HOLY HABIT #2: KNOWLEDGE
Introduction
Imagine that you have an ice cube sitting on a table in front of you. The room is cold and you can see your breath. It is currently 25 degrees. Ever so slowly the room begins to warm up. 26 … 27 … 28 degrees. The ice cube is still sitting on the table in front you. 29 degrees. 30. 31. Still, nothing happening. Then, 32 degrees. The ice begins to melt. A one-degree shift, seemingly no different from the temperature increases before it, has unlocked a huge change. Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change. Developing Holy Habits can be challenging because we think of them as gigantic shifts in behavior and thought, but instead they are made up of many tiny decisions and advances. Along the way we reach the Plateau of Latent Potential. We want to make BIG changes in our lives and we set out to develop new habits, but get discouraged along the way when we do not see the big changes we we expected right away.
James Clear: “The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow.”
Last week we talked about adding the habit of Goodness to our faith. This week the habit we want to develop is the habit of knowledge. Knowledge is not something we gain overnight, but in a lifetime of small progressive steps. Like the ice cube that melts with one degree of difference, the habit of knowledge is acquired in small but meaningful steps.
1 Peter 1:5-7 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
1. WHAT KNOWLEDGE IS....(In 2 Peter, Knowledge is associated with ….)
Grace and Peace - two things we all need. 1:2 "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord Grace - the unearned freely-given favor of God. Peace - a profound sense of well-being and wholeness that comes from a right relationship with God. Peter Prays that this would be “in abundance” - many translations say ‘multiplied’.
Guidance for daily Living. 1:3 "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." This divine power tells us that God, who knows everything we need to live a godly life, can give it to us! Comes through knowledge about Jesus who calls us!
We are called and empowered to live the Jesus life!
Blessings and Warnings. 2:20 “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.” Blessing - escape from the corruption of the world. Warning - don’t get caught up in it again. Knowing Jesus is key: As Lord - we submit to Him; As Savior - rescued us from the corruption of world.
Growth in Christ. 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." This knowledge is the ever-deepening experience of Christ and understanding of His truth that should characterize the entire course of the believer’s life.
2. WHY KNOWLEDGE MATTERS
Barclay: Knowledge is practical, it is the knowledge what to do in any given situation; it is the knowledge to apply to particular situations the ultimate knowledge which wisdom gives.
This pursuit of knowledge isn’t just intellectual—it’s deeply spiritual. Proverbs lays the foundation. What the Proverbs tell us about Knowledge:
-Knowledge begins with a respect and submission to God. Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." When we despise the wisdom of the Scriptures we are
in trouble.
-Disinterest in Knowledge is an offense to God. Proverbs 1:28-30 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke."
-Knowledge is more valuable than Gold! Proverbs 8:10-11 "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."
-Knowledge is the life-goal of believers. Proverbs 23:12 "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of
knowledge."
Paul David Tripp: "God isn't just after your mind; he's after your heart. The doctrines of the word of God are not intended just to lay claim to your brain but to radically alter the way you live. The primary purpose of theology is not information but transformation."
True knowledge of God is never passive. It leads to transformation, to action, and ultimately to a life that mirrors Jesus.
3. HOW TO GROW IN KNOWLEDGE
In the book Habits of Grace by David Mathis we find these suggestions…
-Shape your life with the Words of Life. Put into practice what you learn; we can see the results of
following after God’s ways. Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” We want to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).
Read the Bible for Breadth, Study for Depth. There are many sources of wisdom and knowledge, but unless they reflect the truth of Scripture, they are incomplete. Mark Copeland writes, “The knowledge which we are to add to our faith and virtue is found only in the pages of God’s Word!” Regular Bible study is required for us to have knowledge!
Warm Yourself at the Fire of Meditation: Pause and ponder. Joshua 1:8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Matthew Henry wrote, “As meditation is the best preparation for prayer, so prayer is the best issue of meditation.” As a part of meditation, memorization is impactful. Mathis says when we memorize the Bible we are memorizing the mind of God.
