November 23, 2019
THE DISTINGUISHING MARK OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS LOVE The apostle Peter taught that the foundation of being a Christ-follower is obedience to the truth, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For the one who has believed that Jesus died for their sins, was buried, and raised on the third day, has been cleansed of
November 22, 2019
HOW TO BE TRULY GLAD Dear brother and sister in Christ, have you learned the art of being truly glad? The apostle Peter knew this gladness. In this one verse, he shared his secret. First, focus on the “wonderful joy ahead.” For we have a priceless inheritance being kept for us in heaven, and not
November 22, 2018
A BENEDICTION FOR THANKSGIVING DAY
On this Thanksgiving Day 2018, may this benediction be yours. For God has already given so much and more to us. He loved us so much that He gave us His Son, Jesus. This is grace, which is God’s unmerited favor, freely given to those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Peace is the result of this grace received, peace with God and with one another. For Christ is our reconciliation with God and following Him, we have received the ministry of reconciliation, declaring to everyone that God is no longer counting our sins against those who trust Christ.
Yet, the benediction goes further, asking God to give “more and more,” so that our cups runneth over with grace and peace!
Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving Day!
November 20, 2016 | 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 |
In Peter’s first letter to believers in Asia Minor, he tells them that they can live in holiness as exiles in their world as God’s chosen people. In this message, we learn some practical advice Peter gives us to live as a people set apart, or holy.
November 13, 2016 | 1 Peter 1:1-12 |
How should we live as Christians when the dominant cultural and political forces are at odds with our faith? The apostle Peter’s first letter says that we should live as exiles. In fact, he refers to the first century Christians as exiles three times in his letter. So, over the next three weeks we’re going to look at those three instances. In Peter’s first letter, he told believers who were living as exiles in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) that they could live with great hope in Jesus Christ. We too are living as exiles in a hopeless world and can experience a life of hope through Jesus Christ.
April 10, 2016 | 1 Peter 1:3,6-9 |
In the apostle Peter’s first letter, he tells believers in Asia Minor that they can have wonderful joy in every situation because of the resurrection of Jesus. We too can have this wonderful joy because God raised Jesus from the dead. Our text today gives us three ways to have wonderful joy through the resurrection of Jesus.
March 27, 2016 | 1 Peter 1:3-5 |
Easter really means hope…the desire itself, someone to anchor it, and something to hope for. Easter Weekend, 2016.
November 22, 2015
What are these “things” which angels seek to understand? Aren’t they the same “things” that the Old Testament prophets sought to know? The apostle Peter said that these “things” are the very facts of the gospel of Christ which were seen and heard by the apostles and preached to us who believe. The Spirit revealed the day of Christ to the prophets, yet even though they longed to see it for themselves, they came to understand that they were given a message about a future hope. Jesus described how these prophets must have felt when He spoke of how Abraham “rejoiced” to see the day of Christ’s coming (John 8:56). We now live on the other side of the “things” which the prophets and angels desired to see. The day of Christ’s salvation has already come. And we are the recipients of these “things.” Yet the angels, even though they witnessed the day of Christ, still “desire to look into” it. For they stand outside the work of redemption, in that it was not for them, but for humanity. They stare in wonder at this salvation which is so full of glory and beautiful mystery that the Son of God would endure such “things” to save us.
April 20, 2014 | 1 Peter 1:3-5 |
Pastor Gary Combs speaks on how we can know the living hope the apostle Peter spoke of in his first epistle. This living hope has three aspects. It is based on the resurrection of Christ. It finds its present nature is encouraged by the reservation that Christ has made for us in heaven and its object is Christ’s return. This is the living hope we are reminded of at Easter.
November 22, 2013
What we invest in our 401Ks for retirement does not have guaranteed returns. But what we invest in the Kingdom is guaranteed by God. More than that, when we trust Jesus for salvation, we ourselves are “being guarded” by God’s power until His return. As C.T. Studd said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”