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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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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Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:1

Author: Peter

• Someone who had learned his need for grace and the sufficiency of grace.
• 30 years after Jesus returned to heaven.

Recipients: Exiles

• A different Lord; a different citizenship; a different way of life.
• They were foreigners who didn't fit.

Series Title: Passing Through

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

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"to the elect exiles...grace and peace" ~ 1 Peter 1:1-2

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Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: What We Teach: The GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ...

One: The Church: my belonging to Christ

• As the bride of Christ
• In the body of Christ
  • With spiritual leadership
  • With spiritual gifts

Two: Baptism: my identity with Christ

• "I've been washed by Jesus."
• "I am alive in Jesus."
• "I am following Jesus."

Three: The Lord's Table: my remembrance of Christ

• As our sufficient substitute
• As our bond of unity
• As our standard of holiness

Jesus answered, "...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". ~ Matthew 16:18

Video of the full service is on the church YouTube channel

Series: What We Teach: The GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: Jeremiah 32:36-41

One: Justification is a legal declaration of righteousness.

• Not by my works.
• By faith in Christ's work.
• God declares me "not guilty".

Two: Sanctification is a continuing progress in righteousness.

• I choose obedience.
• In the power of the Spirit and the Word.
• God makes me more like Christ.

Three: Perseverance is an enduring strength for righteousness.

• Rooted in God's promise.
• Sealed by God's Spirit.
• God keeps me from falling away.

...To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. ~Jude 1-2

Series: New Year
Text: Luke 1:78-79
Theme: The sunrise of Christ is light for our darkness and peace for our chaos.

One: A Prophesied Sunrise

• Malachi 4:2 the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in his wings

Two: An Incarnation Sunrise

• Luke 1:78 the sunrise shall visit us from on high

Three: A Resurrection Sunrise

• Mark 16:1-6 on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen,

Four: A Conversion Sunrise

• 1 Corinthians 4:4-6 God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts

Five: A Sustaining Sunrise

• Psalm 112:4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright

...the sunrise...to give light to those who sit in darkness...and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
~ Luke 1:78-79

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Theme: As a child of God, you must pursue godliness because of the hope of Christmas
Text: 1 John 3:1-2

One: As a child of God...

• In repentance and faith, we are adopted into God's family

Two: ...You must pursue godliness...

• Purify yourself, even as Christ is pure

Three: ...Because of the hope of Christmas

• Christ has made victory possible
• Christ came to destroy the works of the devil

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: Christmas
Text: Luke 1
Theme: Are you trusting your gracious God?

Zechariah's Question – How will I know this?

• Rooted in doubt
• Highlights impossibility

Mary's Question – How will this be?

• Rooted in faith
• Highlights moral concern

Conclusions

• The Christian life will produce questions.
• Anchor your questions to faith.
• Begin answering your questions with the nature of God. (Remember the angel's parting words – "Nothing is impossible with God")

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
~ Luke 1:46-48

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: What We Teach — GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Gift of Regeneration

• Regeneration is when God gives spiritual life to a spiritually dead sinner.
  • John 1:13
  • James 1:18
  • 1 Peter 1:3
• Seen in prophecy – Ezekiel 36; Jeremiah 31
• Seen in illustration – John 3:1-8
• Seen in real life – John 11:38-44
• Seen in NT teaching – Ephesians 2:1

The Gift of Repentance

• A turning from sin
• As a gift: Acts 11:28; 2 Timothy 2:25

The Gift of Faith

• A turning to Christ
• As a gift: John 6:44, 65; Philippians 1:29

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! ~ 2 Corinthians 9:15

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: What We Teach — GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his well.

The Fall: Humanity chooses to sin.

• Depravity ruins every person.
• Depravity ruins every part of every person.

Election: God chooses to save.

• God's choosing is unconditional.
  • According to his purpose; Romans 9:11
  • By grace; Romans 11:5
  • Because of love; Deuteronomy 7:6-8
• Therefore, God's choosing is not based on his foreknowledge of someone's choice of Him.
  • There would be nothing to foresee.
  • God's foreknowledge is of people.
  • Foreseen response is the beginning of salvation by merit.

Christ our Hope

• The representative of God's righteousness.
• The demonstration of God's love.

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: What We Teach — GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: Psalm 104 You set the earth on its foundations...the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work

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Creation

About Creation

• God created all things out of nothing.
• God created all things for his glory.
• God created humanity in his image.

What does creation mean for us?

• God is God alone.
• We are accountable to him.
• Humanity, as male and female, in the image of God has intrinsic value.

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Providence

About Providence

• God sustains all things.
• God works in and through all things.
• God governs all things.

What does providence mean for us?

• Nothing happens by chance.
• Everything is ruled by God's purpose.
• God's purpose is always good.

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Series: What We Teach — GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: Matthew 28:19-20

What do we mean by "trinity"?

• There is one God.
• God is three distinct persons.
• The persons are equally God.

Why does it matter?

• Revelation - because God has revealed himself as one God in three persons
• Christianity - because the Christian faith is inseparably linked to Trinitarianism
• Salvation - because you cannot remove the Divine element from the work of the Father, the Son, or the Spirit
• Sanctification - because the hope of living the Christian life is tied to each of the persons of God
• Worship - because our praise and obedience are to each person of the Trinity

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

Series: What We Teach — GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

IF you open the Bible and read it in faith, THEN...

One: ...God will speak to you...

• The Bible is God-breathed

Two: ...with flawless truth...

• The Bible is without error.

Three: ...that convicts you of sin...

• The Bible is a mirror.

Four: ...and guides your life...

• The Bible is a light.

Five: ...by pointing you to Jesus...

• The Bible is a story.

Six: ...in a way that you must not ignore.

• The Bible is your authority.

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Series: What We Teach — GBC Doctrinal Statement
Text: Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Theology is the path to worship

One: What does "Theology" mean?

• Theos = God
• Ology = the study of

Two: Because God has revealed himself, we can study him.

Three: Without faith, the study of God is worthless.

Four: With faith, the study of God deepens our knowledge of God.

Five: A deeper knowledge of God leads us to a deeper worship of God.

• Knowledge leads to doxology.
• Knowledge leads to devotion.

Video of the full service on the church YouTube channel

One: A Brief Summary of the Reformation

• What? A protest
• Why? The church was corrupt
• When? A.D. 1500
• Who? Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, William Tyndale, John Knox
• How? Scripture Alone. Sola Scriptura

Two: 2 Bible Passages That Form Our Theme

• Philippians 4:3
• Colossians 4:7-18

Three: A Biographical Sketch of William Carey

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Text: 2 Corinthains 12:7-10

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