WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:08.720 This podcast is a ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.919 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:26.960 So I want you to ask Jesus if there's one thing in your life right now that only Jesus could give you, what would it be? 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:32.479 Go ahead and ask him for that. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:35.200 Just be present. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:42.799 Jesus, right now I need this from you, from your word, from your people, from your church. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:52.479 So, Father, come. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:59.520 The power of your spirit, Spirit, and the presence of your Son overwhelm us once again with your goodness. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:10.640 Would you move us from being unexpecting to expecting people who are waiting and ready to hear a word from you? 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:14.879 Would you be the lifter of our heads? 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:20.879 Would you rejoice over us with loud singing? 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:23.599 Would you quiet us with your love? 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:30.000 And we confess our hearts are restless until they are at rest in thee. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.040 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:34.000 Amen. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:37.680 Well, good morning, church. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:39.760 Hi, I'm Chris Brooks. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.480 Uh, Neil got to introduce me earlier. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.159 If you have your Bibles, go ahead and turn them to 2 Peter. 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.879 That's what we'll be hunkering down in this morning. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:57.439 And uh, while you're turning there, just by way of information, uh, have a beautiful wife and four children, ages 11 to 3. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:12.400 Um, and so life is full, uh, which means I'm usually tired and stressed out sometimes and uh just overwhelmed with my inadequacy as a husband and a father most days, which makes me an incredible grace addict. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:30.159 But just real quick, the uh Lord just kind of spoke to me uh after the first service, uh, went back to Neil's office and FaceTimed my uh family real quick just to tell them, hey, first service went great, keep praying for us during our time together, and they send their love and their blessing and their prayers uh for us during this time. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:43.280 And so I got to speak to my wife, and she's walking down the hallway of our house and turns into the family room uh where Christopher's in his PJs uh watching Rabbit's Invasion, which that should drives me crazy, but that's beside the point. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:57.680 Um and she just says, Hey Christopher, Daddy's on the phone, and immediately turns and runs straight towards the phone, and he just starts dancing a little bit and starts just throwing some jabs like this, he's dancing around a little bit like this, starts throwing some jabs. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.319 And Audrey just goes, What are you doing, Christopher? 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:04.080 He's just smiling the whole time, dancing a little bit, throwing some more jabs. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:05.360 Never seen him do this. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:06.879 We're like, Are you dancing? 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:07.840 Are you boxing? 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.039 Are you doing both? 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.759 Is God calling you to be Billy Blanks in the next typo? 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:14.080 I really don't know what's happening here right now. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:22.319 But it just brought such deep joy to my heart that the second he heard my name, and then the second he saw my face, he started dancing. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:32.960 So we're gonna open up God's word, and it's just my prayer for your heart and your soul that the second you see your father's face, there's a little pep in your step. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:39.439 And for some of you who have forgotten how to fight, your strength renewed this morning. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:42.319 Uh, because you get to see your father's face. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:47.439 So let's read with me, 2 Peter chapter 1, um, and we're gonna read verses 1 through 11. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:53.280 And I just want you to be listening in here for what the key to growing in God is. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.639 What does it look like when we're growing as Christians? 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:57.840 What does it look like? 00:03:57.919 --> 00:03:58.719 How can we go? 00:03:58.800 --> 00:03:59.520 Hey, you know what? 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:15.039 I I know that I came to faith by grace, in faith, in Jesus, and that's the message of the gospel, that I could never do anything to merit God's love, but while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me, and that beauty's overwhelmed and captured my soul, and I'm gonna live my life in response to that. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:15.919 It's awesome. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.839 Am I actually doing that well? 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:24.800 I'm not trying to be legalistic, I'm just asking, hey, am I being effective as a Christ follower? 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:26.560 And how do I know that? 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.759 Because the answer isn't no standards. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:36.959 And the answer isn't creating some legalistic system where we all become religious Pharisees and hypocrites and know it all jerks. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:41.680 There has to be something in the middle where we can go, yeah, all right. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:50.720 Um I think I'm on track, and I think uh I am partnering with God in becoming the man or the woman that he's intended me to be. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:56.160 Because here's some of the obstacles I think when we get into this text that you'll discover when it comes to growing in Christ. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:57.839 We usually do three things. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:07.120 Um we overcomplicate it, and so this creates a system that we can control and we can go, oh, this is really complex. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:20.240 Here's this diagram, here's these 90 things that I'm working on, and we feel like we exert a sense of control in our own spiritual development and we lose risk and faith and doubt, despair, and the glorious, messy journey that it is. