Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 5:12-14
Theme: Know what grace is, and stand firm in it.

One: This is true grace. The story includes:

• The mercy of God
• A sufficient Savior
• The new birth
• A sure inheritance
• The testing of your faith
• A call to holiness
• A testimony of faith
• Times of suffering
• The hope of glory

Two: Stand firm in it. With the grace of...

• Faithful brothers
• Divine revelation
• God's love
• Obvious hostility
• Abiding peace

...this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. ~ 1 Peter 5:12

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 5:8-11
Theme: Pilgrims must be ready to resist the enemy.

One: Be aware of your enemy.

• He is deceitful and dangerous.

Two: Be anchored in your faith.

• My trust in God's truth.

Three: Be encouraged by God's people.

• I am part of God's advancing Kingdom.

Four: Be certain of God's promises.

• Be certain of God's time, grace, calling, and purpose.

Five: Be mindful of God's power.

• God is able to control all things.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion... ~ 1 Peter 5:8

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 5:5-7
Theme: As a follower of Christ, you should live in evident humility.

5 Questions to Evaluate My Humility

One: Do I struggle with submission?

• Solution: Submit to God-given authority.

Two: Do I overlook others needs?

• Solution: Look for opportunities to serve.

Three: Do I forget about daily grace?

• Solution: Recognize your need for grace.

Four: Do I have a small view of God?

• Solution: Rediscover the sovereignty of God.

Five: Do I hold on to worry?

• Solution: Trust God with your problems.

Humble yourselves...casting all your anxieties on him... ~ 1 Peter 5:6-7

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Theme: Shepherds must humbly care for harassed sheep.

One: Be willing to learn.

• About unity
• About identity
• About worship

Two: "You are a shepherd!"

• Shepherds lead, feed, and protect.
• Shepherds oversee.

Three: Avoid small, selfish thinking.

• It's not just a job; it's a desire.
• It's not for what you can get, but what you can give.
• It's not about being elite, but being an example.

Four: Be confident of glory.

shepherd the flock of God... ~ 1 Peter 5:2

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Theme: As a pilgrim, you must face hostility with confidence in God's will.

One: Don't be surprised by hostility.

• It is not unusual.
• It will test your faith.

Two: Find the joy in hostility.

• Suffering leads to glory.
• You have the power and presence of God's Spirit.

Three: Identify the cause of hostility.

• The cause must not be your sin.
• The cause should be your identity with Christ.

Four: Speak for Christ in hostility.

• Do not be ashamed of Christ.
• Give the right opinion of Christ.

Five: Trust God's purpose for hostility.

• Rest in God's character.
• Do what is right.

entrust your souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. ~ 1 Peter 4:19

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11
Theme: As pilgrims, we are all in this together.

How do I contribute to the pilgrim community?

One: Focus in prayer.

Two: Love through forgiveness.

Three: Share with joy.

Four: Serve as stewards.

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 4:1-6
Theme: Don't give in to the pressures of worldliness.

One: It may seem like a war...because it is!

Two: A renewed mind is an essential weapon.

Three: Sin no longer has power over you.

Four: Desire for God will drown out sinful desires.

Five: Those who think holiness is a joke will stand before the judge who does not.

Six: The gospel has power to transform sinners.

...live for the rest of your time...for the will of God. ~ 1 Peter 4:2

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Theme: Though you may suffer for doing good, Christ will lead you safely home.

3 Reflections to Understand the Theme:

One: The purpose of Christ

• To bring us to God
• By his...
  • Substitutionary life
  • Substitutionary death
  • Substitutionary resurrection

Two: The Illustration of Noah

• Righteous minority
• Hostile surroundings
• Gospel hope
• Sure salvation

Three: The _ of Baptism

• 3 phrases emphasize faith:
  • "Corresponds to"
  • "not as"
  • "but as"
• Baptism proclaims our union with Christ

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:13-17
Theme: Opposition to your pilgrim faith cannot, and therefore must not, diminish your pilgrim faith.

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7 Implications of Christ's Victory for Our Times of Oppression

One: You are zealous for good.

Two: You are blessed by God.

Three: You choose allegiance to Christ.

Four: You are known for hope.

Five: You have a clear conscience.

Six: Your righteousness will be vindicated.

Seven: You trust in God's providence.

In your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy. ~ 1 Peter 3:15

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Video of the full service on the church YouTubel channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12
Theme: As a follower of Jesus Christ, you must be a nice person.

One: What does it mean to be a nice person?

• Offer some refuge. (Meaning, you must be like-minded; sympathetic; loving; compassionate; humble-minded)
• Respond with grace.
• Guard your words.
• Choose the right.
• Work at peace.

Two: Why should you be a nice person?

• Because you have the Holy Spirit.
• Because you have been called.
• Because you will be blessed.
• Because you have been saved.

