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Happy<00:00:02.399><c> summer.</c><00:00:03.259><c> It's</c><00:00:03.580><c> a</c><00:00:03.879><c> time</c><00:00:04.059><c> of</c><00:00:04.379><c> transition,</c><00:00:04.960><c> isn't</c><00:00:05.200><c> it?</c>

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Our<00:00:06.599><c> Sunday</c><00:00:06.879><c> school</c><00:00:07.240><c> classes</c><00:00:07.700><c> have</c><00:00:08.119><c> concluded</c>

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for<00:00:09.140><c> the</c><00:00:09.380><c> summer.</c><00:00:10.660><c> Our</c><00:00:10.859><c> midweek</c><00:00:11.240><c> classes</c><00:00:11.740><c> are</c><00:00:12.039><c> coming</c><00:00:12.300><c> to</c><00:00:12.560><c> an</c>

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end<00:00:12.980><c> on</c><00:00:13.320><c> Wednesday.</c><00:00:15.140><c> And</c><00:00:15.380><c> later</c><00:00:15.640><c> today,</c><00:00:16.059><c> we're</c>

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going<00:00:16.539><c> to</c><00:00:16.760><c> gather</c><00:00:17.179><c> for</c><00:00:17.600><c> our</c><00:00:17.899><c> annual</c><00:00:18.179><c> Sunday</c><00:00:18.519><c> school</c><00:00:18.839><c> picnic,</c>

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which<00:00:20.219><c> marks</c><00:00:20.539><c> the</c><00:00:20.960><c> end</c><00:00:21.539><c> of</c><00:00:22.239><c> another</c><00:00:22.440><c> year</c>

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of<00:00:22.940><c> learning.</c><00:00:24.800><c> And</c><00:00:25.100><c> for</c><00:00:25.379><c> our</c><00:00:25.699><c> friend,</c><00:00:26.019><c> Brady</c><00:00:26.339><c> Maling,</c><00:00:27.920><c> this</c><00:00:28.179><c> season</c><00:00:28.460><c> also</c><00:00:28.960><c> marks</c><00:00:29.280><c> a</c>

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significant<00:00:30.480><c> milestone.</c>

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Brady<00:00:32.399><c> graduated</c><00:00:33.020><c> from</c><00:00:33.320><c> high</c><00:00:33.520><c> school</c><00:00:33.759><c> yesterday,</c><00:00:34.320><c> as</c><00:00:34.479><c> we</c><00:00:34.700><c> just</c><00:00:34.979><c> saw,</c><00:00:35.979><c> and</c>

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college<00:00:36.539><c> lies</c><00:00:36.899><c> ahead.</c><00:00:37.520><c> A</c>

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new<00:00:37.960><c> chapter</c><00:00:38.619><c> is</c><00:00:39.159><c> beginning.</c><00:00:40.719><c> And</c><00:00:40.899><c> moments</c><00:00:41.179><c> like</c><00:00:41.579><c> these,</c><00:00:42.100><c> I</c>

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think,<00:00:42.600><c> naturally</c><00:00:43.479><c> invite</c><00:00:44.159><c> reflection.</c>

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Whenever<00:00:46.380><c> one</c><00:00:46.960><c> stage</c><00:00:47.439><c> of</c><00:00:47.679><c> life</c><00:00:47.920><c> comes</c><00:00:48.280><c> to</c><00:00:48.539><c> an</c><00:00:48.700><c> end,</c><00:00:49.439><c> we</c><00:00:49.479><c> ask</c><00:00:49.920><c> ourselves,</c><00:00:50.579><c> we</c>

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find<00:00:51.259><c> ourselves</c><00:00:51.700><c> asking,</c>

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okay,<00:00:52.740><c> what's</c><00:00:53.140><c> next?</c><00:00:54.299><c> What</c><00:00:54.759><c> remains?</c><00:00:56.000><c> What</c><00:00:56.179><c> do</c><00:00:56.380><c> I</c><00:00:56.659><c> carry</c><00:00:57.100><c> forward</c><00:00:57.859><c> into</c>

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the<00:00:58.619><c> future?</c><00:01:00.140><c> And</c><00:01:00.399><c> so</c><00:01:00.520><c> with</c>

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all<00:01:00.939><c> the</c><00:01:01.219><c> teaching</c><00:01:01.560><c> that</c><00:01:01.780><c> has</c><00:01:02.000><c> gone</c><00:01:02.299><c> on,</c><00:01:03.240><c> with</c><00:01:03.420><c> all</c><00:01:03.600><c> the</c><00:01:03.920><c> discussion,</c><00:01:04.540><c> the</c>

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study,<00:01:05.359><c> the</c><00:01:05.719><c> encouragement</c>

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produced<00:01:06.980><c> in</c><00:01:08.079><c> our</c><00:01:08.359><c> classes,</c><00:01:11.200><c> what</c><00:01:12.420><c> do</c><00:01:12.640><c> we</c><00:01:12.879><c> have</c><00:01:13.140><c> to</c><00:01:13.540><c> show</c><00:01:14.019><c> for</c>

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the<00:01:15.299><c> time</c><00:01:15.819><c> that</c><00:01:16.459><c> we've</c><00:01:16.819><c> spent</c><00:01:17.060><c> in</c><00:01:17.439><c> class?</c>

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And<00:01:18.700><c> I</c><00:01:18.819><c> think</c><00:01:19.120><c> this</c><00:01:20.379><c> question</c><00:01:21.180><c> really</c><00:01:22.159><c> naturally</c><00:01:22.879><c> leads</c><00:01:23.299><c> us</c><00:01:23.640><c> to</c><00:01:23.939><c> today's</c><00:01:24.599><c> reading</c><00:01:25.019><c> in</c><00:01:25.599><c> 2</c>

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Peter<00:01:26.599><c> chapter</c><00:01:27.280><c> 1.</c>

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Peter<00:01:29.019><c> is</c><00:01:29.780><c> writing</c><00:01:30.319><c> in</c><00:01:31.219><c> a</c><00:01:31.519><c> period</c><00:01:31.739><c> of</c><00:01:32.120><c> transition</c><00:01:33.000><c> of</c><00:01:33.540><c> his</c><00:01:33.780><c> own.</c><00:01:35.400><c> Unlike</c><00:01:35.680><c> a</c>

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graduate<00:01:36.540><c> that's</c><00:01:36.959><c> standing</c>

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at<00:01:37.540><c> the</c><00:01:37.760><c> beginning</c><00:01:38.060><c> of</c><00:01:38.299><c> a</c><00:01:38.480><c> journey,</c><00:01:39.519><c> Peter</c><00:01:40.140><c> knows</c><00:01:41.019><c> he's</c><00:01:41.560><c> approaching</c><00:01:42.099><c> the</c>

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that<00:01:54.900><c> his</c><00:01:55.219><c> remaining</c><00:01:55.819><c> time</c><00:01:56.579><c> is</c><00:01:57.099><c> limited.</c><00:01:58.379><c> And</c><00:01:58.579><c> it's</c><00:01:58.939><c> in</c><00:01:59.299><c> this</c>

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context<00:02:00.340><c> that</c><00:02:00.739><c> Peter</c><00:02:01.099><c> is</c><00:02:01.500><c> writing</c><00:02:01.980><c> the</c>

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letter<00:02:03.379><c> that</c><00:02:03.599><c> we</c><00:02:03.879><c> read.</c><00:02:05.120><c> And</c><00:02:05.319><c> I</c><00:02:05.459><c> think</c><00:02:05.620><c> this</c><00:02:05.959><c> awareness</c><00:02:06.500><c> of</c><00:02:06.760><c> him</c><00:02:07.000><c> being</c><00:02:07.280><c> at</c>

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the<00:02:07.719><c> end</c><00:02:07.920><c> of</c><00:02:08.080><c> his</c><00:02:08.340><c> life</c><00:02:08.979><c> gives</c><00:02:09.620><c> this</c>

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chapter<00:02:10.560><c> a</c><00:02:11.000><c> particular</c><00:02:11.599><c> weight.</c><00:02:13.740><c> These</c><00:02:14.139><c> are</c><00:02:14.479><c> not</c><00:02:14.960><c> casual</c><00:02:15.699><c> reflections</c><00:02:16.539><c> of</c>

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a<00:02:17.240><c> young</c><00:02:17.439><c> man.</c>

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over<00:02:25.759><c> a</c><00:02:26.159><c> lifetime</c><00:02:26.680><c> of</c><00:02:27.500><c> discipleship.</c><00:02:29.439><c> And</c><00:02:29.699><c> he's</c>

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asking<00:02:30.280><c> the</c><00:02:30.620><c> questions</c><00:02:31.159><c> about</c><00:02:31.699><c> what</c><00:02:32.780><c> is</c><00:02:33.060><c> it</c><00:02:33.379><c> that</c><00:02:33.900><c> really</c><00:02:34.560><c> matters</c><00:02:35.180><c> most?</c><00:02:37.800><c> And</c>

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what's<00:02:38.699><c> striking</c><00:02:38.919><c> to</c>

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me<00:02:39.439><c> is</c><00:02:39.719><c> where</c><00:02:40.039><c> Peter</c><00:02:40.379><c> begins.</c><00:02:42.280><c> Before</c><00:02:42.740><c> he</c><00:02:43.020><c> tells</c><00:02:43.360><c> his</c><00:02:43.680><c> believers</c><00:02:44.300><c> what</c><00:02:45.120><c> they</c><00:02:45.400><c> should</c><00:02:45.719><c> do</c>

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with<00:02:46.960><c> the</c><00:02:47.120><c> rest</c><00:02:47.319><c> of</c>

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their<00:02:47.719><c> lives,</c><00:02:49.039><c> he</c><00:02:49.400><c> reminds</c><00:02:50.039><c> them</c><00:02:50.960><c> about</c><00:02:51.659><c> what</c><00:02:52.020><c> God</c><00:02:52.520><c> has</c><00:02:53.060><c> already</c><00:02:54.060><c> done.</c>

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verse<00:02:59.539><c> 3.</c><00:03:00.360><c> So</c><00:03:00.560><c> take</c><00:03:00.740><c> a</c><00:03:00.879><c> look</c><00:03:01.020><c> at</c><00:03:01.259><c> it</c><00:03:01.439><c> if</c><00:03:01.500><c> you</c><00:03:01.719><c> will.</c><00:03:03.120><c> Peter</c><00:03:03.360><c> writes</c><00:03:03.719><c> in</c>

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verse<00:03:04.180><c> 3,</c><00:03:06.080><c> and</c><00:03:06.180><c> he</c><00:03:06.300><c> says,</c>

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a<00:03:13.300><c> godly</c><00:03:13.719><c> life</c><00:03:14.259><c> through</c><00:03:15.180><c> our</c><00:03:15.500><c> knowledge</c><00:03:15.840><c> of</c><00:03:16.099><c> him</c>

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who<00:03:16.879><c> has</c><00:03:17.280><c> called</c><00:03:17.539><c> us</c><00:03:18.280><c> by</c><00:03:18.659><c> his</c><00:03:18.919><c> own</c><00:03:19.280><c> glory</c><00:03:19.840><c> and</c><00:03:20.439><c> goodness.</c><00:03:22.240><c> His</c>

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divine<00:03:23.740><c> power</c><00:03:24.460><c> has</c><00:03:24.900><c> given</c><00:03:25.080><c> us</c><00:03:25.780><c> everything</c><00:03:26.360><c> we</c><00:03:26.719><c> need.</c>

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God<00:03:32.539><c> has</c><00:03:33.159><c> given</c><00:03:33.400><c> us</c><00:03:33.879><c> everything.</c><00:03:35.780><c> Not</c><00:03:36.159><c> some</c><00:03:36.580><c> things,</c><00:03:37.979><c> not</c>

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most<00:03:38.840><c> things,</c><00:03:40.740><c> everything.</c>

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talking<00:03:47.599><c> about</c><00:03:47.979><c> what</c><00:03:48.439><c> believers</c><00:03:48.819><c> lack.</c>

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them<00:03:56.020><c> what</c><00:03:56.340><c> God</c><00:03:56.939><c> has</c><00:03:57.500><c> already</c><00:03:58.460><c> provided.</c>

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I<00:04:01.020><c> think</c><00:04:01.219><c> that's</c><00:04:01.439><c> important</c><00:04:01.879><c> because</c><00:04:02.159><c> we</c><00:04:02.460><c> often</c><00:04:03.080><c> focus</c><00:04:03.599><c> on</c><00:04:03.800><c> what's</c><00:04:04.219><c> missing</c><00:04:04.500><c> in</c>

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our<00:04:04.919><c> lives,</c><00:04:05.460><c> right?</c>

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wish<00:04:14.460><c> our</c><00:04:14.860><c> faith</c><00:04:15.080><c> was</c><00:04:15.379><c> greater.</c>

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did<00:04:21.019><c> the</c><00:04:21.319><c> readings</c><00:04:21.680><c> more</c><00:04:22.060><c> regularly.</c>

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our<00:04:28.800><c> attention</c><00:04:29.220><c> to</c><00:04:29.420><c> something</c><00:04:29.759><c> else</c><00:04:30.100><c> here.</c>

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He<00:04:31.879><c> says</c><00:04:32.139><c> that</c><00:04:32.439><c> God</c><00:04:32.939><c> has</c><00:04:33.519><c> already</c><00:04:34.160><c> given</c><00:04:34.439><c> us</c><00:04:35.040><c> everything</c><00:04:35.680><c> we</c><00:04:36.160><c> need</c><00:04:36.660><c> for</c><00:04:37.420><c> a</c>

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life<00:04:38.480><c> of</c><00:04:39.000><c> godliness.</c>

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Think<00:04:41.399><c> about</c><00:04:41.699><c> that.</c><00:04:43.620><c> God</c><00:04:43.839><c> has</c><00:04:44.060><c> given</c><00:04:44.160><c> us</c><00:04:44.439><c> his</c><00:04:44.720><c> word.</c><00:04:46.259><c> He</c><00:04:46.519><c> has</c>

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given<00:04:46.939><c> us</c><00:04:47.300><c> his</c><00:04:47.899><c> great</c><00:04:48.560><c> and</c><00:04:49.519><c> precious</c><00:04:50.120><c> promises.</c>

