Renewal Church Podcast

Peter encourages believers to remain fearless and faithful when facing suffering for doing good. He reminds them to honor Christ as Lord and be ready to gently and respectfully explain their hope to others. Even if they suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong, trusting in God’s purpose and presence. Visit us online at: RenewalChurch.net

Peter calls believers to live in harmony with one another. This life is marked by unity, compassion, love, humility, and sympathy. He urges them not to repay evil for evil, or insult for insult, but instead to bless others, reflecting the grace they themselves have received. Peter reminds his readers that they are called to this way of life, inheriting a blessing in return. Quoting from Psalm 34,...

The joining together of a husband and wife is one of the most beautiful, joyful, and exciting relationships in all of humanity. Yet, at the same time, marriage can be difficult, confusing, and heartbreaking. In this text Peter focuses on the relationship between a husband and a wife. Specifically, he talks to women who are believers, married to husbands who are not. The question that he is answeri...

Sometimes, we become so familiar with something that it loses its wonder. Perhaps that has happened with the resurrection of Jesus? Yet, His victory over death is one of the most astonishing events in human history. Many of us believe the resurrection happened, and we may even have oriented our lives around that truth. However, it is essential to renew our sense of awe. Jesus died—but He did not s...

Perhaps the most astonishing death in history occurred over two thousand years ago when the Son of God was nailed to a simple wooden cross. But why did Jesus have to suffer and die? At times, it may seem unnecessary—wasn’t there another way for salvation to be accomplished? The good news is that God has given us the answer. The real question is: Do we truly understand why the suffering and death o...

Typically, when we talk about the birth of Christ, it’s during Christmas. But the coming of Christ is far too important to mention only once a year. The hypostatic union—Jesus being fully God and fully man—is one of the most remarkable and profound events in history. He walked among us and shared in our human experience, yet, He was completely divine. In this sermon, we will explore the significan...

Jesus served those who misunderstood Him. He served those that persecuted Him. He served those that mistreated Him and His suffering, His submission, led to our salvation. Visit us online at: RenewalChurch.net

Today’s text leads us to the often difficult intersection of religion and politics. The tension between these two worlds is not new; it has existed throughout history, even within the church. Peter encourages believers to hold firmly to their convictions while extending gentleness and love. He advises them not to overthrow the government, yet not to compromise their faith either. Instead, believer...

Peter and others throughout scripture assure us that we will be mocked, hated, persecuted, and worse. Our steadfast adherence to Christ's truth becomes compelling testimony in a world where standards change with every thought that flutters in the mind. Even when others misunderstand, mock, or criticize us, if we live with integrity, our lives speak loudly. Renewal Church exists so that people will...

Peter and others throughout scripture assure us that we will be mocked, hated, persecuted, and worse. Our steadfast adherence to Christ's truth becomes compelling testimony in a world where standards change with every thought that flutters in the mind. Even when others misunderstand, mock, or criticize us, if we live with integrity, our lives speak loudly. Renewal Church exists so that people will...

Renewal Church exists so that people will be made new in Jesus, grow in Jesus, and be released into the world for Jesus. Visit us online at: RenewalChurch.net

Peter has now moved us from the vertical to the horizontal. Chapter one was mainly focused on the vertical: how has God shaped our identity? Chapter two is going to shift us to the vertical: how does this new identity shape how we interact with others? The first thing that we hear from Peter is that we should have a certain longing, and we should be tasting something specific. We should long to gr...

What is the basis of our love for one another? Peter seems to think that, at its foundation, there is a purification that has occurred through our obedience to God’s truth. Our love for one another will not fail, will not perish, and will not falter, because this Word that we have within us does not originate with man, but is from God. Visit us online at: RenewalChurch.net

What does it mean to be judged by our works? We are told that salvation comes by faith, so what role and connection do works have with faith? In our lives, there should be evidence of a certain kind of conduct; a conduct that is driven by specific motivations. Specifically, a conduct that is driven by the grace of Jesus, by whom we are ransomed. Visit us online at: RenewalChurch.net

As we reach the conclusion to Peter’s introduction, we now enter into the “so what” portion. He tells us to do two things — 1) Prepare our minds for action, and 2) Set our minds clearly on the grace that is coming. We should be filling our minds with the things of God, which both prepares and transforms the way that we think about our current and future circumstances. Visit us online at: RenewalCh...

Have you ever searched diligently for something? You look in every corner, every crevice, under every pillow? This is what the prophets did with the Scriptures in regard to the coming Christ. Peter admits that the things he is saying are not novel ideas, and that he did not make them up. It is all there in the Old Testament. Sure, at times, they might not have fully understood, but there is a thre...

Peter was an apostle of Jesus and an eyewitness of Jesus' ministry on earth. He is writing to dispersed believers. Those believers were enduring some very difficult times. It was hard to follow Jesus. This is a letter of encouragement to continue to love Jesus in spite of their sufferings. There's joy in salvation, so live it out! This doesn't just apply to the believers living 2000 years ago. Thi...

Peter starts off this section by reminding the believers, scattered across the Dispersion, that there is reason to rejoice! Before he begins to talk about suffering and trials, he reminds them that, because of their new life in Jesus, they can rejoice! Specifically, they can rejoice in the midst of their trials and sufferings. Throughout our lives we will experience the mingling of joy and grief....

What does it mean to be "born again"? How does being born again change our future? Those are the questions we will answer in these verses. First, we need to identify what exactly Peter means by the phrase: “born again.” Then once that is established, we can see the rest of the text unfold. We see that we now have a living hope, meaning, when we look to the future our hope is surely alive. It is no...

The Apostle Peter opens his letter to believers scattered across the Roman Provinces by calling them “elect exiles.” The question that we will answer is: what does Peter mean by that phrase? Peter attaches the phrase to four prepositions in verse 2: Elect exiles "...according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." Elect exiles "...in the sanctification of the Spirit." Elect exiles "...for obedie...

Visit us online at: www. RenewalChurch.net

Visit us online at: www. RenewalChurch.net

What are we really celebrating at Christmas? Yes, God became man. Yes, He has the power to heal and restore. Yes, He taught us the law and the way of life. But, more than any of those things God dwelt among us to die. We celebrate Christmas because the One who was born suffered and died as a payment for our sin. Our hope, joy, love, and peace can only be found under the grace of the Suffering Serv...

The Lord tells Isaiah that there is soon coming a day when God’s people will be in distress, under the gloom of anguish, and thrust into darkness. Many of us know that feeling, especially during the Christmas season. But, here is the good news of the Gospel — God will not leave us in that place. He came to save us. He tells Isaiah that, in Galilee, a Child will be born, a Son will be given who wil...

The Christmas season in modern times is meant to pull every person towards happiness in the midst of the darkness of winter. It speaks to the part of us that looks for light in the darkness. The presents, lights, the stories — they all revolve around this narrative that light is coming in the darkness. What many do not realize is that the pull towards the light and away from the darkness is the ec...