Sermon Tone Analysis
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Text:
Introduction
Opening IIlluss.:
o Through the power and promises of God, growing in your faith is made possible
Season of changing and lying
In my running days, I was a gym rat - about an hour a day
We dreaded January - The gym went from sparse to sardens overnight - we had a saying - Two weeks until normal again
This is the season that people dream of change, lie to themselves, and then quit
About 1/2 of us say we are going to spend less money, about 1/2 say we are going to lose weight and get in shape
The New Year offers a sense of change and newness, february often brings a sense of reality - We have trouble changing our ways - We can and do but must often we don’t
Losing weight is a good thing but we can’t lose focus on the things that matter most - spiritual things
Spiritual change - or my I say growth affects everything
When we grow in Christ - We see our bodies as temples, our finances as stewardships, and our relationships as priorities
But how can we have a paradigm shift from failure in changing to real growth this year
I believe we find the answer to this in 2 Peter
· Illuss.: Have you every been traveling some place new and lost your GPS signal – a feeling of uh-oh, Many of us are trying to grow Christ, using our own man made methods/plan –
· Illuss.: Have you every been traveling some place new and lost your GPS signal – a feeling of uh-oh, Many of us are trying to grow Christ, using our own man made methods/plan –
· God has specifically given us a plan to Christian growth
I want to share 6 principles of Christian growth for you today - don’t just take notes, don’t just listen - apply
Exposition
The Power of Growth (3-4): We Grow By God’s Power Not Our Own
Our first issues lies in the fact that we are trying to change under our own power
How?
a. God’s Power (v3) – This is the Holy Spirit
i.
You can overcome any temptation
ii.
You can discern (with prayer) any situation
iii.
You can have victory of sin
b.
God’s Promises (v4) – This is the Word of God
i. God has given us commands and examples through His Word
ii.
Promised us victory, assurance, His power and presence, eternal life, and wisdom
c.
Illuss.: God has given us the gassed up car and the instructions on how to drive it
d.
Recap: Everyone saved can grow in Christ
The Plan of Growth (5-7): God has a specific plan for a Christian to grow
Even though growth happens through God’s power, it will require our effort - don’t expect magic pixie dust
· These are not stepping stones but constant additions that are added along the way
o Illuss.: Don’t be unkind to a brother in Christ and then tell them you are still working on self-control and you haven’t reached brotherly kindness
o You should be adding these qualities along the way
· These are not abstract but real tangible qualities of growth
· Also, faith is the foundation to all of this – you must be born again – but faith will produce growth
· These are the qualities you add
1. Virtue – Greek – excellence, valor, manliness – Man-up attitude
a.
You have been placed on the rock, you are more than a conquer – Now act like it
b.
This is mostly an attitude adjustment
c.
Illuss.: When my children were very young, any time I painted a room, I would always set them up a place to paint (They always wanted to paint and I thought it was a good lesson).
Inevitably, two things would happen: they would do a terrible job and then quit after 15 minutes – But, why?
They were children
d.
Virture is the attitude that seeks excellence over comfort
e. Virtue is the difference between between staying in bed Sunday morning because your “tired” or coming to church
f.
Virtue is the difference between watching your 4th hour of tv or opening up the Word of God
g.
Virtue is what carries your prayer life farther than a few minutes a day
h.
Virtue is patience, working hard for growth that will not be realized until the future, knowing that your sacrificing the comforts of right now
i.
Virtue is never satisfied with your current level of growth but is always striving forward
2. Knowledge – Diligent Study of the Word of God
a. Once you have added the right attitude then you can get to work
b.
Every week I stress the importance of the Word of God
c.
You must diligently “do it”
3. Self-control – Discipline
a. Discipline to follow God’s Word
b.
Discipline is obedience to the Word of God
4. Counter culture – the world says indulge
a. Discipline requires diligence
b.
Self-control is Holy Spirit controlled
c.
How can we expect to grow without discipline
d.
We can’t fast, pray, study, witness, overcome sin because there is no discipline in our lives
5. Steadfastness – perseverance
a. Recap – Faith-Study-Discipline-Steadfastness
b.
Sticktoitness
c. Christianity maturity involves getting off the roller coaster
d.
God can’t use unstable people – there is no fruit
e. Satan is trying to get you off the track (to quit) – get you distracted or discouraged
6. Godliness
a. Completeness
b.
Godly people are fully submitted to God in every area of their lives
c.
What area does God not belong in?
None
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