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He<00:04:52.579><c> has</c><00:04:52.819><c> given</c><00:04:53.000><c> us</c><00:04:53.259><c> the</c><00:04:53.459><c> example</c><00:04:54.040><c> of</c><00:04:54.240><c> his</c><00:04:54.500><c> son.</c><00:04:56.079><c> He</c><00:04:56.459><c> has</c><00:04:56.680><c> given</c>

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us<00:04:57.100><c> forgiveness.</c><00:04:59.000><c> He's</c><00:04:59.220><c> given</c><00:04:59.360><c> us</c><00:04:59.720><c> fellowship</c>

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with<00:05:00.600><c> one</c><00:05:00.839><c> another.</c><00:05:02.259><c> He</c><00:05:02.480><c> has</c><00:05:02.839><c> given</c><00:05:03.000><c> us</c><00:05:03.560><c> a</c><00:05:03.899><c> hope</c><00:05:04.319><c> of</c><00:05:05.579><c> the</c><00:05:05.860><c> kingdom,</c><00:05:07.220><c> of</c>

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that<00:05:07.759><c> time</c><00:05:08.019><c> when</c><00:05:08.240><c> Jesus'</c><00:05:09.079><c> feet</c><00:05:09.160><c> will</c><00:05:09.579><c> stand,</c>

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as<00:05:10.220><c> Rich</c><00:05:10.480><c> prayed,</c><00:05:10.860><c> on</c><00:05:11.100><c> the</c><00:05:11.319><c> mountains</c><00:05:11.740><c> of</c><00:05:11.980><c> Israel.</c><00:05:14.420><c> Brothers</c><00:05:14.500><c> and<00:05:14.779><c> sisters,</c>

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God<00:05:15.339><c> has</c><00:05:15.600><c> not</c><00:05:15.860><c> left</c><00:05:16.160><c> us unequipped. And, perhaps, that's an especially helpful

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reminder<00:05:21.120><c> at</c><00:05:21.439><c> the</c><00:05:21.620><c> end</c><00:05:21.860><c> of</c><00:05:22.100><c> a</c><00:05:22.160><c> Sunday</c><00:05:22.519><c> school</c><00:05:22.920><c> year.</c><00:05:24.660><c> The</c><00:05:24.939><c> classes</c><00:05:25.300><c> may</c>

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pause<00:05:26.120><c> for</c><00:05:26.500><c> a</c><00:05:26.600><c> season,</c>

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but<00:05:28.199><c> the</c><00:05:28.600><c> resources</c><00:05:29.240><c> for</c><00:05:29.579><c> our</c><00:05:29.899><c> continued</c><00:05:30.480><c> spiritual</c><00:05:31.220><c> growth</c>

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remain.<00:05:34.620><c> The</c><00:05:34.920><c> Bible</c><00:05:35.319><c> remains.</c><00:05:37.220><c> Prayer</c><00:05:37.639><c> remains.</c>

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The<00:05:39.759><c> promises</c><00:05:40.180><c> remain.</c><00:05:41.660><c> The</c><00:05:41.939><c> example</c><00:05:42.360><c> of</c><00:05:42.560><c> Jesus</c><00:05:43.019><c> remains,</c>

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and<00:05:44.180><c> our</c><00:05:44.579><c> calling,</c><00:05:45.300><c> brothers</c><00:05:45.420><c> and</c><00:05:45.759><c> sisters,</c>

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to<00:05:46.439><c> live</c><00:05:46.779><c> a</c><00:05:47.180><c> life</c><00:05:47.439><c> of</c><00:05:48.000><c> godliness,</c><00:05:49.459><c> that</c><00:05:49.920><c> remains.</c><00:05:51.740><c> Peter</c><00:05:52.000><c> wants</c><00:05:52.360><c> his</c>

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believers,<00:05:53.899><c> wants</c><00:05:54.079><c> the</c><00:05:55.019><c> believers,</c>

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he<00:05:56.139><c> wants</c><00:05:56.439><c> us</c><00:05:57.279><c> to</c><00:05:57.860><c> understand</c><00:05:58.720><c> that</c><00:05:59.560><c> we</c><00:06:00.079><c> already</c><00:06:00.740><c> possess</c><00:06:01.399><c> everything</c><00:06:02.139><c> necessary</c><00:06:03.220><c> for</c>

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continued<00:06:04.920><c> growth,</c>

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and<00:06:07.040><c> I</c><00:06:07.220><c> think</c><00:06:07.379><c> that's</c><00:06:07.699><c> what</c><00:06:07.899><c> makes</c><00:06:08.180><c> the</c><00:06:08.439><c> next</c><00:06:08.720><c> part</c><00:06:09.040><c> of</c><00:06:09.240><c> this</c>

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chapter<00:06:10.240><c> even</c><00:06:11.319><c> more</c><00:06:11.759><c> significant.</c><00:06:13.199><c> He</c><00:06:13.519><c> says</c><00:06:13.740><c> in</c>

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verse<00:06:14.160><c> five,</c><00:06:15.779><c> for</c><00:06:15.959><c> this</c><00:06:16.339><c> reason,</c><00:06:17.300><c> because</c><00:06:17.899><c> God</c><00:06:18.160><c> has</c><00:06:18.500><c> provided</c>

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you<00:06:19.120><c> with</c><00:06:19.500><c> everything,</c><00:06:20.379><c> he</c><00:06:20.600><c> says,</c><00:06:20.879><c> for</c><00:06:21.079><c> this</c>

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reason,<00:06:22.680><c> make</c><00:06:22.939><c> every</c><00:06:23.699><c> effort.</c><00:06:25.720><c> You</c><00:06:26.019><c> see</c><00:06:26.139><c> the</c><00:06:26.399><c> connection?</c><00:06:28.279><c> Because</c><00:06:28.879><c> God</c><00:06:29.259><c> has</c><00:06:29.600><c> given</c><00:06:29.779><c> us</c>

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everything,<00:06:31.279><c> because</c><00:06:31.600><c> God</c>

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has<00:06:32.259><c> called,</c><00:06:32.660><c> because</c><00:06:32.899><c> God</c><00:06:33.180><c> has</c><00:06:33.500><c> provided,</c><00:06:34.720><c> therefore,</c><00:06:36.300><c> make</c>

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the<00:06:36.860><c> effort.</c><00:06:38.199><c> For</c><00:06:38.519><c> this</c><00:06:38.879><c> reason,</c><00:06:39.720><c> make</c><00:06:39.879><c> the</c><00:06:40.199><c> effort.</c>

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It's<00:06:41.720><c> important</c><00:06:42.060><c> to</c><00:06:42.399><c> recognize</c><00:06:43.079><c> that</c><00:06:43.480><c> what</c><00:06:44.199><c> Peter</c><00:06:44.519><c> describes</c>

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is<00:06:45.620><c> not</c><00:06:45.939><c> an</c><00:06:46.279><c> attempt</c><00:06:46.600><c> to</c><00:06:47.420><c> earn</c><00:06:47.939><c> God's</c><00:06:48.579><c> favor.</c>

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We're<00:06:49.100><c> not</c><00:06:49.439><c> making</c><00:06:49.800><c> the</c><00:06:50.160><c> effort</c><00:06:50.379><c> to</c><00:06:50.740><c> earn</c><00:06:51.079><c> anything.</c><00:06:52.740><c> No,</c><00:06:53.079><c> the</c>

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effort<00:06:53.680><c> is</c><00:06:54.019><c> in</c><00:06:54.279><c> response</c><00:06:55.279><c> to</c><00:06:56.240><c> God's</c><00:06:56.819><c> generosity,</c>

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and<00:06:58.819><c> so</c><00:06:58.920><c> what</c><00:06:59.060><c> I'd</c><00:06:59.399><c> suggest</c><00:06:59.819><c> to</c><00:07:00.040><c> you</c><00:07:00.160><c> as</c><00:07:00.319><c> you</c><00:07:00.540><c> think</c><00:07:00.720><c> about</c><00:07:01.040><c> your</c><00:07:01.379><c> own</c>

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spiritual<00:07:02.379><c> growth</c>

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is<00:07:04.220><c> that</c><00:07:04.420><c> our</c><00:07:04.759><c> growth</c><00:07:05.519><c> begins</c><00:07:06.620><c> with</c><00:07:07.500><c> gratitude.</c>

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Let's<00:07:10.360><c> go</c><00:07:10.540><c> back</c><00:07:10.819><c> to</c><00:07:11.019><c> verse</c><00:07:11.259><c> five,</c><00:07:12.579><c> and</c><00:07:12.800><c> I'd</c><00:07:13.019><c> like</c><00:07:13.060><c> to</c><00:07:13.319><c> read</c><00:07:13.540><c> this</c><00:07:13.839><c> section</c><00:07:14.220><c> of</c>

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passages<00:07:15.079><c> in</c><00:07:15.579><c> its</c><00:07:15.899><c> entirety.</c>

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Peter<00:07:18.220><c> says,</c><00:07:18.699><c> for</c><00:07:18.699><c> this</c><00:07:19.060><c> reason,</c><00:07:19.420><c> because</c><00:07:19.699><c> God</c><00:07:19.920><c> has</c><00:07:20.120><c> given</c>

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you<00:07:20.600><c> everything,</c><00:07:21.120><c> for</c><00:07:21.220><c> this</c><00:07:21.519><c> reason,</c><00:07:21.959><c> make</c>

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every<00:07:22.699><c> effort</c><00:07:23.120><c> to</c><00:07:23.819><c> do</c><00:07:24.360><c> what?</c><00:07:26.019><c> The</c><00:07:26.399><c> answer,</c><00:07:26.920><c> he</c><00:07:27.220><c> says,</c><00:07:28.300><c> make</c><00:07:28.480><c> every</c><00:07:28.860><c> effort</c><00:07:29.100><c> to</c>

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add<00:07:29.699><c> to</c><00:07:29.839><c> your</c><00:07:30.240><c> faith</c><00:07:30.600><c> goodness</c>

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and<00:07:32.959><c> to</c><00:07:33.120><c> goodness,</c><00:07:33.959><c> knowledge,</c><00:07:35.779><c> and</c><00:07:36.000><c> to</c><00:07:36.220><c> knowledge,</c><00:07:37.120><c> self</c><00:07:37.300><c>-control,</c><00:07:39.079><c> and</c><00:07:39.279><c> to</c>

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self<00:07:39.759><c>-control,</c><00:07:40.920><c> perseverance,</c>

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and<00:07:43.360><c> to</c><00:07:43.600><c> perseverance,</c><00:07:44.639><c> godliness,</c><00:07:45.240><c> and</c><00:07:45.360><c> to</c><00:07:45.560><c> godliness,</c><00:07:46.160><c> mutual</c><00:07:46.540><c> affection,</c><00:07:47.300><c> and</c>

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to<00:07:47.600><c> mutual</c><00:07:48.019><c> affection,</c><00:07:48.759><c> love.</c>

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So<00:07:50.819><c> when</c><00:07:51.000><c> Peter</c><00:07:51.240><c> says,</c><00:07:52.220><c> make</c><00:07:52.300><c> every</c><00:07:52.720><c> effort,</c><00:07:54.100><c> he's</c><00:07:54.480><c> using</c><00:07:55.000><c> what</c><00:07:55.579><c> I</c>

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like<00:07:55.920><c> to</c><00:07:56.220><c> refer</c><00:07:56.500><c> to</c><00:07:56.800><c> as</c><00:07:57.240><c> active</c><00:07:57.779><c> language.</c>

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He's<00:08:00.079><c> not</c><00:08:00.420><c> describing</c><00:08:01.160><c> something</c><00:08:01.699><c> that</c><00:08:02.079><c> happens</c><00:08:02.620><c> automatically</c><00:08:03.620><c> or</c><00:08:04.259><c> passively.</c>

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So<00:08:06.019><c> you</c><00:08:06.079><c> see,</c><00:08:06.560><c> spiritual</c><00:08:06.759><c> growth</c><00:08:07.079><c> is</c><00:08:07.459><c> not</c><00:08:07.920><c> passive.</c><00:08:09.459><c> It</c><00:08:09.879><c> requires</c><00:08:10.579><c> our</c>

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attention.<00:08:12.779><c> It</c><00:08:13.220><c> requires</c><00:08:13.800><c> our</c><00:08:14.500><c> intention,</c>

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and<00:08:16.899><c> it</c><00:08:17.079><c> requires</c><00:08:17.720><c> our</c><00:08:18.139><c> commitment.</c><00:08:20.540><c> Spiritual</c><00:08:21.000><c> growth</c><00:08:21.420><c> requires</c><00:08:22.019><c> disciples</c><00:08:22.699><c> who</c>

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are<00:08:23.379><c> willing</c><00:08:23.680><c> to</c>

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cooperate<00:08:24.899><c> with</c><00:08:25.180><c> the</c><00:08:25.439><c> work</c><00:08:25.920><c> that</c><00:08:26.319><c> God</c><00:08:26.779><c> is</c><00:08:27.459><c> doing</c><00:08:27.899><c> in</c><00:08:28.339><c> our</c><00:08:28.680><c> lives.</c><00:08:30.660><c> So</c>

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whether<00:08:30.939><c> we</c><00:08:31.259><c> focus</c><00:08:31.579><c> on</c><00:08:31.879><c> goodness,</c>

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or<00:08:32.620><c> self</c><00:08:32.940><c>-control,</c><00:08:33.779><c> or</c><00:08:34.039><c> perseverance,</c><00:08:34.960><c> or</c><00:08:35.179><c> love,</c><00:08:36.120><c> or</c><00:08:36.159><c> the</c><00:08:36.519><c> overall,</c><00:08:37.879><c> whether</c><00:08:38.220><c> we</c>

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focus<00:08:38.659><c> on</c><00:08:38.820><c> any</c><00:08:39.019><c> one</c><00:08:39.120><c> of</c><00:08:39.179><c> these</c>

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individual<00:08:40.279><c> character</c><00:08:40.899><c> traits,</c><00:08:42.519><c> any</c><00:08:43.100><c> of</c><00:08:43.279><c> these</c><00:08:43.500><c> virtues,</c><00:08:44.120><c> I</c>

