Peter challenges believers to respond to evil like Christ responded to evil in his work on the cross. Specifically, we are to return wrongdoing with kindness. (1 Peter 3:9) This kindness God see's and blesses us with eternal and earthly blessings during those struggles. Further, living a Holy life, even when faced with evil, is a witness to those who persecute us.

For what purpose did God make us his people. In one sense Peter challenges us to personally live out the Gospel as foreigners in this world. In another sense, he challenges us to live an evangelistic life.

Christmas has just happened, and it’s all we talk about. We see each other and some of the first words out of our mouths are, How was your Christmas? I’m never really sure what the question is or what kind of answer we want. Do we want to talk about the gifts we’ve received as if they are loot from a…

What happens if we hold our peace? The church was never called to be silent. We are called to be the voice of God against whom the gates of hell cannot stand. We are called to be witnesses and beacons of light in a lost world.

Peter describes believers in light of Christ, the cornerstone. He describes us as living stones being set next to the cornerstone, forming a Spiritual house, as well as a priesthood of believers. These truths speak to how each believer should be singularly (Christ-Centered) and dependently (Christ-Dependent) serving God. The context that service for God is principally is being transformed into his holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5) and declaring the riches and mercies that are found in Christ (1 Peter 2:9). The building up that is found in God working through the scriptures to establish us as His Holy, Royal Priesthood, a temple set apart for him. (1 Peter 2:2)

The Gospel! The good news that Jesus wants all to hear and uses us to speak it so all can hear it. We have a command to obey, this morning we are looking at the proclaiming the Good News. (Great commission picture inserted here) The great commission is not the great suggestion. It is not the commission…

The last and the first (Last Supper picture inserted here) (Illustration: Christ on the Cross, beaten, unrecognizable, stripped, crowned, spat on, cursed at, believed to be a curse) All that before He shed his blood, gave up His Spirit, died, was buried, rose again for our forgiveness of sins. All before…

We must be faithful to do what God has called us to do.

What’s your secret? I have been asked that question a lot recently. I have been asked that question by strangers, by family members, by other pastors, and by people here in this church. What is your secret? Secret about what? Well over the last year and a half I have determined that I needed to loose…

The church that preaches the hocus pocus...

Introduction As we begin I want us to listen to the words of a song. It’s called “Give Me Your Eyes.” 4:02 This song is the plea of a mans heart to see people how God does. As we work our way through this passage I believe we see the heart of the Apostle Paul for the lost. He wanted people to be saved.…

Peter describes the core identity of the Church--who we are and what we do. We are God's chosen people by His mercy, and our clear purpose is to proclaim his excellencies.

La misericordia y paciencia de Dios son la razón por la cual vivimos y debemos predicar el evangelio.

Jesus' life as a man inaugurated the favor of God toward man. But how will broken people find out?

Today, I need you to engage your imagination for our time together. I’d like you to imagine for a moment that you go home after our gathering, and you find this carved on the side of your house. This is very old graffiti, so I know it is hard to see… so let me show you an artists rendering of the graffiti.…

Crying out is a good start I love the story of John the Baptizer. Well, at least this beginning of his story I love. He’s a “larger than life” figure, who fully embraces who he is — eating locusts and wild honey, wearing camel hair and a leather belt — he couldn’t be more unique and unmistakable. And…

Today we’re picking up where we left off last week. In Luke chapter 12, straight from the teaching of Jesus to his disciples, we’re discussing… Christian faithfulness in the face of hypocritical religion and a hostile world, even with the prospect of persecution and death. In the meantime, when so many…

1 You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord , for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Recognition of mercy and grace. 2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and…

I am not ashamed! Paul says “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (see Rom1:16) and if we are honest we may not be ashamed of it, but feel ill-prepared to proclaim, share the gospel. But statistically speaking, we can grow in preparation and proclamation. (Statistical facts picture inserted here) Barna Institute…

Jesus defined his mission: to proclaim freedom for all peoples. And then he gave that mission to his disciples—to us. This message from Luke 4:14-30 will lay the foundation for our study of the Sermon on the Mount.

Gateway to ministry Note: In an effort to create more opportunities to interact and to study all together I am going to work on not being so goal driven in the teachings and allow more time for discussion. The outlines will cover the section if we do not complete it in class. So, please stop me, and…

God’s perfect plan continues God’s promise, God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen12:3, 15:5) we have seen the seed and the blessing to the Jews, the Samaritans and this evening we will see it carry to the Gentiles fulfilling the promise. 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I…

It’s about time! From waiting for the promise (Act1:1-8); to the ascension and the promise (Act1:9-11) to the appointment (Act1:12-26) now to Pentecost and the arrival (Act2:1-13). From wonder, to questions, to amazement, now we get to results in the passage before us tonight. Due to the enormity and…

An event is best told by the ones who have experienced it. Everyone who has experienced salvation in Christ is equipped to proclaim the Good news to those who need to hear. Are you ready to proclaim the great news of what God has done for you?