Jeff Shelnutt Sermons

The outworking of the fifth commandment goes far beyond the parent/child relationship. It is not an exaggeration to say the stability of society is dependent upon it. The way you treat your parents is a mirror that reflects your relationship to the Lord. We see in this commandment the responsibility of children, the responsibility of parents, and the responsibility of God.

Once we deglamorize the nativity scene, we realize the many inconveniences surrounding the birth of Jesus. There was an inconvenient census, journey, setting, and birth. It's when things are not what we'd prefer them to be that we often get glimpses of God at work. The Son of God was born right into the chaos, the bustle, and the inconveniences to show us that it is God who took the initia...

Of the Ten Commandments, the fourth commandment is the most challenging in understanding its application to the church today. This message 1) explores the origins of the sabbath; 2) looks at how the sabbath is twisted; 3) clarifies the sabbath's meaning in the New Testament; and 4) seeks to apply the sabbath to the Christian life today.

We often think of the third commandment as only pertaining to what comes out of our mouths. But as we'll see, its application goes far beyond speech. In continuing to consider what the Ten Commandments teach us about worship, we should not underestimate what is in a name. Neither should we underestimate the extent of the third commandment, nor its depth.

While the first commandment teaches us WHO to worship, the second commandment teaches us HOW to worship. Not many today in the modern West are guilty of physically bowing down to an idol. But we have all created an image of God in our minds that is inaccurate. In this message we explore the meaning of, the reasons for, and the fulfillment of the second commandment.

The first commandment is first for a reason. It tells us Who must be the object of our worship. By considering this foundational commandment, we discover who God is and what He does. Since worship is transformative, we also consider what we will become.

Often when the Ten Commandments are listed, the prologue is omitted. Yet it is these first two verses of Exodus 20 that give us the context for the Ten Commandments. These laws were audibly spoken to Israel by God Himself. They are applicable to every single person in every age. In this passage we see that 1) God spoke absolutely; 2) God spoke in love; and 3) God spoke freedom.

As Peter closes out his letter to the scattered churches, he reminds us that the God of all grace makes Himself available to those who suffer. As Christians, we never "move on" from the grace of God. We needed it at salvation, need it presently for our sanctification, and will need it in the future for our glorification.

Peter understood that the source of the hostility directed against the followers of Jesus is a personal and malevolent entity the Bible calls the devil. Though this is the first time Satan is mentioned in the letter, the passage reminds us of the overlap between the physical and spiritual realms. In order to resist this enemy of God and God's people, we must know 1) what to look for; 2) how to...

In humility, we are told to cast all of our anxieties upon the Lord. Therefore, it is prideful to worry and fret. In our passage we observe 1) how to be humble toward one another; 2) why to be humble toward one another; 3) how to be humble toward God; and 4) why to be humble toward God.

Elders in the local church are under-shepherds, serving the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. As those who give spiritual leadership and oversight, elders are called to shepherd the people of God humbly, willingly, selflessly, and by example.

The Lord is concerned about the purity of His church. It is here He begins to lovingly discipline those who follow Jesus. This discipline arrives in the form of trials. Peter alludes to two Old Testament passages, he ask two questions, and he encourages Christians to respond in two ways.

In this passage Peter speaks about three things that are strange for everyone but Christians. First, suffering is normal in the Christian experience. Secondly, rejoicing in suffering is normal. Thirdly, feeling no shame for suffering is normal. It is possible for the Christian to rejoice in trials as he anticipates the future joy of Christ's return.

One of the ways the Lord preserves His church in a world hostile to it is through the gifts He gives to His church. Peter talks about these gifts in two broad categories: speaking and serving. Every Christian has received a gift and is responsible to use it in service to God's people. From this passage we consider how to recognize and use your spiritual gifts.

Peter could accurately write "the end of all things is near." From God's perspective, everything after the resurrection of Jesus Christ is included in the ending. With this is in mind, we are told to keep three things in focus: disciplined prayer, fervent love, and uncomplaining hospitality.

Baptism is a declaration that the Christian stands on the spiritual victory Jesus Christ secured through His resurrection. How do we live out of that which Jesus accomplished on our behalf? This passage tells us. It has to do with our choices. We must 1) choose obedience, 2) choose real pleasure, and 3) choose to remember the dead.

This is a notoriously difficult passage to interpret. Much of the difficulty for the modern reader is not knowing what was going through Peter's mind when he wrote it. There is a way to look at this passage, however, that brings clarity. And through understanding Peter's intentions, we gain a deeper understanding of the significance of baptism.

We understand by this point in Peter's letter that followers of Jesus will face, at least on occasion, antagonism for living out their faith. We need something more than understanding. We need to be ready. In this passage, there is 1) a reason for readiness; 2) the hope of readiness; 3) acting out of readiness, and 4) the results of readiness.

A close look at the book of First Peter shows that Psalm 34 undergirds much of Peter's reasoning. Here he quotes from Psalm 34:12-16. In how Peter handles and applies this OT passage to his contemporary situation, we learn how to better apply the psalms to our lives. We discover three things about Psalm 34: 1) the context; 2) the instruction; and 3) the meaning.

When the Christian faces antagonism or hostility for his faith, there are two responses. One is toward those who are in the church, his brothers and sisters. The other response is toward those without. The truth is, when we bless those who curse, we are fulfilling the very purpose of God.

In this section Peter continues addressing the marriage relationship. He begins by giving an Old Testament example to follow by pointing towards Sarah's attitude toward Abraham. Then there is an understanding to embrace as we discover what it means for a husband to live an understanding manner with his wife. Finally, there is an honor the husband is called to continually bestow upon his wife....

As Peter continues to deal with how the Christian should respond in different social situations, he now turns to the husband/wife relationship. Beginning with the wife, this passage gives us insight into God's view and ideal for submission in marriage. Not only will the godly character of a believing wife influence her unbelieving husband, Christian marriages act as both a stabilizing and subv...

You do not follow Jesus' example in order to become a Christian; you follow Jesus's example because you are a Christian. Specifically, there is a call for every Christian to follow the example of Jesus when treated unjustly. Jesus was silent before His accusers because He entrusted Himself and His circumstances to God. As we do the same, we will find the Lord lead us to the cross, through...

Relationships can be complicated. And this was especially true for early Christians. Slavery in the first century Roman Empire was a reality. Though faith in Jesus Christ sets a person free from the bondage of sin, it doesn't necessarily change his social condition. It was easy enough for a slave who became a Christian to relate to a good and gentle master. But what about when his boss was har...

For the Christian there are two extremes in attempting to relate to society around him: either accommodation or isolation. The biblical path, however, is proclamation. A significant way the Christian proclaims the reality of God to a watching world is through submission to existing power structures. The irony is that only in submission does the Christian find true freedom.