Calvary Church | Messages

Following Jesus does not exempt us from hardship. In fact, Peter reminds us that suffering is often part of the Christian journey. In today’s passage, we’ll discover how followers of Jesus endure unjust treatment—not by retaliation or despair, but by following Christ's example and trusting in His saving work. As we look to Jesus, our suffering Savior and faithful Shepherd, we find strength to endu...

We live as exiles with a new identity, a new community, and a new priority—but what does this look like in our daily life choices? In this passage, Peter explores the tricky question of how believers should relate to government and clearly admonishes: “Show your devotion to God by winsome and wise submission to human government.” 

As “not-home-yet” followers of Christ, we are called to live as exiles who have a new identity, a new community, and a new priority. In this passage, the Apostle Peter is inspired to develop this by connecting our Christian life to the entire story of the Bible.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live out of the reality of our new identity in Christ. Today, Peter reminds us that our new life in Christ should produce both a growing love for God's people and a growing hunger for God Himself.

“Holiness” is a word we often misunderstand. We reduce it to “moral perfection” or use it casually—even carelessly—in everyday speech. But in Scripture, holiness describes the fullness of who God is—His glory, greatness, power, majesty, and eternity. Today, through His Word, worship, and communion, we will encounter the reality of His holiness.

Peter shows us that holiness is not a religious burden but the grateful pursuit of those rescued and ransomed by the blood of Christ. Holiness is being set apart by God, for God. So, when we hear the command to “be holy as I am holy,” we hear an invitation to the life God desires and to which the Spirit empowers us to live—even while we are not home yet.

Today we’ll explore what it means to live as those who are not home yet but never lost— because, in Christ, our great salvation tells us who we are and where we are going.

As we dive into 1 Peter, we’ll explore what it means to live as “elect exiles.” Peter—writing to believers who felt out of place in the world around them— doesn’t start with strategies or solutions; he starts with identity. In a culture that pressures us to conform, we too are reminded that we belong to God and are being shaped by His work in our lives.

Peter’s life was anything but steady. He experienced moments of courage and clarity, followed by failure and regret. And yet, Jesus never gave up on him. Today, as we begin our study of 1 Peter, we’ll look at Peter’s life and discover how God uses flawed but faithful people to live with hope in a world that isn’t home.

Because Jesus is alive, we are called not just to believe the gospel but to live it out together. In Ephesians 4:1–6, we see that unity is something we are called to protect and maintain—not something we create. We’re challenged to hold tightly to what is essential and refuse to divide over our preferences.

Because Jesus is alive, our future is not just something we wait for, but it determines our identity and launches us into a gospel-shaped community. In Colossians 3, Paul explains how our new identity shapes a new community that displays the glory of God. Today, we will consider our individual role in growing with God’s people within the context of the local Church.

Because Jesus is alive, our future is not just something we wait for, but it determines our identity and begins to shape how we live today. In Colossians 3, we are reminded that we have been raised with Christ and called to live in light of that new reality. We will explore what it means to put off the old life and put on what is now true of us in Him.

Many of us are familiar with the story of Easter, but what is familiar is not always foundational. In 1 Corinthians 15, we are reminded that the gospel is not only something we know but something we are called to stand on and hold fast to. Because Jesus lives, we now have a hope that anchors us to the gospel in every season of life.

The gospel is more than just our sins being forgiven so that we can go to heaven. When Jesus came, He announced the arrival of the rightful King and His kingdom. This Palm Sunday, we will see that the gospel is the good news that Jesus is the King who has come, who has demonstrated His authority, and who has accomplished our redemption, calling us to live under His rule and reign. Revelation 5:1-2

The gospel is not just something we hear, but it is something God has made visible in Jesus Christ. So, it only makes sense that, in baptism and communion, we are given physical, visible reminders of what Christ has done for us—helping us see, experience, and remember the good news. Today, we’ll explore how these physical experiences repeatedly point us to Jesus.

The gospel is the story of God dealing graciously with undeserving people. Paul contrasts man’s character with God’s character to reveal God’s glorious rescue of His people. This gracious offer of salvation demands a faith response and should lead us to live relationally in the family of God.

Titus 3 shows us that the gospel doesn’t just change our eternal destination it transforms our daily relationships. Once foolish and enslaved, we have been saved by God’s mercy, renewed by His Spirit, and made heirs of eternal life. The mercy we receive from God becomes the mercy we extend to others.

Many of us say we believe the gospel, but what gospel are we believing? Today, we will begin our series by examining common distortions of the good news and returning to the gospel proclaimed throughout Scripture. We will see that the true gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ—through His life, death, and resurrection—reconciles us to God.

Today, we will look at a parable of Jesus that sheds light on His teaching to seek first His Kingdom. We will explore some of the tendencies we may have that can hinder us.

For over 88 years, Calvary Church has been committed to Going into God’s World. But what fuels that commitment? Is missions driven mainly by human need or by God’s glory? Psalm 67 reveals that God blesses His people, so that His saving power and praise would spread to all nations. So, today, we’ll understand why the mission of God has always been central to the heart of God, and why it must remain...

We often say we want to live for God’s glory. So, today, we will seek to understand and experience what that truly means. As we move through this service, we will trace the story of Scripture through the lens of His glory. We will allow it to shape how we worship, pray, listen, and respond to Him and to one another, not just today, but forevermore. God’s glory is the visible display of who He is—H...

In Luke 11 and 18, Jesus gives us two parables to shape our hearts and encourage us to always pray and not lose heart. These parables invite us to reflect on God’s character and to examine the state of our faith as expressed in persistent prayer.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories that reveal the heart of God and expose two different ways of being lost. Today, we’ll explore what these parables teach us about a God who seeks, a Father who loves prodigally, and the invitation to move from lostness—whether through rebellion or religion— into the joy of being found.

Jesus commands us to love God and love others. He then uses a parable to expose how impossible that standard is and how deeply we need a Savior to rescue us and help us love others well.