Messages

[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.

Christian Hope -Human capacity for future orientation -Human faculty of future participation -Present outlook of well-being -Anticipation of future good -Confidence both in present & future

[1 Peter 4:16-17] Suffering as a Christian is part of the Christian life, seek to bring Him glory by not being ashamed, living with a conscious sense that we represent Him here. Expect and rejoice in the suffering that God brings as discipline for his beloved children according to His will and good purpose. How are you doing in the discipline and testing from God?

[1 Pet 4:15] Peter’s prohibition is calling us to self-control and faith so that we will not sin when tempted in trials and suffering. Keep a clean conscience in the context of pressure so we do not suffer because of self-inflicted reasons. Sin really does bring pain and death, reminding us that it is not natural or good.

[Gen 48:15-16] Like Jacob, we ought to see the Lord as our personal God in an intimate relationship with our shepherd and redeemer.

[Gen 47-49] Jacob describes his life as one of sojourning, terminology of one who’s heart and hope is elsewhere, and full of trials. Hebrews 11 describes this perspective in great detail, holding out Jacob as an example amongst so many who died in faith. [Jacob OT Gen 47:9] Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life=[Paul NT Acts 14:22] through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of...

[Heb 10:1-13] The shadows only served to show the need for the substance. How necessary it was for Christ to come into the world to fulfill all that the Old Covenant was powerless to do!

[Gen 37-39] Joseph, like Jesus, was favored by his father, a man of character, endured sufferings-hated without a cause, and God was with him through it all. The Lord was with Joseph in his unjust slavery and imprisonment, so he was successful and God’s kindness was extended to him-likewise God does not rescue us immediately out of every trial but remains with us through it.

[Gen 25-27] Jacob values the inheritence of the promise of God through Isaac’s blessing. Even though he schemes with Rebekah to steal Esau’s birthright, God chose Jacob before they were born and works on Jacob to transform him into His man to continue on in the gospel promise and blessing of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob is chosen and loved by God, so much that he is disciplined by God for years to cha...

[Gen 22-26] Even though Isaac had the great promise of God to Abraham and his seed ultimately fulfilled in the gospel of Jesus, he still had to learn to survive in the mundane and opposition against him in this life. We as Christians will have to follow in his example as we cling to Christ and his word.

[Psalm 138:1-8] David’s had resolved to continue to personally worship the Lord in the midst of war because of God’s steadfast love. David does not let his emotions tell him what to do, but instead he trusts in God’s word and responds appropriately with thanks, singing, and bowing down in worship.

[Gen 15-23] We continue to walk through the history of God's promises to Abraham and how he believed God as he looked ahead to Jesus' day.