Embodying Faith: The Call to Virtue

Summary

In our journey of faith, we are called to thrive, to grow, and to develop into the fullness of what God has intended for us. Today, we delve into the concept of virtue, as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5, where we are instructed to add virtue to our faith. Virtue, in its essence, is about moral excellence and high moral standards. It is not merely about believing in God but embodying His character in our daily lives.

Faith is the foundation upon which everything else is built. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, as stated in Hebrews 11:6. However, faith alone is not enough. A church that has faith but lacks virtue is at risk of becoming stagnant and hypocritical. Virtue is the bridge between what we believe and how we live. It is the moral fabric that guides our actions and decisions, ensuring that our lives reflect the character of Christ.

Adding virtue to our faith is crucial because it prevents us from becoming knowledgeable yet morally bankrupt. Knowledge without virtue can lead to harmful behaviors like gossip and deceit. Therefore, virtue must precede knowledge to ensure that our understanding is used for good and not for harm.

Virtue is not something we can generate on our own; it comes from God. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life of holiness and moral excellence. Just as the woman with the issue of blood reached out in faith and received healing virtue from Jesus, we too must reach out in faith to receive the virtue that transforms our lives.

In a world filled with moral compromise and confusion, people are searching for authenticity. They are looking for individuals and communities that not only profess faith but also live it out with integrity and virtue. As a church, we are called to be that beacon of virtue, teaching and exemplifying how to live a life that honors God in every aspect.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith as the Foundation: Faith is the starting point of our spiritual journey, but it is not the end. Without faith, we cannot please God, but faith must be accompanied by virtue to truly thrive in our walk with Him. A church without faith is dead, but a church with faith and no virtue is at risk of hypocrisy. [07:39]

2. The Importance of Virtue: Virtue is the moral excellence that bridges our beliefs and actions. It ensures that our faith is not just a set of beliefs but a way of life that reflects the character of Christ. Without virtue, our knowledge and faith can become hollow and ineffective. [10:43]

3. Knowledge and Virtue: Knowledge without virtue can be dangerous, leading to behaviors that harm rather than heal. Virtue must come before knowledge to ensure that our understanding is used for good. This alignment is crucial for living a life that honors God. [11:52]

4. Virtue from God: Virtue is not self-generated; it comes from God. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life of holiness. Just as the woman with the issue of blood received healing virtue from Jesus, we too must reach out in faith to receive the virtue that transforms us. [17:28]

5. Living with Integrity: In a world filled with moral compromise, people are searching for authenticity. As believers, we are called to live with integrity, embodying the virtues of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. This is how we become a light in the darkness, guiding others to the truth. [14:46]

Youtube Chapters:

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - Honoring the Church
[02:06] - A Sending Church
[02:38] - Global Impact
[03:19] - Adding Virtue to Faith
[04:45] - Understanding Virtue
[06:13] - The Chain of Growth
[07:39] - Faith as the Foundation
[08:22] - The Danger of a Dead Church
[09:30] - Faith is the Starting Point
[10:43] - The Necessity of Virtue
[11:52] - Knowledge and Virtue
[13:00] - Authentic Living
[14:46] - Integrity in Action
[17:28] - Virtue from God
[19:12] - The Power of Faith and Virtue
[21:11] - Praying for Virtue
[23:07] - Cultivating Virtue in Life

