Christian Growth: Grace and Effort

Christian Growth: Grace and Effort

(2 Peter 1:2-11)

10:30 am, Sunday, June 29, 2013, Windsor UBC, J G White

A.   To be a community for Spiritual Growth

A.1. Last week I read Reggie McNeal’s “The Present Future,” 2013.  Quotes from pp. 71 & 76

A.2. I look at the Membership booklet I’ve been developing, and hear the critique, get inspired about asking that same question to people.  ‘What are your spiritual goals, and how does joining this bunch help?’

A.3. This is part of my vision of a local congregation

A.3.1.    A place, a group for spirituality

A.3.2.    Remember my Gather, Grow, Go model?

A.4. 2 Peter 1 speaks of knowing God… personally knowing

A.4.1.    “I am not ashamed, for I know the One in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to Him”  2 Timothy 1:15

A.4.2.    Spiritual growth comes with knowing Him

A.5. It’s not about being good enough to grow

A.6. It’s not about passing a test to blessed

A.7. It’s not about earning God’s blessings upon your life

A.7.1.    Grace is opposed to Earning, but not to Effort – Dallas Willard

B.   Grace AND Effort

B.1. Grace is the gift of God, doing in us what we couldn’t

B.2. Effort is what we can do, cooperating with the Lord

B.3. Grace and effort go hand-in-hand

B.4. Peter:  “You must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with, knowledge…” self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection (philia) and love (agape) “for if these things are among you and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8)

B.5. Paul speaks of ‘running the race’  Philippians 3

B.6. Our Constitution speaks about growth with the same attitude:  “As members of Christ’s church, we will seek to go beyond claiming Christ’s name for salvation.  Thus, we will endeavour to become His disciples by availing ourselves of the opportunities for growth…”

B.6.1.    This assumes we have such real opportunities!

C.   Efforts

C.1. Action/effort is at least as important as beliefs and knowing facts.  Indeed, these are the goals of knowledge and beliefs.

C.1.1.   “Saved to do good works…”  ?

C.2. Work on your daily routine

C.2.1.   Spiritual practices / disciplines

C.2.2.   And periodic events, special efforts

C.2.3.   Change as the years go by, and as you grow

C.3. Work on new things to do

C.4. Work together

C.4.1.   Help others in their efforts

C.4.2.   Be helped in your efforts by others

C.4.3.   Reggie McNeal says “Cooperate and Partner with other believers in the mission of God” p. 82

C.5. “Make every effort to support your faith…” 2 Peter 1:5

C.5.1.   Reggie McNeal’s 10 year old book is a strong critique of the Christian Church: we have not been growing people with our usual methods.

C.5.2.   But we can.  If we get out of our ruts and make Faith in Jesus an active thing. 

C.5.2.1.       The learning stuff, the tradition stuff, the organizational stuff can be used, and can be shifted.  These are not priorities.

C.5.2.2.       Active discipleship to Jesus is a priority. 

C.5.2.3.       Spiritual growth is a priority!