1 Peter 1:3-6 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through…
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Jim Sole
In this sermon, Pastor Jim moves into the second prison prayer of the Apostle Paul found in his letter to the church at Ephesus. In this prayer, we encounter a depth that is unfathomable and unknowable, but rightly defining Christian experience – the love of Christ and the fullness of God. Pastor starts with a look at the characteristics in Paul, the praying Apostle; then launches into three characteristics of the prayer itself, and finally four general applications.
As Pastor Jim moves to the final piece of 1 Peter’s opening verses we encounter a main theme in the book, suffering. In this message we will learn why suffering exists in the world and what types of suffering a Christian can be expected to experience in their journey.
In this sermon, Pastor Jim continues the study of the prison prayers of the Apostle Paul. The first stop has been in Ephesians 1:15-21. In this prayer, he is praying for believers to have a great knowledge of God that leads to a more confident and assured walk with Him. And he does so with a petition that they might know what is the immeasurable greatness of God’s power working in them. This is an important petition for believers for, when answered, it helps them live by faith and confidence in what God has already provided for them in Christ – His great power to live an overcoming life, a serving life, and an enduring life.
In this message Pastor Jim continues to delve into the deep meaning of the greeting and opening paragraph in 1 Peter. Here we encounter a hope through Christ Jesus to an amazing inheritance, promised by God, the centerpiece of which is Jesus Himself. An inheritance that will bring us joy and pleasures eternal.
This sermon continues the exploration of Paul’s first prayer in Ephesians, which petitions God for assurance. This assurance comes from God infusing every part of our being with the knowledge of the hope He has called us to, the riches of His inheritance, and the greatness of His power. In this message, Pastor Jim explores in more detail the knowledge of the riches of His inheritance with the realization that Christ’s inheritance is us. In doing so he answers the question: Why does God consider us His rich inheritance?