Accessing God's Abundant Resources for Spiritual Growth

In every season of life, God has already provided everything needed for us to grow as authentic followers of Jesus. Just as Mark Watney in "The Martian" discovered that the resources for his survival were already within reach, so too are the spiritual resources for our growth and fruitfulness available to us. God’s divine power has given us all we need for a godly life—not as a puzzle to solve or a mystery to unlock, but as a gift to access. The invitation is to tap into what God has already made available, to receive and grow through it, and to become people whose lives overflow with blessing for others.

The journey of developing as authentic followers of Jesus is not about striving to earn God’s favor or figuring out a secret formula. Instead, it is about knowing God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—more deeply and letting that relationship shape every aspect of our lives. The practices that have helped people know God for generations—prayer, engaging with Scripture, gathering with other believers, serving, and even interacting with those outside the faith—remain the pathways for our growth. As we pursue God, we inevitably encounter areas in our lives that need more of His character: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

Rather than being overwhelmed by all that needs to change, God invites us to focus on adding just a little more of what is needed in this season. Growth is not about perfection but about making every effort to add what God has already made accessible. As we do, opportunities will arise to practice these virtues, and over time, we will see transformation in ourselves and blessing in those around us. This process is not only for our benefit but is essential to our mission—when we grow in Christlikeness, we become compelling witnesses to the world, drawing others to the Jesus we follow.

Yet, there is a caution: to neglect this growth is to risk becoming ineffective and unproductive, even to the point of forgetting the significance of God’s forgiveness and provision. The abundance of God’s gifts should not breed complacency but gratitude and intentionality. The call is to make every effort, to access what God has provided, and to respond to His generosity by growing as authentic followers of Jesus. What are you tapping into this season? What will you access today?

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Provision Is Complete and Accessible God has already given everything needed for a godly life. There is no hidden knowledge or secret formula; the resources for spiritual growth are available to all who seek Him. The challenge is not to find something new, but to access and receive what God has already provided. [07:42]
• 2. Knowing God Is the Pathway to Growth The core of spiritual development is deepening our knowledge of God—not just intellectually, but relationally and experientially. Every step forward in following Jesus is rooted in knowing Him more truly and letting that knowledge transform us from the inside out. [13:49]
• 3. Growth Is Incremental and Intentional Rather than being overwhelmed by all that needs to change, God invites us to focus on one area at a time—faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, or love. As we make every effort to add what is needed, God provides opportunities to practice and grow, leading to real transformation. [21:46]
• 4. Spiritual Growth Prepares Us for Life’s Challenges Developing as authentic followers of Jesus equips us to withstand the inevitable challenges, obstacles, and opposition of life. The more we grow in Christlike character, the more resilient we become—not immune to hardship, but able to rise again and continue forward in faith. [28:18]
• 5. Our Growth Draws Others to Jesus and Honors God’s Generosity As we access what God has made available and grow in Christlikeness, our lives become compelling testimonies that draw others to Jesus. Neglecting this growth risks undervaluing God’s forgiveness and provision, but intentional pursuit of spiritual maturity is a fitting response to His abundant generosity. [30:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Announcements and Starting Point
• [01:45] - Congregational Meeting and Campus Update
• [02:39] - The Martian: Tapping Into What’s Available
• [03:31] - Vision: Force Multiplier for Kingdom Good
• [06:28] - The Challenge of Authentic Discipleship
• [07:42] - God Has Provided Everything We Need
• [10:23] - Early Church Questions and God’s Provision
• [13:49] - Knowing God: The Pathway to Growth
• [15:01] - Practices for Knowing God
• [17:01] - The Virtue Ladder: Adding What’s Needed
• [21:46] - Making Every Effort: Practicing Growth
• [25:03] - What Do You Need More Of?
• [26:00] - Outcomes and Cautions of Spiritual Growth
• [28:18] - Resilience Through Growth
• [30:18] - Responding to God’s Generosity
• [32:12] - Closing Prayer and Response

Bible Reading

2 Peter 1:3-11 (ESV) —
> 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
> 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
> 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
> 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
> 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
> 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
> 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
> 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
> 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Observation Questions

1. According to 2 Peter 1:3, what has God’s divine power given us, and how do we access it?
2. What are the specific qualities or virtues Peter lists that we are to “add” to our faith (vv. 5-7)?
3. In verse 8, what is the result of possessing these qualities “in increasing measure”?
4. The sermon compared our spiritual resources to Mark Watney’s situation in "The Martian." What was the main point of this comparison? [[02:39]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The passage says God has already given us “everything we need for a godly life.” What does it mean that these resources are not a puzzle to solve, but a gift to access? [[07:42]]
2. Why do you think Peter emphasizes “knowing God” as the pathway to growth, rather than following a secret formula or checklist? [[13:49]]
3. The sermon suggests that growth is “incremental and intentional.” How does focusing on one area at a time help us avoid feeling overwhelmed by all that needs to change? [[21:46]]
4. What does Peter mean when he warns that neglecting these qualities leads to being “ineffective and unproductive” or even “forgetting” God’s forgiveness? [[26:00]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon asked, “What have you been tapping into this season? What is forming you?” Take a moment to reflect: What are you currently drawing from for your spiritual growth? Is it helping you become more like Jesus, or is it leaving you stuck? [[07:42]]
2. Of the virtues listed (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, love), which one do you sense God inviting you to “add a little more” of in this season? Why? [[19:24]]
3. The sermon described how opportunities to practice a virtue often show up once we start focusing on it. Can you share a recent situation where you had a chance to practice one of these qualities? What did you learn from it? [[23:14]]
4. The message warned against complacency—taking God’s provision for granted. Are there areas in your life where you’ve become complacent in your spiritual growth? What would it look like to respond with gratitude and intentionality instead? [[30:18]]
5. The sermon said that as we grow, our lives become a “compelling testimony” that draws others to Jesus. Who in your life might be watching your journey? How could your growth in a specific area impact them? [[28:58]]
6. The passage says, “make every effort to add” these qualities. What is one practical step you can take this week to intentionally pursue growth in the area you identified?
7. When you face challenges or setbacks, how might growing in Christlike character help you “get up again” and keep moving forward? Can you think of a recent example where spiritual growth made a difference in how you handled a tough situation? [[28:18]]