Solid Steps
of Christian
Growth
A Study of 2 Peter 1:1-11
God’s Call to Spiritual Growth
2Peter 1:3-11
Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye be
my disciples. John 15:8
Add to Your Knowledge
Temperance – Part 1
Holy Spirit Control of Your Life
Surrendering Your ‘Self’ to God’s Will and
Your Attitude to God’s Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:6
Review





We all start off spiritually DEAD – religious yes, but
still… sinful, and separated from God
Hear the Gospel (what Jesus did for you)…
Respond IN FAITH – faith alone, believing God,
crying out to Him to save you from judgment!
Receiving perfect forgiveness and a new birth!
We are supposed to start adding to our faith,
VIRTUE (The Inner Strength To Do Right)
Next we need to add to our virtue KNOWLEDGE
(Personally knowing something to be true, not just
accepting it as true)
Introduction – Temperance?
Acts 24:25
Under
God’s
Control
I not only need to know what I am
doing wrong, and how to do right, but I need
help in controlling myself when I still want to
do wrong! That’s where temperance comes in!
 The apostle Paul not only preached about
righteousness, and sin, but of the inability of a
person to control themselves when it comes to
sin, and therefore their need for a new Master!

The Opposites of Temperance





Out of Control
Undisciplined
Unruly
Chaotic
Lawless
HELLO? That’s our society!
Temperance Means…
Surrendering my ‘Self’ to God’s Will,
and my Attitude to God’s Holy Spirit



Dominion – Who is in Charge of my life?
Balance – Careful to not burn out
Grace – Handling failure
Results in a Holy Spirit Control of My Life
Temperance is More Than Self-Control
2Timothy 2:24-26

Majority of all people are SLAVES!




Self-Control is good… but it’s not the best!





To their habits – think, do, and feel the way they have
since childhood – can’t do any differently
To their peers – never stand on their own
To satanic pressures – fears, worries, inhibitions
Great men are under control (disciplined)!
But Self is flawed by sinful nature… will let you down
Otherwise Adam and Eve would have obeyed
Temperance is Placing Yourself under a Stronger
Master than Yourself (Luke 11:21,22)…
And living by His commands, and in His fear
Yielding to the Right Authority
(Romans 6:11-18)
Become Unresponsive
(Dead) to…
Sin – what you know to be wrong
World – anything that is not of
Christ (like Drink, Drugs, Sex
before marriage)
Flesh – self-serving interests
Lusts – pleasure first
Bad habits – what you do
naturally like Laziness
Bitterness and habitual anger
DUNG (Philippians 3:8)
Live for the thrill of…
God (Creator of this universe)
Righteousness – doing things right
Grace - being allowed another chance
Heaven (Colossians 3)
Soul-Winning – just one soul
Family!
Pleasing God – “Well done…”
Making a difference (i.e., Doctor)
Saving our generation
PRICELESS
Conclusion





Prioritize – Decide What’s Really Important to
Do, and then keep Doing THAT
Pray About Everything – don’t rush, and live
by knee-jerk actions
Pursue lots of guidance - because of blindspots
Pay attention to God’s commands and limits
– know the Bible’s limits on things
Live by the 80/20 rule
Come Back Tonight at 7pm




Questions and Answers
Great Christian fellowship together
Everyone should be here – it’s Church!
Wednesday evening at 7pm – Verse by
verse Bible Study in Matthew 22
Principles of Submission

There are two kings who seek to rule your life




You are a servant of one or the other – no middle ground
You are the servant to that which you obey






One is Satan – disguised as SELF and rebellion
The other is Jesus – meek and lowly
The Pillow
The Euro
The fear of failures
The fear of man
No Christian is to be under the dominion of any sin
(Romans 6:14)
The moment you got saved, you became the servant of
righteousness – stay there, and serve THAT King!
Balance in the Christian Life
(1Corinthians 9:24-27)



Most of us are imbalanced (Hosea 7:8)
A Christian is a unique kind of a person
Balancing Measures





Loving God totally will balance my home (Mt 22:21; Eph 5:25)
Serving God ultimately will balance my motives (Col 3:23)
Obeying God sweetly will balance my heart
Knowing and doing God’s will, will keep my life from floundering
Areas to Focus On






Doing and hearing (James 1:22)
Faith and works (James 2:17)
Sorrow and Joy (Eccl 3:4)
Bible Study and Soul-Winning
Work AND Worship – too many use work to excuse missing church
Eating AND exercise
Having Grace






What about failures?
Temperance means that you do not ever give up on
either yourself, or on others
Temperance means that you know you are but dust
(Ps 103:14)
And that at our best, we are still nothing (Ps 39:5)
So have grace – give lots of second chances folks –
both to yourselves, and to each other
Also… Seek grace – be soft about failures - and be
soft in seeking forgiveness for failures
Conclusion





Prioritize – Decide What’s Really Important to
Do, and then keep Doing THAT
Pray About Everything – don’t rush, and live
by knee-jerk actions
Pursue lots of guidance - because of blindspots
Pay attention to God’s commands and limits
– know the Bible’s limits on things
Live by the 80/20 rule