:7

True Growth Begins with God

  • Growth in quantity flows naturally from growth in substance.
  • Focus on becoming more like Christ—wisdom, grace, and love will follow.

Stages of Spiritual Growth

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
— Hebrews 5:11–14 (NIV)

Three Stages of Growth

“I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.”
— 1 John 2:12–13 (NIV)

1. Childhood – Forgiveness

  • The key to progressing beyond spiritual childhood is to deeply know that your sins are forgiven.
  • Identity in Christ begins with understanding grace and acceptance.
  • Spiritual milk: Receiving the foundational truths of salvation and forgiveness.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
— 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)

2. Adolescence – Overcoming

  • Spiritual warfare becomes central in this stage.
  • Learning to overcome temptation and the schemes of the enemy.
  • Growth in character, resilience, and dependence on God’s strength.

“I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.”
— 1 John 2:14 (NIV)

3. Fatherhood – Knowing God

  • Spiritual maturity is marked by an intimate knowledge of God’s heart.
  • Deep understanding of God’s nature and faithfulness through experience.
  • Stability and peace come from resting in the unchanging character of God.

“I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.”
— 1 John 2:13 (NIV)

Spiritual Maturity Is Growth in Love

Spiritual maturity is not measured by knowledge or activity—it’s measured by love:

  • Agape love—self-sacrificing, unconditional love.
  • Maturity is reflected in how we treat others and reflect Christ’s character.

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
— Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

How to Grow Spiritually

  1. Crave Pure Spiritual Milk
    • Feed on God’s truth.
    • Replace lies with the truth of Scripture.
  2. Purify Your Soul Through Spiritual Disciplines
    • Spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, worship, study) don’t earn favor—they train your heart to love God more fully.
  3. Love One Another(Love = Verb)
    • Love matures you.
    • Serving others strengthens faith and reveals Christ’s love through action.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
— 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

The Desire to Grow

  • The most important part of growth is that you want it.
  • Spiritual hunger fuels spiritual growth.

“You might grow… IF you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
— 1 Peter 2:3 (NIV)

  • Growth happens when you experience the goodness of God.
  • When God’s goodness becomes real and personal, desire follows.

Transformation Begins with Encounter

  • Growth doesn’t start with willpower—it starts with a taste of God’s goodness.
  • Experiencing His grace and love firsthand creates the hunger for more.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”
— Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

👉 Spiritual growth isn’t about effort—it’s about response. When you taste His goodness, you’ll crave more.

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