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think<00:08:44.419><c> the</c><00:08:44.919><c> overall</c><00:08:45.399><c> idea</c><00:08:46.039><c> is</c><00:08:46.779><c> that</c><00:08:46.919><c> there</c><00:08:47.100><c> is</c><00:08:47.419><c> movement.</c>

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Peter's<00:08:49.940><c> describing</c><00:08:50.320><c> a</c><00:08:50.659><c> life</c><00:08:50.899><c> that</c><00:08:51.240><c> doesn't</c><00:08:51.820><c> stand</c><00:08:52.399><c> still.</c><00:08:54.519><c> A</c>

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life<00:08:54.980><c> in</c><00:08:55.240><c> Christ,</c><00:08:55.799><c> brothers</c><00:08:55.940><c> and</c><00:08:56.279><c> sisters,</c>

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is<00:08:57.980><c> a</c><00:08:58.200><c> life</c><00:08:58.379><c> of</c><00:08:58.940><c> continual</c><00:08:59.679><c> growth.</c><00:09:02.240><c> You</c><00:09:02.360><c> know,</c><00:09:02.440><c> as</c><00:09:02.559><c> we</c><00:09:02.740><c> think</c>

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about<00:09:03.120><c> that</c><00:09:03.419><c> list</c><00:09:03.720><c> of</c><00:09:04.059><c> virtues</c><00:09:04.440><c> that</c><00:09:04.700><c> we</c><00:09:04.960><c> just</c>

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read,<00:09:05.580><c> it's</c><00:09:05.899><c> important</c><00:09:06.299><c> to</c><00:09:06.679><c> notice</c><00:09:07.059><c> where</c><00:09:07.940><c> Peter</c><00:09:08.500><c> begins.</c><00:09:10.840><c> He</c>

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begins<00:09:11.379><c> with</c><00:09:11.679><c> what?</c><00:09:13.259><c> Faith,</c><00:09:15.019><c> or</c><00:09:15.179><c> as</c><00:09:15.279><c> he</c><00:09:15.519><c> said</c><00:09:15.620><c> in</c><00:09:15.860><c> verse</c>

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one,<00:09:16.820><c> our</c><00:09:17.179><c> like</c><00:09:17.600><c> precious</c><00:09:18.580><c> faith.</c><00:09:20.519><c> See,</c><00:09:20.840><c> faith</c><00:09:21.139><c> is</c><00:09:21.379><c> the</c><00:09:21.580><c> foundation</c><00:09:22.279><c> of</c><00:09:22.639><c> everything.</c>

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Faith<00:09:24.399><c> is</c><00:09:24.580><c> what</c><00:09:24.820><c> brings</c><00:09:25.200><c> us</c><00:09:25.480><c> into</c><00:09:25.820><c> a</c><00:09:26.179><c> relationship</c><00:09:26.759><c> with</c><00:09:27.080><c> God.</c>

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It's<00:09:27.700><c> through</c><00:09:28.059><c> faith</c><00:09:28.379><c> that</c><00:09:28.639><c> we</c><00:09:28.919><c> entered</c><00:09:29.200><c> the</c><00:09:29.460><c> waters</c>

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of<00:09:30.100><c> baptism.</c><00:09:33.000><c> Faith</c><00:09:33.279><c> allows</c><00:09:33.740><c> us</c><00:09:34.059><c> to</c><00:09:34.419><c> trust</c><00:09:35.399><c> God's</c><00:09:36.340><c> promises.</c>

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Faith<00:09:38.279><c> gives</c><00:09:38.519><c> us</c><00:09:38.919><c> confidence</c><00:09:39.679><c> in</c><00:09:40.659><c> the</c><00:09:40.860><c> things</c>

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that<00:09:41.279><c> we</c><00:09:41.519><c> cannot</c><00:09:42.019><c> see.</c><00:09:43.899><c> But</c><00:09:44.100><c> Peter</c><00:09:44.259><c> doesn't</c><00:09:44.679><c> stop</c><00:09:45.220><c> with</c><00:09:45.600><c> faith.</c><00:09:46.799><c> He</c><00:09:47.000><c> says</c><00:09:47.220><c> we</c>

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are<00:09:47.659><c> to</c><00:09:48.039><c> add</c><00:09:48.519><c> to</c><00:09:48.980><c> it.</c><00:09:49.460><c> This</c><00:09:49.659><c> is</c><00:09:49.879><c> where</c>

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the<00:09:50.519><c> growing</c><00:09:50.860><c> takes</c><00:09:51.379><c> place.</c><00:09:52.500><c> We're</c><00:09:52.720><c> to</c><00:09:53.039><c> build</c><00:09:53.399><c> upon</c><00:09:53.779><c> our</c><00:09:54.200><c> faith.</c><00:09:55.340><c> Faith</c><00:09:55.620><c> isn't</c><00:09:55.919><c> the</c>

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finish<00:09:56.620><c> line</c><00:09:57.000><c> of</c><00:09:57.340><c> discipleship.</c>

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It's<00:09:58.259><c> just</c><00:09:58.539><c> the</c><00:09:58.820><c> beginning.</c><00:10:00.019><c> It's</c><00:10:00.320><c> the</c><00:10:00.519><c> foundation</c><00:10:01.299><c> on</c><00:10:01.600><c> which</c>

00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:05.600
a<00:10:02.080><c> lifetime</c><00:10:02.539><c> of</c><00:10:03.139><c> discipleship,</c><00:10:04.519><c> a</c><00:10:04.759><c> lifetime</c><00:10:05.220><c> of</c>

00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:10.980
spiritual<00:10:05.960><c> growth</c><00:10:06.360><c> is</c><00:10:06.639><c> built.</c><00:10:09.340><c> And</c><00:10:09.480><c> Peter's</c><00:10:09.840><c> concern</c><00:10:10.440><c> is</c><00:10:10.659><c> that</c><00:10:10.840><c> we</c>

00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:14.519
take<00:10:11.299><c> our</c><00:10:11.740><c> faith</c><00:10:12.139><c> and</c><00:10:13.360><c> grow</c><00:10:13.700><c> it</c><00:10:13.960><c> into</c><00:10:14.179><c> something</c>

00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:19.860
that's<00:10:15.000><c> visible.</c><00:10:17.200><c> And</c><00:10:17.360><c> when</c><00:10:17.460><c> I</c><00:10:17.659><c> say</c><00:10:17.799><c> visible,</c><00:10:18.679><c> I'm</c><00:10:18.899><c> not</c><00:10:19.139><c> talking</c><00:10:19.500><c> about</c>

00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:21.759
things<00:10:20.179><c> that</c><00:10:20.340><c> can</c><00:10:20.519><c> be</c><00:10:20.820><c> easily</c><00:10:21.259><c> measured</c>

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:26.059
like<00:10:22.179><c> attendance</c><00:10:22.720><c> or</c><00:10:23.100><c> book</c><00:10:23.360><c> knowledge,</c><00:10:24.000><c> right?</c><00:10:24.899><c> He's</c><00:10:25.059><c> not</c><00:10:25.299><c> interested</c><00:10:25.720><c> in</c>

00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:28.700
the<00:10:26.320><c> visible</c><00:10:26.720><c> report</c><00:10:27.299><c> card</c><00:10:27.559><c> of</c><00:10:27.820><c> life.</c>

00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:36.440
Peter<00:10:29.539><c> is</c><00:10:29.799><c> interested</c><00:10:30.299><c> in</c><00:10:30.580><c> something</c><00:10:31.419><c> much</c><00:10:32.240><c> more</c><00:10:32.700><c> deep,</c><00:10:33.679><c> something</c><00:10:33.980><c> deeper,</c><00:10:34.519><c> something</c><00:10:34.840><c> more</c><00:10:35.259><c> significant.</c>

00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:44.480
He<00:10:37.460><c> wants</c><00:10:37.840><c> to</c><00:10:38.240><c> know</c><00:10:38.679><c> what</c><00:10:40.360><c> kind</c><00:10:41.179><c> of</c><00:10:41.600><c> people</c><00:10:42.220><c> are</c><00:10:43.139><c> we</c><00:10:43.399><c> becoming?</c>

00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:46.879
What<00:10:45.220><c> kind</c><00:10:45.460><c> of</c><00:10:45.740><c> people</c><00:10:45.980><c> are</c><00:10:46.179><c> we</c><00:10:46.480><c> growing</c>

00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:52.159
into?<00:10:48.399><c> And</c><00:10:48.600><c> I</c><00:10:48.740><c> think</c><00:10:48.940><c> that's</c><00:10:49.419><c> the</c><00:10:49.679><c> question</c><00:10:50.019><c> that</c><00:10:50.320><c> sits</c><00:10:50.580><c> quietly</c><00:10:51.259><c> underneath</c><00:10:51.779><c> this</c>

00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:53.500
whole<00:10:52.460><c> chapter.</c>

00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:58.259
Peter's<00:10:54.559><c> not</c><00:10:54.759><c> interested</c><00:10:55.220><c> in</c><00:10:55.379><c> what</c><00:10:55.639><c> believers</c><00:10:55.960><c> know.</c><00:10:57.620><c> He's</c>

00:10:58.259 --> 00:11:00.799
interested<00:10:58.720><c> in</c><00:10:59.679><c> what</c><00:11:00.159><c> believers</c>

00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:08.559
and<00:11:01.559><c> who</c><00:11:01.960><c> believers</c><00:11:02.559><c> actually</c><00:11:03.419><c> are.</c><00:11:05.019><c> What</c><00:11:05.220><c> is</c><00:11:05.419><c> your</c><00:11:05.720><c> character?</c><00:11:07.759><c> So</c><00:11:08.120><c> after</c>

00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:11.360
faith,<00:11:09.080><c> Peter</c><00:11:09.480><c> adds</c><00:11:10.139><c> goodness.</c>

00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:17.740
In<00:11:12.019><c> other</c><00:11:12.259><c> words,</c><00:11:12.879><c> faith</c><00:11:13.379><c> should</c><00:11:14.100><c> become</c><00:11:14.440><c> visible</c><00:11:15.080><c> in</c><00:11:15.600><c> action.</c><00:11:17.539><c> What</c>

00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:19.700
we<00:11:18.120><c> believe</c><00:11:18.460><c> should</c><00:11:18.840><c> influence</c>

00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:24.399
how<00:11:20.100><c> we</c><00:11:20.539><c> speak</c><00:11:20.940><c> and</c><00:11:21.419><c> how</c><00:11:21.659><c> we</c><00:11:22.179><c> treat</c><00:11:22.460><c> each</c><00:11:22.820><c> other</c><00:11:23.179><c> and</c><00:11:23.659><c> how</c><00:11:24.019><c> we</c>

00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.480
conduct<00:11:24.980><c> ourselves.</c>

00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:33.379
Faith<00:11:27.960><c> that</c><00:11:28.299><c> never</c><00:11:28.860><c> affects</c><00:11:29.639><c> behavior</c><00:11:30.799><c> just</c><00:11:32.500><c> hasn't</c><00:11:32.960><c> reached</c>

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:35.360
its<00:11:33.860><c> intended</c><00:11:34.240><c> purpose.</c>

00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:41.899
So<00:11:37.600><c> after</c><00:11:38.019><c> faith,</c><00:11:38.940><c> he</c><00:11:39.179><c> adds</c><00:11:39.480><c> goodness.</c><00:11:40.419><c> After</c><00:11:40.820><c> goodness,</c><00:11:41.700><c> he</c>

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:43.960
then<00:11:42.259><c> speaks</c><00:11:42.559><c> of</c><00:11:42.919><c> knowledge.</c>

00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:50.179
And<00:11:44.659><c> I</c><00:11:44.759><c> think</c><00:11:44.899><c> it's</c><00:11:45.220><c> important</c><00:11:45.600><c> to</c><00:11:45.919><c> understand</c><00:11:46.480><c> that</c><00:11:46.840><c> knowledge</c><00:11:47.200><c> is</c><00:11:47.679><c> important.</c><00:11:49.740><c> While</c><00:11:49.940><c> I</c>

00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:50.779
said<00:11:50.279><c> we're</c><00:11:50.519><c> not</c>

00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:55.299
interested<00:11:51.220><c> in</c><00:11:51.600><c> book</c><00:11:51.940><c> learning,</c><00:11:53.259><c> the</c><00:11:53.580><c> knowledge</c><00:11:53.960><c> is</c><00:11:54.220><c> what</c><00:11:54.440><c> gives</c><00:11:54.759><c> us</c>

00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:58.240
meaning.<00:11:56.799><c> You</c><00:11:56.899><c> see,</c><00:11:57.340><c> Christian</c><00:11:57.639><c> growth,</c>

00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:06.220
the<00:11:58.919><c> growth</c><00:11:59.200><c> of</c><00:11:59.399><c> a</c><00:11:59.580><c> life</c><00:11:59.779><c> in</c><00:12:00.100><c> Christ,</c><00:12:00.500><c> is</c><00:12:00.740><c> not</c><00:12:01.120><c> about</c><00:12:01.580><c> blind</c><00:12:02.259><c> enthusiasm.</c><00:12:05.039><c> Peter</c><00:12:05.259><c> doesn't</c><00:12:05.580><c> call</c><00:12:05.919><c> us</c>

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:06.879
to<00:12:06.440><c> a</c><00:12:06.679><c> faith</c>

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:13.460
that's<00:12:07.200><c> merely</c><00:12:07.539><c> driven</c><00:12:08.100><c> by</c><00:12:08.620><c> good</c><00:12:08.820><c> emotions</c><00:12:09.559><c> or</c><00:12:09.840><c> good</c><00:12:10.200><c> intentions.</c><00:12:12.500><c> He</c><00:12:13.139><c> says</c>

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:16.059
we<00:12:13.820><c> need</c><00:12:14.059><c> to</c><00:12:14.480><c> add</c><00:12:14.799><c> knowledge.</c>

00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:21.059
And<00:12:16.740><c> I</c><00:12:16.879><c> think</c><00:12:17.100><c> knowledge</c><00:12:17.580><c> is</c><00:12:17.840><c> in</c><00:12:17.899><c> his</c><00:12:18.159><c> list</c><00:12:18.360><c> because</c><00:12:18.659><c> he</c><00:12:18.980><c> understands</c><00:12:19.620><c> that</c>

