Sermons

Dear Friends,

Christmas is coming soon. Thanks so much for your faithfulness as we went through first Peter. When you make attending the preaching service and a small group it really encourages others more than you can know.

As we remember the Gospel stories about Christ’s birth it is good for us all to reflect on how different God thinks and acts. We get tied up in the fears and issues of the news and think we have it all figured out. It’s funny how easy it is to forget we thought we had it all figured out last time we were wrong. Our opinions and remedies seem so correct. Our views on how to fix others or the world make sense to us.

Then comes Christmas and we come to realize Gods way of doing things is so different. God’s way often makes no sense at all. We just can’t see it.

Isa 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. (9)  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God’s ways are indeed mysterious. God expects us to walk by faith not sight.

This Sunday we will remember and learn how the birth of Christ shows us that God solutions begin in ways that seem foolish.  This is a theme throughout the gospel.

1 Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Please come Sunday and invite a friend or family member. If you have a newborn in your family this will be interesting. The title, IT STARTS WITH A BABY “

I can’t wait to see you.

Blessings,
Joe

Please pray and read the following scriptures:

 1 Peter 5:8-11 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (9) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (10) After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (11) To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

STEPS FOR PREPARING

1. PRAY FOR YOURSELF, FOR ME, AND THE CHURCH AS WE PREPARE TO LEARN.
2. PLAN TO ATTEND A WORSHIP SERVICE AND ATTEND A SMALL GROUP.
3. PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES AND CONSIDER THE QUESTIONS BELOW.
4. DISCUSS THEM WITH YOUR FAMILY IF POSSIBLE.
5. INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
1Pe 5.12-14

• What was Peter’s re-stated purpose in writing this letter?

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
1Pe 5.12

• How do we get the grace to not fall and compromise with all the pressure around us?
• How do others play a part in helping us stand firm and be stable? Share an example.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 
1Pe 5.12-13
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 
1Pe 2.5

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13

• Why can living in community be so hard for us to do?
• Are you from a family of huggers?

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
1Pe 5.14

• How can different cultures show affection differently?
• How can we better show affection in our culture and community?
• How can you be a more peaceful person who works towards peace?

•  According to Peter, how should we measure spiritual growth?

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 
2Pe 1.5-9