God's StairWay to Heaven

8 Spiritual Steps to Success in Life through Jesus Christ.

Give God everything you GOT.

2 Peter 1:3–15 ESV

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

The more you know, the more you grow.

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Here's a general overview of average salaries by education level:

No Degree: $29,800 per year.

High School Diploma: $42,590 per year.

Associate's Degree: $55,016 per

Bachelor's Degree: $77,636 per year,

Master's Degree: $90,324 per year,

Professional Degree: $114,712 per year

An advertisement for a store called Sieman’s said an educated consumer is our best customer.

Knowledgeable consumers can participate more fully and effectively in the marketplace. The more consumers know about their rights and responsibilities as well as about the goods and services they buy, the better they are able to protect themselves, make sound purchasing decisions, and contribute to the economy.

An educated Disciple is God’s most useful servant.

Spiritual Confirmation

3. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4. by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Spiritual Determination

5. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your

Spiritual Supplementation. vs 5 b

faith with virtue,

Virtue Shows Holiness and high moral standards

A Virtue That Needs Reviving

It is a simple command: “Practice hospitality.” Christians should be willing to share their homes and hearts with others.

But we live in a time of isolation. Houses are islands where their

People are home alone

shop from home

Work from home,

Play at home.

Unfortunately, this spirit has infiltrated the ranks of God’s people. Worship at home

The church exists as a counterculture to the prevailing mood.

In a society that can be brutally individualistic, followers of Jesus should cut across the grain and become community-oriented.

TAKE ME BACK (ANDRE CROUCH)

Chorus: Take me back, take me back dear Lord To the place where I first believed you. Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I first believe. I feel that I'm so far from you Lord But still I hear you calling me Those simple things that I once knew, The memories are drawing me. I must confess, Lord I've been blessed But yet my soul's not satisfied. Renew my faith, restore my joy And dry my weeping eyes. Chorus Bridge: I tried so hard To make it all alone I need your help Just to make it home

and virtue with knowledge,

Knowledge shows us how to know GOD.

6. and knowledge with self-control,

and self-control with steadfastness,

Patience shows the character of Christ.

and steadfastness with godliness,

Godliness shows the purity of God.

7. and godliness with brotherly affection,

Brotherly kindness shows forgiveness, compassion, and provision for your brother.

and brotherly affection with love.

Love is an action word, evident by how we treat one another.

of little islands of families, we should open our homes and hearts to other families. We need to connect.

Neighborhoods aren’t neighborhoods anymore.

A Church on every corner in a place called the hood.

They are just collections of houses where people move in and out. Reach out and introduce yourself to a neighbor, let them know a child of God is in the neighborhood.

A home can never be happy if it is selfish. Let’s learn to open our door to the stranger. Chances are, that stranger is lonely.

Spiritual Consistency

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual deficiency

9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Spiritual Diligence

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Spiritual Confidence

11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Confidence in the natural world is self-reliance, in the spiritual world it is God-reliance. greater and more persistent your confidence in God, the more abundantly you will receive all that you ask.

Spiritual teaching

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Pe 1:1–13.