Introduction
Begin your sermon by commenting on the various books and radio programmes that talk about ways in which Christians can strengthen their faith. Normally they have a number of steps that need to be followed. This phenomenon shows that Christians know that they struggle in faith and they want help.
Mention that Peter provides us with seven virtues that we must pursue to strengthen our faith.
Remind God’s people that the virtues listed by Peter come after he has spoken about God’s grace. We have a gracious motive for pursuing virtue.
The virtue that God expects from his people
Explain why Peter encourages believers to make every effort.
Explain the meaning of the virtues listed by Peter.
Apply: consider what it will look like in practice in the church where you serve. Also consider the circumstances of Christians in your area if they were to make every effort to pursue these virtues.
The end result of Christian virtue
Explain how growth in Christian virtue is a never-ending process.
Explain what it means to make your calling and election sure.
Explain election and the pursuit of godliness: it can give great confidence to a true believer.
Warn those who treat the Christian faith as hell insurance and make no effort to pursue godliness. Remind them that there is forgiveness where there is repentance and faith (1 John 1:5–9) but that the evidence of the Spirit’s work in us is a change in desire and the appropriate response to God’s warnings.
Explain once again why the Christian pursues virtue, and the promise that God makes to all those who belong to him.
Conclusion
We have been made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ and Christ is working in us by his Spirit to sanctify us. Justification and sanctification is a work of God. Sanctification, however, is a process. In this process the Spirit calls us to make every effort to pursue what is virtuous and walk in the good works that God has prepared for us. God’s Word tells us what we need in order to nourish and strengthen our faith, and we are called to respond. As we commit ourselves to feeding our faith by pursuing these virtues, we can also rejoice and give glory to Christ, that he is working in us at the same time by his Spirit. Let us therefore make a renewed effort to seek what is good, that we may know we belong to God and have great confidence that we will be richly welcomed by Christ into his eternal kingdom.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,