Heartland Christian Church
Main - HCC Sunday Service - January 8, 2023

      • Matthew 25NIV2011

      • Bible Trivia
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      • Psalm 144HBEHV

  • All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
  • How Great Is Our God
  • Cornerstone
  • Good Good Father

      • Matthew 25NIV2011

  • Title: Living an Effective and Productive Life
    Text: 2 Peter 1:3-11
    INTRODUCTION
    Let’s turn together
    in our Bibles
    to 2nd Peter.
    2nd Peter
    chapter 1.
    & we’re gonna
    read verses 3-11.
    2nd Peter 1:3-11.
    & when you find that
    in your Bible
    Pls stand for
    the reading
    of God’s Word.
    The title of
    today’s teaching is:
    Prod
    In 2 Peter 1:3-11
    the Scriptures say:
    2 Peter 1:3–11 (NIV)
    His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
    Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
    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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
    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.
    But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
    Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
    and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
    You may be seated.
    How do we live
    an effective
    & productive life?
    Depending on
    who you ask
    You might get
    dfrnt answers
    to to that question.
    But for us
    who are followers
    of Jesus
    we know
    an effective
    & productive life
    is a godly life
    where we follow
    the Lord’s
    will for our lives.
    In today’s passage
    Peter teaches us
    at least two
    equally important truths
    that will help us
    do that.
    As we learn
    How to live
    an effective
    & productive life?
    PRAYER
    Let’s pray.
    Father we thank You
    for your Word.
    We ask you
    to open our ears
    To hear the voice
    of Jesus.
    Open our eyes
    to see the truth.
    & give us the will & ability…
    to follow Jesus
    wherever He leads us.
    In Jesus name.
    Amen.
    [Transition: The 1st truth
    we must know
    to live effective & productive lives is...]
    God gives us EVERYTHING we need for a godly life.
    Notice how Peter starts verse 3.
    Talking abt God
    Peter says...
    2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
    His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life...
    The verb “has gvn”
    points to a
    completed action
    That has
    continuing results.
    When we’re
    born again
    God gives us the gift
    of the HS.
    & when we have
    the HS
    We have God’s
    divine power—
    the power of God—
    at work in us
    Giving us everything
    we need
    to live
    a godly life.
    & as Peter
    continues in verse 3
    He tells us how
    God gives us
    His divine power.
    He says
    God’s divine power comes to us…
    2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
    ...through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
    God’s glory & goodness
    are two aspects
    of God’s character.
    Peter’s saying
    God’s character
    is praiseworthy
    & excellent.
    God wants us to know
    His praiseworthy
    & excellent character.
    & Peter does not mean
    to know
    in the sense of
    head knowledge.
    But to know
    thru experience
    & participation.
    God wants us
    to share in—
    to experience—
    His glory
    His excellence
    & all the other attributes
    of His
    Holy Character.
    So that by sharing in
    His divine nature;
    & divine pwr
    We can live
    praiseworthy &
    & excellent lives.
    Lives that
    bring glory
    & praise to God.
    God gives us
    His divine power
    Thru an
    experiential knowledge
    of His character.
    And where do we
    experience knowing God
    in this way?
    Two places:
    Thru His Body.
    & Thru His Book.
    Thru the Church
    & thru the Scriptures.
    The Church is
    the Body of Christ
    on earth.
    The Scriptures are
    the Book
    thru which Christ
    speaks to
    & thru the Church.
    Thru the Church
    & thru the Scriptures
    We learn exactly
    what God is like.
    & we learn
    who we can be
    Like Him
    as we receive His grace—
    as we experience
    His divine power—
    in the Church.
    Peter puts it this way
    in 2 Peter 1:4
    2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)
    Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
    Thru God’s glory & goodness
    God has gvn His ppl
    many very great
    & precious promises.
    Promises we find
    in the Body.
    & in the Book.
    ILLUSTRATION
    We see three:
    Of those precious promises
    in today’s passage.
    God promises
    To give us
    everything we need
    to live a godly life.