Resolve to be a Lifelong Learner. Mathis writes, “Wisdom does not come automatically with age. You’ll find plenty of foolish old fogies out there.” Make learning a lifelong passion. Don’t get discouraged. Knowledge comes one step at a time. Like the ice cube at 31 degrees, it only takes a little for major change! Don’t give up and quit… keep at it!
When Peter says ‘make every effort to add to your faith knowledge,’ this is the kind of transformative, Christ-centered knowledge he is talking about.
Conclusion
James Clear relates that the San Antonio Spurs, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, have a quote hanging in their locker room: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it - but all that had gone before.”
Add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge.
You don’t need a degree to grow in knowledge of God. You need a Bible, a heart that listens, and the willingness to take one step at a time.
Growing in knowledge is a holy habit that makes a huge difference. After his list of holy habits, Peter writes: "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.” 2 Peter 1:8-9
Where do you need to take the next small step in knowledge? What’s one thing you’ll read, study, or memorize this week?
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Discussion Questions
1. How does the “ice cube at 32 degrees” image help you view your spiritual growth?
2. Why do you think we often expect immediate change in our spiritual lives, and how can that expectation be misleading?
3. In 2 Peter 1, why do you think knowledge comes after goodness and before self-control in Peter’s list?
4. How does Peter’s definition of knowledge differ from just collecting facts? 2 Peter 1:2–3; 2:20; 3:18
5. According to Peter, what are some blessings that come from growing in the knowledge of Jesus?
6. How can a person escape the “corruption of the world” through knowledge (2 Peter 2:20)? What does that look like in daily life?
7. What does it mean to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18)? What does this growth require?
8. William Barclay said that knowledge is practical. How do you see a connection between knowing God and making wise daily decisions?
9. Paul David Tripp said that theology is for transformation, not just information. What’s one example where biblical knowledge changed the way you live?
10. Proverbs teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. What does this kind of reverence look like in everyday life?
11. How can we guard against the attitude Proverbs warns about—despising wisdom and instruction?
12. Which of the “habits of grace” for growing in knowledge (Bible reading, study, meditation, lifelong learning) do you find most meaningful—or most challenging?
13. What’s one small, practical change you could make this week to build the holy habit of knowledge?
14. How does the image of the stonecutter (from the Spurs’ locker room quote) encourage you in your spiritual
growth?
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Resources for this Series Include...
Austin, Daniel. Be Certain, Sermon Series.
https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/be-certain-sermon-series-from-daniel-austin-5895
Barclay, William.
The Daily Study Bible: The Letters of James and Peter. Westminster Press, 1960.
Clear, James. Atomic Habits. Avery Press, 2018.
Cole, Steven J. Growing in Godliness
http://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-3-growing-godliness-2-peter-15-7
Copeland, Mark. Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ Sermons
https://executableoutlines.com/topical_series/growing-knowledge-jesus-christ/
Cortez, Enrich. Our Pursuit for Growth Sermon series.
https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/our-pursuit-for-our-growth-sermon-series-from-eyriche-cortez-999
Criswell, W. A. The Seven Christian Graces
https://wacriswell.com/sermons/1974/the-seven-christian-graces/
Deffinbaugh, Bob. The Pursuit of Christian Character
https://bible.org/seriespage/pursuit-christian-character-2-peter-15-7
Fox, Michael. Complete in Christ. Xulon Press, 2007.
Harmon, Matthew S. ESV Expository Commentary, Volume XII Hebrews - Revelation. Crossway, 2018.
Harvey, Robert and Philip H. Towner. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: 2 Peter and Jude. InterVarsity Press, 2009.
Helm, David R. Preaching the Word Series: 1 & 2 Peter and Jude. Crossway, 2008.
Mathis, David. Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines. Crossway, 2016.
Shelly, Reubel.
Something to Hold On To: Studies in First and Second Peter. 21st Century Christian, 1985.
Warden, Duane. 1 & 2 Peter and Jude
Truth for Today Commentary Series, Resource Publications, 2009.
