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Jesus tells of His coming death more than once. The transfiguration. Peter's misunderstandings. A demoniac healed and the people's (disciples'?) lack of faith rebuked.

What would it take to become a truly great thinker—not by the world's standards, but by God's? In 2 Peter 3, the apostle writes with deep affection to stir something in you—a way of thinking that will protect you from being deceived and draw you into deeper and deeper closeness with God. This sermon on 2 Peter 3:1–3 explores what it means to develop a mind governed by Scripture rather than by the desires of the flesh. Peter calls believers to "pure thinking"—not merely thinking about pure subjects, but learning to think, reason, evaluate, and make decisions according to God's truth. The world often measures thinking by IQ, education, creativity, logic, knowledge, or the ability to solve complex problems. But God's definition of great thinking is different. According to Peter, the greatest thinkers are those whose minds are directed by the Word of God. Your thoughts are constantly moving from one idea to another. The crucial question is: **What is steering the progression of your thoughts?** Are your thoughts being directed by Scripture and the will of God, or are they being driven by your desires? In this message, we examine the difference between flesh-driven thinking and Scripture-driven thinking, and we consider how our desires can influence the conclusions we are willing to accept. Peter warns that false teachers and scoffers follow their own evil desires, eventually using their desires to reject the truth of Christ's return, final judgment, and the authority of God's Word. ## In This Sermon - What Peter means by "pure thinking" in 2 Peter 3:1. - The meaning and importance of the Greek word *dianoia*, referring to the mind, understanding, or way of thinking.

Verse by verse exposition through the book of Hebrews. (Sermon also includes the reading and exhortation from the Lord's Table liturgy) Heb 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Deut 29:18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19 and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart'—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.

Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 10 27. Q. What do you understand by the providence of God? A. God's providence is his almighty and ever present power, 1 whereby, as with his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, 2 and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, 3 indeed, all things, come to us not by chance 4 but by his fatherly hand. 5 1. Jer 23:23, 24; Acts 17:24-28. 2. Heb 1:3. 3. Jer 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; Jn 9:3; Prov 22:2. 4. Prov 16:33. 5. Mt 10:29. 28. Q. What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by his providence? A. We can be patient in adversity, 1 thankful in prosperity, 2 and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from his love; 3 for all creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they cannot so much as move. 4 1. Job 1:21, 22; Ps 39:10; Jas 1:3. 2. Deut 8:10; 1 Thess 5:18. 3. Ps 55:22; Rom 5:3-5; 8:38, 39. 4. Job 1:12; 2:6; Prov 21:1; Acts 17:24-28.

What goes in and what comes out of, the mouth. A woman called a dog? 4,000 plus, fed. The leaven of the Pharisees. Peter's great confession.

Meaning of the parable of the tares. The Hidden Treasure. A costly Pearl. A Dragnet. John the Baptist beheaded. Over 5,000 fed miraculously. Jesus walks on water, and so does Peter... for a while.

Parables. The four soils. The Tares. The Mustard Seed. The leaven. And, why parables to begin with?

Sabbath problem. What power was casting out demons? The unpardonable sin. Seeking for a sign. Who was Jesus' mother?