“Double Down on Grace”

A sermon by Pastor Dave McMurry. More about Grace Bible Church: https://begrace.org

Summary

In the final installment of the “Foundations for the Future” series on 2 Peter, Pastor Dave addresses how believers should respond to the reality of coming judgment. Focusing on 2 Peter 3:11-18, he introduces the central theme: “Double Down on Grace.” Throughout the sermon, he emphasizes that when facing the dissolution of all earthly things, our response should be to invest more deeply in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave identifies three “surprising graces” that form the structure of his message. First, believers should be patient for the grace of new creation. Drawing parallels between Noah’s flood and the coming judgment by fire, he explains that God isn’t destroying material reality but purging sin to create “new heavens and a new Earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). While waiting for Christ’s return, Christians should serve others, invest their talents, and practice celebrating His presence through worship.

Second, Christians should be diligent in the grace of purity. Pastor Dave acknowledges the tension between legalism and licentiousness, emphasizing that purity isn’t about earning salvation but responding to God’s grace. He specifically addresses sexual purity as a significant challenge in contemporary culture, encouraging believers to trust that God’s strict standards are worth following because of Christ’s love. He recommends confession, accountability, and spiritual disciplines like fasting to help maintain purity.

Third, believers should be stabilized by the grace of Scripture. Pastor Dave highlights Peter’s affirmation of Paul’s writings as Scripture in verses 15-16, noting that while some passages may be difficult to understand, we shouldn’t let this distract us from the central message of God’s grace. He encourages various approaches to engaging with Scripture—reading, memorizing, meditating—based on individual learning styles.

The sermon concludes with Pastor Dave sharing a personal story about how his house caught fire just before interviewing for a church plant position. Rather than being a setback, the fire removed his hesitation about selling his home and confirmed God’s direction. He uses this as an illustration that even in judgment or tragedy, God’s grace remains our foundation, encouraging listeners to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity” (2 Peter 3:18).