Nursery & Toddler Worker Breakfast

Pastor Keith Hassell

April 1, 2006

“Developing the Divine Nature in the Nursery”

2 Peter 1:1-10

We begin with our like precious faith in Christ—God has provided in our common faith that which we need to become partakers of the divine nature. What we are we will produce for everything multiplies after its own kind! What kind of nursery would you want to be a part of? What kind of nursery would you want for your child?

Children Matter:

1.     To God

2.     To us

3.     To the battle

4.     To the future

With ALL DILIGENCE ADD TO YOUR FAITH:

1.     VIRTUE

a.      God called us by His glory and virtue (v 3). He has called us to His glory and virtue also (KJV).

b.     Moral excellence: Excellence is the condition of excelling; superior; surpassing goodness, merit, etc.

c.     Resolution: Showing a fixed, firm purpose; determined; resolved; unwavering

d.     Christian energy: “Enthusiasm”—“In God”—energy whose source is God inspired

2.     KNOWLEDGE

a.      The knowledge of God

b.     Nursery and Toddler are a school of learning and training

c.     We can help the children grow in the knowledge of God

3.     SELF-CONTROL

a.      Control of oneself—of one’s own emotions, desires, actions, etc.

4.     PERSEVERENCE

a.      To continue in some effort, course of action, etc. in spite of difficulty, opposition, etc.; steadfast in purpose

b.     Patience; endurance

5.     GODLINESS

a.      Loyalty and devotion to God in religious duty and action

b.     Exhibiting the nature of one who is devoted to God

6.     BROTHERLY KINDNESS

a.      Love of the brothers and sisters in Christ; cherishing each other as brothers and sisters in Christ

b.     Brotherly affection

7.     LOVE

a.      The God-kind of love

b.     Loving with all of our soul, mind, and strength

c.     Love and hate are the two poles of life

d.     It is the never-ending and enduring kind of love that overcomes the power of hate

If we do not have these things we are:

1.     Short-sighted even to blindness—we easily stumble over every issue

2.     Short-memory—forgetting where we came from and what God has done for us

If we have these things are ours and are increasing, then

1.     We will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ

2.     We make our calling and election sure

3.     We will never stumble

4.     Entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