🧠 Add to Your Faith… Knowledge

(A teaching from the series, “Confirm Your Calling”)

A Teaching from Pastor Mike Ward - Senior Pastor of New Birth Church of Louisville

📖 Key Scripture

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.”
— 2 Peter 1:5 (NIV)

🔍 What is “Knowledge” in this Passage?

  • Greek word: Gnosis (γνῶσις)

  • “the content of what is known”

    (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 335). United Bible Societies.)

  • Meaning: Practical, moral, and spiritual wisdom that is lived out.

  • This is not just head knowledge—it's truth in action that leads to transformation.

💪 Why Does Knowledge Strengthen Faith?

  • Helps you understand why you believe what you believe

  • Protects you from deception and false teaching (Eph 4:14)

  • Builds spiritual discernment for daily decisions (Phil 1:9-10)

  • Equips you for spiritual warfare (Eph 6:17)

  • Deepens your relationship with God (

“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” – Hosea 4:6

🛠️ How to Gain Godly Knowledge

  1. 📖 Read & Study Scripture Daily
    (Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:16)

  2. 🙏 Ask the Holy Spirit to Teach You
    (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10–12)

  3. 🗣️ Learn from Others
    (Pastors, teachers, mentors – Proverbs 15:22)

  4. 🔁 Apply the Word in Real-Time
    (James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen… do what it says”)

✨ Biblical Examples of Knowledge in Action

Daniel gained knowledge & wisdom from God and was elevated to power in Babylon (Dan 1:20).

Solomon asked for understanding and became the wisest king (1 Kings 3:9–12).

Jesus grew in knowledge at a young age and astonished teachers (Luke 2:47)

🔦 Modern-Day Applications

  • ✅ A Christian Business Owner uses biblical ethics to gain trust and success.

  • ✅ A Young Student resists peer pressure using Scripture-based wisdom.

  • ✅ A Married Couple applies biblical principles to heal their communication.

🌱 Results of Adding Knowledge

✅ You grow in confidence
✅ You walk in wisdom
✅ You become fruitful and effective (2 Peter 1:8)
✅ Your faith becomes unshakable

📌 Reflection Questions

  1. What area of your life needs godly knowledge right now?

  2. What one verse can you study and apply this week?

  3. Who in your life can help you grow in knowledge?

📖 Memory Verse

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
— Proverbs 1:7

Pastor Mike’s Challenge To You:

This week, choose one area of your life where you need wisdom.
Find a verse that speaks to that area. Study it. Pray over it. Live it out.