Add Knowledge to Your Faith: Know and Obey God

The congregation is urged to cultivate a faith that is active, informed, and loving. Grounded in Peter’s call to “make every effort” to add virtues to faith, the teaching insists that belief must be the bedrock from which moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, and ultimately love grow. Knowledge is treated as both intellectual understanding and relational knowing — not merely facts about God but personal acquaintance with the Shepherd. True knowledge, revealed by the Spirit through Scripture, prayer, and community, is meant to shape character and conduct: knowing without obedience is empty, and faith without visible growth is suspect.

The sermon warns against two temptations: the license that misreads justification as freedom to sin, and the cold asceticism that denies joy in the name of piety. Neither extreme honors the gospel. Instead, believers are called to a balanced life where understanding God’s truth leads to wise discernment and practical holiness. Knowledge must be humble and pastoral — it should build up others rather than puff up the knower. When convictions threaten a weaker conscience, restraint and sacrificial love are the appropriate responses; spiritual liberty is not an excuse to cause a brother or sister to stumble.

Practical rhythms are emphasized: ongoing learning, regular repentance, mutual teaching, and the communal transmission of faith to the next generation. The invitation to examine one’s standing with Christ precedes the celebration of Holy Communion, reminding hearers that the meal signifies both what Christ has done and the call to follow him in daily obedience. Growth is presented as grace-enabled, not self-generated; the Spirit supplies true knowledge and power to live for God. The closing benediction exhorts continual growth “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” pointing Christians toward a lifetime of transformation that combines faith, understanding, and sacrificial love.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith is the firm foundation Growth begins with a decisive relationship to Christ; nothing meaningful can be built atop mere morality or information. Faith legitimizes the pursuit of virtue and knowledge so they are not ends in themselves but means to worship and obedience. When faith is real, it produces persistent effort to become like Christ, shaped by grace rather than guilt. [57:07]
• 2. Know God, not just facts True knowledge moves from head to heart: reciting Scripture is not the same as knowing the Shepherd. Personal acquaintance with Jesus changes motives, shapes affections, and converts information into intimacy. Intellectual assent must be yoked to prayer, reading, and Spirit-led encounter so that knowing leads to communion. [29:29]
• 3. Knowledge must produce obedient living Study and doctrine are valuable only insofar as they lead to discernment and faithful action. Scripture intends knowledge to inform choices that reflect God’s will; understanding without obedience becomes vanity. The goal of learning is to walk worthily of the calling and to bear spiritual fruit. [40:54]
• 4. Love should govern Christian knowledge Love is the final arbiter when exercising liberty; knowledge that wounds a weaker conscience contradicts Christ’s aim to build up. Spiritual insight must be exercised with humility and sacrificial restraint so that it edifies others rather than exalts the knower. The highest spiritual maturity is knowing much and loving more. [34:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:01] - Prayer for longing and renewal
• [08:20] - Announcements and reminders
• [23:04] - Scripture reading and series overview
• [23:25] - Faith as foundation; add virtues
• [29:29] - Knowing God personally versus facts
• [38:50] - The fear of the Lord and knowledge
• [40:54] - Knowledge aimed at obedience and wisdom
• [49:47] - Conscience, community, and stumbling blocks
• [57:07] - Reflection: surrender and spiritual growth
• [61:10] - Communion: remember Christ’s sacrifice
• [76:52] - Benediction and closing exhortation

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary:

Bible Reading

2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV)
> 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 things are yours and abound, they will make you neither unfruitful nor barren in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:3-6 (ESV)
> 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Observation questions

1. The sermon emphasizes that faith is the foundation upon which other virtues are built. What are the specific virtues Peter lists that should be added to faith? [23:53]
2. The sermon highlights the difference between knowing facts about God and knowing God personally. What analogy is used to illustrate this difference, and what is the key takeaway from it? [29:29]
3. The sermon warns that knowledge without obedience is empty. What biblical examples are given to show how a lack of knowledge or a failure to act on knowledge leads to disobedience or disaster? [43:26], [44:23]
4. The sermon discusses how knowledge can be misused and become harmful. What specific example from 1 Corinthians is used to illustrate how knowledge can puff up or tear down others? [48:48]

Interpretation questions

1. The sermon suggests that true knowledge of God is not just intellectual but relational, leading to intimacy. How does the sermon explain that this personal acquaintance with Jesus changes motives and affections? [29:29]
2. The sermon states that knowledge must lead to obedient living, and that understanding without obedience becomes vanity. How does the sermon connect the "fear of the Lord" to the beginning of knowledge and wisdom? [38:50]
3. The sermon emphasizes that love should govern Christian knowledge, and that spiritual liberty is not an excuse to cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble. How does the sermon interpret Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 8 regarding food sacrificed to idols and its application to modern issues like alcohol? [49:47]
4. The sermon concludes by stressing that growth in knowledge is a lifelong process, and that the ultimate goal is to grow "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." [01:16:52] How does the sermon suggest that this growth is enabled by God's Spirit and is not purely self-generated? [01:07:02]

Application questions

1. Faith is presented as the bedrock of our spiritual lives. [57:07] In what specific ways can you actively "make every effort" to add virtues like moral excellence, knowledge, and self-control to your faith this week?
2. The sermon distinguishes between knowing facts about God and knowing God personally. [29:29] What are some practical steps you can take this week to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus, moving beyond just knowing *about* Him?
3. Knowledge is meant to lead to obedient living and wise discernment. [40:54] Can you identify an area in your life where you have knowledge of God's will but are struggling to live it out? What is one small, actionable step you can take this week to bridge that gap?
4. The sermon highlights that love should govern how we exercise our knowledge and spiritual liberty, ensuring we build others up rather than cause them to stumble. [50:22] Think of a situation where you might have a strong conviction or knowledge that differs from someone else's. How can you approach that situation with love and humility this week, prioritizing their spiritual well-being over asserting your own "right"?
5. The sermon emphasizes that knowledge should benefit others and lead to transformation, not just personal enrichment. [47:49] How can you intentionally share something you've learned about God or His Word this week in a way that builds up another person?
6. The sermon warns against the temptation to be content with mere intellectual assent to truth without a corresponding change in behavior. [45:53] How can you ensure that your pursuit of knowledge about God is leading to a more Christ-like life and not just accumulating information?
7. The sermon encourages a lifelong journey of growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. [55:45] What is one specific discipline or practice you can commit to this week that will help you continue to grow in your understanding and love for Jesus?