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Peter 1:5-8
- Hebrews 11:6

Observation Questions:
1. According to 2 Peter 1:5, what are we instructed to add to our faith, and why is this addition important? [03:19]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and virtue? [07:39]
3. What does Hebrews 11:6 say about the necessity of faith in pleasing God? [08:57]
4. In the sermon, what is the significance of the story of the woman with the issue of blood in relation to virtue? [17:28]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the sermon emphasize that virtue must precede knowledge, and what are the potential dangers of knowledge without virtue? [11:52]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of a church having faith but lacking virtue, and what are the consequences of this imbalance? [10:07]
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in empowering believers to live a life of virtue, according to the sermon? [15:27]
4. How does the sermon connect the idea of living with integrity to being a light in a world filled with moral compromise? [14:46]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have faith but may be lacking in virtue? How can you begin to address this imbalance? [10:07]
2. The sermon mentions that virtue is not self-generated but comes from God. How can you actively seek God's help in developing virtue in your life? [15:27]
3. Consider a situation where you have knowledge but may not have applied it with virtue. How can you ensure that your knowledge is used for good and not harm? [11:52]
4. In what ways can you demonstrate integrity and virtue in your workplace or community, and how might this impact those around you? [14:46]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of living authentically according to one's faith. What steps can you take to ensure that your actions align with your beliefs? [13:00]
6. How can you cultivate an environment in your home that reflects the virtues of Christ, and what specific changes might be necessary to achieve this? [13:36]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel morally compromised. What practical steps can you take this week to address this and live with greater virtue? [20:42]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as the Foundation of Spiritual Growth
Faith is the bedrock of our spiritual journey, serving as the essential starting point for a life that pleases God. Without faith, it is impossible to connect with God, as it is the foundation upon which all other virtues are built. However, faith alone is not sufficient for a thriving spiritual life. A church or individual that possesses faith but lacks virtue risks becoming stagnant and hypocritical. Virtue acts as the bridge between belief and action, ensuring that our faith is not just a set of beliefs but a way of life that reflects the character of Christ. By adding virtue to our faith, we prevent ourselves from becoming knowledgeable yet morally bankrupt, allowing our faith to be alive and effective. [07:39]

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to live out your faith with integrity? How can you begin to bridge the gap between belief and action today?

Day 2: The Necessity of Virtue in Christian Living
Virtue is the moral excellence that bridges our beliefs and actions, ensuring that our faith is not just theoretical but practical and transformative. It is the moral fabric that guides our actions and decisions, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily lives. Without virtue, our knowledge and faith can become hollow and ineffective, leading to behaviors that harm rather than heal. Virtue must precede knowledge to ensure that our understanding is used for good and not for harm. In a world filled with moral compromise, people are searching for authenticity, and as believers, we are called to live with integrity, embodying the virtues of Christ in every aspect of our lives. [10:43]

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to align your actions with your beliefs. What steps can you take this week to cultivate virtue in that area?

Day 3: Knowledge and Virtue: A Harmonious Relationship
Knowledge without virtue can be dangerous, leading to behaviors that harm rather than heal. It is crucial that virtue comes before knowledge to ensure that our understanding is used for good. This alignment is essential for living a life that honors God and reflects His character. When knowledge is guided by virtue, it becomes a powerful tool for good, enabling us to make wise decisions and act in ways that are consistent with our faith. By prioritizing virtue, we ensure that our knowledge is not just an accumulation of facts but a means to live a life that is pleasing to God. [11:52]

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." (Proverbs 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your pursuit of knowledge is guided by virtue? What practical steps can you take to align your understanding with God's character?

Day 4: Virtue as a Gift from God
Virtue is not something we can generate on our own; it comes from God. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life of holiness and moral excellence. Just as the woman with the issue of blood reached out in faith and received healing virtue from Jesus, we too must reach out in faith to receive the virtue that transforms our lives. This divine empowerment enables us to live with integrity and authenticity, reflecting the character of Christ in all that we do. By relying on God's strength, we can cultivate virtue in our lives and become a beacon of light in a world filled with moral compromise. [17:28]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek God's empowerment to cultivate virtue in your life? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to transform your character?

Day 5: Living with Integrity in a Compromised World
In a world filled with moral compromise and confusion, people are searching for authenticity. As believers, we are called to live with integrity, embodying the virtues of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. This is how we become a light in the darkness, guiding others to the truth. By living with integrity, we demonstrate the transformative power of faith and virtue, showing others what it means to live a life that honors God. Our actions and decisions should reflect the character of Christ, serving as a testament to the authenticity of our faith. [14:46]

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a beacon of integrity in your community? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate the virtues of Christ in your daily interactions?

