Blog

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:3-4) Pastor John’s Notes: One of the main themes of Peter’s letter is hope. The hope that we have in God is quite unlike common worldly hope. Worldly…

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:2b) Pastor John’s Notes: Here is a common blessing that believer’s used in greeting one another. Grace and peace are linked together. Grace is offered to us by God through Jesus Christ, who gave his life on the cross for our sins. By receiving him as Savior, we have a grace that covers the whole of our lives. No longer do we need to live by the terms of reward…

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2) Pastor John’s Notes: There are two great works of Jesus Christ. The first is the cross, by which Jesus has made payment for the sin of the…

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2) Pastor John’s Notes: Peter is writing to believers who are scattered throughout the Roman empire. The regions to which he refers are part of modern-day Turkey. There…

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2) Pastor John’s Notes: As Christians, we are living as exiles in the world. In Biblical history, the word “exile” is packed with historical meaning. In 605 B.C.…

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2) Pastor John’s Notes: Peter is writing to those he refers to as “the chosen.” Where does this term come from and what does it mean? Jesus first…

We are blessed to have two letters written by Simon Peter, the disciple whom Jesus set above the others as a leader. It was Simon Peter who first declared Jesus to be the Messiah and Son of God. Jesus declared that he was Peter, which in Greek means, “the rock,” and said that upon that rock he would build his church. We begin with the salutation. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad…

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29) Pastor John’s Notes: When people heard Jesus’ teaching, it rang true for them. He taught the truth without bending it to any false motive. He was not attempting to manipulate people nor seeking to advance his own standing. He taught what he lived, and he lived a righteous life…

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the…

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23) Pastor John’s Notes: As Jesus brings his…