Endurance + The Other Three

Introduction

Greeting and Opening Prayer:

Let us pray for the insight and wisdom to understand and embody the words of scripture we will explore today. May our hearts be open to growth and our spirits willing to embrace the goodness that comes from faith.

Topic Introduction:

Last Weeks Topic:

Faith is all you need? Really? Peter his last words to people of faith- Faith is just a beginning. Peter is essentially laying out a roadmap for spiritual growth. He's saying that it's not enough to simply believe; you must build on that belief, step by step, quality by quality, until your life overflows with love—the greatest virtue of all.

We concluded last week by deciding that let us, be not just hearers of the Word but doers also. As we step out from this place today, may we carry with us the determination to add to our faith goodness, in our homes, in our workplaces, and in every interaction. Doing one good thing a day, with intentionality.

Moral Excellence and one goodness a day

This Weeks Topic:

All three | Godliness, Mutual Affection, Love

Going to combine these together.

Relevance:

Briefly explain why the topic is relevant to the audience's everyday life.

What does this mean for us today...

Sermon

Part 1: Presenting the Truth

Scriptural Foundation:

Share a key verse or story that lays the foundation for the sermon's main point.

2 Peter 1:5–11 (NRSV)

For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Introduction of Scriptural Texts:

2 Peter 1:5-7: This passage is part of a letter written by the Apostle Peter to early Christians. In these verses, Peter outlines a sequence of virtues that believers are encouraged to cultivate, starting with faith and culminating in love. The progression he mentions – from faith to goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love – illustrates the growth and maturation of a Christian's character and spiritual understanding. This passage sets the foundation for understanding how knowledge and moral excellence are intertwined in the Christian journey.

2 Peter 3:18: In this verse, Peter concludes his second epistle with an exhortation to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." This call to continual growth in both grace and knowledge highlights the ongoing nature of the Christian's spiritual journey. It underscores the importance of not only learning about Christ but also experiencing and embodying His grace in our lives.

Here we need a verse that further emphases what 2 Peter 1:5-7 is saying with his use of the word knowledge (gnosis in greek) to relay to his readers.

Main Point:

Explanation:

Break down the scripture, explaining its context and meaning in simple terms.

Let us dive into these words.

Godliness and the Greek Meaning

Talk about what Peter was writing here, and how it relates to what you brought up with the Marine Corps values.

Godliness: This reflects esteem needs, where respect from others and self-respect arise from living a life aligned with divine principles.

5. Godliness (eusebian, also used in 2 Peter 1:3 and 3:11 and 10 times [in the Gr.] in the Pastoral Epistles) refers to piety, man’s obligation of reverence toward God. The fourth-century church historian Eusebius was named for this lovely Greek word. How unfortunate that the words “piety” and “pious” have fallen on hard times in current usage.

6. The first five virtues pertain to one’s inner life and his relationship to God. The last two relate to others. Brotherly kindness translates the Greek philadelphian, a fervent practical caring for others (1 John 4:20). Peter already urged this attitude on his readers in his first epistle (1 Peter 1:22; cf. Rom. 12:10; 1 Thes. 4:9; Heb. 13:1).

7. Whereas brotherly kindness is concern for others’ needs, love (agapēn) is desiring the highest good for others. This is the kind of love God exhibits toward sinners (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9–11).

Interestingly this “symphony” begins with faith and ends with love. Building on the foundation of faith in Christ, believers are to exhibit Christlikeness by supplying these seven qualities that climax in love toward others (cf. faith and love in Col. 1:4–5; 1 Thes. 1:3; 2 Thes. 1:3; Phile. 5).

Kenneth O. Gangel, “2 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 866.

piety” as the sort of conduct that honors God.

N. J. Opperwall, “Godliness,” ed. Geoffrey W Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 516.

Mutual Affection and the Greek Meaning

Love and the Greek Meaning,

And why did I put these all together. WHY!

Part 2: Deepening Understanding

Lets go a little deeper here

Throughout the year, we were looking into Luke into who Jesus is and why do we follow him, what did he actually teach, how did he live his life.

STORY TIME

Further Scripture:

Introduce additional scripture that reinforces the main point.

Luke 1:70-80

Luke 1:77: This verse is found in the Gospel of Luke, where Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is prophesying about the role of his son in the coming of Christ. He speaks of John giving people the "knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins." Here, knowledge is directly linked with salvation and the understanding of God's redemptive plan. This emphasizes the importance of knowledge not just as an intellectual exercise, but as a deep, transformative understanding of God's grace and salvation.

