2 PETER 1:5-7

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR GROWTH

 For this very reason, make every effort to
add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,
knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;
and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7; NIV)

Picture in your mind a Volkswagen and a 747

airplane. Now imagine the Volkswagen
pulling the 747.[1] Believe it or not, a
Volkswagen can actually do this, but the
power of a Volkswagen could never make
the thing fly!
You cannot live the Christian life apart from
the power of the Holy Spirit. The New
Testament talks about people who have a
form of godliness, but they deny its power
(2 Tim. 3:5). That kind of religion is rather
like the Volkswagen pulling the plane. It
takes a great effort, but it’s ultimately
futile; it will never fly! Jesus said “Apart
from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
• Why some Christians never seem to grow
Our title this morning is “Everything You Need For
Growth,” and Peter’s message is that in Christ you
have everything you need for a thriving, productive,
and growing Christian life. But if God has provided
everything we need for life and godliness, why is it
that some Christians never seem to grow?

There are Christian people who never seem to make

any progress. They don’t have much joy. Their lives
don’t seem to lead to anything. Peter says that they
seem “ineffective and unproductive in their
knowledge of Jesus Christ” (v8). Why is that?
 you want to grow in the Christian life, Peter says that there are
If

certain things you must do. There are certain things that you
must pursue in the power of the Spirit and “if you possess
these things in increasing measure they will keep you from
being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ” (v8).

You have to “make every effort” (v5) to pursue these things.

You have to get into an active frame of mind if you want to
grow. You have to take responsibility for your own spiritual
growth. You cannot be passive in this. It’s no use saying, “Let go
and let God.” That’s the opposite of what Peter says here.
There are certain things that God has called you to pursue, and
Peter tells us what they are.
l. Goodness (Moral excellence)
If you want to be a fruitful Christian, then you need
to grow in goodness. The evidence of your faith will
be seen in the goodness of your life. Peter has
already told us that Christ calls us “by his own glory
and goodness” (v3). Throughout his life, Jesus went
about doing good, and the sheer moral excellence of
his life compels us. A reflection of that goodness in
our lives will be compelling to others.

Now Peter says to the believer, “you participate in

the divine nature.” (v4). His Spirit lives in you, so
make every effort to grow in this goodness. Pursue
goodness and moral excellence with all the energy
you can muster.
ll. Knowledge (Practical wisdom)
If you want to be a fruitful Christian, you need to
grow in wisdom, depth, stability, and maturity. The
way that happens is through the Word of God—
learned, believed, applied, and obeyed. The Bible
is much more than information. David said, “Your
word is a lamp to my feed and a light of my path”
(Psalms 119:105). You will find direction, wisdom,
and stability as you meditate on God’s Word.

What opportunities are you taking hold of for

learning God’s Word? Are you taking full advantage
of them?
lll. Self-control (Controlling your passions instead of your
passions controlling you)
Remember who’s writing this, Peter, the most impulsive man
in the New Testament! The man who was once a blundering
disciple is now a trusted apostle in the church of God. That’s
growth! If that can happen for him, it can happen for you.

Where do you need to exercise more self-control? Is it in

eating and drinking? Is it in what you watch? Is it in how
much or how little you sleep? In what you spend? In relation
to your moods, your anger, or your tongue?

God has given you everything you need for life and
godliness, so make it a life commitment to continue growing
in self-control.
lV. Perseverance (Pressing on when you feel like giving up)
If you want to be useful to Jesus Christ, you need to learn
perseverance. Perseverance comes from self-control. The
impulsive person gives up easily. He is pushed around by
what he feels at any given moment. When the impulsive
person gets fed up, he wants to give up.

If you want to be useful to Jesus Christ, you need to grow

out of that. Determine that you will rise above
discouragement, which all of us face in our own lives.
Don’t give up easily. Grow into perseverance.

Where do you need to press on? What do you feel like

giving up on right now? This may be an opportunity for you
to grow in character and to become a more fruitful
Christian.
V. Godliness (A life that flows
from a passion for God)
Worship expresses and refreshes your
love for Christ. And this love comes before
love for other Christians and love for the
world, because love for Christ is the
source of love for others and love for the
world.

How is your love for Christ? What priority

does worship and prayer have in your life?
Vl. Brotherly kindness (A generous
spirit towards other believers)
The person who is really useful to Christ is always asking,
“Where can I give a helping hand? How can I contribute to the
lives and needs of others?”

If you are growing in brotherly kindness, you will be generous in

giving and in helping. You will also be generous in your
judgment of other Christians. You will be slow to think the worst
of your brothers and sisters in Christ and quick to think the best.

Where can you be more generous to other Christians? Are you

aware of a Christian brother or sister in financial need? Are you
aware of a brother or sister who needs a helping hand? Is there
a brother or sister of whom you have been thinking the worst?
Vll. Love (God’s compassion for the world)
It’s very significant that Peter calls us to grow in love for each other
and in love for the world. Sometimes Christians who are most
passionate about reaching the lost are also most critical of their
Christian brothers and sisters. And sometimes Christians who are
most generous to other believers are quite heartless towards the
lost world. God doesn’t give us a choice between loving our
brothers and loving the world. He calls us to both.

Where can you demonstrate God’s compassion for lost people? Are
you aware of someone outside the church who is in need? Do you
know someone who has never heard the “good news” of Jesus
Christ? Do you have active friendships outside of church world?

These seven virtues are the things we are to pursue. Make every
effort to progress in these things. Go after them with all the energy
you can muster. Make them yours. Add them to your faith.
MAY YOU GROW IN EVERYTHING