00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:23.879
spiritual<00:12:21.600><c> maturity</c><00:12:22.500><c> requires</c>

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:30.419
understanding.<00:12:25.840><c> Our</c><00:12:26.279><c> faith</c><00:12:26.899><c> must</c><00:12:27.620><c> be</c><00:12:27.960><c> rooted</c><00:12:28.399><c> in</c><00:12:29.220><c> truth.</c><00:12:30.240><c> It</c>

00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:33.700
must<00:12:30.639><c> be</c><00:12:31.080><c> shaped</c><00:12:31.320><c> by</c><00:12:31.720><c> God's</c><00:12:32.240><c> word.</c><00:12:32.919><c> It</c><00:12:33.019><c> must</c><00:12:33.220><c> be</c>

00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:40.480
formed<00:12:34.220><c> with</c><00:12:34.600><c> a</c><00:12:35.019><c> growing</c><00:12:35.419><c> appreciation</c><00:12:36.399><c> of</c><00:12:36.659><c> God's</c><00:12:37.259><c> character,</c><00:12:38.539><c> of</c><00:12:38.659><c> his</c><00:12:38.919><c> purpose,</c><00:12:40.279><c> of</c>

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his<00:12:40.779><c> promises.</c>

00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:48.340
The<00:12:42.940><c> more</c><00:12:43.240><c> we</c><00:12:43.559><c> know</c><00:12:44.240><c> God</c><00:12:44.919><c> through</c><00:12:45.340><c> the</c><00:12:45.639><c> scriptures,</c><00:12:46.940><c> the</c><00:12:47.139><c> better</c><00:12:47.559><c> equipped</c><00:12:47.980><c> we</c>

00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:51.059
are<00:12:48.759><c> to</c><00:12:49.259><c> make</c><00:12:49.539><c> wise</c><00:12:50.240><c> decisions</c>

00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:56.919
in<00:12:51.480><c> life.</c><00:12:52.899><c> To</c><00:12:53.340><c> discern</c><00:12:54.019><c> right</c><00:12:54.720><c> from</c><00:12:55.059><c> wrong</c><00:12:55.720><c> and</c><00:12:56.259><c> to</c><00:12:56.500><c> remain</c>

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:59.549
steadfast<00:12:57.860><c> when</c><00:12:58.240><c> our</c><00:12:58.620><c> faith</c>

00:12:59.850 --> 00:13:06.649
not<00:13:00.330><c> might</c><00:13:00.850><c> be</c><00:13:01.169><c> tested.</c><00:13:02.490><c> To</c><00:13:02.809><c> remain</c><00:13:03.190><c> steadfast</c><00:13:04.029><c> when</c><00:13:04.289><c> our</c><00:13:04.690><c> faith</c><00:13:05.029><c> is</c><00:13:05.590><c> tested.</c>

00:13:07.669 --> 00:13:12.330
Brothers<00:13:07.750><c> and</c><00:13:08.009><c> sisters,</c><00:13:08.649><c> we</c><00:13:09.110><c> continue</c><00:13:09.769><c> learning.</c><00:13:10.649><c> We</c><00:13:10.789><c> continue</c><00:13:11.389><c> studying.</c><00:13:12.049><c> We</c>

00:13:12.330 --> 00:13:13.470
continue<00:13:12.889><c> deepening</c>

00:13:13.470 --> 00:13:18.289
our<00:13:13.850><c> understanding</c><00:13:14.570><c> of</c><00:13:15.169><c> God's</c><00:13:15.649><c> word.</c><00:13:16.549><c> And</c><00:13:16.870><c> that's</c><00:13:17.190><c> why</c><00:13:17.769><c> Peter</c>

00:13:18.289 --> 00:13:22.490
suggests<00:13:19.350><c> and</c><00:13:20.149><c> implores</c><00:13:20.590><c> really</c><00:13:21.190><c> that</c><00:13:21.750><c> we</c><00:13:22.169><c> add</c>

00:13:22.490 --> 00:13:27.570
knowledge<00:13:23.029><c> as</c><00:13:23.610><c> a</c><00:13:23.769><c> virtue.</c><00:13:26.029><c> But</c><00:13:26.250><c> knowledge</c><00:13:26.570><c> in</c><00:13:26.789><c> and</c><00:13:26.889><c> of</c><00:13:27.049><c> itself</c>

00:13:27.570 --> 00:13:32.789
isn't<00:13:28.629><c> enough.</c><00:13:30.470><c> Knowledge</c><00:13:31.129><c> must</c><00:13:32.090><c> lead</c><00:13:32.389><c> to</c>

00:13:32.789 --> 00:13:40.470
self<00:13:33.110><c>-control.</c><00:13:35.570><c> Knowledge</c><00:13:35.909><c> tells</c><00:13:36.169><c> us</c><00:13:36.370><c> what's</c><00:13:36.750><c> right,</c><00:13:38.169><c> but</c><00:13:38.789><c> self</c><00:13:39.190><c>-control</c><00:13:39.769><c> helps</c><00:13:40.110><c> us</c>

00:13:40.470 --> 00:13:42.389
to<00:13:40.889><c> do</c><00:13:41.389><c> what's</c><00:13:41.889><c> right.</c>

00:13:42.870 --> 00:13:50.769
There's<00:13:43.230><c> a</c><00:13:43.389><c> difference.</c><00:13:46.090><c> Peter</c><00:13:46.289><c> then</c><00:13:46.549><c> speaks</c><00:13:46.830><c> about</c><00:13:47.230><c> perseverance.</c><00:13:49.950><c> It's</c><00:13:50.269><c> one</c><00:13:50.429><c> thing</c><00:13:50.549><c> to</c>

00:13:50.769 --> 00:13:52.070
begin<00:13:51.090><c> well.</c>

00:13:52.090 --> 00:13:57.289
He's<00:13:52.529><c> writing</c><00:13:52.830><c> now</c><00:13:53.549><c> at</c><00:13:53.950><c> the</c><00:13:54.149><c> end</c><00:13:54.350><c> of</c><00:13:54.490><c> his</c><00:13:54.710><c> life.</c><00:13:56.549><c> And</c><00:13:56.750><c> he</c><00:13:56.830><c> knows</c>

00:13:57.289 --> 00:14:00.450
that<00:13:57.970><c> while</c><00:13:59.049><c> it's</c><00:13:59.330><c> one</c><00:13:59.629><c> thing</c><00:13:59.789><c> to</c><00:13:59.990><c> do</c><00:14:00.210><c> well,</c>

00:14:00.529 --> 00:14:06.330
it's<00:14:00.730><c> another</c><00:14:01.029><c> thing</c><00:14:01.370><c> to</c><00:14:01.710><c> continue</c><00:14:02.649><c> faithfully.</c><00:14:04.710><c> Perseverance</c><00:14:05.450><c> is</c><00:14:05.590><c> what</c><00:14:05.750><c> keeps</c><00:14:06.049><c> a</c>

00:14:06.330 --> 00:14:07.230
disciple<00:14:06.789><c> moving</c>

00:14:07.230 --> 00:14:13.649
forward<00:14:07.929><c> when</c><00:14:08.950><c> enthusiasm</c><00:14:09.870><c> fades,</c><00:14:11.690><c> when</c><00:14:11.990><c> circumstances</c><00:14:12.909><c> in</c>

00:14:13.649 --> 00:14:18.129
life<00:14:14.110><c> become</c><00:14:14.570><c> difficult.</c><00:14:15.830><c> That's</c><00:14:16.409><c> when</c><00:14:16.690><c> perseverance</c>

00:14:18.389 --> 00:14:23.450
is<00:14:18.909><c> needed</c><00:14:19.330><c> most.</c><00:14:20.950><c> Peter</c><00:14:21.090><c> knows</c><00:14:21.570><c> that</c><00:14:22.009><c> discipleship</c><00:14:22.649><c> is</c><00:14:22.950><c> measured</c><00:14:23.190><c> not</c>

00:14:23.450 --> 00:14:25.750
over<00:14:23.789><c> weeks</c><00:14:24.350><c> or</c><00:14:25.230><c> months</c>

00:14:25.990 --> 00:14:34.149
or<00:14:26.809><c> the</c><00:14:27.070><c> seasons.</c><00:14:29.169><c> It's</c><00:14:30.210><c> measured</c><00:14:30.690><c> over</c><00:14:31.129><c> decades.</c><00:14:33.669><c> And</c><00:14:33.850><c> from</c>

00:14:34.149 --> 00:14:39.110
perseverance,<00:14:35.970><c> Peter</c><00:14:36.250><c> then</c><00:14:36.889><c> adds</c><00:14:37.730><c> godliness.</c>

00:14:40.090 --> 00:14:43.350
Over<00:14:40.409><c> time,</c><00:14:40.789><c> a</c><00:14:40.990><c> life</c><00:14:41.250><c> that's</c><00:14:41.669><c> shaped</c><00:14:41.850><c> by</c><00:14:42.230><c> scripture</c><00:14:42.669><c> begins</c>

00:14:43.350 --> 00:14:46.610
to<00:14:43.929><c> reflect</c><00:14:44.669><c> God's</c><00:14:45.570><c> values.</c>

00:14:46.990 --> 00:14:50.970
Priorities<00:14:48.070><c> in</c><00:14:48.230><c> life</c><00:14:48.590><c> change.</c><00:14:49.269><c> Perspective</c><00:14:50.070><c> changes.</c><00:14:50.750><c> The</c>

00:14:50.970 --> 00:14:54.389
things<00:14:51.250><c> that</c><00:14:51.629><c> matter</c><00:14:51.929><c> to</c><00:14:52.250><c> God</c><00:14:52.830><c> increasingly</c><00:14:53.909><c> matter</c>

00:14:54.389 --> 00:14:59.690
to<00:14:54.649><c> us.</c><00:14:56.509><c> Godliness</c><00:14:57.009><c> is</c><00:14:57.309><c> not</c><00:14:57.690><c> simply</c><00:14:58.210><c> religious</c><00:14:59.029><c> activity.</c>

00:14:59.830 --> 00:15:03.029
It's<00:15:00.049><c> not</c><00:15:00.330><c> simply</c><00:15:00.690><c> attending</c><00:15:01.330><c> events,</c><00:15:02.629><c> attending</c>

00:15:03.029 --> 00:15:08.909
meeting,<00:15:03.870><c> attending</c><00:15:04.250><c> Bible</c><00:15:04.750><c> school.</c><00:15:06.990><c> It's</c><00:15:07.990><c> a</c><00:15:08.490><c> character</c>

00:15:08.909 --> 00:15:14.070
that<00:15:10.129><c> increasingly</c><00:15:10.850><c> reflects</c><00:15:11.889><c> God's</c><00:15:13.029><c> character.</c>

00:15:15.330 --> 00:15:19.929
And<00:15:16.169><c> so</c><00:15:16.610><c> at</c><00:15:17.090><c> this</c><00:15:17.470><c> stage</c><00:15:17.889><c> now,</c><00:15:18.289><c> as</c><00:15:18.470><c> Peter</c><00:15:18.750><c> is</c><00:15:19.009><c> listing</c><00:15:19.429><c> these</c>

00:15:19.929 --> 00:15:23.549
virtues,<00:15:20.629><c> he</c><00:15:20.870><c> now</c><00:15:21.669><c> turns</c><00:15:22.289><c> the</c><00:15:22.649><c> attention</c><00:15:23.190><c> from</c>

00:15:23.549 --> 00:15:30.049
the<00:15:24.129><c> individual</c><00:15:24.870><c> and</c><00:15:26.490><c> has</c><00:15:26.870><c> the</c><00:15:27.190><c> individual</c><00:15:27.669><c> with</c><00:15:27.970><c> all</c><00:15:28.250><c> of</c><00:15:28.429><c> these</c><00:15:28.690><c> virtues</c><00:15:29.210><c> now</c>

00:15:30.049 --> 00:15:31.990
focus<00:15:30.809><c> outward.</c>

00:15:33.470 --> 00:15:37.350
Mutual<00:15:33.950><c> affection</c><00:15:34.470><c> and</c><00:15:34.789><c> love</c><00:15:35.169><c> complete</c><00:15:35.669><c> his</c><00:15:35.970><c> list.</c><00:15:36.950><c> And</c><00:15:37.190><c> I</c>

00:15:37.350 --> 00:15:39.830
think<00:15:37.509><c> that's</c><00:15:38.009><c> significant</c><00:15:38.490><c> because</c><00:15:38.909><c> the</c><00:15:39.330><c> final</c>

00:15:39.830 --> 00:15:47.889
evidence<00:15:40.370><c> of</c><00:15:40.769><c> spiritual</c><00:15:41.309><c> maturity</c><00:15:42.049><c> is</c><00:15:42.950><c> not</c><00:15:43.210><c> merely</c><00:15:43.990><c> knowledge</c><00:15:44.750><c> or</c><00:15:45.070><c> discipline.</c><00:15:46.509><c> It's</c><00:15:46.730><c> love.</c>

00:15:49.970 --> 00:15:56.769
Spiritual<00:15:50.870><c> growth</c><00:15:51.549><c> ultimately</c><00:15:53.009><c> expresses</c><00:15:53.929><c> itself</c><00:15:54.789><c> in</c><00:15:55.850><c> our</c>

00:15:56.769 --> 00:15:59.370
relationships<00:15:57.590><c> with</c><00:15:58.190><c> one</c><00:15:58.450><c> another.</c>

00:15:59.830 --> 00:16:09.470
It<00:16:00.289><c> expresses</c><00:16:00.990><c> itself</c><00:16:01.649><c> in</c><00:16:02.190><c> kindness,</c><00:16:04.549><c> in</c><00:16:04.850><c> patience,</c><00:16:06.789><c> in</c><00:16:07.090><c> forgiveness,</c><00:16:09.049><c> in</c><00:16:09.210><c> a</c>

00:16:09.470 --> 00:16:11.570
genuine<00:16:09.889><c> concern</c><00:16:10.830><c> for</c><00:16:11.210><c> each</c>

