Stirred Up!

TEXT:  2 Pet. 1:13-15;  3:1-2

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PETER WANTED TO STIR UP THE CHURCH BY HIS WRITINGS.

B.      THE CHURCH NEEDS STIRRING, ACTIVITY.

          1.       There are some who would too gladly stir things up( Titus 3:10 ).

          2.       The enemies are stirred( Acts 6:12;  13:50;  14:2;  17:13;  21:27, etc. ).

          3.       The church needs to be stirred for his cause.

I.      STIRRED TO COMPASSION AND MERCY.

A.      WE NEED TO REMEMBER GOD MERCY FOR US( Eph. 5:1-2 ).

B.      SORROW FOR SORROW IN HARD TIMES( 1 Pet. 3:8-9;  Rom. 12:15 ).

C.      PEACE AND FORGIVENESS( Eph. 4:31-32;  Matt. 6:12-15 ).

D.      BASED ON LOVE( 1 John 4:20 ).

E.      THE WARM FUZZY FEELING IS NOT ENOUGH( 1 John 3:18 ).

II.     STIRRED TO CONFESS OUR SINS.

A.      NATURAL TO TRY TO HIDE SIN.  Adam( Gen. 3 ).  David( 2 Sam. 11 ).

B.      WHEN WAS DAVID JUSTIFIED?( 2 Sam. 12:13 ).

C.      WHAT DOES JESUS COMMEND( Luke 18:13-14 ).

D.      WE ALL HAVE SINNED( Rom. 3:23 ).

          1.       Confess to God( 1 John 1:8-9 ).

          2.       Confess to one another( James 5:16 ).

III.    STIRRED TO OPPOSE SIN.

A.      THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH SIN.

          1.       Like the days of the early church( Rom. 1:18-32;  Matt. 9:36 ).

          2.       We must speak out when we can( Isa. 58:1 ).

          3.       We must keep ourselves clean( 2 Cor. 7:1;  Eph. 5:11 ).

B.      OUR EXAMPLE IS OUR BEST WEAPON( Matt. 5:13-16;  Phil. 2:14-16 ).

III.    STIRRED TO SAVE THE LOST.

A.      THE MISSION OF JESUS( Luke 19:10;  1 Tim. 1:15 ).

B.      PAUL'S FORGIVENESS PLACED A BURDEN( Rom. 1:14;  2 Cor. 5:14-15 ).

C.      COMPASSION AND MERCY( Matt. 9:36-38;  Jude 22-23 ).

D.      WE HAVE A DUTY( Matt. 28:19-20;  2 Tim. 2:2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      PREACHING'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PRESENT THE TRUTH.

B.      BUT IT SHOULD STIR THOSE WHO HEAR TO ACTION.