1. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Cor. 16:13 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” NKJV “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” ESV

2. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph. 6:11 Two Weaknesses

3. Lack of Knowledge “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:” Hosea 4:6 Only do as good as we know to do. Heb. 5:12 NKJV “For though by this time you ought to be teachers…”

4. Results of a Lack of Knowledge Easily led into error Eph. 4:14 “tossed to and fro” 1 John 4:1 “believe not every spirit” Will compromise the truth Worldly living

5. Lack of Love Without love Christianity is dead 1 Cor. 13:1-3 1 John 4:21 “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

6. Fruits – fussing, splits, gossiping Gal. 5:15 “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Jealousy and envy can damage

7. 2 Tim. 4:1-2 1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

8. 2 Tim. 4:1-5 - Preach the word Bible can destroy ignorance Acts 20:26-27 - whole counsel Be bold, brave – Plain 2 Cor. 3:12 – plainness of speech Eph. 4:15 - speak truth in love 2 Pet. 3:18 – grow in knowledge

9. Destroy Hate with Love Necessity of love - 1 Cor. 13 1 John 4:10-11 - love one another “Let brotherly love continue” Heb.13:1 Col. 3:13-15 Gal. 5:22-23 – Fruit of the spirit

10. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love Love for God Love for God’s Word Love for God’s People Love for God’s Lost

11. God expects Christians to Grow “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Cor.16:13 NKJV

12. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” III John 2.

13. Study - “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15 Love - “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35

14. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” Phil. 1:9

15. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening Sept. 19, 2010