Building Blocks  
“Look like Jesus”
2 Peter 1:7-8

2 Peter 1:3-11

Three big ideas for understanding this passage
1.	God has given us everything we need to live a life that pleases Him.
2.	What He’s given us will keep corruption from leaking into our lives.
3.	If we pursue what God has made available, we’ll never fail.

Spiritual Growth is up to us

At least eight times in the New Testament, the writers use athletics to picture our life of faith.
•	1 Timothy 4:7-8 
•	1 Corinthians 9:24-25 
•	Philippians 3:14

If you thought the POSTURE of the Christian life was to sit back and wait until Jesus returns, you’ve got it wrong.

Brotherly Affection

Brotherly affection describes every relationship we have in the body of Christ.

•	1 Peter 1:22 
•	1 John 4:20 

Why is brotherly affection so important?

•	John 13:35 

Two reasons why it is so important:

1.	Brotherly affection shows how real your new life in Jesus really is! 
2.	Brotherly affection makes the rest of us stronger and more confident. 

Brotherly affection draws people to Jesus and the gospel. 

Do you struggle to show affection toward some fellow believers?  
1.	Remind yourself that other believers are also children of your Father in heaven.
2.	Look for evidence of grace in their lives. 
3.	Remember that you were once alienated from God (Ephesians 2:12). 

Love

Love is the acid test of our Christian spirituality. 

“Let all that you do be done in love.” -1 Corinthians 16:14
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” - 1 John 4:8 

How is love demonstrated? Romans 5

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8

Have you personally received that love? Have you experienced that love in your own life? If not, you can begin to receive the love of God with a simple prayer.  

“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to know and understand your great love for me. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."

How do we define love? 1 Corinthians 13

How do we practice love? Matthew 5,6 and 7

Just like we can grow in brotherly affection, we can grow in love…

I grow in love, as I absorb more of God’s love.

How to grow in love

Take Psalm 23, or Psalm 91, or Psalm 131, any of the three. Each of these Psalms are love letters to us from God.
Read it over and over. Let it steep in your brain like a tea bag. Reflect on it. Feel it. Talk to God about it. Memorize it and encourage your heart with it. Let it get deep down into your soul. 

Four radical ideas about love:
1.	God is love and He cannot be truly known apart from love. To know God, you must experience His love.
2.	God wants our love and friendship, not just our right behavior. 
3.	God can’t help loving you. It’s His nature. And He loves you deeply and extravagantly—just as you are. 
4.	God loves sinners, redeems failures, delights in second chances and never tires of pursuing lost sheep.

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:8

Eight Building Blocks:
1.	Faith
2.	Virtue
3.	Knowledge
4.	Self-control
5.	Steadfastness
6.	Godliness
7.	Brotherly affection 
8.	Love

Here’s the good news: God’s not in a hurry. This passage is an invitation. God is inviting you and me to a life-long journey, an apprenticeship, to be shaped by these virtues.