NCC June 24, 2012 - Preston Todd Community Group Sermon: 2 PETER BACKGROUND and PURPOSE - Wrote probably from Rome while in Prison shortly before he was martyred. - Most likely writing to the same church in Asia Minor as he wrote to in 1 Peter. - Main issues were false teachers that not only taught theologically incorrect doctrines, but also taught moral permissiveness. Peter s main objective in writing this letter was to remind and exhort the church to hold fast to the truth and live in a way worthy of the calling we have received until Christ returns. - SO TODAY I am going to do the same thing GIVE AN OVERALL OUTLINE FOR THE SERMON OPEN UP TO and READ 2 PETER 1:1-2 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Let s PRAY 2 PETER 1:3-4 READ: [3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. These verses can be a little confusing so let me give you a quick overview READ: The reason they have everything they need for eternal life is explained in the last part of v. 3, namely, Christ has called believers by means of his moral excellence and glory. ONLY CHRIST can do this. And He does it through His DIVINE POWER. No one else has the means and the glory to make this kind of call on you. He will not share glory or power with anyone or anything. Christ s call, as Peter understood it, is an effective one, so that when Christians are called to salvation, they have a base knowledge and understanding that Christ is ETERNALLY GLORIOUS. They TASTE and SEE that He is good and the Spirit confirms within them that they are indeed Sons of God. When God calls or
speaks, IT IS SO, as when he said, Let there be light (Gen 1:3). When God speaks, nothing can thwart His purposes. When His Word goes forth, it will not return void. When He said Let there be light where no light EXISTED, He displayed His power in a way that no one else could CREATE from nothing. Similarly, when God uses Christians to display and proclaim the GOSPEL to the world and when the call of Christ towards every Christian is one that CREATES and AWAKENS faith. And we know that faith is a gift to be received and used. - This DOES NOT mean that we will be SINLESS and PERFECT this side of heaven. READ Peter says in verse 4 he has granted to us (RIGHT NOW) his precious and very great promises, SO THAT through them you MAY BECOME (One day very soon) partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (NOW and ULTIMATELY in Heaven). - His Great Promise here is SALVATION. I AM COMING BACK! I will RESCUE you. FEAR NOT I am the First and the LAST. No one snatches my chosen ones away. - SO, with that in mind Let s read the next verses. 2 PETER 1:5-7 READ: [5] For this very reason (REFERRING to the previous verses), make EVERY EFFORT to supplement your FAITH (That you received from God) with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. - BRIEFLY EXPLAIN EACH QUALITY - Virtue : Moral Excellence (Phil 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Knowledge: GENERAL knowledge of God and His ways. Hunger for the WORD. Longing for pure Spiritual Milk to GROW UP into MATURITY in Chirst.
- Self Control Fruit of the Spirit. Without it, everything derails. Moral excellence was an esteemed Hellenistic virtue Peter emphasized it especially in light of the false teachers sowing permissiveness. How true is this still for us today?? - Steadfastness: James 1:2 says to let steadfastness have its full effect on us so that we might be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing! Our Father is the AUTHOR and PERFECTOR of our FAITH. He Gives us FAITH, then Perfects it (not fully, but sanctifies us). ENDURANCE is a key theme throughout the NT. - Godliness: Refers to piety or, more simply, to living a life that is like God Pure and Holy. One of our Core Values is to PURSUE HOLINESS. SORROWS Preached on it. TO LIVE SET APART LIVES. - Brotherly Affection: READ: (Greek is Philadelphia ie: City of Brotherly Love). The focus is on the love between fellow believers, on the family- like devotion that should characterize the Christian community. Here Peter used a word that is DISTINCTIVE of the Christian community in the sense that all believers are BROTHERS and SISTERS. TOTALLY unique concept. We have the same FATHER. - LOVE: READ: The chain climaxes with Christian love, the supreme evidence that one is a believer. Paul said in 1 Timothy that love is the goal of Christian instruction (1 Tim 1:5). It is the most excellent way (1 Cor 12:31 13:13), the VIRTUE THAT SUMS UP ALL OTHER VIRTUES (Col 3:14). Anyone who loves will possess the other qualities Peter mentioned. 2 PETER 1:8-9 - THE MAIN VERSE THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE TODAY. [8] For if (all of) these qualities are yours (and they are if you are a Christian) and (They) are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. VERSE 8 - Parable of the soils. 30 60 100 fold. - We are meant to BEAR FRUIT and be EFFECTIVE.
