1. Solid Steps of Christian Growth A Study of 2 Peter 1:1-11

2. God’s Call to Spiritual Growth 2Peter 1:3-11 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8

3. Add to Your Knowledge Temperance – Part 3 Surrendering my ‘Self’ to God’s Will, and my Attitude to God’s Holy Spirit  Control – Who is in Charge of my life?  Balance – Careful to not burn out  Grace – Handling failure Results in My Life being Truly Free

4. Introduction – Temperance? Acts 24:25  The apostle Paul not only preached about righteousness, and judgment of sin, but of the inability of a person to control themselves when it comes to sin, and their need for a new Master!  The Opposites of Temperance Out of Control Undisciplined Unruly Chaotic Lawless HELLO? That’s our society! Is that your Home? Under God’s Control

5. Bringing Life Back into Balance  Most of us are imbalanced (Hosea 7:8)  Example of Temperate versus Intemperate People (John 18:2-8; 19)  The need that every Christian has, once they have placed their FAITH in Jesus Christ, and started to live by Virtue instead of Vice, and begin to grow in their own person Knowledge of the Bible and of the Author of the Bible, is to get under control, and get Balance in their lives  Moses was burning-out because of imbalance (Ex 18:18)  The Church at Ephesus was imbalanced (Rev 2:1-5)

6. Big Ways to bring Balance into Your Life  Bless the Lord (Psalm 145:2; 34:1)  Laugh a lot (Prov 15:13,15; 17:22)  Be quiet and meditate every day (Genesis 24:63; Psalms 46:10; 143:5)  Work hard (Eccl 9:10)  Bless your family (Proverbs 14:1)  Witness to someone every day  Schedule God into your life (Psalm 55:17; Heb 10:25) – at least 10 percent

7. Having Grace  What about failures in our lives?  Temperance means that you do not ever give up on either yourself, or on others  Temperance means you know you are but dust (Ps 103:14)  And even at our best, we are still nothing (Psalm 39:5)  That’s why God gives MORE grace, and then some more, and then still more (James 4:6) – to make up for our failures!  So… Have Grace – give people lots of second chances – both to yourselves, and to each other Seek Grace in your life – be soft about failures - and be soft in seeking forgiveness for failures  A temperate Christian is not a harsh, angry, or bitter person! But a person of strong love and firm grace!

8. Conclusion – Developing Temperance (Balance)  Life is not a natural balance – the only natural event is DECAY and DEATH  A person HAS to act and bring balance into their life – by God’s help – not self help  Work on the seven ways to balance your life: Bless the Lord; Laugh a lot; Be quiet and meditate every day; Work hard; Bless your family; Witness to someone every day; Schedule God into your life  Have LOTS OF GRACE with your self and with others when you/they fail! God does!