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:27.680 We think once we've wrestled it and we've got it down to our own system, then somehow we can control uh the outcome of it. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:30.639 Some of it for us in here, it's procrastination. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:35.439 It seems too complicated, it seems too dangerous, and you know what? 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:37.360 I'll get around to that tomorrow. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:43.519 Best I can do is show up for church today, but seriously, don't ask me to take ownership in my relationship with Jesus. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:47.040 Uh uh, I'll just I'll I'll show up next week. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:48.079 I'm barely hanging on. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:58.560 Just give me a little something, something that makes me feel better about myself, and I'll I'll put off actually taking ownership from my relationship with Jesus till next week or things get worse. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:09.519 Um, and then I I think uh another obstacle for us when we overcomplicate this process, it's because uh we're narcissists. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:13.839 If we can create a program that we dominate, we just want to celebrate ourselves all day long. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:27.279 Now, I'm not saying celebration is a bad thing, I'm not saying God doesn't do that over us, but I think sometimes we want to create a system and structure and where we put the things that we value in God's eyes above everything else and go, look, I'm awesome at these things. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:32.639 Hey, let's start a small group and I'm gonna talk to you about the things I'm awesome at. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.800 And we're gonna worship God, but secretly we're gonna worship me in the process, okay? 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:42.160 So let me just let's just talk about all the things that I feel like I'm I'm good at, and we're really gonna focus on those. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:45.439 I don't think any of those things are the right answer. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:48.399 And I think Peter's gonna speak uh directly to it. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.920 Uh so would you pray with me as we enter into this text? 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:55.600 Holy Spirit, would you give us eyes to see and ears to hear? 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.959 Jesus, go before us and make a way. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.000 Speak, Lord. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.000 Your servants are listening. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:07.279 Amen. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:24.160 Second Peter chapter 1, Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who the righteousness of our God, through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, have received a faith as precious as ours. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:30.639 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.680 Some of you just walked in here this morning just to hear that. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:50.959 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:08:07.519 Through these, He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:09.759 So here it comes. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:18.560 Now he's just devastated us with the glory and goodness and beauty of the gospel and outlined God's redemptive plans for humanity. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:23.519 He's gonna break it down and give us some great application about how to grow spiritually. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:29.040 For this reason, make every effort. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:29.920 Did you hear that? 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:30.879 Every effort? 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:39.039 Every effort, that's how you translate that from the Greek, by the way. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:53.600 To add to your faith goodness, to your goodness knowledge, to your knowledge, self-control and to self-control, perseverance and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:08.480 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:17.200 But if anyone does not have them, he's nearsighted and blind, and he's forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:28.480 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you'll never fail, never fall. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:35.759 And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:38.879 The word of God for the people of God. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:42.080 Did you catch it? 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:45.279 I don't know about you. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:58.879 Does anyone walk in here this morning and go, if I'm honest with myself right now, I'm in a season of life where I feel ineffective and unproductive as a follower of Christ. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:13.039 Anybody walk into here and go, I I can point to plenty of other people in the room that I look up to as spiritual giants, but when it comes to me, it's like kind of groaning. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:16.960 Making some progress, I guess. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.000 Feels like more setbacks than anything else. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:42.960 I wonder what it would look like for the gospel to cover us this morning and for God to get close up in our face and smile and be the lifter of our head and renew our strength to become effective and purposeful disciples that make disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:46.080 I was reminded of this text. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:56.159 Um I I love books, and what I'd love for you to think is that I actually read a lot of books, but um, truth be told, I listen to more books than I read. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:03.200 Um I actually feel the pang conviction of the Holy Spirit when I start having conversations about certain books with people who are like, hey, did you read that book? 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.240 And like, oh yeah. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:07.120 Just a second, I listen to that book. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.080 If that changes your opinion of me, so be it. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:15.519 But um anybody old school, anybody else listen to books, audiobooks, right? 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:22.559 Um I I first got turned on to that when I was in my young 20s and traveling all over the place, and I'd stop at Cracker Barrel, right? 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:24.639 This is yeah, thank you, old people. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:29.679 Um of which I am quickly coming into your company. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.519 Um you stop at Cracker Barrel and you go straight to that little section. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:38.480 You it's like a landmine of crap that you have to navigate through to actually get to it. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:42.080 Um, half of which is probably produced in my hometown of Nashville. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:45.679 But you get there and you turn around and you're like, ooh, what book can I get? 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:50.240 Um and you just kind of look at the cover and you get like 19,000 cassette tapes, right? 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.559 And you put them in, you don't know which side is the right side. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.720 That's how I started getting uh addicted to audible books. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:03.279 Well, then they the digital formation, we had CDs, and then all of a sudden the internet comes along and you can get MP3s and it's great. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.080 And I find uh a website called audible.com. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:10.080 Pay a monthly subscription, you get two credits, two books every month. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:13.600 I'm like, sweet! So whenever I travel, man, I love narratives. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:20.960 Uh I was telling the first service, uh, the Lord was reminding me that that came from my grandmother who used to read to me as a kid. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.360 Uh she'd read Tom and Jerry, and just her voice was full of grace and peace. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:30.159 Um, and those old little books, uh, those golden spine books, those hardback ones. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:41.840 Um, and I just I didn't know this at the time, but the Lord was showing me what the weight and gravity of a life consistently lived following Jesus felt like when you got next to it. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:54.240 She would pray over me in the King James Version, and I just remember uh just seeing that this incredible maternal love of Christ in her that made me feel so safe, so welcomed uh and so loved. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.960 Um so one of the things I attached to that was stories. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:01.519 So uh I I have audible subscription, get about two books every month. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:04.399 I've got one getting uh for our travel time here. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:13.519 But about six or seven years ago, with the iPhone comes up, they have an app, and usually there's an app for that or whatever, and I'm just like, whatever, I don't have time to keep up with all that stuff. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:19.120 Somebody else figure it out, make it easy, and help grandpa here figure out how the TV works. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:26.320 Well, I get the app and I download it, and I'm like, well, if that saved me some time to transfer, I uh I open it up, I start scrolling through it, it's great. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:31.279 Connects, fully loads all of my libraries digitally of all the books I've ever purchased. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:35.679 It's got them hanging out in there, and I'm going through and it's got a neat clock counter. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.480 I'll show you a picture, a screenshot uh of my phone. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:41.679 Um so yeah, so that's that's audible. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:46.399 You click on there and it's like keeping track of the book, where you're at, how many hours you've been listening to. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.279 I'm like, oh, that's good. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:48.799 I kind of get to know where I'm going. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:52.080 And I scroll through, they got some badges and some icons. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:55.279 You know, it's just basically like ocular candy. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.960 You're like, oh, okay, I want to do that. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:57.360 Thanks. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:02.000 Well then I get to the next screen, um, and it's got this kind of ranking system. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.679 And you're like, oh. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:13.840 Now I don't consider myself, like, I like to make fun of you ambitious overachievers and kind of Jesus juke you and tell you, hey, I just I'm I'm happy in who God has made me to be. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:15.039 I don't have anything to prove. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.399 I'm not gonna measure up to your standards, okay? 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:24.720 But then when you put a standard in front of me that I think I'm actually good at, I'm like, oh, I think I'm gonna dominate that. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:27.519 Oh, so you're gonna you're gonna try to label me. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.320 Uh you got an app newbie for uh Audible? 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:30.720 Okay. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.759 Novice. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.080 I know some novices out there. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.039 Professional. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.480 Yeah, that sounds kind of cool. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:37.840 I'd like to be called a professional. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:38.399 That's good. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.519 Then it says scholar. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.679 I'm like, yes, Lord, speak. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.000 I will receive that title. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.519 And then master, why why not? 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:52.559 I I'm not gonna say it about myself, but if you'd like to label me that, go right ahead. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:15:01.200 Now that that is now, I think, four years after I've had this app, and you'll notice underneath it it all says achieved. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:14.320 When I first downloaded the app, um, it had uh every single the only thing that was highlighted in yellow was newbie and it said achieved, and then the other ones just said uh not yet accomplished. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.399 I said, Oh heck now. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:18.960 I don't think you know who I am. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:24.320 I got so angry that it was not ranking me appropriately or recognizing who I was. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:33.120 I got so upset that my identity was being threatened by this application that I got out, like literally pencil and paper, and I did math and research. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.279 And I take open my laptop, I go to my library, and I start jotting things down. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:38.559 This is rough math, okay? 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:42.240 Because I don't even want to do exact math because it'll make me even more self-righteous. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:46.799 I have about 300 book titles in my library, of which I've listened to all of them. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:49.279 Let's just say the average book is eight hours, okay? 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:56.559 That doesn't even count like Pillars of the Earth, Harry Potter series, all these epic ones that are like 24 hours just to listen to. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.639 Eight hours average, okay? 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:09.440 Eight hours average, that puts me at roughly over 2,000, 3,000 hours, which roughly translates to 90 days I have sat and listened to Audible books, okay? 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.759 And you're calling me a newbie. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:18.080 I'm almost to the point where I'm looking for a customer service number and go, the app's broken. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:23.120 Because you are failing to recognize the history I have. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:29.840 I've been a member for 10 years, I've listened to every book, and all of a sudden I'm trying to assert my rights and prove my righteousness. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:40.480 But what I come to realize is that is no reflection on my history or my experience with those books or the fact that I've listened to all of them. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:46.000 All that's simply saying is you have all that knowledge and experience, Chris. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:48.879 It just has not been run through this application. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:17:03.679 I think what the Bible wants to say to us this morning is that a lot of us may have a lot of knowledge and experience when it comes to God and Jesus and the church and life with him. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:08.559 But Peter's gonna say, have you run it through the right application? 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:20.960 So that you can be effective and productive as a child of God and know that you possess these qualities in increasing measure. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:25.440 So let's walk through this text this morning and see which one has your name on it. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:32.240 Um first he says, for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith knowledge, right? 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.000 Well, first of all, let's talk about faith. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:39.680 This just so we're clear, just so we we know, we're here to celebrate the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.519 Gospel means good news. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:45.200 Gospel means uh why you were dead in your transgressions and sin. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.480 Christ died for you. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:55.359 Gospel means we are born into this broken world, that our hearts are inclined towards evil, and that given the chance, we will look out for only ourselves. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:01.519 That given the chance, we will steal, kill, and destroy anyone who gets in our way. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:11.440 We may dress it up or make it look nice, it may have a morality facade, but without Jesus, we're doomed to a life of eternal destruction. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:27.279 And we understand that God is coming back to earth in the form of Jesus, and he's gonna make all things right and all things new, and he's gonna establish his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, and it is for those people who have decided to follow after Jesus. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.599 I love how Dallas Willard puts it. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:36.240 God will let anyone into heaven who can stand it, because it's gonna be the hottest place you've ever been, because his glory is gonna be so hot. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:47.599 And for those of us who have decided, go ahead and start transforming me from one degree of glory to the next, so that I can bear your image and your glory, and I want to be ready to live and reign and rule with you for all eternity. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:51.200 That's what this uh human history is moving towards. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.920 That's the story that we're here to celebrate. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:56.400 That's the story that we're here to remember. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:17.680 And so we have faith and trust and hope that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, that he knows the fundamental realities of the universe, and that the with life God is actually possible, and that the human soul can flourish when it lives in accordance with God's plans and purposes, all because of Jesus. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.839 It's good news. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:28.720 That God not only loves us, he likes us, and he wants a relationship with us, and he wants to expand his family. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.240 That's the gospel. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.160 And we have faith, and we believe that that is true. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:40.000 Through the revealed word of God, through his revelation and creation, and through the revelation of his other people. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.079 That's great. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:47.279 Let's make sure that the goal is not just to come to faith, but to grow in it. 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.839 So add to your faith what? 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.720 Knowledge? 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:52.000 Is that what it says? 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.839 Actually, it says add to your faith goodness. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:01.279 If I was writing this, which I didn't, I think I would have gone first thing after faith, let's add knowledge, okay? 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.480 Because people need to understand. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.359 They need to know the word. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.880 We need to understand what's going on. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:10.079 But the first thing Peter decides to do is say, hey, add to your faith goodness. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:13.359 And he's echoing what he talked about earlier on the verse. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:18.480 He's like, he's given that God's giving us these great and precious promises for his glory and his goodness. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:24.880 For Peter, you gotta understand, God's glory and goodness are two things that are absolutely tied together. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:26.319 That God is good. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:29.759 When he creates creation, he just gets done and gets like, boom, it's good. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.799 Boom, it's good. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:34.400 Light, good, awesome, plants, good, animals, good. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:39.440 Creates male and female in his own image, and creation goes from good to very good. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.279 God's fundamental desire is to bless you. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:54.400 And we have to understand that if we want to receive and represent our Father, we have to understand He wants to bless us so that He can bless the whole world through us. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:57.599 That we become stewards of God's divine blessing. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.359 Here's how I look at it, church. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:04.720 I I want this is your language, just to put the kingdom down in front of people. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:07.519 That the kingdom gets manifested right in front of people. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:15.920 The way I would say you can tell this is happening, especially uh among non-religious people, is a lot of times they'll shake their heads and go, mmm, my goodness. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.799 Mmm, what was that? 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:23.599 People just scratch their heads and go, what what what just happened right there? 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.519 Why did you do that? 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:32.000 I would love for Grand Parkway to continue to grow in reputation and community as the my goodness church. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.240 My goodness, what's wrong with those people? 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.359 They care more about others than themselves. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:45.039 My goodness, what's going on on Sunday morning that they are so dangerously generous and sacrificial? 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.720 So uh I was reminded of a story. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:52.079 Um we just uh got a new minivan. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.359 Thank you, you're welcome. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.240 Awesome. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.039 Yeah. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.920 Hmm. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.279 Give my depravity a minute that wants to be cool. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:01.279 That is It's no longer. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:06.559 So minivans, I call them the Sherman tanks of uh suburban families. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:08.960 Uh it just you go to war and those things. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:11.599 I I literally have a video on my phone I can show it to you later. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:18.640 When we get done um a road trip, I rip out all the seats and I take a leaf blower and I send my son in there and go clean it out. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.640 Have both doors open. 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.240 Because I'm not picking that junk up. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:28.480 Um those things are just we do we do battle in that place. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:40.799 Um and so our the one that we had was kind of breaking down, and you know, cool uh radiator busts out, we replace it, and then something else happens, and Audrey looks at me and goes, I don't trust that vehicle anymore. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:43.359 And I'm like, Okay, that means it's time to replace it. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:50.640 Um so uh we're getting ready to clean it up, sell it, and try to figure out what we can work out financially uh to get a new one. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:59.920 And the Lord just reminded me as I'm shaming that minivan in front of all of you, he just says, Hey, do you remember my goodness and glory that was shown and why you have that in the first place? 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:08.319 And uh at the time we we were uh at a church and there's uh a doctor in the church who loved minivans. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:16.400 Like his kids made fun of him because he's he's single with four grown kids and he's the doctor loaded and drives around used Honda minivans. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:19.279 He's like, Chris, the gas mileage is great. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.759 I'm telling you. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:25.680 And everyone makes fun of it until they get in and ride it, and it's incredible, isn't it? 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.440 I said, Yes, sir, it is. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:34.000 Um gosh, no wonder the Lord has trusted you with riches because you actually have good character. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:38.079 Um so uh uh he knows I'm getting ready. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:42.000 I said, I think we're gonna jump in the minivan pool one day, just telling him that. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.839 He's like, get the Honda, it's incredible. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.039 And he calls me back and says, uh, hey Chris, what's your budget? 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:50.480 I said, Well, we got a suburban, I think you can get about$5,000 for it. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:56.480 And he goes, All right, why don't you sell that suburban, bring that check to me, and uh we'll go ahead and call it even for my minivan. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:59.599 Now, granted, his minivan's selling at like$20,000. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:05.759 That's not at all anywhere close, which, by the way, is just the greatest dignity and grace gift you can give somebody. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.880 Hey, what can you get for this? 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:09.519 Good, bring that here, and I'm just gonna bless you. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.880 All right, so that's how we got our first minivan. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:15.200 That's how we became converts, and so we're getting ready to sell it. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.319 So I called Dr. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:16.880 Carlson. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:22.640 We're in Tennessee now, moved from that church, and I just said, Hey, the Lord want to remind me about his goodness through you. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.720 And I just said, We're getting ready to sell that minivan, and oh, what a grace gift it was for us. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.680 It was so helpful. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.400 Thanks so much. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.799 We're probably getting another one, so congratulations. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:33.920 You've proselytized more people into your minivan cult. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.920 Um, I drink your Kool-Aid. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:37.200 Here's to you. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:40.079 Um and he just said, Oh, that's great, Chris. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:43.599 He said, Uh, how much do you think you can get for that minivan? 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:46.079 I said, Don't do it. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:48.240 It's not why I called. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.759 It's not why I called. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.960 I called to thank you. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.160 He says, I know. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:54.160 How much can you get for it? 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.599 And I said, probably about$5,000. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:59.680 And he says, Well, I got one and then I'm ready to give to you again. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.559 And so, praise the Lord. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.240 That's what my wife said. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.240 Um, and then it's nice, man. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:23.599 And so we do the we do the same thing that night, we get an email from uh one of the former students in our ministry, uh, great kid, uh, walked into my office freshman year, just a wreck, family life a wreck, father abandoned him, same-sex attracted, uh, and just goes, Chris, what do I do? 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:25.519 How do I follow Jesus in the midst of all this? 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:30.000 And so we began a discipline relationship, praying for him, praying for hope and healing. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:39.759 Gets to a place where this kid's coming in and going, I've read the Bible and I feel like the Bible has two answers for our sexuality, and that's either celibacy or heterosexual marriage. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:44.319 And so I just want to live into that, even though my preferences tell me otherwise. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:49.839 And there's sometimes you look at these kids and go, your faith is stronger than mine. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.400 And so love it. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:59.759 Love this boy, want to affirm him, want to uh partner with him and uh heal some of the places in his broken family as much as we can. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:05.599 Um, gave him gave him one of my suits for a wedding that he needed to be into, and it couldn't have made me more happy. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:15.279 We'll get an email from one of the ministers and said, Hey, just so you know, uh he came back from a summer of doing ministry uh to find out his car was repossessed. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:18.720 Um, and apparently his dad has stopped paying bills altogether. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:26.480 And he needs his car to go to work to pay his bills to stay in school when it's his senior year, and he's hugely involved uh in the ministry. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:33.599 And so I think as I think I said at night in the first service, it's actually that morning, because I read it at night and Audrey had already been asleep. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:36.079 We woke up and I said, Hey, did you get the email about so-and-so? 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:39.200 She's like, Yes, let's just stop and pray for him real quick. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:46.720 And just said, God, we so want to provide for him, but we're not at a place right now where we can do it financially. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:56.319 And just joking, here's what I said: I said, Lord, if you want to drop$5,000 in our lap, we'll gladly give him it to him so he can buy a car. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.319 Uh so please provide for him. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.279 Amen. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.880 Uh, that's me in my bedroom. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:06.240 Walk out, drive to work, meet my staff in the church parking lot. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:13.440 We're getting ready to go into downtown Nashville, and one of the kids had just come from uh a prayer breakfast, and he says, Oh, I forgot to give this to you. 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:16.000 Here, somebody gave this to me, wanted you to have it. 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:19.279 Open up an envelope and it's a cashier's check for$5,000. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:24.240 And I go, like it's a hot potato. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.279 And like, what's wrong? 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.640 I'm like, what is that? 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.160 What is that? 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:32.480 What is that? 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:38.400 And I just think the Lord whispered, that's what happens when I can trust you with my resources. 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:44.559 And I have to confess to you, first thought is I can't believe this happened. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:46.720 Second thought is, ooh, I could use that$5,000. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:50.480 We've got um, is this the Lord blessing me? 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:56.240 Or was that but just setting up parameters in your life no matter where you're at? 00:27:56.400 --> 00:28:04.400 Audrey and I decided a long time ago that we weren't gonna wait till we got to a certain salary or place to be generous people, we're gonna start doing it right now. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:11.119 And just the Lord's continue to wean me off of my desire for wealth and convenience and comfort and challenge me. 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:15.440 How can I use you to be a better conduit of my grace? 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:28.240 And so I wonder where where the Lord's goodness is just waiting to descend and drop on you when he finds out that you're a trustworthy person that he can steward his kingdom resources through. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:37.920 That's not health and wealth gospel, that's not prosperity gospel, that's not God's gonna pay all your bills if you can continue to come to church. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:42.720 That is, hey, your father in heaven has everything that you need. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:49.680 And sometimes what you have is the answer to someone else's prayer. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:56.240 How can we get more people to shake their heads and go, My goodness? 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:00.240 I got an email back from him and him just going, I can't believe it. 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:04.720 And you just you used to hear people say this stuff to you, and now you say it to others. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:08.799 It means more for me to be able to give that to you than it does for you to receive it. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:13.599 Because the Lord's building my faith just as much as he's building yours in moments like this. 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:19.359 So to your faith, add goodness, and to your goodness add knowledge. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.960 Now we got to it, right? 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.599 Knowledge. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:24.480 Can I speak out of both sides of my mouth about knowledge? 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:31.599 Um, first of all, uh, here's what's incredibly disconcerting as a pastor. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:38.400 Uh we we tell this story tongue-in-cheek about uh the beginning of the ministry that I'm a part of, Kairos. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:50.559 Senior pastor starts it, and he does a sermon on the life of Joseph and how he's falsely imprisoned, how he rises, how God reconciles his family, and it's incredible. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:57.599 They get done to service, and a young adult who grew up in their church comes up to him afterwards and goes, Hey, Pastor Mike, great message. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.960 Hey, quick question. 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:01.599 Uh, when does Joseph meet Mary? 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.079 Excuse me? 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:08.559 Yeah, that that's that's Jesus' father, right? 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.559 Some we're in the Old Testament. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:14.319 That's I I know they have the same name, but that's not nowhere near the same part. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.000 Oh, I said, Oh, okay, okay. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:18.400 Kid who had grown up in his church. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:23.440 So uh he marches right down to the youth department and says, Scrap every single event you have. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:26.240 Let's we're doubling down on discipleship. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:32.480 But I say that point just that I think there is a pandemic of biblical illiteracy in our church. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:45.119 That you that somewhere along the line it became this consumeristic transaction that you walk through the doors and you tip in the offering plate or the giving box and you go, hey pastor, you read the Bible for me. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:57.200 And uh there are men and women uh in our Christian heritage who died to put the Bibles in our hands and we just push it back on the shelf and go, No, that's good. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:00.160 You you you you do that, you tell me what it means. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:07.759 And I wonder sometimes if that's not exchanging our birthright to hear our father's voice and see his face. 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:13.359 It's Thomas Long who says the greatest threat to Christianity is not atheism, it's superficiality. 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:18.400 It's Oz Guinness who says that we have fit bodies, yet fat minds. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:25.519 And I wonder what does it look like for us to be people of God and in the Word of God who understand the ways of God? 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:31.680 People who know how to recognize the promptings of his spirit because we've been practicing voice recognition. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:40.720 People who, when it comes time to pray for someone, scripture is just overflowing with authority and veracity out of our mouths. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:47.039 It's every week at trying to get in a psalm and go, Lord, what verse do you have for me this week? 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:50.400 And this week it's just Psalm 116, verse 1. 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:55.599 Lord, I love you because you've heard my voice and my cries for mercy. 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.920 The Lord has recognized my voice. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:10.000 The question is, do I recognize his men and women, especially mothers and fathers, are we at a place, men, are you prepared to be the primary pastor of your family? 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:17.279 And not call in one of the ministers as soon as you need something spiritual or theological. 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:23.039 I'm not saying that we're not here to resource you in that way, but our goal is to equip you to pastor your families. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:28.000 Stop looking to someone else to step up and fill that vacuum. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.039 It's you. 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:40.000 What does it look like for uh Neil and I were riding to church together this morning and he's mid-conversation, he just goes, Oh, I forgot to put my wedding ring on this morning. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:42.960 Uh, I must, I got dressed in the dark, I must have forgot it. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:50.400 What does it look like for you to get to work and it's 9.30, and if you haven't spent time with God, you're like, oh, something's wrong in my soul. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:52.720 I haven't been in scripture today. 00:32:53.279 --> 00:33:00.400 That it's that evident that you're that connected and consistent with your time in the word. 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:06.799 That's not legalism, that's just me trying to say, hey, let's live more into our identity in the daily drip of obedience. 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:17.359 That's uh my time with the word more, it's a keystone habit, and it's uh I can feel myself getting jittery, and it's like almost a nicotine withdrawal if I haven't been in scripture that morning. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:19.519 I'm agitated, I'm easily aggravated. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.240 What's going on? 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:22.960 Ah, I haven't been with the Lord. 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:29.759