- God s Desire is to USE each of you to bring HIS KINGDOM TO EARTH and to DEMONSTRATE the LOVE of God to the World. VERSE 9 - Nearsightedness is when light entering the eye is focused incorrectly, making distant objects appear blurred. If you are nearsighted, you have trouble seeing things that are far away. - In Greek it means that one FAILS TO UNDERSTAND. That means that you NEVER understood. - MARRIAGE - When we are not seeing our calling clearly it is probably because we've forgotten that we have been cleansed. That s like me walking down the isle and then soon after forgetting that I am married to Lindsay and then wondering why my sex life is deplorable. I have forgotten God s intention in marriage, therefore I don t reap any of the benefits. I m not practicing any of the qualities that ensure a God- honoring, emotionally satisfying marriage. Lindsay would probably begin to wonder if she ever had my heart to begin with. - BAPTISM Peter is talking about baptism when he says CLEANSED. Remember Baptism is similar to walking down the isle JEFF, AARON, MARK, DEE - What Peter is saying is that if those guys (and us) forget that we were totally depraved and destined for hell apart from the intervening CALL OF GOD, and if now, after supposedly being cleansed of our sins, are unconcerned, cold, and indifferent towards God, we are blind and need to be re- examine whether we are Christians in the first place. - Similarly, for us at Normandy if we bristle at the thought of how much it is going to cost us to go for it in discipleship, evangelism, multiplying community, then we need to reconsider what Christ has done for you and the gift of salvation that He gave you. That gift is a calling to be WITH God and to live TO God. God s Design and Intention for us is to LOVE Him with all of our Hearts, bring Him glory, and as a result experience an unbelievable joy that can only be described as FROM GOD. THIS is what we are MADE for. SO. 2 PETER 1:10-11 [10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more DILIGENT to confirm your calling and election, for IF you PRACTICE these qualities you will NEVER FALL. [11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
VERSE 10 - Peter is saying THEREFORE, (BECAUSE I DON T WANT YOU TO WASTE YOUR LIFE OR YOUR CALLING) Be DILIGENT to CONFIRM. - James: Faith without Deeds is Dead NO FAITH AT ALL. You believe? So do the Demons and they shutter! Which leads to - IF YOU PRACTICE YOU WILL NOT FALL it is not assumed that you won t! - Ex) without FAITH, the first of the qualities, it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE God. - 1 John 2:10 - Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is NO CAUSE for stumbling. - NEVER FALL means fall away from the faith. Go Apostate. WHY? Because if you are practicing these things you will know HIM! You will be acquainted with HIS HEART. SIDE NOTE READ: JOHN 15 - [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - ABIDING means to remain in a place instead of leaving it; to stay behind or persevere. - READ [9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] IF you KEEP my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL. - IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT LOVE JESUS if we are ABIDING in His Love. ADDRESS TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE: - Those of us who are NOT DILIGENT some of you have not been diligent for years, maybe even decades. His heart is for you to return. - PRODIGAL the invitation is for all sons and daughters - READ : (Matthew 21:28-31 ESV) [28] What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, Son, go and work in the vineyard today. [29] And he answered, I will not, but afterward he changed his mind and went. [30] And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, I go, sir, but did not go. [31] Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, The first.
Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. - RETURN TO THE LORD! Trust in Him! He is the one who CALLS and supplies the GRACE TO CONFIRM your calling! Its not to late for you. - Those of us who are afraid that ABIDING in CHRIST, and being obedient to His Commandments, won t really produce the abundant joy that He promises. - Normandy is FULL OF DILIGENT believers and those GROWING in the grace and knowledge of God. BE ENCOURAGED, CHURCH! - DON T SHRINK BACK Keep pressing on. DON T QUIT. He is worth it and your wisdom and love for Him will be justified when He returns 1 John 2:28 [28] And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. [29] If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. [3:1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. WHICH LEADS TO VERSE 11 - so that there will be richness provided when you enter in to heaven... (salvation) - THE ULTIMATE PRIZE TRANSITION FROM PETER TO COMMUNITY GROUPS - So, WHY all of the 2 Peter stuff? I thought this was about Community Groups - To REMEMBER THAT OUR HOPE IS AMAZING. EVERLASTING GLORY IS A MOMENT AWAY VERSE 12-15 WE NEED TO BE REMINDED AGAIN READ: 12So I will ALWAYS remind you of these things, even though you KNOW THEM AND ARE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE TRUTH YOU NOW HAVE. 13 I think it is right to refresh your
memory as long as I live I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. MAIN POINT OF COVERING 2 PETER 1 is in VERSE 8. For if these qualities are yours (and they are if you are a Christian) and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Community Groups provide one of the best ways to INCREASE and put into PRACTICE the qualities ESPECIALLY LOVE. The end goal and culmination of all Christian virtues. - Why... because we re not in ISOLATION. Press on to love and good deeds - SO, We are doing GREAT. FIRMLY ESTABLISHED! Good start as a church, but want to build like Paul, a MASTER BUILDER - BUT NEED TO SHIFT and make sure we stay on course with the HEART of GOD and the WORD. OLD VISION FOR CGs: - We meet for Jesus - To walk in Community - To love our neighbors and those that don t know God - comfort & rejoice - plant a church The term COMMUNITY GROUP has a lot of confusion surrounding it. - OLD yet NEW concept. In Acts, but relatively new to the American church. - churches have different MODELS - people have different church backgrounds / expectations - Common hang- ups that derail the mission of God 1. Our tendency is to want to HANG OUT vs. advance the kingdom 2. the whole point of community is to advance the kingdom & to train up the saints to do works of ministry 3. What is COMMUNITY? There is a difference - Community happens inside of community groups AND especially outside of the 2 hour window on a tuesday night. Kids in Groups Is it really going to happen then? 4. koinonia communion through intimate participation intended to express DEPTH and RICHNESS. Can that happen only in 60 minutes of discussion and prayer together? 5. Friendship. Who are your closest friends? Probably talking way more often than once a week in a group setting.
DEFINITION: Community Groups: A committed group of Christians that gather together for the purpose of demonstrating and transferring the values of the Kingdom* to one another, the unchurched, and the unbelieving in order to see the gospel advanced in their neighborhoods through salvation and multiplication. Values of the Kingdom* - Relational Intimacy with God, Holiness, Discipleship, Authentic Community (make sure to emphasize COMMUNITY as a value) What this means practically: 1. Meet regularly. (we have 5 month semesters) 2. Meet outside of the church building where people live, work, and move. 3. Cultivate Community Caring for one another and Cultivating genuine Friendships. 4. Discipleship The backbone of the Church happens within and around CGs 5. Spiritual Growth (learning the Values of the Kingdom, but Flexible in what we cover) 6. Evangelism is a key element of reaching the unchurched and unbelieving 7. Multiplication The best way to raise up the future generations So, in light of those definition we have a NEW VISION for why we meet in Community Groups: 1. To LOVE, worship and glorify God 2. To EQUIP the saints for the works of ministry (Eph 4:13) (2 Peter 1:5-7) 3. To ADVANCE His Kingdom 1. To LOVE, WORSHIP and GLORIFY GOD PRACTICALLY - - To Seek to KNOW God relationally. (core value!) We can t love someone we don t know. - The ultimate desire of every person is to know God - This is what the world is looking for most. This has to be a genuine passion among us. - Literally WORSHIPPING Him. (What does this look like ideally each week?) - We set our lives apart for Him and for each other. Our TIME, our AGENDA, our PRIORITIES (work, hobbies Me at W.I.W. and throughout college and the Retreat - Flynt) HE IS WORTH IT. - Part of Loving God is through loving one another (his BODY). How can you say that you love God, but hate your brother? If you love one another, the world will see it and GLORIFY GOD. EVEN LOVING EACH OTHER IS ABOUT GLORIFYING GOD.
