Messages

[1 Peter 1:2] Peter wants us to experience God‘s multiplying grace and His peace so that we might live holy and fruitful lives. The Grace of God is something from God to you for your everyday life and every sphere of your life so that you can be fruitful and have hope. Grace is God‘s love and favor embued with power given to the undeserving.

[1 Peter 1:1] Jesus Christ is the one true God and only savior of sinners like us. God is who Jesus is, and Savior is what he has done as Christ-the purpose for which he came into the world.

[2 Peter 1:1] Holiness and certainty go hand in hand, for those who doubt are fruitless and tossed about. Peter writes this second letter to inoculate the saints against false teaching with the truth. What does it mean to be a bond-servant of Jesus Christ and to have the same kind of faith as Peter?

Steve Cowden and Michael Reece visited our brother Andre in the Central African Republic earlier this year and report back what they saw and heard with a presentation full of photos. They also visited Jonathan's House, an orphanage, clinic and school that serves hundreds of children and adults in the area. We praise God for the opportunity he has given us to partner with faithful brethren in Afric...

What are we doing? Appointing an elder before God with His authority: Jonah Stauffer What is our responsibility? As elders: diligently labor, charge over the body, admonish, work, bring the word of God, example of life and faith. As body: appreciate, esteem, love, peace, obey, submit, and let them do their oversight with joy and not grief.

[1 Peter 5:13-14] Family relationships are a precious reality in Christ, full of tender love and peace.

[1 Peter 5:13] Fact. He chooses When. Before the world was Why. Love

[1 Peter 5:12-13a] Silvanus - a faithful brother - take note young men and be faithful in the little things now! Peter is writing to exhort and testify in the true grace of God - stand firm in it!

[1 Peter 5:10-11] Warfare yields a wholeness to our Christian lives that makes us more useful to Jesus. After recounting the glorious truths of life in Christ, believers are moved to exclamations of worship & praise of our sovereign God, maker and ruler of Heaven and earth.

[1 Peter 5:9b] This verse reminds us of seven truths about suffering: it is universal, has purpose, is inevitable, painful, and temporary, God has promised to help us in it and it reminds us of God's call.

[Matt 18:1-6] Jesus answers the question of who is the greatest by showing His disciples a child and launching into an object lesson about humility and love of the brethren. If you see yourself as a needy child before God your Heavenly Father, you will pray to seek His provision, help, salvation. If you love the Lord, you will love His children.

[Matt 5:3-12] Jesus’ sermon on the Mount is the single greatest exposition of the Christian life. The Beatitudes are eight characteristics of being a true disciple of Jesus. Hope is not just a noun but a verb, we must exercise that hope in God’s promises. We must feed and water our Christian hope for it to grow strong and bear fruit. The poor in spirit live in fear of God, esteem His name, and kee...

[2 Tim 1:5, 3:15] Timothy’s mother and grandmother had a significant influence on him and regard for sacred scripture. The expression of their sincere faith was to teach Timothy the scriptures, which lead to salvation through faith alone in Jesus. They allowed the scriptures, the word of God, to do its work by His power. Mothers like Timothy's are the piers of the church, hidden underground but su...

There are many examples throughout the New Testament of leaders being appointed to meet a need by the consensus of the body with the agreement of other elders. Considering adding another elder at the request of our current elders because they need his hep, just like Paul needed Timothy.

[1 Peter 5:8-9] We ought to be sober and alert, focused on the unseen spiritual realm with an awareness of our adversary who is seeking our destruction, resisting him through steadfast faith in Christ.

Jesus' resurrection is full of glory, and we as His disciples will likewise be glorified with Him.

[1 Peter 5:6-7] Every day conscious placing of ourselves under God’s will, strength and timing through prayer is the means to contentment. Humility is the posture that glorifies Him as an acknowledgement of where true power comes from to work in the hearts and lives of people (including us!) and assurance that it will be the Lord building the house.

[1 Peter 5:5] There are clear biblical examples of God opposing the proud actively and immediately (i.e. Haman, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, etc.), but some where they continue on in their wickedness seemingly without consequence in this life! God still opposes them, and their judgement is coming. Does this apply also to believers? Yes-the threat of pride is always present even for us, otherwis...

[1 Peter 5:5] Just like fathers are responsible to lead their family with God-given authority, elders are tasked with a similar rule over the church. Be intentionally regarding one another with humility. Selfishness &, empty conceit will choke out humility, but the grace of humility will be a shining light to those who see it.

[1 Peter 5:4] Elders are servants of the chief shepherd, no authority in themselves, and consequently are rewarded by Him for faithful service. When are they rewarded? Not primarily now but at Christ’s return-when He, the Chief Shepherd, appears. Do you love His appearing? Are you looking for this day of His return with eager anticipation and watchfulness, abiding in Him and His word? All believer...

[1 Peter 5:1-3] Peter exhorts elders to avoid three wrong ways and instead pursue their right counterparts. Like Jesus and his apostles, Elders should serve the body as eager examples, not lording their authority over the flock of God or working for money first and foremost.

[1 Peter 5:2] Do you appreciate that you have qualified men as shepherds to watch for your souls, or have you bought into the lie that your walk with Jesus is just between you and God? The church is not communism, rather more like family dynamics with fathers as leaders in the home for their good. Elders are to exercise the oversight like God, the one true shepherd.

[1 Peter 5:2] Leaders as shepherds is a theme in the Old Testament prophets. God condemns them when they feed themselves instead of the flock and promises to be their good shepherd, ultimately sending them good shepherds after His own heart who will care for them, feeding the sheep on knowledge and understanding. This word is fulfilled in Jesus and then elders of His church who fulfill Jesus’ comm...

[1 Pet 5:1-2] Leaders do not make the church, which is a gathering of spirit-indwelt believers. Elders are not for the church's being but for it's well-being, urgent but not essential. Elder (office) is a shepherd & overseer (role-what they do).

[1 Peter 4:18-19] Entrusting your soul to a faithful and sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all in the midst of suffering is a sure sign of the believer's salvation.