Luke 1:77 NRSV

to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

Historical/Contemporary Examples:

Provide examples from history or current events that exemplify the sermon's main point.

Some historical context with Peter himself as an apostle of Christ

Reflection:

Ask rhetorical questions to encourage personal reflection on the part of the congregation.

Lets reflect on our own life, as someone who has come to Christ, why are we sitting here today. Have we just heard about Christ, have we had a personal experience with Christ, Have we experienced, what I’m talking about, this gnosis, or living knowledge of Christ's will in our life.

IF YOU YEARN FOR THIS DEEPER KNOWLEDGE, I’M GLAD YOU ARE HERE TODAY.

Part 3: Application to Life

Practical Steps:

Offer clear, practical steps on how to apply the sermon's main point to daily life.

I encourage you, to take what you learn, and if you are on the edge of knowing about Jesus, and applying his teaching to your life, I encourage you to take the step of faith, in the moral excellence, and watch this transform your life.

Testimonies:

Share testimonies or examples of how others have successfully applied these truths.

let me give you an example of Emma

Encouragement:

Motivate the congregation with encouraging words about the benefits of applying these principles.

So while last week I encouraged you to do something good, this week I want you to reflect on what your moral excellence did for you.

What did your partnership with God look like.

Conclusion

Summary

Recap Main Points:

Briefly summarize the key points of the sermon for clarity and impact.

We learned about what Peter was trying to say, which we couldn’t get from only the english translation.

Personal Appeal:

Make a personal appeal to the hearts of the congregation, showing empathy and understanding for their struggles.

This is a good example of what knowledge can help us do, but now we must live what it teaches us, to truly understand, God’s will in our life.

Call to Action

Direct Application:

Challenge the congregation to take specific action in the coming week related to the sermon's topic.

So this week, don’t just learn about God’s will, apply it.

Examples of this would be good.

Invitation to the Altar:

For Believers:

Invite those who wish to deepen their commitment or seek guidance on the topic to come forward for prayer.

For Seekers:

Extend an invitation to those who may not yet believe but are moved to explore faith further.

Closing Prayer:

Offer a prayer that commits the congregation's intentions to God, asks for His help in applying the sermon's lessons, and thanks Him for His guidance.

Post-Sermon

Certainly! To illustrate the interplay of grace and knowledge in the Christian journey, consider the story of Emma, a fictional character:

Emma grew up in a Christian family, attending church regularly and learning about the Bible from a young age. As she entered adulthood, she embarked on a deeper exploration of her faith, seeking to understand both the knowledge aspect (the teachings and doctrines of Christianity) and the grace aspect (the experience of God's love and mercy).

**Knowledge Aspect:** Emma decided to join a Bible study group. Here, she delved into the scriptures, learning about the historical context of the Bible, the nuances of its teachings, and the theological implications of key passages. This study expanded her understanding of her faith. She learned about the life of Jesus, the history of the early church, and the principles of Christian living. This knowledge transformed her perspective on many things, including the importance of forgiveness, love, and service.

**Grace Aspect:** Concurrently, Emma volunteered at a local shelter, where she put her faith into action. This experience was a practical expression of grace. She encountered people from all walks of life, many in desperate situations. Through these interactions, Emma experienced God's grace in a new way. She found herself extending love and kindness to those who were often ignored or marginalized. Each act of service was both an expression of the grace she had received and a way to grow in that grace.

**Interplay of Grace and Knowledge:** Emma's growing knowledge of scripture provided her with a deeper understanding of why service to others was important in Christianity. It wasn't just an act of moral goodness but a response to Jesus' teachings and example. Her experiences at the shelter, in turn, brought the scriptures to life for her. Passages about loving one's neighbor, caring for the poor, and being a light in the world were no longer just words; they were real-life applications she was living out. This experience enriched her understanding of God’s grace and deepened her commitment to her faith.

**Transformation:** As Emma continued this journey of growing in both grace and knowledge, her friends and family began to notice a change in her. She became more patient, kinder, and more compassionate. Her conversations were seasoned with insights from scripture and her experiences of grace in action. She became a source of encouragement and wisdom in her community, reflecting the transformative power of combining knowledge with grace in her Christian walk.

In this example, Emma's growth in knowledge and grace is not just an intellectual exercise or a spiritual feeling; it's a tangible, lived experience that impacts her and those around her. This balanced growth leads to a more profound faith and a life that embodies the teachings of Christ in practical, meaningful ways.