00:16:11.570 --> 00:16:16.610
other's<00:16:12.110><c> well</c><00:16:12.350><c>-being.</c><00:16:13.970><c> To</c><00:16:14.370><c> love</c><00:16:14.690><c> one</c><00:16:14.970><c> another</c><00:16:15.570><c> greater</c><00:16:16.309><c> than</c>

00:16:16.610 --> 00:16:19.490
himself,<00:16:17.269><c> as</c><00:16:17.450><c> our</c><00:16:17.710><c> Lord</c><00:16:17.970><c> reminds</c><00:16:18.450><c> us.</c>

00:16:21.169 --> 00:16:25.889
It's<00:16:21.629><c> striking</c><00:16:21.889><c> that</c><00:16:22.129><c> the</c><00:16:22.309><c> list</c><00:16:22.470><c> begins</c><00:16:23.090><c> with</c><00:16:23.509><c> faith</c><00:16:23.970><c> and</c><00:16:24.870><c> ends</c><00:16:25.110><c> with</c><00:16:25.429><c> love.</c><00:16:25.649><c> And</c>

00:16:25.889 --> 00:16:27.389
in<00:16:26.009><c> many</c><00:16:26.190><c> ways,</c><00:16:26.629><c> Peter</c><00:16:26.889><c> is</c>

00:16:27.389 --> 00:16:33.129
describing<00:16:28.049><c> the</c><00:16:28.490><c> character</c><00:16:29.129><c> of</c><00:16:29.750><c> our</c><00:16:29.950><c> Lord</c><00:16:30.169><c> Jesus.</c><00:16:31.970><c> Every</c><00:16:32.350><c> quality</c><00:16:32.950><c> in</c>

00:16:33.129 --> 00:16:35.789
this<00:16:33.470><c> list</c><00:16:33.710><c> was</c><00:16:34.129><c> perfectly</c><00:16:34.870><c> displayed</c>

00:16:35.789 --> 00:16:43.669
in<00:16:36.629><c> our</c><00:16:36.929><c> Lord.</c><00:16:38.509><c> And</c><00:16:38.769><c> Peter,</c><00:16:39.129><c> of</c><00:16:39.429><c> all</c><00:16:39.750><c> people,</c><00:16:40.610><c> knew</c><00:16:40.730><c> that</c><00:16:41.269><c> firsthand.</c><00:16:43.070><c> Peter</c><00:16:43.350><c> had</c>

00:16:43.669 --> 00:16:46.110
watched<00:16:43.990><c> Jesus</c><00:16:44.490><c> over</c><00:16:45.009><c> years.</c>

00:16:46.470 --> 00:16:51.990
He<00:16:46.690><c> had</c><00:16:47.009><c> seen</c><00:16:47.350><c> his</c><00:16:47.710><c> goodness.</c><00:16:48.750><c> He</c><00:16:48.950><c> had</c><00:16:49.190><c> listened</c><00:16:49.730><c> to</c><00:16:50.370><c> his</c><00:16:50.690><c> teaching.</c><00:16:51.750><c> He</c>

00:16:51.990 --> 00:16:54.470
had<00:16:52.289><c> witnessed</c><00:16:52.750><c> his</c><00:16:53.169><c> self</c><00:16:53.409><c>-control</c><00:16:54.049><c> under</c>

00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:58.730
pressure.<00:16:56.070><c> He</c><00:16:56.250><c> had</c><00:16:56.529><c> seen</c><00:16:56.730><c> his</c><00:16:57.149><c> perseverance</c><00:16:57.809><c> in</c><00:16:58.250><c> the</c><00:16:58.470><c> midst</c>

00:16:58.730 --> 00:17:02.690
of<00:16:59.269><c> great</c><00:16:59.570><c> suffering.</c><00:17:01.389><c> Peter</c><00:17:01.669><c> had</c><00:17:01.970><c> observed</c>

00:17:02.690 --> 00:17:10.210
Jesus'<00:17:03.809><c> godliness</c><00:17:04.329><c> and</c><00:17:05.390><c> his</c><00:17:05.710><c> love.</c><00:17:06.829><c> And</c><00:17:07.130><c> now,</c><00:17:07.609><c> decades</c><00:17:08.210><c> later,</c><00:17:09.490><c> at</c><00:17:09.710><c> the</c><00:17:09.869><c> end</c><00:17:10.069><c> of</c>

00:17:10.210 --> 00:17:11.369
his<00:17:10.450><c> life,</c>

00:17:11.490 --> 00:17:16.829
Peter<00:17:11.869><c> is</c><00:17:12.410><c> calling</c><00:17:12.950><c> on</c><00:17:13.609><c> believers</c><00:17:14.230><c> to</c><00:17:15.190><c> develop</c><00:17:15.630><c> those</c><00:17:16.089><c> same</c>

00:17:16.829 --> 00:17:21.029
characteristics<00:17:17.849><c> as</c><00:17:18.289><c> displayed</c><00:17:19.029><c> in</c><00:17:19.910><c> our</c><00:17:20.210><c> Lord.</c>

00:17:21.369 --> 00:17:26.210
To<00:17:21.789><c> develop</c><00:17:22.210><c> those</c><00:17:22.630><c> same</c><00:17:23.049><c> qualities.</c><00:17:24.950><c> The</c><00:17:25.170><c> challenge</c><00:17:25.650><c> is</c><00:17:25.890><c> not</c>

00:17:26.210 --> 00:17:28.829
merely<00:17:26.690><c> to</c><00:17:27.450><c> believe</c><00:17:27.750><c> Christ.</c>

00:17:29.730 --> 00:17:33.470
The<00:17:30.009><c> challenge,</c><00:17:30.730><c> brothers</c><00:17:30.809><c> and</c><00:17:31.170><c> sisters,</c><00:17:32.789><c> is</c><00:17:32.950><c> that</c><00:17:33.130><c> we</c><00:17:33.269><c> have</c>

00:17:33.470 --> 00:17:36.670
to<00:17:33.670><c> become</c><00:17:34.509><c> like</c><00:17:35.490><c> Christ.</c>

00:17:38.170 --> 00:17:43.730
Peter<00:17:38.509><c> continues</c><00:17:39.269><c> in</c><00:17:39.529><c> verse</c><00:17:39.789><c> 8.</c><00:17:42.230><c> He</c><00:17:42.490><c> says</c><00:17:42.710><c> in</c><00:17:42.890><c> verse</c><00:17:43.170><c> 8,</c>

00:17:43.730 --> 00:17:49.869
For<00:17:44.549><c> if</c><00:17:44.869><c> you</c><00:17:45.150><c> possess</c><00:17:45.569><c> these</c><00:17:46.170><c> qualities</c><00:17:46.849><c> in</c><00:17:47.529><c> increasing</c><00:17:48.109><c> measure,</c><00:17:49.549><c> they</c>

00:17:49.869 --> 00:17:51.710
will<00:17:50.089><c> keep</c><00:17:50.269><c> you</c><00:17:50.529><c> from</c><00:17:50.750><c> being</c><00:17:51.109><c> ineffective</c>

00:17:51.710 --> 00:17:55.390
and<00:17:52.069><c> unproductive</c><00:17:52.910><c> in</c><00:17:53.130><c> your</c><00:17:53.369><c> knowledge</c><00:17:53.950><c> of</c><00:17:54.509><c> our</c><00:17:54.710><c> Lord</c><00:17:54.910><c> Jesus</c>

00:17:55.390 --> 00:17:59.089
Christ.<00:17:57.150><c> I</c><00:17:57.549><c> find</c><00:17:57.750><c> that</c><00:17:58.109><c> phrase</c><00:17:58.470><c> at</c><00:17:58.690><c> the</c><00:17:58.849><c> beginning</c>

00:17:59.089 --> 00:18:03.170
of<00:17:59.309><c> the</c><00:17:59.470><c> sentence,</c><00:18:00.150><c> in</c><00:18:00.470><c> increasing</c><00:18:01.089><c> measure,</c><00:18:02.569><c> I</c><00:18:02.690><c> find</c><00:18:02.829><c> that</c>

00:18:03.170 --> 00:18:08.490
phrase<00:18:03.549><c> deeply</c><00:18:04.650><c> encouraging.</c><00:18:07.150><c> You</c><00:18:07.369><c> see,</c><00:18:08.049><c> Peter's</c>

00:18:08.490 --> 00:18:16.150
not<00:18:08.690><c> demanding</c><00:18:09.369><c> perfection.</c><00:18:14.049><c> He's</c><00:18:14.589><c> looking</c><00:18:14.789><c> for</c><00:18:15.130><c> growth.</c>

00:18:18.869 --> 00:18:27.049
There's<00:18:19.589><c> a</c><00:18:19.809><c> difference,</c><00:18:20.269><c> brothers</c><00:18:20.529><c> and</c><00:18:20.869><c> sisters.</c><00:18:22.730><c> Peter</c><00:18:22.990><c> assumes</c><00:18:23.769><c> that</c><00:18:24.190><c> growth</c><00:18:24.569><c> continues</c><00:18:25.410><c> throughout</c><00:18:25.829><c> our</c><00:18:26.150><c> lives.</c>

00:18:27.670 --> 00:18:31.029
He<00:18:27.829><c> doesn't</c><00:18:28.089><c> speak</c><00:18:28.329><c> about</c><00:18:28.529><c> these</c><00:18:28.890><c> qualities</c><00:18:29.430><c> appearing</c><00:18:30.109><c> suddenly,</c><00:18:30.910><c> that</c>

00:18:31.029 --> 00:18:31.910
we<00:18:31.150><c> are</c><00:18:31.529><c> perfect,</c>

00:18:31.910 --> 00:18:37.569
one<00:18:32.490><c> day,</c><00:18:32.970><c> just</c><00:18:33.069><c> perfectly</c><00:18:33.650><c> godly.</c><00:18:35.210><c> He</c><00:18:35.569><c> speaks</c><00:18:35.809><c> about</c><00:18:36.029><c> them</c><00:18:36.369><c> increasing.</c>

00:18:38.529 --> 00:18:45.410
And<00:18:38.769><c> that's</c><00:18:39.009><c> the</c><00:18:39.210><c> point.</c><00:18:39.529><c> Growth</c><00:18:40.089><c> is</c><00:18:41.250><c> gradual.</c><00:18:43.130><c> Growth</c><00:18:43.589><c> takes</c><00:18:44.130><c> time.</c>

00:18:46.650 --> 00:18:49.670
And<00:18:47.029><c> perhaps</c><00:18:47.369><c> that's</c><00:18:47.670><c> what</c><00:18:47.970><c> makes</c><00:18:48.230><c> this</c><00:18:48.630><c> chapter</c><00:18:49.029><c> especially</c>

00:18:49.670 --> 00:18:51.609
relevant<00:18:50.309><c> for</c><00:18:50.509><c> us</c><00:18:50.769><c> today.</c>

00:18:52.509 --> 00:18:57.809
Our<00:18:52.809><c> classes</c><00:18:53.269><c> for</c><00:18:53.529><c> the</c><00:18:53.789><c> year</c><00:18:54.390><c> are</c><00:18:55.250><c> concluding.</c><00:18:57.109><c> Our</c><00:18:57.450><c> midweek</c>

00:18:57.809 --> 00:18:59.710
studies<00:18:58.150><c> are</c><00:18:58.430><c> taking</c><00:18:58.670><c> a</c><00:18:58.970><c> break.</c>

00:18:59.970 --> 00:19:04.849
The<00:19:00.349><c> routine</c><00:19:00.950><c> of</c><00:19:01.230><c> ecclesial</c><00:19:01.750><c> life</c><00:19:02.130><c> is</c><00:19:02.589><c> changing,</c><00:19:03.849><c> but</c><00:19:04.529><c> Peter</c>

00:19:04.849 --> 00:19:07.549
would<00:19:05.190><c> remind</c><00:19:05.670><c> us</c><00:19:06.029><c> that</c><00:19:06.470><c> discipleship</c>

00:19:07.650 --> 00:19:12.809
doesn't<00:19:08.150><c> go</c><00:19:08.390><c> into</c><00:19:08.650><c> recess.</c><00:19:10.230><c> The</c><00:19:10.529><c> classes</c><00:19:10.869><c> may</c><00:19:11.190><c> pause,</c><00:19:12.230><c> but</c>

00:19:12.809 --> 00:19:15.450
our<00:19:13.190><c> spiritual</c><00:19:13.690><c> growth</c><00:19:14.210><c> must</c><00:19:14.609><c> not.</c>

00:19:15.890 --> 00:19:18.750
And<00:19:16.150><c> perhaps</c><00:19:16.410><c> one</c><00:19:16.650><c> of</c><00:19:16.730><c> the</c><00:19:16.849><c> most</c><00:19:17.150><c> valuable</c><00:19:17.789><c> things</c><00:19:18.309><c> that</c><00:19:18.549><c> we</c>

00:19:18.750 --> 00:19:22.890
could<00:19:18.930><c> do</c><00:19:19.250><c> right</c><00:19:19.569><c> now</c><00:19:20.289><c> is</c><00:19:21.349><c> ask</c><00:19:21.730><c> ourselves</c><00:19:22.329><c> the</c><00:19:22.609><c> simple</c>

00:19:22.890 --> 00:19:31.450
question,<00:19:25.490><c> what</c><00:19:26.329><c> needs</c><00:19:27.809><c> the</c><00:19:28.089><c> most</c><00:19:29.369><c> attention</c><00:19:30.250><c> in</c><00:19:30.609><c> my</c><00:19:30.890><c> life</c>

00:19:31.450 --> 00:19:32.950
right<00:19:31.950><c> now?</c>

00:19:34.269 --> 00:19:37.990
What<00:19:34.490><c> is</c><00:19:34.710><c> it</c><00:19:34.849><c> that</c><00:19:34.990><c> I</c><00:19:35.190><c> should</c><00:19:35.289><c> be</c><00:19:35.670><c> focusing</c><00:19:36.089><c> on?</c><00:19:37.390><c> Is</c><00:19:37.509><c> it</c><00:19:37.730><c> self</c>

00:19:37.990 --> 00:19:40.990
-control?<00:19:39.450><c> Is</c><00:19:39.589><c> it</c><00:19:39.829><c> perseverance?</c>