Honor everyone. ~ 1 Peter 2:17

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Video of the full service on the church YouTubel channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7
Theme: Following Jesus must shape your approach to marriage.

One: Instructions for the wife:

• Submit...as a way of life.
• Submit...from the inside out.
• Submit...as an act of faith.
• *Hope: the beauty of godliness may be instrumental in drawing an unbeliever to faith in Christ.

Two: Instructions for the husband:

• Demonstrate love that is tailored by knowledge.
• Demonstrate strength that is expressed in honor.
• Demonstrate commitment that is anchored in grace.
• *Warning: When you lose your way as a husband, you lose your hearing with God.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands...husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way... ~ 1 Peter 3:1-7

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:18-25
Theme: We must endure unjust suffering.

One: The command for a specific context.

• Servants, submit to your masters...
• ...even the unjust ones.

Two: The principle for broad application.

• Note the broadening: from "servant" to "anyone"
• Note the principle: endure unjust suffering

Three: How do we do this? It's difficult!

• Trust in God's sovereignty.
• Follow Christ's example.
• Live in resurrection power.
• Rest in Christ's care.

This is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ~ 1 Peter 2:19

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17
Theme: We must submit to government.

Be subject ... to every human institution...

One: ...with an understanding of God's will.

• Be known as those who do good.
• Obey for the Lord's sake.

Two: ...with an understanding of true freedom.

• Not free to do evil.
• Not free from authority.
• But free to serve God.

Three: ...with an understanding of Christian living.

• Honor everyone.
• Love other believers.
• Fear God.
• Honor elected officials.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... ~ 1 Peter 2:13

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:11-12
Theme: Your righteous living is a witness to the watching world.

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The Witness of Your Works...

One: ...flows from your identity with Christ.

• Anchored in love
• Call to be different

Two: ...calls for a war with sin.

• Sin's plan to ruin
• God's plan to stand

Three: ...points to the beauty of goodness.

Four: ...argues against the accusations of evil.

Five: ...longs for the visit of God.

• In judgment
• In mercy

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:4-10
Theme: You must build your life and identity on Jesus Christ.

5 Benefits of My Union with Christ

One: Belonging to God's people.

Two: Worship through God's Son.

• Access to God
• Acceptance by God

Three: Confidence in God's faithfulness.

• Certainty of the stone
• Certainty of my standing

Four: Purpose from God's choosing.

• A life of purpose
• A message of hope

Five: Wonder at God's mercy.

...as you come to him...you are being built up... ~ 1 Peter 2:4

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:22 - 2:3
Theme: You must (and you can) love each other.

How is it possible to love each other?

One: Exercise your faith.

• Your faith was designed for loving others.

Two: Demonstrate God's love.

• Because you have received gospel love, you must show gospel love.

Three: Reject all selfishness.

• Refuse to love self and thus disobey the 2nd great commandment.

Four: Nourish your soul.

• Desire both the Word of God and the God of the Word.

...love one another earnestly from a pure heart... ~ 1 Peter 1:22

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through: A study in 1 Peter
Text: 1 Peter 1:13-21
Theme: Holiness is the logical conclusion of a living hope.

4 Arguments for Holiness

One: Since you believe Christ will return, get busy with kingdom work.

Two: Since you are children of God, show the family resemblance.

Three: Since God evaluates your choices, honor him with the time He gives you.

Four: Since you were ransomed at great cost, trust God with all of life’s issues.

Video of the sermon on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:10-12
Theme: We must rekindle the wonder of our salvation.

One: Our salvation is a story throughout the Bible.

Two: Our salvation is a study by the prophets.

Three: Our salvation is a drama of suffering and glory.

Four: Our salvation is a revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Five: Our salvation is a mystery to the angels.

...the prophets... prophesied about the grace that was to be yours,...
~ 1 Peter 1:3

Video of the sermon on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Theme: Hope that works for today looks back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ.

One: Hope that works for today...

• A hope that recognizes grief
• A hope that causes joy
• A hope that treasures Christ

Two: Hope that works for today looks back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• We have life by God's mercy
• We have an inheritance by God's promise
• We have protection by God's power

Three: Hope that works for today looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ.

• We have a faith that is growing
• We have a faith that will be rewarded

...he has caused us to be born again to a living hope... ~ 1 Peter 1:3

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Passing Through: A Study in 1 Peter
Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
Theme: Why election matters to an exile.

One: To an exile, election means...I am loved by my Heavenly Father. "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father"

Two: To an exile, election means...I am set apart for God's purpose. "in the sanctification of the Spirit"

Three: To an exile, election means...I am righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. "for obedience to Jesus Christ"

Four: To an exile, election means...I am secure in God's promise of salvation. "for sprinkling with his blood"

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Theme of 1 Peter
We must live as followers of Jesus Christ in the face of hostility...steadied by grace.

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel