(2 Peter 1:1-15)- "Things worth going after" (7 Steps toward Godly living)*Congregation repeats 
Intro: Success is a powerful word in todays world.  Who among us tonight would like to be known as a failure at anything...especially in the Christian life?  The bible is filled with men and women who failed in their Christian experience.
1. Demas – Philemon 1:24                  2. Hymenaeus and Alexander – 1 Tim. 1:19-20
Even today, we see it all around us. Some preacher will fall, or a good church member will get out of God’s will. It happens all the time to the point that it is considered a NORMAL occurence!Peter here gives us the secret to Godly living. We are going to see some steps that if taken, will ensure our success as Christians. As we go through these verses, let’s notice these 7 Steps Toward Godly Living.
(Here is a list of what "these things", whatever they are, will produce in your life.)
(1)- v. 8 "These Things" Guarantee Your Fruitfulness – If "these things" are found in your life, then you will never be barren, but you will always be a fruitful branch for God’s glory. This implies that you will be a witness and a soul winner for Jesus. Whatever "these things" are, they must be pretty great because they promise us that we will always bear fruit. This, after all, is the goal of our Heavenly Father – John 15:1-2. It is also proof of our faith in Him – Luke 6:43-44.
("These things" will prevent the Christian from being shelved by the Lord, but will keep us productive and fruitful, 1 Cor. 9:27)
(2)- v. 9a These Things Guarantee Spiritual Discernment – Many people have absolutely no spiritual discernment. They are blind and easily lead astray, Eph. 4:14. But, when "these things" are active in our lives, we will be able to see the tricks, traps and temptations of the Devil. We will be able to see the needs of others and not be blinded by our own selfish interests. We won’t ever be blind and in spiritual darkness ever again. I don’t know about you, but whatever "these things" are, I want to know about them!
(3)- v. 9b These Things Guarantee You Absolute Assurance Of Salvation - Who among us hasn’t doubted his/her salvation? We have all doubted from time to time!  I want to stay secure in the knowledge that I am saved.
(4)- v. 10 These Things Guarantee That You Will Never Fall Again – This verse says plainly that "these things", if practiced in our lives, will consistently keep us from falling. Every single one of us has fallen from time to time. But, "these things" promise us "a fall free life"!
If "these things" can guarantee: That I will always be fruitful, have spiritual discernment, That I will never doubt my salvation, and that I will never fall as a Christian....then I want these things in my life!  You would think things THIS POWERFUL would be big things, or hard things, or expensive things, or probably things that are just out of the reach of the ordinary Christian. I suppose they are things reserved for the "super saints" like Paul and Peter. 
***HERE THEY ARE!!!
A. v. 5 Virtue – ("Moral uprightness"; "Holiness") This word literally means "Excellent living." I don’t know about you, but I was looking for something really big. In one word, God is telling you and me that if we will live by the Bible and live morally pure lives, then He will guarantee those 4 invaluable gifts we talked about earlier.
B. v. 5 Knowledge – (Literally "an understanding of the truth and how to live it out.") Well, what a let down! This word is telling us that we can have all those things we discovered by having a sound knowledge of the doctrines of Christianity and by applying them to our lives and living them out.
C. v. 6 Temperance –This word means "self-control." It implies that I do not do as I please, I control myself and do as the Lord pleases!  This is one of the fruits of the Spirit- Gal. 5:23.
1. Our Tongues – (Gossip and telling another person off) Some people are doubting their salvation, being unfruitful, falling into sin, and have no spiritual discernment because they cannot control their tongues! 
2. Our Tempers – (Flying off the handle, getting mad and getting even.)  Never think that holding a grudge, or trying to get even will help you. When you do these things, you have assumed the place of God.
3. Our Temptations – Everyone is tempted – 1 Cor. 10:13. However, not everyone falls into sin! The difference is self-control! 
D. v. 6 Patience – (Endurance) The patient person is the one not swerved from his devotion to God even by the greatest of trials. Too many people allow the slightest little wind to blow them off course. 
E. v. 6 Godliness – This word literally means, "Walking in view of His greatness." It has reference to the person who has every action and attitude yielded to the fear of the Lord. This person spends his life in a state of "God-like-ness." He spends his days serving God and serving men. 
F. v. 7 Brotherly Kindness – (filadelfia – Literally, just plain old brotherly love.) 
If Christians would practice the second Great Commandment, Matt. 22:39, then they would experience those four great blessings that we all want so badly.
1 John 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 
G. v. 7 Charity – (agaph – Love!) He is referring to that self-sacrificing, never-ending, all-encompassing love that Jesus exhibited when He came to the earth to die for sin. It is that very same love that God desires to see lived out in our lives today. It is also for the lack of this love that many do not have the peace and assurance they desire – 1 Cor. 13:1-3.  The single motivation of life should be to manifest the love of Christ to everyone.  The lost person just cannot fake "these things!" So, if they are present in your life then rejoice!)
H. v. 5 Notice the word "Add." This little word means "to supply generously." It does not teach here that we are to first get faith, perfect that then add virtue, then add knowledge, etc. What it means is, that "these things" are to be practiced as a whole and every one of them is to be active all the time. So, don’t pat yourself on the back if you have 3 or 4 out of the seven!    God wants us to have them all operating in our lives all the time.