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.

March 16, 2025: Love Well

1 Peter series message 6

Text: I Peter 1:22-25

Love one another earnestly from a pure heart, having purified your souls and because you've been born again through the living and abiding word of God. Peter continues to expound upon the gospel, the theology of it to include its presentation in our daily lives. The gospel and regeneration cannot be separated from the Word of God. 

March 9, 2025: The Precious Blood of Christ

1 Peter series message 5

Text: 1 Peter 1:17-21

Peter's told us to set our hope fully on our future grace and to live holy lives as God's children. As we live reverently, anticipating our heavenly home, we remember that we've been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Who we live and suffer for is so much greater than the empty way of life from which we were saved! 

March 2, 2025: Be Sober-Minded

1 Peter series message 4

Text: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Peter begins with the holiness of God; Paul closes his letter to the Romans by applying His holiness. The Holy Spirit is telling us that God's holiness amplifies His grace and provides a compelling call to live by the fear of God and not be conformed to worldly passions during our heavenward pilgrimage.  

February 23, 2025: A Pearl of Great Value

1 Peter series message 3

Text: 1 Peter 1:10-12

Previously, we preached through the breathtaking truths and implications of the gospel. In this message, Peter pulls the veil back to show that the Holy Spirit was working through Old Testament writers to point us to the blood-stained cross and the glorious gospel. Truely, we have been gifted and entrusted with the most valuable possession anyone could ever possess!

February 16, 2025: Unspeakable Joy!

1 Peter series message 2

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Peter begins by unpacking the stupendous salvation we have in Jesus Christ. By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Our suffering of various kinds prepares us for glory, and therefore we are filled with joy though we have not seen Him with our eyes. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, as we are “receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

February 9, 2025: A Living Hope!

1 Peter series message 1

Text: I Peter 1:1-5

The relatable disciple is now filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaiming the gospel despite intense persecution. The apostle's opening remarks are breathtaking and saturated with gospel truth to encourage and edify us, and also to prepare us to suffer for our testimony.

February 2, 2025: For He Refreshed Me

Text: 2 Timothy 1:16-18

In the previous message we saw God's gracious promise to never leave nor forsake us, and the many implications that has in our lives. A logical extrapolation of that truth is the human agency He often uses to accomplish His purposes in us. The Apostle Paul was often refreshed and ministered to by individuals we know very little about, how do we fit into the spiritual tapestry of those around us? 

January 26, 2025: You Are With Me

Text: Psalm 23:4

The Apostle Peter tells us that God's divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted us His great and precious promises. One of His precious promises is that He is always with us. He will never leave nor forsake us. This brings such comfort and courage in adversity and boldness in preaching the gospel. 

January 19, 2025: Not Ashamed

Text: Romans 1:14-17

The gospel proclaims that Christ Jesus died for sinners to reconcile us to God, that He is the only mediator between God and man, and that Jesus Christ is Lord. Let us not grow weary nor ashamed to be His ambassadors, boldly speaking the truth with zeal and reverence.

January 5, 2025: Preach the Word!

Text: 2 Timothy 4:2

Why should believers proclaim the Gospel? Because it is a direct command from Jesus to share the good news of salvation with all people, fulfilling their role as witnesses and bringing hope to others by sharing the power of Christ's sacrifice, which is considered the only way to achieve eternal life; essentially, it is an act of love and obedience to God to spread the message that can transform lives.

December 29, 2024: Worthy is the Lamb: The Realm of His Reign

Advent 2024 sermon series message 5

Text: Philippians 2:9-11

Let earth receive her King is the beautiful refrain we sing during Advent. Philippians 2 moves us from the humbleness of Jesus' advent, and His suffering and crucifixion, right through to His ascension and coronation. What better way to move on from the Advent Season than to declare the Lordship of Jesus and align ourselves fully to that reality as we enter 2025?