    God promises
    We can escape
    the corruption
    of sinful world
    caused by evil desires.
    & God promises
    We can overcome
    every evil desire.
    By learning
    & applying
    the promises we find
    in the Church
    & the Scriptures
    We participate
    in God’s divine
    nature.
    APPLICATION
    So, to know what God is like—
    To know what you
    & I can be like
    thru God’s power—
    We need to know
    God’s promises.
    We learn God’s promises
    thru His Body
    & His Book.
    So, we all need
    to keep gathering
    like we’re doing now
    to hear God’s promises
    w/ other members
    of the body—
    Where we can hear
    the promises
    of God.
    & outside of
    these gatherings
    we need
    to get
    the Book.
    Read
    the Book.
    Listen to
    the Book
    be read
    by others.
    Study the Book.
    & as we approach
    the Body
    & the Book
    we shld to do so
    w/ this understanding:
    If we’re united w/ Christ
    in His Body
    then every
    very great
    & precious promise
    to the Body
    in the Book—
    That’s all ours!
    Bcs thru His life
    death
    & resurrection
    Jesus inherited
    all the promises.
    & thru our union
    w/ Him
    we inherit
    all the promises too.
    I think we often read
    the promises of Scripture
    thru an earthly filter.
    We put our limitations
    on God.
    But listen:
    The Church
    is a supernatural body
    & the Scriptures
    are a supernatural book.
    Breathed out by
    a supernatural God.
    So our natural minds
    cannot help us
    understand
    the things of God.
    We need God
    to give us
    Supernatural eyes.
    So we can truly see
    The hope.
    The inheritance
    & the power
    That’s available to us
    in Christ
    thru God’s promises.
    So we need
    to keep asking God
    to help us
    see & accept
    His precious promises.
    & trust God
    to fulfill His promises
    Thru His divine power.
    So, to live
    an effective
    & productive life
    We must know
    God gives us
    everything we need
    for a godly life
    thru His divine power.
    & we experience
    that divine power
    through the precious
    promises we find
    in Christ’s body
    & Christ’s book.
    Thru God’s promises
    we’re able to participate
    in God’s divine nature
    & live effective
    & productive lives
    that bring glory
    & praise to God.
    That is
    God’s promise
    to His ppl.
    But Peter is not finished.
    As w/ nearly every
    other promise
    in the Scriptures
    there is a condition
    to receiving this promise.
    [Transition: & that brings us
    to the 2nd truth
    We must know
    to live effective
    & productive lives.]
    God goads us to make every effort to live a godly life. (1:5-11)
    In 2 Peter 1:5
    Peter says:
    2 Peter 1:5 (NIV)
    For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith...
    What reason
    is Peter talking abt?
    Why shld we
    make every effort
    to add to our faith?
    Bcs God has gvn us
    everything we need
    to live a godly life
    thru knowing Him....
    Then you & I
    have gotta get busy
    & stay busy adding
    to our faith
    to live out
    that godly life.
    Many have
    wrongly taught
    we cannot add
    anything to faith
    in Jesus.
    & if we try
    to add to faith
    then we cannot
    be saved.
    But those false
    teachers know
    neither
    the Scriptures
    nor the power of God.
    Faith in Jesus
    is only
    the beginning.
    Submitting to Christ
    as our Lord;
    Turning frm sin;
    Turning to God;
    Being Baptized
    into Christ;
    Being born again
    Thru water
    & the Spirit
    That’s just
    the beginning.
    That’s how we get
    on the way
    to salvation.
    That’s how we
    get united to Christ.
    But after
    we’re united
    to Christ
    we’ve gotta grow
    in our salvation.
    & to grow
    we’ve gotta
    add some things
    to our faith.
    We’ve gotta cooperate
    w/ God
    to be transformed
    into Christ’s image.
    & this means:
    Living a godly life
    takes work
    on our part.
    We’ve all gotta
    put forth
    strenuous & sustained
    effort.......
    Working w/ all
    the energy
    God gives us
    thru His grace
    To live
    a godly life.
    We must make
    every effort
    To add Christ’s
    character qualities
    to our faith.