Quotes

1) "When we talk about Thrive, we're talking about what it takes to grow, to develop, to flourish, to prosper. We've talked about the T in Thrive, truth, because thriving requires the right foundation. We've talked about hope, because thriving requires the right aspiration. We've talked about responsibility, because thriving requires personal commitment, investment, accountability, and dedication. We've talked about the I in Thrive, who I am. To the I am, and who the I am is to me. Amen. And so we've arrived, that's T-H-R-I, we've arrived at the V in Thrive. And so for the V in Thrive, we're going to talk about this thing called virtue." [03:19] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "If you add these things, you'll abound. And you won't be barren or unfruitful. You'll thrive. And so the end result being neither barren nor unfruitful but thriving. There's this whole chain of things that we can add and abound in. And we're not going to cover all of these tonight. This is not a however many of these seven point sermon. But we're going to talk about the first couple of those because it talks about the first thing you add to your faith is virtue. It says add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge. And so the whole chain begins with faith. Because you cannot get anywhere in the kingdom of God without faith." [06:47] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "A church that has no faith is dead. But a church that has faith but no virtue. If no virtue is being added. Then that church might not be dead. But it certainly isn't thriving. We better be careful that we don't become a church that has faith but no virtue. There's faith. But there's no more virtue. There's no moral standard. We believe in God. But we don't take on his character. You're a believer. But you're not a disciple. You may operate in the gifts of the spirit. But you don't have the fruits of the spirit. We seek after miracles. But we don't live according to his word." [10:07] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "There's plenty of people in this world today who are knowledgeable. But there's no virtue. They know that there are know it all. But there's no character. They're rich in information. But they're morally bankrupt. They could be a biblical scholar. But there's again they have not taken on the character of Christ. There's no fruit of the spirit in their lives. Knowledge without virtue. Listen to this. Knowledge without virtue is how you get gossip. Because you want to know everything. But you don't know. You don't have the grace of what to do with that information." [11:52] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "There are plenty of people in this world who believe in God. But they live in immorality. And then there's plenty of people who know the word. And know doctrine. But they don't know virtue. I've got to be authentic to what I believe. And to what I know. I've got to have virtue. Because there's somebody out there searching for someone who actually lives real to the word. They're looking for families who have homes where the faith goes beyond the Bible quote on the wall. They're looking for families where there's virtue." [13:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Here's the thing about virtue. It doesn't come from you or me. It comes from Him. Isaiah 64 and 6. All our righteousness is as filthy rags. It says our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. God is the source of virtue. When you receive the Holy Ghost. You receive the power to live holy unto God. God does not give us the Holy Ghost because of our virtue. God doesn't extend His grace to us with His Spirit. Because of anything virtuous or righteous within us. He simply sees your faith. He sees you reaching for Him. And then He extends His grace. And He reaches for you." [15:27] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "When it comes to changing somebody's life. And filling somebody with His Spirit. God's not looking for someone who's good enough. He's not looking for somebody with a good resume. He's looking for faith. And in His mercy and His grace. He puts virtue in you. When you come to Him believing that He can. He puts the virtue in you. He changes your life. He puts His character on you. He starts to change how you act. He starts to change how you walk. He starts to change how you talk. He puts virtue in you. It comes through the Holy Ghost. It comes from Him." [17:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Virtue is more than just about physical healing. It's about the virtue that heals families. And heals brokenness. And heals people's lives. I can be filled with the Holy Ghost. And be full of his character. And I can live above the corruption of this world. I can live above the lust and confusion. I can live above abuse. And hate. I can live above lying and stealing. I can live above cheating. And the moral short cutting. I can live with virtue. I can live holy." [19:40] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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