Inspired to Deepen
Sermon: Inspired to Deepen
I. Deepen Mentally: Prepare Your Minds for Action
· Move from being emotionally driven to being Scripturally driven.
· Train your mind to respond to God's will, even when it is contrary to human emotion and reason.
II. Deepen Morally: Become Like God in His Holiness
· Holiness is not just avoiding sin; it is the passionate pursuit of God's virtues.
Four Motivations for Holiness:
1. A desire to resemble our Heavenly Father.
2. A reverent fear of God's impartial judgment.
3. A recognition of the futility of an empty, unholy life.
4. Gratitude for the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
III. Deepen Socially: Love One Another Deeply
· Mature Christians move from being self-centered to being other-centered.
· Get rid of attitudes that alienate—like malice, deceit, envy, and grudges—and be big enough to forgive.
Scripture References
1 Corinthians 3:1–2 (NIV84) Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
John 10:10 (NIV84) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1 Peter 2:2–3 (NIV84) …so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 1:13 (NIV84) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Isaiah 1:18 (NIV84) “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.
2 Chronicles 1:10 (NIV84) Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people…
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV84) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
1 Peter 1:14 (NIV84) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Matthew 4:3 (NIV84) The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Matthew 4:4 (NIV84) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Psalm 119:11 (NIV84) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
1 Peter 1:15–16 (NIV84) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Ephesians 5:3 (NIV84) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
1 Peter 1:16 (NIV84) for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:17 (NIV84) Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
1 Peter 1:18 (NIV84) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
1 Peter 1:19–21 (NIV84) …with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:22 (NIV84) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
Philippians 2:3 (NIV84) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
1 Peter 1:24–25 (NIV84) For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
1 Peter 2:1 (NIV84) Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
1 Peter 2:2–3 (NIV84) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.