...giving all diligence add to your faith, virtue..knowledge..self-control..perseverance..godliness..brotherly kindness..love

Godliness - knowing and doing all that God requires to the extent that it becomes our identity (biker);

purchased by having our lives characterized by seeking and obeying the Truth, without regard to the temporal consequences

I. Godliness is Good Worship

A. Good Worship is a Response to Revelation. We must have both the right knowledge about what God has revealed as well as the right response that God has specified. (Compare to Wisdom: right objectives, and right means of obtaining them). Our worship is worthless when based on incorrect revelation, or wrong emphasis (correct one can only come from systematic, synthetic study of the Scripture).

Mt 15: 8...But their heart is far from Me. 9  And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

B. Godliness is sourced in faith (belief that God is who He said He is and will do what He said He’ll do {reward those who diligently seek Him} Heb 11:6), channeled by virtue, knowledge, self-control, and perseverance, finding it’s fullest expression in love.

C. We have all we need to know and obey 2Pe 1:3  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to (dia) glory and virtue, 8 not unfruitful 9  For he who lacks these things is shortsighted,

II. Godliness is prompted by Knowledge, and perfected by Obedience

  e.g., Ac 10:2,  22:12; 1Tim 2:2; 2Pt 3:11

A. Actively seek God’s Will Titus 1:1...apostle...for the faith...and the experiential knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness...hope

B. Obey God’s Will (which is knowable-Jn 7:17 and  doable-Heb 10:36)  Passionately!

*1. Workout for godliness 1Tim 4:7reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise/TRAIN yourself toward godliness. 8  For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

2. Flee temptation and Pursue Virtue with other disciples 1Ti 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 11  But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

2Tim 2:22 But flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

3. Resist Temptation  2Pe 2:9 Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations reserve the unjust under punishment for day of judgment

4. Withdraw from the proud and ignorant ungodly 1Tim 6:3  If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4  he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5  useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that (financial) gain is godliness (KJV). From such withdraw yourself.

5. Shun the hypocrites 2Tim 3:5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (1Cor 15:33)

III. Body Building occurs when we Love others with the Truth we’ve Exprienced

Eph 4:12...equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 15...speaking the truth in love, may grow...16...according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

A. Rate the usefulness to your growth of each of the following topics (4=essential; 3=very useful; 2=helpful; 1=optional;  circle top five)

Preface: A Week to Know God (7 Questions; Bridge); Week to Develop/Purify your Purpose in Life (TOYL Purpose and Objectives)

1. Building Blocks of the Christian Life: Overview of Discipleship Passages; Eternal Salvation; Word & QT; Prayer with Results

2. Keys to Spiritual Growth: Lordship; Sanctification (Ain’t gonna Reign No More); One Another (Fellowship/Accounability); Friendship Evangelism

3. Knowing God: God Revealed; Worship- Response to Revelation; Glorifying God; God meets Emotional Needs; Blessing & Grace

4. Knowing Yourself- Personal Growth: Worth and Value; Sanctification; Deadly Desires;  Personality Tendencies and Correctives

5. Knowing Others:  Agape Other-Centered Love; Biblical Friendships; Biblical Ministry & Service; Edifying Speech

6. Family Life: Lord of the Ringless; Marriage - Dream or Nightmare; Godly Husbands; Godly Wives

7. Parenting: Proverbial Parent; Discipline and Self-Disciple; What to Stress for Success/Self-Esteem; Re-Parenting Yourself

8. Faithfulness: Time; Money; Strength (Will of God); Truth/Experience

9. Work: Work as Worship according to Design; Getting; Giving; Character under construction

10. Church: Purpose & Unity; Loving One another; Leadership; Ordinances- Discipline, Baptism, Lord’s Supper

11. Spiritual Warfare:  Prayer & Weapons; Consistent Victory; End Times; Rewards and Motivation

12. Ministry: Disciplemaking; Great Commission/Missions; Christmas; Evaluation & Goals

B. As you Reflect on the things that have helped you progress in your relationship with God (or encounter them as you grow this year) please consider contributing to Truthbase.net (under the appropriate or additional topic) a: Quote, Journal excerpt, Stanza, or Testimony of trusting God and applying the Truth, that would help others become the kind of reproductive disciple who glorifies God.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What does an outward form of godliness look like? (2Tim 3:5) How does a hypocrite deny the power? How does it relate to knowledge (3:7)?

2. How can someone have a knowledge of what is pleasing to God but a lack of obedience to that knowledge? What’s lacking? Why?

3. How does godliness differ from virtue or obedience? Do we put the same diligence into obtaining godliness as we do exercise?

4. How does godliness manifest itself in our daily lives? In relationships? In hopes and dreams? At work? In the morning? At night?

5. Why is it hard for us to withdraw from the proud and ignorant ungodly?  Why do we have trouble acting “impolite”?