August 3, 2025: The Mighty Hand of God

1 Peter series message 25

Text: I Peter 5:6

This month we'll squeeze 1 Peter dry and develop some key concepts by cross referencing them throughout Scripture. Peter offers one of the few NT references to the "Hand of God" (also, the "Hand of the Lord"), a designation employed extensively throughout the Old Testament in a redemption context. It yields rich assurance and confidence in God's work in and through His people. 

July 27, 2025: 1 Peter - Ten Key Concepts

1 Peter series message 24

Text: 1 Peter

As we wrap up and recap our consideration of Peter's first letter, there are ten key words that form the foundation of his message. Highlighting these, and seeing how they interface with each other, is helpful in grasping the depth of Peter's teaching. Exile, resurrection, trial, love, shepherd, glory, holy, grace, joy and Word of God. 

July 20, 2025: The God of All Grace

1 Peter series message 23

Text: I Peter 5:10-13

It is fitting that Peter closes on the note of grace: the true grace of God and the God of all grace! In this message we will focus on the outworking of this grace in our lives - comfort and perspective for every believer! 

June 29, 2025 : Elders: A Ministry of Oversight

1 Peter series message 21

Text: 1 Peter 5:1-5

This week, Peter addresses elders and gives profound wisdom for everyone in the church. This message will be helpful for those wanting to learn more about the biblical teaching for the role and qualifications for elders in the local church. 

June 22, 2025: The Big Picture

1 Peter series message 20

Text: I Peter 4:17-19

As Peter exhorts the church to not be surprised when they face trials and suffer because of their faith, he points them to the bigger picture. God is doing a work in His people through these trials, as painful as they may be. It is a message of hope for those in Christ, but it is a warning of judgement for those who are not. 

June 15, 2025: Expect it

1 Peter series message 19

Text: 1 Peter 4:12-16

When suffering because you are a Christian, realize it is normal, rejoice in the promise of future glory, know there is present spiritual blessing, trust yourself to God, and continue doing good!

June 8, 2025: In Light of the End

1 Peter series message 18

Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11

In light of the end coming, we are to love people fiercely and serve one another faithfully. This all flows from the mindset Peter taught us in our previous passage. In this way, God is glorified in all things! 

June 1, 2025: Mindset!

1 Peter series message 17

Text: I Peter 4:1-6

Peter focuses on the Christian mindset. We must have the mindset of not only ceasing our previous way of living in accordance with the flesh, but determining to follow our Lord in the path of suffering if He so wills. We can expect nonbelievers to ridicule our choices. A sobering truth to that end is that God is ready to judge the living and the dead!

May 25, 2025: Jesus is Lord!

1 Peter series message 16

Text: I Peter 3:18-22

The earliest Christian confession was Jesus is Lord. They joyfully suffered for the Name, knowing they had been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus. Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled. Jesus made proclamation to spirits now in prison and was crowned Lord of All.

May 18, 2025: Righteous Suffering

1 Peter series message 15

Text: I Peter 3:8-17

There is a difference between suffering the due consequences of our own folly and suffering for following Christ in a sinful world. We want to eliminate the former and, by God's grace, engage the latter when it is necessary. It all begins with setting Christ apart as Lord in our hearts, being ready to give an answer for those who oppose us, so we do not fear those who cause us trouble for the sake of our gospel witness. 

May 11, 2025: Husbands and Wives

1 Peter series message 14

Text: I Peter 3:1-7

Peter now addresses wives and husbands, giving instructions to each as they relate to one another in the Lord. A significant underlying principle is that wives are joint heirs along with their husbands in the grace of life, as all believers are joint heirs with Christ.

May 4, 2025: Our Example

1 Peter series message 13

Text: I Peter 2:22-25

Peter has much to say about suffering; it is a dominant theme through the next two chapters. As Mike pointed out last week, the world does not exactly give us a standing ovation when we follow Jesus contrary to culture's norms. We should be prepared to suffer for our Christian convictions. Following Jesus makes this inevitable. Jesus' sufferings were not only an example for us, they are intrinsic to the gospel itself - the very gospel that Peter has been elucidating!

April 27, 2025: Living with Honor

1 Peter series message 12

Text: I Peter 2:13-21

Peter just reminded his fellow saints that we’re all just passing through this world, like sojourners and exiles. So, we should live our lives so that those who criticize us will see the good we do and, ultimately, praise God. He says to live with honor, but what does that really mean? How can we do that if we live under an authority that’s unjust and even cruel? It’s easy to feel that our actions can’t make a difference. Peter reminds us that nothing could be further from the truth. Inn this message, we’ll explore what a life lived with honor looks like in a culture that wants nothing to do with Jesus.

April 20, 2025: Alive!

1 Peter series message 11

Text: I Peter (misc.)

"A living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" is the cornerstone of Peter's gospel theology. He goes on to use the word living three more times to paint a vivid picture of the Christine hope we cherish: living Word, living stones, and the Living Stone (who is ready to judge the living and the dead). No surprise here, this message is all about the resurrection. 

April 13, 2025: The War Against Your Soul

1 Peter series message 10

Text: I Peter 2:11-12

Peter now expounds upon his OT quotations with very specific instructions - a reminder to mind our thoughts, attitudes, and conduct - as we are to Jesus' witnesses wherever we go. Peter resumes the exile motif to drive his point home.

April 6, 2025: A Holy Nation

1 Peter series message 9

Text: I Peter 2:9-10

Peter reaches to the Old Testament to form his descriptors of God's people, the church. Our purpose this side of Glory is to proclaim the Lord's excellencies as we have received mercy and been called out of darkness to His marvelous light. 

March 30, 2025: A Seismic Shift

1 Peter series message 8

Text: I Peter 2:4-5

Occasionally we encounter shocking statements in the New Testament that are truly seismic shifts from past experiences. Examining these unexpected statements yields rich insight into the staggering beauty and power of our redemption. Peter's use of the term holy priesthood is one such instance. In this message, we'll compare and contrast the priesthood in the Old and New Covenants, with special emphasis on our High Priest, Jesus Christ. We'll set this discussion in the context of a gospel descriptor Peter's already used four times - living

March 23, 2025: Living Stones

1 Peter series message 7

Text: I Peter 2:1-8

In this message we engage a powerful passage that teaches us to grow up into our salvation: leave things behind, mature, keep moving forward. Peter employs intriguing imagery - stones - to help us grasp extraordinary truths of our common salvation.