00:19:41.569 --> 00:19:45.029
Is<00:19:41.750><c> it</c><00:19:41.990><c> kindness?</c><00:19:42.630><c> Is</c><00:19:42.710><c> it</c><00:19:42.869><c> love?</c><00:19:43.349><c> Is</c><00:19:43.410><c> it</c><00:19:43.970><c> simply</c><00:19:44.250><c> making</c><00:19:44.569><c> more</c>

00:19:45.029 --> 00:19:46.910
time<00:19:45.410><c> for</c><00:19:45.630><c> God's</c><00:19:46.069><c> Word?</c>

00:19:47.369 --> 00:19:52.569
Peter's<00:19:48.130><c> not</c><00:19:48.390><c> asking</c><00:19:48.769><c> us</c><00:19:49.109><c> to</c><00:19:49.289><c> become</c><00:19:49.609><c> mature</c><00:19:50.190><c> overnight.</c><00:19:51.390><c> He's</c><00:19:52.009><c> asking</c><00:19:52.170><c> us</c>

00:19:52.569 --> 00:19:55.769
to<00:19:52.849><c> keep</c><00:19:53.329><c> moving</c><00:19:54.250><c> forward.</c>

00:19:56.849 --> 00:19:59.509
So<00:19:57.130><c> as</c><00:19:57.329><c> we</c><00:19:57.549><c> enter</c><00:19:57.710><c> the</c><00:19:57.970><c> summer</c><00:19:58.250><c> months,</c><00:19:58.710><c> perhaps</c><00:19:59.009><c> each</c><00:19:59.269><c> of</c><00:19:59.390><c> us</c>

00:19:59.509 --> 00:20:03.549
could<00:19:59.789><c> choose</c><00:20:00.250><c> one</c><00:20:01.089><c> area</c><00:20:01.690><c> of</c><00:20:02.069><c> spiritual</c><00:20:02.509><c> growth</c>

00:20:03.930 --> 00:20:10.309
and<00:20:04.509><c> make</c><00:20:04.630><c> it</c><00:20:04.849><c> a</c><00:20:04.950><c> matter</c><00:20:05.190><c> of</c><00:20:05.589><c> prayer</c><00:20:05.990><c> and</c><00:20:07.049><c> deliberate</c><00:20:07.730><c> attention.</c><00:20:09.650><c> Not</c><00:20:10.049><c> 10</c>

00:20:10.309 --> 00:20:12.650
things,<00:20:11.369><c> not</c><00:20:11.650><c> an</c><00:20:11.869><c> impossible</c><00:20:12.390><c> list</c>

00:20:12.650 --> 00:20:17.170
of<00:20:12.890><c> resolutions.</c><00:20:14.750><c> Just</c><00:20:15.089><c> one</c><00:20:15.650><c> area,</c><00:20:16.390><c> brothers</c><00:20:16.549><c> and</c><00:20:16.849><c> sisters,</c>

00:20:17.430 --> 00:20:23.809
one<00:20:17.890><c> area</c><00:20:18.529><c> in</c><00:20:18.829><c> your</c><00:20:19.130><c> life</c><00:20:19.730><c> where</c><00:20:20.750><c> you,</c><00:20:22.230><c> where</c><00:20:22.630><c> I,</c>

00:20:23.990 --> 00:20:29.130
can<00:20:24.390><c> consciously</c><00:20:25.309><c> cooperate</c><00:20:26.849><c> with</c><00:20:27.230><c> the</c><00:20:27.470><c> work</c><00:20:27.670><c> of</c><00:20:27.910><c> God,</c><00:20:28.849><c> the</c>

00:20:29.130 --> 00:20:33.549
work<00:20:29.349><c> that</c><00:20:29.589><c> God</c><00:20:29.910><c> is</c><00:20:30.329><c> doing</c><00:20:30.650><c> in</c><00:20:31.069><c> me</c><00:20:31.690><c> and</c><00:20:32.450><c> in</c><00:20:32.730><c> you.</c>

00:20:33.849 --> 00:20:37.990
You<00:20:33.970><c> see,</c><00:20:34.609><c> spiritual</c><00:20:34.930><c> growth</c><00:20:35.410><c> is</c><00:20:36.309><c> gradual,</c><00:20:37.130><c> as</c><00:20:37.450><c> we've</c><00:20:37.789><c> said.</c>

00:20:38.470 --> 00:20:41.430
We<00:20:38.730><c> may</c><00:20:38.990><c> not</c><00:20:39.390><c> notice</c><00:20:39.690><c> it</c><00:20:39.930><c> from</c><00:20:40.170><c> day</c><00:20:40.410><c> to</c><00:20:40.589><c> day,</c>

00:20:41.690 --> 00:20:48.890
yet<00:20:42.369><c> over</c><00:20:42.809><c> time</c><00:20:43.289><c> the</c><00:20:43.609><c> changes,</c><00:20:44.470><c> they</c><00:20:45.170><c> become</c><00:20:45.490><c> visible.</c><00:20:47.390><c> We</c><00:20:47.589><c> become</c><00:20:47.730><c> more</c><00:20:48.109><c> patient</c><00:20:48.450><c> than</c><00:20:48.650><c> we</c>

00:20:48.890 --> 00:20:49.430
once<00:20:49.230><c> were,</c>

00:20:49.690 --> 00:20:54.109
more<00:20:50.369><c> thoughtful</c><00:20:50.769><c> than</c><00:20:51.150><c> when</c><00:20:51.349><c> we</c><00:20:51.490><c> once</c><00:20:51.849><c> were,</c><00:20:52.589><c> more</c><00:20:52.910><c> dependent</c><00:20:53.470><c> on</c><00:20:53.789><c> God</c>

00:20:54.109 --> 00:20:55.809
than<00:20:54.329><c> we</c><00:20:54.529><c> once</c><00:20:54.869><c> were.</c>

00:20:56.329 --> 00:21:01.450
Growth<00:20:56.690><c> may</c><00:20:56.990><c> be</c><00:20:57.190><c> gradual,</c><00:20:58.529><c> but</c><00:20:58.789><c> Peter</c><00:20:59.170><c> expects</c><00:20:59.769><c> it</c><00:21:00.029><c> to</c><00:21:00.170><c> be</c><00:21:00.470><c> real.</c>

00:21:02.750 --> 00:21:06.109
That<00:21:03.029><c> observation</c><00:21:03.650><c> connects</c><00:21:04.089><c> naturally</c><00:21:04.809><c> with</c><00:21:05.329><c> the</c><00:21:05.549><c> close</c><00:21:05.849><c> of</c>

00:21:06.109 --> 00:21:07.890
another<00:21:06.329><c> Sunday</c><00:21:06.690><c> school</c><00:21:06.990><c> year.</c>

00:21:08.309 --> 00:21:11.829
The<00:21:08.670><c> value</c><00:21:09.130><c> of</c><00:21:09.349><c> a</c><00:21:09.509><c> year</c><00:21:09.690><c> of</c><00:21:09.809><c> classes</c><00:21:10.230><c> can't</c><00:21:10.690><c> be</c><00:21:10.930><c> measured</c><00:21:11.210><c> simply</c><00:21:11.549><c> by</c>

00:21:11.829 --> 00:21:13.009
the<00:21:12.069><c> lessons.</c>

00:21:13.630 --> 00:21:20.650
The<00:21:13.970><c> real</c><00:21:14.309><c> question</c><00:21:14.990><c> is</c><00:21:16.269><c> what</c><00:21:17.549><c> have</c><00:21:18.829><c> those</c><00:21:19.190><c> lessons</c><00:21:19.670><c> done</c><00:21:20.250><c> in</c>

00:21:20.650 --> 00:21:24.109
my<00:21:20.950><c> life?</c><00:21:22.289><c> The</c><00:21:22.569><c> real</c><00:21:22.890><c> question</c><00:21:23.269><c> is</c><00:21:23.509><c> whether</c><00:21:23.769><c> those</c>

00:21:24.109 --> 00:21:28.349
lessons<00:21:24.490><c> have</c><00:21:25.009><c> shaped</c><00:21:25.430><c> lives?</c><00:21:26.849><c> Has</c><00:21:27.069><c> faith</c><00:21:27.430><c> deepened?</c><00:21:28.069><c> Has</c>

00:21:28.349 --> 00:21:31.430
character<00:21:28.769><c> matured?</c><00:21:29.789><c> Has</c><00:21:30.009><c> love</c><00:21:30.289><c> increased?</c>

00:21:31.670 --> 00:21:35.829
And<00:21:32.089><c> those</c><00:21:32.650><c> are</c><00:21:33.630><c> not</c><00:21:33.869><c> always</c><00:21:34.329><c> easy</c><00:21:34.849><c> answers.</c>

00:21:37.930 --> 00:21:41.369
Spiritual<00:21:38.250><c> growth</c><00:21:38.549><c> is</c><00:21:38.809><c> often</c><00:21:39.130><c> hidden.</c><00:21:40.369><c> It's</c><00:21:40.589><c> like</c><00:21:40.789><c> a</c><00:21:41.089><c> seed</c>

00:21:41.369 --> 00:21:43.490
that<00:21:41.710><c> grows</c><00:21:42.150><c> beneath</c>

00:21:44.369 --> 00:21:50.309
the<00:21:45.210><c> soil.</c><00:21:47.089><c> Much</c><00:21:47.309><c> of</c><00:21:47.490><c> the</c><00:21:47.630><c> work</c><00:21:47.970><c> takes</c><00:21:48.349><c> place</c><00:21:48.809><c> out</c><00:21:49.049><c> of</c><00:21:49.309><c> sight,</c>

00:21:50.730 --> 00:21:55.750
yet<00:21:50.910><c> over</c><00:21:51.329><c> time</c><00:21:51.990><c> the</c><00:21:52.509><c> flowers</c><00:21:53.029><c> appear.</c><00:21:54.769><c> Over</c><00:21:55.190><c> time</c>

00:21:55.750 --> 00:22:02.529
the<00:21:56.150><c> fruit</c><00:21:56.589><c> develops.</c><00:21:58.450><c> And</c><00:21:58.710><c> as</c><00:21:58.869><c> we</c><00:21:59.130><c> enter</c><00:21:59.289><c> the</c><00:21:59.529><c> summer</c><00:21:59.789><c> months,</c><00:22:00.250><c> routines</c><00:22:00.569><c> change.</c><00:22:01.369><c> Schedules</c><00:22:01.789><c> become</c><00:22:02.130><c> less</c>

00:22:02.529 --> 00:22:08.190
predictable.<00:22:03.430><c> Vacations</c><00:22:03.890><c> interrupt</c><00:22:04.390><c> familiar</c><00:22:04.869><c> patterns.</c><00:22:06.369><c> The</c><00:22:06.750><c> structure</c><00:22:07.049><c> that</c><00:22:07.349><c> supports</c><00:22:07.849><c> a</c>

00:22:08.190 --> 00:22:09.230
regular<00:22:08.630><c> study,</c>

00:22:09.250 --> 00:22:14.910
it's<00:22:10.049><c> not</c><00:22:10.289><c> always</c><00:22:10.690><c> present</c><00:22:11.029><c> and</c><00:22:11.190><c> it's</c><00:22:11.410><c> not</c><00:22:11.609><c> the</c><00:22:11.869><c> same,</c><00:22:13.329><c> but</c><00:22:13.609><c> discipleship</c><00:22:14.349><c> doesn't</c><00:22:14.670><c> go</c>

00:22:14.910 --> 00:22:16.329
into<00:22:15.230><c> recess.</c>

00:22:16.809 --> 00:22:19.690
And<00:22:16.990><c> in</c><00:22:17.150><c> some</c><00:22:17.329><c> ways</c><00:22:17.589><c> what</c><00:22:17.809><c> happens</c><00:22:18.230><c> when</c><00:22:18.430><c> the</c><00:22:18.690><c> classes</c><00:22:19.049><c> stop</c>

00:22:19.690 --> 00:22:25.009
reveals<00:22:20.809><c> what's</c><00:22:22.109><c> truly</c><00:22:22.410><c> taken</c><00:22:22.869><c> root</c><00:22:23.329><c> in</c><00:22:23.829><c> our</c><00:22:24.089><c> hearts.</c>

00:22:25.809 --> 00:22:29.470
When<00:22:26.569><c> the</c><00:22:26.789><c> routine</c><00:22:27.089><c> changes,</c><00:22:28.009><c> conviction</c><00:22:28.410><c> remains,</c><00:22:29.130><c> doesn't</c>

00:22:29.470 --> 00:22:31.109
it<00:22:29.670><c> brothers</c><00:22:29.890><c> and</c><00:22:30.190><c> sisters?</c>

00:22:32.130 --> 00:22:40.210
When<00:22:32.430><c> the</c><00:22:32.670><c> schedule</c><00:22:33.170><c> changes,</c><00:22:35.309><c> character</c><00:22:35.650><c> remains.</c><00:22:37.730><c> What</c><00:22:37.910><c> we've</c><00:22:38.269><c> learned</c><00:22:38.670><c> becomes</c><00:22:39.150><c> part</c><00:22:39.849><c> of</c>

00:22:40.210 --> 00:22:41.349
who<00:22:40.609><c> we</c><00:22:40.970><c> are.</c>

00:22:41.690 --> 00:22:46.109
And<00:22:41.910><c> I</c><00:22:41.990><c> think</c><00:22:42.130><c> that's</c><00:22:42.410><c> what</c><00:22:42.690><c> Peter</c><00:22:43.170><c> wants</c><00:22:44.009><c> for</c><00:22:44.609><c> believers.</c><00:22:45.849><c> He</c>

00:22:46.109 --> 00:22:49.450
wants<00:22:46.490><c> truth</c><00:22:47.049><c> that</c><00:22:47.450><c> endures</c><00:22:48.170><c> beyond</c><00:22:48.710><c> the</c><00:22:49.029><c> classroom.</c>

00:22:49.450 --> 00:22:53.069
He<00:22:49.690><c> wants</c><00:22:50.029><c> convictions</c><00:22:50.750><c> that</c><00:22:51.069><c> remain</c><00:22:51.450><c> strong</c><00:22:52.130><c> when</c><00:22:52.630><c> external</c>