    The more
    these qualities
    are in us &
    are increasing
    in our live
    The more we
    will look like
    the Lord Jesus.
    & that’s the goal
    God has for us.
    That’s what an
    effective
    & productive life
    will end up.
    That’s why
    God allows us
    to share in
    His divine nature.
    It’s to make us
    like Jesus.
    To conform us
    to His image.
    The image
    that was lost
    when Adam & Eve
    chose to sin.
    So, God’s Son
    became one of us.
    He united our
    human nature
    w/ His
    divine nature.
    & humanity
    & divinity
    have been forever
    united in
    God’s divine-human Son—
    The Lord Jesus Christ.
    & thru our union
    w/ Christ
    Our human nature
    is healed.
    & the divine image
    of our glorious God
    is restored in us.
    God’s Son came
    to rescue humanity
    frm the trash heap
    of hell.
    & recycle our lives.
    So we can be
    transformed into
    precious stones
    To be used
    in the household of God.
    Christ became one of us
    So, that thru our union
    w/ Him
    We can live
    effective
    & productive lives.
    Lives where we’re
    always adding
    Godly qualities
    to our character.
    Qualities that
    bring us closer
    & closer
    to the radiant image
    of God’s Son.
    In Christ—
    In the Church—
    We’re becoming
    the righteousness
    of God.
    That means:
    We’re taking on
    the qualities
    of His divine nature.
    We’re becoming righteous
    Just as Jesus
    is righteous.
    As He was
    so are we
    in this world.
    We’re living
    as Jesus lived.
    We’re loving
    as Jesus loved.
    That’s God’s goal
    for all of us.
    But again:
    this will only happen
    IF....
    IF........
    We make
    every effort
    to add Christ’s
    character qualities
    to our faith.
    & Peter goes on
    in 2 Peter 1:5-7
    to list eight
    of these character qualities.
    He urges us to
    2 Peter 1:5–7 (NIV)
    ...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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
    Notice Peter’s list
    begins w/ faith
    & ends w/ love.
    Faith is
    the starting point
    Love is
    the end goal.
    Everyone of
    these Christian
    Character qualities
    lead us to love God
    & love others
    just like Jesus did.
    Let’s talk briefly
    abt these qualities.
    First
    goodness.
    Here Peter echos
    what he said
    a few verses earlier.
    God called us
    by His own goodness
    to a life
    of goodness.
    A life of moral excellence.
    A life where we
    do to others
    only what we
    want others to do
    to us.
    & also a life
    where lavish good works
    done to all
    becomes 2nd nature
    to us.
    This is one reason
    God recreated humanity
    in Christ.
    As Paul reminds us in
    Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV)
    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
    not by works, so that no one can boast.
    For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
    Goodness—
    expressed thru good works
    done thru God’s grace
    is what we’re created
    to do in Christ.
    We do good
    Bcs we have the Nature
    of the One
    who is good
    in us.
    Bcs we participate
    In His
    divine nature
    He makes us good.
    & as we stay connected
    to the fount frm
    which
    ALL goodness flows
    the goodness of God
    will flow into us.
    & then
    it will flow
    out of us.
    & express itself
    in good deeds
    done to others.
    But we must apply
    every effort
    To add goodness
    to our faith.
    [Transition: The 2nd
    character quality
    We must add to our faith is…]
    Knowledge.
    The kind of knowledge
    Peter has in mind
    is a knowledge
    that increases our
    understanding
    & experience of
    the one true God.
    This is a knowledge
    we can only gain
    if we’re active
    in Christ’s body
    in the Church.
    & absorbed in
    Christ’s Book
    in the Scriptures.
    So many of us
    claim to love
    the Scriptures
    blv the Scriptures
    & cherish the Scriptures.
    But how many of us
    are dedicated
    to knowing
    the Scriptures?
    Knowing the Scriptures
    in a way
    that changes our lives
    takes discipline
    dedication
    & determination.
    So, we must make
    every effort
    to add knowledge
    to our faith.
