Untitled Sermon

But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—slander what they do not understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed.

2 Peter 2:

“At a prestigious medical school, some of the students were quietly grumbling about required courses that were unrelated to their field. As one student became particularly frustrated, he also became increasingly bold. With the support of his fellow students, he challenged the curriculum requirements, asking one of his medical professors, “Why do we have to take courses like physics that have nothing to do with our field of study?” The professor, not suprprised by the inquiry, calmly responded, “Because the study of physics saves lives.” The young student balked at the absurdity of the professor’s claim: “That’s ridiculous! How does studying physics save lives?” With a sly grin, the professor patiently replied, “Because studying physics ensures that lazy and ignorant people cannot become doctors.”” — Pastoral Theology: Theological Foundations for Who a Pastor is and What He Does by Dr. Daniel L. Akin, Dr. R. Scott Pace

This morning we are focusing in on the mind of a disciple. What a disciple knows, remembers, and learns. We are in a season right now as a church where we are learning what it means to be a disciple - a follower of Jesus becoming more like him; and what it means to disciple others - leading others to become more like him.

Our prayer is that this will spill over into an atmosphere of discipleship in this church that spills out into evangelistic opportunity and discipleship in our community.

How do you know Jesus? How do you know for sure that when you die you will go to heaven? How do you know for sure right now that you are saved? How do you know..

Well one day two brothers were fishing when a man named Jesus walked up to them and said “follow me”. They immediately left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4:18–20 CSB

As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Summariaze/Narrate

Acts 3:1–16 CSB

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you. You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

Acts 3:1-

Acts 4:1–13 CSB

While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

2 Peter 3:1–2 CSB

Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder, so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.

2 Peter 3:1-

Body (75% 30-minutes)

(1) Exposition (50% 20-minutes)

A Disciple must know how to live a godly life.

2 Peter 1:3 CSB

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:

It’s HIS divine power, not ours. Life and godliness does not exist apart from Christ. A disciple is to know LIFE, not death; GODLINESS, not sinfulness. Its not a faith in me, Peter says, it’s not a faith in other people, it’s a faith in Jesus. And by the way - watch out for those who say there is any other way than Jesus. Don’t let anyone tell you that there is anything required for life other than this. But that is the essence of discipleship, showing people what life is.

This was Peter’s exact reply when he performed the first recorded miracle after pentecost, after Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter healed a lame man, and people went nuts and thought Peter did it. Peter said:

Acts 3:12 CSB

When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness?

Acts 3:16 CSB

By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

2 Peter 1:3–11 CSB

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things 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.

(2) Illustration (12.5% 5-minutes)

(3) Application (12.5% 5-minutes)

Conclusion/Invitation (15% 6-minutes)

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