3.  Many people just try to “slide by” in life.  They seek to do the minimum to get by.  Soon the ‘min’ becomes the ‘max.’  Not so for Christians; we are to “abound” in many things.  Abound: superabound, to make to increase (Thayer). 3

4.  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13  Apostles spoke of hope: Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:19; 2 Thess. 2:16; 1 Pet. 1:3  It’s an inheritance; the hope of glory; reserved in heaven: Eph. 1:18; Col. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:3-4 4

5.  It is the “hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2; 3:7), but it is conditional:  Springs from “righteousness of faith”: Gal. 5:5; Heb. 10:38-39  Studying God’s word: Rom. 15:4  Perseverance in trials: Rom. 5:1-5; 8:24-25  Continued steadfastness: Col. 1:21-23 5

6.  “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” 2 Cor. 1:5  All Christians suffer: 1 Pet. 4:12a-14; 2 Tim. 3:12  Why? Men hate the truth: Jn. 3:18-21; Gal. 4:16  Don’t shy away or consider it unusual; be up to the task: 1 Pet. 4:12; 2 Cor. 2:15-16  Persecution, properly handled, strengthens and glorifies us: Matt. 5:10-12; 43-48 6

7.  “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” 2 Cor. 4:15  Should characterize our speech and prayers: Eph. 5:4; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1  Be thankful especially for God’s grace: Rom. 3:23; 6:23  What if lost? Matt. 25:41; Mk. 9:42-49; Rev. 14:11  God’s grace is truly marvelous! Rom. 5:8; Eph. 1:3- 11 7

8.  “But as you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also.” 2 Cor. 8:7  Many take it too lightly; but our giving is serious because what it supports is serious! 1 Cor. 16:1; Phil. 4:10, 14-16 8

9. Giving “you must do also” (1 Cor. 16:1) “freely willingly” (2 Cor. 8:3) “each one” (1 Cor. 16:2)“this grace” (2 Cor. 8:7) “as he may prosper” (1 Cor. 16:2) “according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Cor. 8:12) “liberality” (2 Cor. 8:3)“willingness” (2 Cor. 9:1) “according to their ability” (2 Cor. 8:3) “generous…generosity” (2 Cor. 9:5) 9

10. Giving “sow bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6)“service” (2 Cor. 9:12) “as he purposes in his heart” (2 Cor. 9:7) “is abounding through many thanksgivings to God” (2 Cor. 9:12) “not grudgingly” (2 Cor. 9:7)“liberal sharing” (2 Cor. 9:13) “not…of necessity” (2 Cor. 9:7) “exceeding grace of God in you” (2 Cor. 9:14) “liberality” (2 Cor. 9:11) 10

11.  “If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” Bob Hope (1 Jn. 3:17)  “True charity is the desire to be useful to others with no thought of recompense.” Emanuel Swedenborg (Acts 20:35) 11  Liberality in “giving” not limited to obligation to local church! Matt. 25:31-46; Gal. 6:10

12.  “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8  Basic aspect of Christians: Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14  We are not their source: Eph. 2:8-10; Matt. 7:21-23  One purpose of assembling: Heb. 10:24-25  Good works essential: Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; 2 Cor. 3:2 12

13.  “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” Phil. 1:9  Easy to claim, harder to do: 1 Cor. 13:1-8  Not mushy sentimentality: Phil. 1:9  Extends to even the “unlovable”: Jn. 3:16; Matt. 5:43-46; Matt. 16:26 13

14.  “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you” 2 Thess. 3:12  One of the most prominent themes in the New Testament! 14

15. Love One Another “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35) “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12) “These things I command you, that you love one another.” (Jn. 15:17) “through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13) 15

16. Love One Another “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:10) “having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Phil. 2:2) “bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2) “concerning brotherly love you have no need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another” (2 Thess. 1:3) 16

17. Love One Another “in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Pet. 1:22) “above all things have a fervent love for one another” (1 Pet. 4:8) “all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, courteous” (1 Pet. 3:8) 1 John 2 John 3 John 17

18.  “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God” 1 Thess. 4:1  Many live on the “edge”! Eph. 4:1  God forbid! Phil. 1:27; 3:17-20  Requires a new “mind set”: Col. 3:1-2 18

19.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:58  Every generation needs the gospel! 1 Tim. 2:4; Rom. 1:16-17  Hence, the great commission valid in every generation: Mk. 16:15; 1 Cor. 9:16  What a privilege to be “God’s fellow worker” ! 1 Cor. 3:5-11; Lk. 8:4-15  For this church to grow every member needs to do their part: Eph. 4:16 19

20.  2 Peter 1:3-11 Add To Your Faith VirtueGodliness KnowledgeBrotherly Kindness Self-controlLove Perseverance 20

21.  2 Peter 1:3-11  V. 5 why is growth so important? Vv. 3-4  “giving all diligence”: “to bring in besides, to contribute besides” (Thayer)  We must “bring something in beside” God’s grace… faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. 21

22.  Are you abounding in these things?  Be an “abounding” Christian!  You won’t be disappointed! Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11 22