2. To EQUIP THE SAINTS for works of ministry. WHAT kinds of works? Why? - God has a PURPOSE (plug for upcoming sermon) for his CHURCH and for us INDIVIDUALLY. Emphasize individual PURPOSE within the BODY. - Ephesians 4 says [11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. - 1 Peter 2 [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. - As a leader this means raising up the next generation of leaders. - 3 John - I Have no greater joy than hearing that my children are walking in the truth. TROY. JUSTUS. FLYNT. COBY. JEFF. - 1 thess. 2:19 - [19] For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? [20] For you are our glory and joy. (should we not rejoice when our children are thriving? when our sons scores a touchdown then we rejoice!). If my son is elevated to a place of honor then I receive honor (glory). HOW are we going to equip in CGs? - Through learning and discussing the WORD of God. - Through DEMONSTRATION and modeling. - One living sermon is worth a 100 verbal ones. - PRAYER (show, don t tell. Caught, not taught only) - encouragement, spiritual & emotional care, etc. - ENSURES THAT VALUES ARE PASSED DOWN. - Through growing in our GIFTS. People wonder what their gifts are and how to use them - Everyone has gifts and should learn to use them even just to learn a little and grow in appreciation for those who are great at certain things. FIND THE GOLD. - Through DELEGATION and service APPLICATION: Everyone will take turns giving vision, bringing snacks, asking questions, picking songs for worship. There will still be a Leader, but that leader will primarily grow in leadership through learning to delegate, facilitate, disciple and coach. - Learn by doing (ME IN COLLEGE)
3. ADVANCE His Kingdom What is His Kingdom? What does that phrase mean?... - Jesus said to Pilate while being interrogated in John 18 that His Kingdom is not of this world - Jesus prayed Thy KINGDOM come Thy WILL be done. His Kingdom is at hand NOW and LATER. HOW will we advance His Kingdom?? - Through PRACTICING 2 Peter 1:5-7 personally, in discipleship, and in community. Effective and Fruitful Will never fall. - Through SALVATION. Seek and Save that which was lost. - 81% of churches in America are plateaued or declining - 18% of churches grow through transfer - 1% of churches in America grow through Salvation. (WOW!) - Through MULTIPLICATION (taking the land. raising up leaders. Multiplying the values of the kingdom throughout our community. - Does it look like the Todds, the Sorrows and the Bowers meeting each tuesday for years? - Cristoph Schalk with an org called Natural Church Development analyzed over 20 million pieces of data from growing churches. The distinguishing factor of churches that grew: Multiplying cell groups. They grew twice as fast. - Research also shows that being on mission together increases our sense of Community and Fellowship. - Priesthood of the Believer Everyone plays a part. Everyone matters to God and is gifted / empowered with the Holy Spirit to love others and share the gospel. - And ultimately through TRANSFORMATION - Explain what that means. Explain How. - One way to do this is to move into the same neighborhoods and focus all of our efforts on one geographic place at a time (Normandy invasion) - Phase ONE is our first two years of training and laying a foundation. Jesus: 3 years with 12. Paul: Master builder. Easy Company: Taccoa/England. - Phase TWO starts with the invasion into a community.
CLOSING / EXHORTATION Are you envisioned?!? Will we do everything perfect? NO! But by the grace of God, we won t quit and we ll lay a foundation now that 20 generations of disciples will build upon. What Generation are you living for? Yours? The next one? Or the 20 th? The answer is ALL of them. For some of you, it continues this semester, for some of you it starts this semester NEXT WEEK we will hammer out Discipleship in the same way we talked through CGs today. CGs are important and play a vital role in advancing the Kingdom but Discipleship is the PARAMOUNT objective of the church without Discipleship, the gospel dies with our generation. PRAY HAVE EVERYONE TURN AND PRAY TOGETHER: - Unity See the Harvest / BURDEN Brotherly affection and Love. PASSION. CLOSE WITH - Revelation 1:6 says To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood [6] and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.