    [Transition: Another character quality
    We must add to our faith is]
    Self-control.
    Christian’s shld be known
    as ppl
    Who are able
    to control ourselves.
    To control our tendencies.
    our tempers.
    & our tongues.
    To control our appetites
    Our attitudes
    & our actions.
    & I blv
    If we Christians
    wld stop making
    every excuse
    for why we
    cannot control ourselves
    in this or that area;
    & if we wld
    start making
    every effort to
    To be self-controlled in
    all areas of our lives
    I blv most of
    the problems ppl
    struggle w/
    in the Church
    wld vanish.
    ILLUSTRATION
    What if we made every effort
    to be self-controlled in…
    What we eat.
    What we drink.
    How we dress
    & where we go.
    What we read.
    watch.
    & listen to.
    What if we made
    every effort to be
    self-controlled in
    How we spend
    our money.
    How we spend
    our time.
    & who we spend
    our time w/.
    What if we were
    self-controlled
    so we cld be
    consistent & disciplined
    in our spiritual lives.
    Now
    I don’t stand here
    as one who has
    mastered all of this.
    But as a
    fellow follower of Jesus
    who’s still learning
    how to apply
    these things.
    So, let’s rely
    on God’s divine power
    to give us the ability
    to make every effort
    To add self-control
    to our faith.
    [Transition: Another character quality…
    We must add to our faith is…]
    Perseverance.
    This character quality
    allows us to courageously
    keep living for God
    Even in the face
    of Strong opposition
    & evil.
    When we persevere
    even thru tough times
    We show God
    we trust Him
    to keep His promises.
    & cultivating
    this character quality
    Will become
    even more important
    & more challenging
    As the Day of the Lord
    draws near.
    Living a godly life
    Is not easy
    in an evil world.
    But we need to
    patiently endure
    to the end.
    We will not be saved
    if we do not add
    perseverance
    to our faith.
    As Paul reminds us
    in Hebrews 6:12
    Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)
    We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
    Only by adding
    perseverance
    to our faith
    will we inherit
    God’s promises.
    So, we must be sure
    We’re making every effort
    To add perseverance
    to our faith.
    [Transition: Another character quality…
    We must add to our faith is…]
    Godliness:
    This character quality is all abt…
    Putting our religion
    into practice.
    & yes
    I really did use
    the word “religion.”
    The word ‘religion’
    has been mostly
    misunderstood
    In the modern church.
    You might’ve heard
    or seen the popular
    “Christianity
    “Is not a religion
    “But a relationship
    “w/Jesus.”
    & I’ll admit
    that sounds good.
    It looks good
    on a T-shirt.
    But the problem is
    That is NOT
    a true statement.
    The statement
    assumes we can
    either have religion
    or a relationship
    w/ Jesus
    but we cannot
    have both.
    But that’s just
    not true.
    Christianity is abt
    a relationship
    w/ Jesus.
    More precisely
    a relationship
    w/ God the Father
    thru Jesus.
    But Christianity is
    also a religion.
    We cannot have
    a relationship
    w/ God the Father
    thru Jesus
    Outside
    the Christian religion.
    The Christian religion
    Is a certain set
    of beliefs & practices
    Handed dwn to Jesus
    by the Father.
    Handed dwn
    to the Apostles
    by Jesus.
    & then handed dwn
    to the Church
    by the Apostles.
    & it’s only thru
    the Christian Religion
    that ppl can get in
    & stay in a right relationship
    w/ God the Father
    thru Jesus Christ.
    Christianity is indeed
    a religion
    & the only religion
    God the Father
    accepts.
    As James remind us
    in James 1:27.
    James 1:27 (NIV)
    Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
    This is
    what Peter’s talking abt
    When he says
    we must make every effort
    To add godliness
    to our faith.
    We must make
    every effort
    to put our religion
    into practice.
    & that includes
    Doing good to others
    Giving to the poor.
    & living a holy life
    By keeping ourselves
    frm being polluted
    by the world.
    We must make
    every effort
    To put our religion
    into practice.
    [Transition: Another character quality…
    We must add to our faith is…]
    Mutual affection.
