Rev. David Holwick ZU
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 31, 1989
2 Peter 1:5-8
|
I. New Year's resolutions.
A. Many vow to give up drinking, smoking, eating.
1) Usually done at a party.
2) Vows are broken the next week.
B. Unless resolutions are like cartoon character, Nancy's:
1) Give up tobacco chewing, hang-gliding, shark wrestling.
C. Is change in our lifestyle really possible?
II. Heart of Christian faith.
A. Believe, then grow.
1) Growth takes work and discipline. 2 Pet 1:8
a) Must possess qualities.
b) Must possess them in increasing measure.
2) We hate discipline, so we stagnate. 2 Pet 1:8
B. Rationale for discipline. Do we really need it?
1) Many in America think self-control is unnatural.
a) Animals get high. c#1073
b) Drugs should be legalized instead of fought.
2) We are not uptight killjoys, but balanced people.
a) Everything God created is good.
b) But every good thing can be abused.
3) Uncontrolled pleasure leads to despair. (Ecclesiastes)
a) G.K. Chesterton: "one ripe, juicy pear [would be] devalued
if a person ate five pears in a mere absence of mind."
III. Discipline is climbing the ladder of Christian growth. 2 Pet 1:5-7
A. Faith is starting point.
1) It is not the finishing point.
2) "Pastor, I believe...."
a) So what??
B. Things must be "added" to it.
1) Add - supplying a choir for a Greek drama.
2) Faith needs a "supporting cast" to be effective.
IV. Goodness and knowledge.
A. Goodness = moral virtue.
1) Values are important to growing Christians.
a) Even if no one else has them, we should.
2) Recent article on fates of "corporate raiders."
a) Made greed popular.
b) Most of them are now failing.
B. Knowledge is practical.
1) Faith should have an impact on how we live day to day.
2) How do Christians gain practical knowledge?
a) Make goal to read Bible this year (or at least NT)
b) Make goal to attend a Bible study once a week, or S.S.
V. Self-control, perseverance.
A. Habits control how we live.
Quote from Talmadge, used by AJ Gordon:
"Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny."
#882
B. Habits are deadly serious.
1) Smoking kills 390,000 a year.
2) Alcohol kills another 100,000.
a) Also, ruined lives of children.
VI. Gaining control of habits.
A. Edwin & Sally Kiester, READER'S DIGEST article.
Habits are a form of automatic behavior that provide
pleasure and comfort.
A bad habit has negative consequences in the long run,
but it still gives immediate comfort.
Under stress the tendency is to return to the bad habit.
B. Don't start bad habits, and they won't entice you.
1) 10% of all who drink become alcoholics.
a) They don't know who they are until it's too late.
b) Same with gambling.
2) My mom gave up smoking 15 years ago, and still lusts for
them when she sees them in the checkout line.
C. If you have started a bad one, stop now.
Kiesters recommend:
1) Replace bad habits with good ones.
2) Get help from your family and friends.
a) Church should be a place of support.
3) Avoid high-risk situations.
a) "Bad company corrupts good character."
4) Don't let one defeat become a surrender.
a) Persevering means overcoming obstacles and failures.
#1004
VII. Godliness.
A. James: genuine religion is caring for people.
B. Not a false, fakey piety.
VIII. Finish with brotherly kindness, love.
A. Irenaeus: "Faith is the beginning, love the culmination."
1) Brotherly kindness (phileo) focuses on church family.
2) Love (agape) focuses on all people.
B. Love is the ultimate sign you are an effective Christian.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Create HTML Help, DOC, PDF and print manuals from 1 single source