Sermons

Wanting to be a stable spiritual rock is not enough to make it happen. Peter knew that trials and disappointments could derail even the sincerest follower of Christ. Peter had personal experience with sin. He wrote to tell you and I some things cannot be given any place in your life if growth will occur.

1 Peter 2:1-4 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,  like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,  if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.  And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

Peter wrote if you are going to come to Him as a living stone you must put away these things.
Sunday I will teach on the five killers of stability. I you want to really move toward being a loving stable person don’t miss it.

Blessings,
Joe

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

1. Why do Christians pick on other sins and ignore these sins as blocks to growth?
   

   1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

2. Describe how malice can stop your growth in grace?
   

   Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

3. What is the best way to put away malice?
   

   Eph 4:30-32: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

4. What pushed peter to be deceitful?
   

   Mar 14:66-72: As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest *came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.

5. How can hypocrisy be contagious, share an example.
   

   Gal 2:13-14; The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

6. How can envy or jealousy make you unstable and mean?
   

   James 3:16: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

7. How can we slander others without knowing it?
8. Why do so many people allow this wicked habit?
9. Why is putting off these sins essential before you can grow in the Pure word?
   

   1 Peter 2:2 : Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.