    The Greek word here
    is φιλαδέλφια.
    You might recognize
    that word.
    What does that sound like?
    Philadelphia.
    & you may know
    Philadelphia
    is called the
    “City of Brotherly love.”
    & this is why.
    The word Philadelphia
    means
    Brotherly love
    or mutual affection.
    & when Peter
    uses this word:
    He’s talking abt
    having a true affection
    for other believers;
    A familial
    type of love.
    Other Christians
    are a part of
    God’s family—
    they’re a part
    of our family.
    & we shld have
    a certain affection
    for them.
    But notice Peter says:
    It takes every effort
    To add this affection
    to our faith.
    Just like in any other
    family relationship
    It’s not always easy
    to show brotherly love
    to our brothers & sisters
    in Christ.
    Sometimes
    our brothers &sisters
    Say things
    we don’t like.
    They do things
    we don’t like.
    Ppl
    Even ppl we love
    can get on
    our nerves.
    But we’re commanded
    to make every effort
    To allow God’s grace
    to work in us.
    & give us a greater affection
    for our brothers
    & sisters in Christ.
    & one way
    we can make
    this affection grow is
    & by adding
    a final
    characteristic
    to our faith.
    [Transition: & the final characteristic
    We must add to our faith is…]
    Love:
    We must make every effort
    To learn
    to love others
    as God loves us.
    God’s love for us
    is a self-sacrificial
    love.
    A love that
    urges us
    to lay dwn our lives
    for others.
    & in 1 John 3:16
    John tells us
    what it means
    to lay dwn
    our lives for others.
    He starts by
    defining what love is.
    & it’s so important
    that we let the Scriptures
    define love for us.
    Especially in a culture
    that has a whole lot
    to say abt love
    but has no clue
    what real love is.
    John says:
    1 John 3:16 (NIV)
    This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
    Love leads us
    to lay dwn our lives
    for others.
    & John goes on
    in verse 17
    to tell us how
    to apply this
    in practical terms.
    He says:
    1 John 3:17–18 (NIV)
    If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
    Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
    It’s easy to say
    we love
    one another.
    It’s much dfrnt
    to show we love
    one another.
    Loving one another
    Means we lay dwn
    our lives for others.
    & we lay dwn
    our lives for others
    When we use
    what we have
    to meet the needs
    of others
    especially in the Church.
    We must make
    every effort
    To add that
    kind of love
    Christ-like love
    to our faith.
    Now
    As we went thru
    this list:
    Christlike character qualities
    we need to add
    to our faith
    Like me
    You may have found places
    Where these qualities
    need to increase
    in your life.
    Don’t be discouraged.
    Peter’s purpose
    is not to discourage
    but encourage us.
    We need to understand
    developing
    Christlike character qualities
    will take a ton
    of work on our part.
    & this is something
    we need to keep doing.
    As Peter says in 2 Peter 1:8
    2 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
    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.
    How many of us
    want to be effective
    & productive
    in our knowledge
    of the Lord Jesus?
    We’re not content
    w/ a false Christianity
    that talks abt
    knowing God—
    But has not experienced
    the life-transforming
    grace of God.
    We want
    a Christianity
    that has power.
    Real Power!
    Divine power!
    To have that
    kind of a Christian life—
    which is really
    the ONLY Christian life—
    Everything else is
    just counterfeit Christian.
    To have the truth
    Christian life
    We must possess
    the character qualities
    Peter mentioned.
    & those qualities
    must be always increasing
    in our lives.
    This means
    There’s always
    room to grow.
    The Christian life
    is a continual process
    Whereby we’re constantly
    being transformed
    as we learn
    & submit ourselves
    to God’s will
    & walk in His grace.
    & this glorious Christian life:
    Is available to
    everyone of us.
    Anyone of us
    who will allow
    God’s divine power
    to energize us.
    & who will make
    every effort
    to add to our faith.
    We will participate
    in God’s nature
    & live a life
    that’s pleasing to God
    As we bcm
    more & more like God.