00:22:53.069 --> 00:22:55.670
structures<00:22:53.710><c> fade</c><00:22:54.029><c> away</c><00:22:54.569><c> or</c><00:22:54.930><c> are</c><00:22:55.309><c> removed.</c>

00:22:55.990 --> 00:23:01.329
He<00:22:56.190><c> wants</c><00:22:56.529><c> disciples</c><00:22:57.170><c> whose</c><00:22:57.450><c> growth</c><00:22:57.829><c> continues</c><00:22:58.650><c> because</c><00:22:59.829><c> their</c><00:23:00.309><c> faith</c><00:23:00.809><c> is</c>

00:23:01.329 --> 00:23:04.650
rooted<00:23:01.890><c> in</c><00:23:03.089><c> Jesus</c><00:23:03.549><c> Christ,</c>

00:23:05.009 --> 00:23:09.609
the<00:23:05.289><c> anchor,</c><00:23:06.250><c> the</c><00:23:06.470><c> foundation.</c><00:23:08.450><c> And</c><00:23:08.750><c> I</c><00:23:08.890><c> think</c><00:23:09.049><c> that</c><00:23:09.390><c> brings</c>

00:23:09.609 --> 00:23:11.869
us<00:23:09.910><c> back</c><00:23:10.170><c> to</c><00:23:10.430><c> Peter</c><00:23:10.670><c> himself.</c>

00:23:12.329 --> 00:23:17.430
As<00:23:13.109><c> he</c><00:23:13.309><c> writes</c><00:23:13.589><c> these</c><00:23:13.930><c> words,</c><00:23:15.029><c> he</c><00:23:15.349><c> knows</c><00:23:15.990><c> that</c><00:23:16.349><c> his</c><00:23:16.829><c> life</c><00:23:17.150><c> is</c>

00:23:17.430 --> 00:23:21.230
coming<00:23:17.650><c> to</c><00:23:17.910><c> an</c><00:23:18.089><c> end,</c><00:23:19.490><c> yet</c><00:23:19.710><c> there's</c><00:23:19.990><c> no</c><00:23:20.230><c> bitterness.</c>

00:23:23.410 --> 00:23:30.950
There's<00:23:23.730><c> no</c><00:23:23.930><c> sense</c><00:23:24.190><c> of</c><00:23:24.490><c> regret.</c><00:23:26.349><c> Instead</c><00:23:26.890><c> there's</c><00:23:27.369><c> this</c><00:23:27.869><c> quiet</c><00:23:28.990><c> concern</c><00:23:30.630><c> for</c>

00:23:30.950 --> 00:23:35.849
the<00:23:31.250><c> spiritual</c><00:23:32.650><c> welfare</c><00:23:33.970><c> of</c><00:23:34.849><c> others.</c>

00:23:36.269 --> 00:23:40.009
Peter<00:23:36.869><c> wants</c><00:23:37.349><c> believers.</c><00:23:38.369><c> He</c><00:23:38.369><c> wants</c><00:23:38.630><c> his</c><00:23:39.069><c> friends.</c><00:23:39.670><c> He</c><00:23:39.710><c> wants</c>

00:23:40.009 --> 00:23:41.730
the<00:23:40.430><c> young</c><00:23:40.690><c> people.</c>

00:23:41.750 --> 00:23:46.430
He<00:23:41.930><c> wants</c><00:23:42.230><c> those</c><00:23:42.529><c> who</c><00:23:42.730><c> are</c><00:23:42.990><c> growing</c><00:23:43.230><c> up</c><00:23:43.529><c> in</c><00:23:43.710><c> the</c><00:23:44.049><c> faith</c><00:23:44.329><c> beneath</c><00:23:44.769><c> him</c><00:23:45.190><c> to</c>

00:23:46.430 --> 00:23:49.890
continue<00:23:47.069><c> growing</c><00:23:47.509><c> long</c><00:23:48.250><c> after</c><00:23:49.069><c> he</c><00:23:49.650><c> is</c>

00:23:49.890 --> 00:23:58.569
gone.<00:23:52.130><c> Let's</c><00:23:52.329><c> look</c><00:23:52.509><c> at</c><00:23:52.650><c> verses</c><00:23:52.910><c> 10</c><00:23:53.250><c> through</c><00:23:53.509><c> 15.</c><00:23:57.210><c> He</c><00:23:57.369><c> says,</c><00:23:58.029><c> Therefore,</c><00:23:58.269><c> my</c>

00:23:58.569 --> 00:23:59.730
brothers<00:23:58.869><c> and</c><00:23:59.190><c> sisters,</c>

00:23:59.730 --> 00:24:03.170
because<00:24:00.549><c> God</c><00:24:00.789><c> has</c><00:24:01.130><c> given</c><00:24:01.309><c> you</c><00:24:01.609><c> all</c><00:24:01.829><c> that</c><00:24:02.009><c> you</c><00:24:02.250><c> need</c><00:24:02.490><c> to</c><00:24:02.670><c> live</c><00:24:02.910><c> a</c>

00:24:03.170 --> 00:24:06.809
godly<00:24:03.589><c> life,</c><00:24:04.329><c> therefore</c><00:24:04.730><c> make</c><00:24:05.970><c> every</c><00:24:06.490><c> effort</c>

00:24:06.809 --> 00:24:11.309
to<00:24:07.109><c> confirm</c><00:24:07.769><c> your</c><00:24:08.170><c> calling</c><00:24:08.509><c> and</c><00:24:08.829><c> election.</c><00:24:10.450><c> For</c><00:24:10.609><c> if</c><00:24:10.829><c> you</c><00:24:11.029><c> do</c>

00:24:11.309 --> 00:24:13.869
these<00:24:11.730><c> things,</c><00:24:12.130><c> you'll</c><00:24:12.410><c> never</c><00:24:12.769><c> stumble</c>

00:24:14.289 --> 00:24:18.049
and<00:24:14.630><c> you'll</c><00:24:14.950><c> receive</c><00:24:15.230><c> a</c><00:24:15.569><c> rich</c><00:24:15.910><c> welcome</c><00:24:16.430><c> into</c><00:24:16.730><c> the</c><00:24:16.990><c> eternal</c><00:24:17.369><c> kingdom</c><00:24:17.809><c> of</c>

00:24:18.049 --> 00:24:20.650
our<00:24:18.269><c> Lord</c><00:24:18.509><c> and</c><00:24:18.809><c> Savior</c><00:24:19.130><c> Jesus</c><00:24:19.670><c> Christ.</c>

00:24:21.549 --> 00:24:28.069
So<00:24:22.190><c> I</c><00:24:22.829><c> will</c><00:24:23.210><c> always</c><00:24:24.029><c> remind</c><00:24:24.990><c> you</c><00:24:25.509><c> of</c><00:24:25.910><c> these</c><00:24:26.250><c> things,</c><00:24:27.289><c> even</c><00:24:27.609><c> though</c><00:24:27.849><c> you</c>

00:24:28.069 --> 00:24:28.849
know<00:24:28.269><c> them</c>

00:24:28.849 --> 00:24:32.789
and<00:24:29.410><c> are</c><00:24:29.670><c> firmly</c><00:24:29.950><c> established</c><00:24:30.769><c> in</c><00:24:30.990><c> the</c><00:24:31.210><c> truth</c><00:24:31.390><c> you</c><00:24:31.609><c> now</c><00:24:31.930><c> have.</c>

00:24:33.049 --> 00:24:37.470
I<00:24:33.529><c> think</c><00:24:33.769><c> it's</c><00:24:34.089><c> right</c><00:24:34.309><c> to</c><00:24:35.410><c> refresh</c><00:24:35.970><c> your</c><00:24:36.390><c> memory</c>

00:24:37.829 --> 00:24:41.349
as<00:24:38.210><c> long</c><00:24:38.569><c> as</c><00:24:38.789><c> I</c><00:24:39.109><c> live</c><00:24:39.349><c> in</c><00:24:39.609><c> the</c><00:24:39.829><c> tent</c><00:24:39.990><c> of</c><00:24:40.190><c> this</c><00:24:40.470><c> body,</c><00:24:40.769><c> because</c><00:24:41.069><c> I</c>

00:24:41.349 --> 00:24:44.390
know<00:24:41.650><c> that</c><00:24:41.809><c> it</c><00:24:41.910><c> will</c><00:24:42.250><c> soon</c><00:24:42.589><c> be</c><00:24:42.849><c> put</c><00:24:43.269><c> aside.</c>

00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:49.289
He<00:24:44.730><c> knows</c><00:24:45.069><c> he's</c><00:24:45.450><c> dying,</c><00:24:46.029><c> as</c><00:24:47.150><c> our</c><00:24:47.369><c> Lord</c><00:24:47.589><c> Jesus</c><00:24:48.089><c> Christ</c><00:24:48.430><c> had</c><00:24:48.670><c> made</c><00:24:48.869><c> clear</c><00:24:49.089><c> to</c>

00:24:49.289 --> 00:24:52.369
me,<00:24:50.089><c> and</c><00:24:50.549><c> I</c><00:24:50.769><c> will</c><00:24:50.990><c> make</c><00:24:51.269><c> every</c><00:24:51.829><c> effort</c>

00:24:52.369 --> 00:24:58.769
to<00:24:52.990><c> see</c><00:24:53.250><c> that</c><00:24:53.630><c> after</c><00:24:54.109><c> my</c><00:24:54.490><c> departure,</c><00:24:55.650><c> you</c><00:24:55.950><c> will</c><00:24:56.349><c> always</c><00:24:56.950><c> be</c><00:24:57.289><c> able</c><00:24:57.529><c> to</c>

00:24:58.769 --> 00:25:01.410
remember<00:24:59.829><c> these</c><00:25:00.470><c> things.</c>

00:25:01.910 --> 00:25:07.609
I<00:25:02.309><c> think</c><00:25:02.470><c> there's</c><00:25:02.789><c> something,</c><00:25:03.170><c> you</c><00:25:03.329><c> know,</c><00:25:03.509><c> that's</c><00:25:03.750><c> just</c><00:25:04.730><c> beautifully</c><00:25:05.269><c> moving,</c><00:25:06.130><c> deeply</c><00:25:06.490><c> moving</c><00:25:06.950><c> about</c><00:25:07.250><c> this</c>

00:25:07.609 --> 00:25:13.130
passage.<00:25:09.210><c> The</c><00:25:09.329><c> apostle</c><00:25:09.750><c> that</c><00:25:10.150><c> once</c><00:25:10.470><c> stumbled,</c><00:25:11.690><c> who</c><00:25:11.809><c> once</c><00:25:12.109><c> denied</c><00:25:12.750><c> his</c>

00:25:13.130 --> 00:25:15.869
Lord,<00:25:14.549><c> who</c><00:25:14.769><c> once</c><00:25:15.029><c> struggled</c><00:25:15.430><c> to</c>

00:25:15.869 --> 00:25:19.730
understand<00:25:16.390><c> what</c><00:25:16.609><c> Jesus</c><00:25:17.069><c> was</c><00:25:17.410><c> teaching,</c><00:25:18.170><c> has</c><00:25:18.309><c> become</c><00:25:18.849><c> an</c><00:25:19.369><c> old</c>

00:25:19.730 --> 00:25:24.990
man<00:25:20.569><c> concerned</c><00:25:21.769><c> primarily</c><00:25:23.049><c> with</c><00:25:24.049><c> helping</c>

00:25:26.230 --> 00:25:33.759
others<00:25:27.369><c> remain</c><00:25:28.509><c> faithful.</c><00:25:30.529><c> And</c><00:25:31.329><c> perhaps</c><00:25:31.869><c> that</c><00:25:32.690><c> is</c>

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:39.490
an<00:25:35.329><c> example</c><00:25:35.890><c> of</c><00:25:36.130><c> the</c><00:25:36.470><c> growth</c><00:25:37.069><c> that</c><00:25:38.390><c> Peter's</c><00:25:38.829><c> talking</c><00:25:39.150><c> about</c>

00:25:39.490 --> 00:25:42.990
here.<00:25:40.990><c> That</c><00:25:41.309><c> impulsive</c><00:25:41.970><c> fisherman,</c>

00:25:43.549 --> 00:25:48.710
he's<00:25:44.150><c> become</c><00:25:44.750><c> a</c><00:25:45.329><c> shepherd.</c><00:25:46.910><c> The</c><00:25:47.170><c> disciple</c><00:25:47.589><c> who</c><00:25:47.890><c> once</c><00:25:48.190><c> argued</c>

00:25:48.710 --> 00:25:51.930
about<00:25:49.269><c> greatness</c><00:25:49.670><c> is</c><00:25:50.109><c> now</c><00:25:50.509><c> focused</c>

00:25:52.230 --> 00:25:58.630
on<00:25:52.630><c> serving</c><00:25:53.309><c> others.</c><00:25:55.349><c> Peter's</c><00:25:55.710><c> life</c><00:25:56.069><c> demonstrates</c><00:25:56.970><c> the</c><00:25:57.789><c> very</c>

00:25:58.630 --> 00:26:02.970
transformation<00:25:59.690><c> he</c><00:26:00.809><c> encouraged</c><00:26:01.450><c> in</c><00:26:01.670><c> this</c><00:26:01.910><c> chapter.</c>

00:26:05.529 --> 00:26:09.950
Brother<00:26:05.710><c> Rich,</c><00:26:05.930><c> when</c><00:26:06.109><c> he</c><00:26:06.410><c> prayed,</c><00:26:07.150><c> spoke</c><00:26:07.329><c> about</c><00:26:07.670><c> the</c><00:26:08.130><c> transformative</c><00:26:09.109><c> power</c>

00:26:09.950 --> 00:26:11.369
of<00:26:10.190><c> the</c><00:26:10.390><c> gospel,</c>

00:26:11.650 --> 00:26:16.990
and<00:26:11.849><c> we</c><00:26:12.150><c> see</c><00:26:12.349><c> it</c><00:26:12.750><c> having</c><00:26:13.029><c> taken</c><00:26:13.430><c> place</c><00:26:14.170><c> in</c><00:26:14.829><c> Peter's</c><00:26:15.410><c> life.</c><00:26:16.750><c> And</c>

00:26:16.990 --> 00:26:19.109
I<00:26:17.109><c> think</c><00:26:17.309><c> that</c><00:26:17.650><c> observation</c>

