Sermons

Where Do We Grow From Here? | 2 Peter 1:5-11

Sermon Series: Faithful to the End

1. Intro: 4th of July –

   1. Illustration Pilgrims- Pilgrim’s Progress

2. Question to Answer: What do I do with what I have received? Grow in your Faith

3. Context

4. For this Reason (2 Peter 1:1-4) Take this personally- your sin, your life, claim his promise for you, spend time with him

   1. God has called you out of corruption

   2. God has equipped you to live a godly life

   3. God keeps his good and precious promises

   4. God invites you to himself to share in his divine nature.

5. Make every Effort (Luke 5:1-11) (Listen to the Master (intake of God’s Word), Put out into deep water (make faith decisions) keep at it or leave and follow Jesus

6. Add to - Generous and Costly Participation (Theater Patron) – What are you investing in the kingdom of God? Time, Finances, Opportunity Cost

   1. Growth

      1. Growth takes Effort (Generous and Costly Participation

      2. Growth is Gradual (Peter’s Journey, Saved by GRACE)

      3. Growth is effective (you will see evidence)

   2. Faith (Hebrews 11: 1- confidence in what we hope for, assurance of what we do not see)

      1. Faith is the foundation- virtue without it is like a screen door on a submarine (Hebrews 11:6-without faith it is impossible to please God)

      2. Faith is a Gift (2 Peter 1:1)

      3. Faith does not stand alone (verse 5-11)

6. 3. Goodness (Mark 10: 17-18 No one is Good but God alone)

      1. Let God’s Word be your Moral Authority, Let it come from your faith

   4. Knowledge (Gnosis, Practical Wisdom, Proverbs- the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, Listen to Wise Counsel, be Humble, Phone illustration What kind of knowledge do we seek (tree of knowledge of good and evil)

   5. Self Control (1 Peter 2:11 Abstain from desires that wage war) Christian and Faithful in Vanity Fair)

6. 6. Perseverance (Endurance- Ernest Shackleton, Romans 5:3-5)

      1. Patience- Waiting on Jesus, Suffering-perseverance-Character-hope, God does not waste it. He is the God who sees you (Genesis 16:13)  But we are not meant to be alone (Genesis 2:18)

   7. Godliness (godliness- Godliness- Eusebia- piety, holiness, reverence, respect) (1 Peter 2:17)

   8. Mutual Affection (Philadelphia brotherly love, (1 Peter 1:22)

      1. Vulnerability of Being known, power of Christian Community – Outward- love God, love people

   9. Mutual Affection to Love (Agape) The Fathers Bargain

   10. (John 13:35-Love one another)- We are called to love each other in this manner.

7. Possess these qualities in increasing measure-Growth = increase in size or complexity- one of the traits used to determine if something is alive. Have these and you will be effective and productive (Living things Grow)

Epignosis knowledge of Jesus Personally. To know him.

8. Near sighted and Blind (blind by way of being near sighted, driving example, you are a danger to others)

9. Forgetting they have been cleansed (Pilgrim’s Progress , Christian being tempted to turn back- but remembering when his burden fell- The Gospel

10. Therefore- make every effort (again) to confirm your calling and election

Two Plants- Because Living things grow – If you are growing – it is evidence you are alive in Christ. Consider this. How to confirm- Pursue Jesus. Repent and Believe, Continue to repent and believe

11. Stumble- What causes people to stumble? This is an eternal type of stumbling block. (lack of faith, perverted good, worldly knowledge, lack of self control, etc.)

12. Rich Welcome- Arrival at the end of the Journey- take of your pack, put down your burden- Hospitality of Heaven – Worth striving for, waiting For, dying for

    1. 2 Peter 3:18 – Read aloud

13. Gospel Presentation/Communion

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