    Now......what abt ppl
    Who do not
    add these qualities
    to their faith?
    Peter has some strong words
    for them in 2 Peter 1:9
    2 Peter 1:9 (NIV)
    But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
    Peter’s talking abt someone
    who’s spiritual sight
    is really messed up.
    They did not do
    what’s necessary
    to grow in a true
    knowledge of God
    so they become
    blinded to the truth.
    & they’re no longer
    able to see the truth.
    They’re eyes are blinded
    Their hearts hard.
    Their conscience seared.
    They do things
    they said they
    wld never do.
    & as Peter says
    in 2 Peter 2:20-22
    2 Peter 2:20–22 (NIV)
    If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
    It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
    Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
    So, we don’t wanna be
    like the ppl Peter
    describes here.
    & we never need
    to be like them.
    Bcs as Peter tells
    in 2 Peter 1:10
    2 Peter 1:10 (NIV)
    Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble...
    Notice Peter again says
    we must make
    every effort.
    This time
    To confirm
    our calling
    & election.
    He’s simply saying:
    Make every effort
    to be sure you
    continue in the faith
    you were taught;
    until the end.
    So, Peter says:
    We need to get busy
    & stay busy.
    Making every effort
    To confirm
    our calling & election.
    We need to be abt
    our Father’s business
    Keeping our hand
    to the plow;
    Never looking back;
    Always moving forward;
    Keeping our eyes
    on the prize.
    Day in Day out
    We need to stay
    laser focused
    On developing
    Christian character
    As if our lives depended
    on this.
    Bcs the truth is
    Our lives
    do depend on this.
    We must make sure
    we’re putting forth
    the effort it takes
    to enter
    the kingdom of God.
    & listen again:
    To God’s precious
    promise to us.
    If we make every effort…
    To do the things
    we’ve talked abt
    here today.
    We will never stumble.
    The Greek is even more emphatic.
    Peter’s saying:
    “We will never
    ever stumble.”
    That’s a great
    promise.
    That’s a precious
    promise.
    That’s a promise
    we need to embrace.
    Especially in a church culture
    that seems to think
    Stumbling & falling
    is the Normal
    Christian Life.
    Let’s believe
    God’s Word.
    God is faithful;
    He will keep His promises.
    If you & I:
    Will do the things
    Peter describes
    in today’s passage.
    If we keep on
    making every effort
    To add
    Christ’s character qualities
    to our faith;
    If we keep on
    making every effort
    To confirm
    our calling & election;
    Then we will
    never ever stumble.
    That’s a guarantee frm God’s Word.
    CONCLUSION
    As we close:
    & at the end
    of this life........
    When the Lord
    calls us home.
    When we shed
    the temporary
    for the eternal
    Peter tells us
    what we have
    to look forward to
    in 2 Peter 1:11.
    He says if
    you do these things
    2 Peter 1:11 (NIV)
    ...you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
    That’s what we’re
    hoping for.
    We’re looking fwd
    & looking upward
    to our eternal home
    In the eternal kingdom
    of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    & if
    we keep adding
    Christ’s character qualities
    to our faith
    We’ll receive a warm welcome
    frm the Lord
    into His eternal kingdom
    either when we leave
    this earth
    or when Jesus comes
    back again
    & the kingdoms
    of this world
    become the kingdom
    of our God
    & His Messiah.
    That’s good news!
    That’s big stuff!
    Let’s make
    every effort
    to make sure
    we enter into
    Christ’s eternal kingdom.
    PRAYER
    Let’s all stand for prayer.
    Father, we thank You
    For giving us
    everything we need
    to live a godly life.
    We thank You
    for Your very great
    & precious promises.
    & for allowing us
    to participate
    in Your divine nature
    thru those promises.
    Help us all to keep making
    every effort
    To be conformed
    to the image
    of the Lord Jesus.
    So we can all
    receive a rich welcome
    into His eternal kingdom.
    In Jesus name.
    Amen.
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Heartland Christian Church
heartlandchristianchurch@gmail.com
513-722-2629
https://hcc-2n.faithlifesites.com
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