00:26:19.250 --> 00:26:22.289
prepares<00:26:19.869><c> our</c><00:26:20.289><c> minds</c><00:26:20.690><c> for</c><00:26:20.910><c> the</c><00:26:21.089><c> bread</c><00:26:21.289><c> and</c><00:26:21.470><c> the</c><00:26:21.690><c> wine</c><00:26:21.970><c> that's</c>

00:26:22.289 --> 00:26:23.710
before<00:26:22.670><c> us.</c>

00:26:24.329 --> 00:26:27.849
In<00:26:24.650><c> the</c><00:26:24.869><c> passage</c><00:26:25.250><c> that</c><00:26:25.569><c> we</c><00:26:25.769><c> just</c><00:26:26.210><c> read,</c><00:26:26.589><c> Peter's</c><00:26:27.190><c> exhortation</c>

00:26:27.849 --> 00:26:30.150
was<00:26:28.130><c> about</c><00:26:28.450><c> calling</c><00:26:28.950><c> things</c><00:26:29.430><c> to</c><00:26:29.769><c> mind,</c>

00:26:30.309 --> 00:26:37.569
about<00:26:30.869><c> refreshing</c><00:26:31.430><c> their</c><00:26:31.789><c> memory,</c><00:26:32.890><c> about</c><00:26:33.349><c> remembering.</c><00:26:37.170><c> His</c>

00:26:37.569 --> 00:26:40.269
exhortation<00:26:38.250><c> is</c><00:26:38.410><c> that</c><00:26:38.569><c> we</c><00:26:38.690><c> should</c><00:26:39.009><c> remember</c><00:26:39.789><c> these</c>

00:26:40.269 --> 00:26:46.329
things.<00:26:41.269><c> And</c><00:26:42.069><c> now</c><00:26:42.569><c> we</c><00:26:43.089><c> remember</c><00:26:43.589><c> Jesus'</c><00:26:44.630><c> words</c><00:26:44.849><c> when</c><00:26:45.609><c> he</c><00:26:45.849><c> said,</c><00:26:46.329><c> do</c>

00:26:46.329 --> 00:26:49.789
this<00:26:47.210><c> in</c><00:26:47.970><c> remembrance</c><00:26:48.529><c> of</c><00:26:48.950><c> me.</c>

00:26:50.369 --> 00:26:55.950
The<00:26:50.750><c> connection</c><00:26:51.130><c> isn't</c><00:26:51.529><c> accidental.</c><00:26:53.170><c> At</c><00:26:53.430><c> the</c><00:26:53.690><c> heart</c><00:26:53.930><c> of</c><00:26:54.289><c> our</c>

00:26:55.950 --> 00:27:00.210
weekly<00:26:56.349><c> worship</c><00:26:57.150><c> stands</c><00:26:58.470><c> remembrance.</c>

00:27:01.190 --> 00:27:06.430
Every<00:27:01.650><c> week</c><00:27:01.950><c> we</c><00:27:02.210><c> gather</c><00:27:02.670><c> because</c><00:27:03.089><c> we</c><00:27:03.589><c> need</c><00:27:04.089><c> to</c><00:27:04.690><c> remember.</c><00:27:05.910><c> We</c>

00:27:06.430 --> 00:27:09.789
need<00:27:06.869><c> to</c><00:27:07.309><c> remember</c><00:27:07.630><c> who</c><00:27:08.049><c> Jesus</c><00:27:08.490><c> is.</c>

00:27:09.750 --> 00:27:14.309
We<00:27:10.130><c> need</c><00:27:10.630><c> to</c><00:27:11.029><c> remember</c><00:27:11.289><c> what</c><00:27:11.549><c> he</c><00:27:11.769><c> has</c><00:27:12.170><c> accomplished.</c><00:27:13.490><c> We</c><00:27:13.890><c> need</c>

00:27:14.309 --> 00:27:17.269
to<00:27:14.849><c> remember</c><00:27:15.230><c> the</c><00:27:15.690><c> calling</c><00:27:16.150><c> that</c><00:27:16.390><c> he</c><00:27:16.589><c> has</c><00:27:16.950><c> placed</c>

00:27:17.269 --> 00:27:23.190
on<00:27:17.630><c> each</c><00:27:17.970><c> one</c><00:27:18.210><c> of</c><00:27:18.390><c> our</c><00:27:18.609><c> lives.</c><00:27:20.990><c> We</c><00:27:21.289><c> don't</c><00:27:21.549><c> remember</c><00:27:21.970><c> these</c><00:27:22.329><c> things</c><00:27:22.569><c> merely</c><00:27:22.950><c> to</c>

00:27:23.190 --> 00:27:25.210
recall<00:27:23.730><c> historical</c><00:27:24.470><c> facts.</c><00:27:24.990><c> We</c>

00:27:25.210 --> 00:27:30.410
remember<00:27:25.710><c> them</c><00:27:25.990><c> in</c><00:27:26.150><c> order</c><00:27:26.450><c> to</c><00:27:26.750><c> be</c><00:27:27.329><c> changed.</c><00:27:29.289><c> We</c><00:27:29.690><c> remember</c><00:27:30.069><c> them</c><00:27:30.289><c> in</c>

00:27:30.410 --> 00:27:34.089
order<00:27:30.650><c> to</c><00:27:31.029><c> see</c><00:27:31.390><c> clearly.</c><00:27:32.970><c> We</c><00:27:33.410><c> remember</c><00:27:33.849><c> them,</c>

00:27:34.089 --> 00:27:39.369
brothers<00:27:34.329><c> and</c><00:27:34.670><c> sisters,</c><00:27:35.289><c> so</c><00:27:35.710><c> that</c><00:27:36.150><c> we</c><00:27:36.609><c> can</c><00:27:37.170><c> continue</c><00:27:38.089><c> growing.</c>

00:27:43.829 --> 00:27:48.430
As<00:27:44.490><c> we</c><00:27:44.809><c> examine</c><00:27:45.130><c> ourselves,</c><00:27:46.170><c> we</c><00:27:46.650><c> know</c><00:27:47.250><c> that</c><00:27:47.470><c> our</c><00:27:47.769><c> growth</c><00:27:48.089><c> is</c>

00:27:48.430 --> 00:27:51.609
incomplete.<00:27:50.190><c> We</c><00:27:50.390><c> see</c><00:27:50.690><c> strengths,</c><00:27:51.190><c> but</c>

00:27:51.950 --> 00:27:58.170
we<00:27:52.430><c> also</c><00:27:52.809><c> admittedly</c><00:27:53.509><c> see</c><00:27:53.769><c> weaknesses</c><00:27:54.289><c> in</c><00:27:54.569><c> our</c><00:27:54.809><c> lives.</c><00:27:56.069><c> We</c><00:27:56.329><c> see</c><00:27:56.630><c> progress,</c><00:27:57.390><c> but</c><00:27:57.950><c> we</c>

00:27:58.170 --> 00:27:59.849
also<00:27:58.490><c> see</c><00:27:58.750><c> failures.</c>

00:28:00.170 --> 00:28:04.470
We<00:28:00.569><c> know</c><00:28:00.970><c> that</c><00:28:01.329><c> we</c><00:28:01.529><c> have</c><00:28:01.869><c> not</c><00:28:02.109><c> yet</c><00:28:02.529><c> become</c><00:28:02.970><c> everything</c><00:28:03.730><c> God</c><00:28:04.170><c> is</c>

00:28:04.470 --> 00:28:06.170
calling<00:28:04.710><c> us</c><00:28:05.049><c> to</c><00:28:05.230><c> be.</c>

00:28:06.630 --> 00:28:10.349
Yet<00:28:06.930><c> when</c><00:28:07.190><c> we</c><00:28:07.349><c> look</c><00:28:07.670><c> and</c><00:28:07.910><c> think</c><00:28:08.170><c> about</c><00:28:08.549><c> Jesus,</c><00:28:09.430><c> we</c><00:28:09.569><c> see</c><00:28:09.950><c> that</c>

00:28:10.349 --> 00:28:13.109
perfect<00:28:10.930><c> example</c><00:28:11.609><c> of</c><00:28:11.990><c> everything</c><00:28:12.509><c> that</c><00:28:12.829><c> Peter</c>

00:28:13.109 --> 00:28:18.650
describes.<00:28:15.069><c> We</c><00:28:15.069><c> see</c><00:28:15.250><c> goodness,</c><00:28:16.089><c> knowledge,</c><00:28:17.210><c> self</c><00:28:17.430><c>-control,</c>

00:28:18.710 --> 00:28:22.549
perseverance,<00:28:20.049><c> godliness,</c><00:28:21.470><c> brotherly</c><00:28:21.990><c> affection,</c>

00:28:22.549 --> 00:28:28.470
and<00:28:23.309><c> love</c><00:28:24.109><c> displayed</c><00:28:24.950><c> perfectly</c><00:28:25.789><c> in</c><00:28:26.509><c> his</c><00:28:26.809><c> life.</c><00:28:28.089><c> Because</c><00:28:28.269><c> we</c>

00:28:28.470 --> 00:28:29.750
see<00:28:28.609><c> those</c><00:28:28.869><c> qualities</c><00:28:29.250><c> in</c><00:28:29.490><c> him,</c>

00:28:29.910 --> 00:28:33.289
we<00:28:30.329><c> know</c><00:28:30.930><c> both</c><00:28:31.309><c> the</c><00:28:31.650><c> standard</c><00:28:32.009><c> towards</c><00:28:32.309><c> which</c><00:28:32.549><c> we're</c><00:28:32.769><c> growing</c>

00:28:33.289 --> 00:28:37.089
and<00:28:34.269><c> the</c><00:28:34.609><c> source</c><00:28:34.890><c> of</c><00:28:35.109><c> the</c><00:28:35.369><c> grace</c><00:28:35.990><c> that</c><00:28:36.869><c> some</c>

00:28:37.089 --> 00:28:44.490
of<00:28:37.269><c> these</c><00:28:37.470><c> things</c><00:28:37.750><c> must</c><00:28:38.109><c> continue.</c><00:28:40.890><c> So</c><00:28:41.529><c> I've</c><00:28:42.769><c> titled</c><00:28:43.009><c> the</c><00:28:43.289><c> class</c><00:28:43.630><c> the</c>

00:28:44.490 --> 00:28:47.029
the<00:28:44.569><c> excitation,</c><00:28:45.329><c> When</c><00:28:45.369><c> the</c><00:28:45.630><c> Classes</c><00:28:46.210><c> Stop.</c>

00:28:47.289 --> 00:28:51.950
The<00:28:47.890><c> classes</c><00:28:48.170><c> may</c><00:28:48.450><c> stop</c><00:28:48.750><c> for</c><00:28:49.049><c> a</c><00:28:49.130><c> season,</c><00:28:50.150><c> but</c><00:28:50.269><c> growth</c><00:28:50.569><c> must</c><00:28:50.869><c> continue.</c>

00:28:52.289 --> 00:28:56.890
And<00:28:52.529><c> so</c><00:28:52.650><c> as</c><00:28:52.809><c> we</c><00:28:53.029><c> take</c><00:28:53.210><c> the</c><00:28:53.410><c> bread</c><00:28:53.509><c> and</c><00:28:53.670><c> the</c><00:28:53.890><c> wine</c><00:28:54.150><c> together</c><00:28:54.589><c> this</c><00:28:54.930><c> morning,</c><00:28:55.450><c> brothers</c><00:28:55.569><c> and</c><00:28:55.890><c> sisters,</c>

00:28:57.410 --> 00:29:04.789
may<00:28:57.690><c> we</c><00:28:58.490><c> remember</c><00:28:59.269><c> the</c><00:28:59.710><c> Lord</c><00:28:59.950><c> Jesus</c><00:29:00.450><c> Christ.</c><00:29:02.069><c> May</c><00:29:02.069><c> we</c><00:29:03.130><c> remember</c><00:29:03.849><c> the</c><00:29:04.190><c> one</c>

00:29:04.789 --> 00:29:06.049
whom<00:29:05.069><c> Peter</c><00:29:05.430><c> followed,</c>

00:29:06.049 --> 00:29:13.710
the<00:29:06.809><c> one</c><00:29:07.069><c> whom</c><00:29:07.369><c> Peter</c><00:29:07.670><c> proclaimed,</c><00:29:09.250><c> the</c><00:29:09.470><c> one</c><00:29:10.349><c> who</c><00:29:10.869><c> Peter</c><00:29:11.809><c> urges</c><00:29:12.849><c> us</c>

00:29:13.710 --> 00:29:15.470
to<00:29:14.470><c> follow,</c>

00:29:15.849 --> 00:29:21.650
the<00:29:16.109><c> one</c><00:29:16.670><c> whose</c><00:29:17.150><c> character</c><00:29:17.769><c> we</c><00:29:18.750><c> must</c><00:29:19.430><c> develop</c><00:29:20.130><c> into</c><00:29:20.569><c> our</c><00:29:20.849><c> own.</c>

00:29:22.109 --> 00:29:24.190
And<00:29:22.289><c> may</c><00:29:22.430><c> the</c><00:29:22.710><c> qualities</c><00:29:23.109><c> Peter</c><00:29:23.509><c> describes</c>

00:29:24.190 --> 00:29:30.470
become<00:29:24.789><c> increasingly</c><00:29:25.589><c> ours</c><00:29:26.210><c> as</c><00:29:26.789><c> we</c><00:29:27.089><c> continue</c><00:29:27.430><c> growing</c><00:29:27.890><c> in</c><00:29:28.269><c> faith,</c><00:29:29.269><c> growing</c><00:29:29.569><c> in</c><00:29:29.970><c> character,</c>

00:29:30.470 --> 00:29:38.769
and<00:29:31.410><c> growing</c><00:29:31.730><c> into</c><00:29:32.549><c> the</c><00:29:32.869><c> likeness</c><00:29:33.950><c> of</c><00:29:34.150><c> Jesus</c><00:29:34.589><c> Christ,</c><00:29:36.130><c> the</c><00:29:36.250><c> one</c><00:29:36.950><c> for</c><00:29:37.250><c> whom</c><00:29:37.529><c> we</c><00:29:38.009><c> wait.</c>