01 - Introduction: Hardship & Heretics - BridgeWay Christian Church

01 - Introduction: Hardship & Heretics

Selected Scriptures

February 21, 2018 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Harassment and heresy, while familiar themes in Scripture, are also ever-present realities in the Church. Apart from Paul, no one knew this better than the apostle Peter. A victim of persecution himself, Peter urged his beleaguered readers to stand firm in joy and to persevere.

How is a believer to live the Christian life in a hostile world? Who is the true enemy of the faith? And what can Christians look forward to despite their momentary suffering? To these questions Peter gives compassionate yet candid answers.

In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at Peter's advice, affirmation, and admonition to his scattered readers abroad.

02 - The Majesty Of Election

March 4, 2018 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 Peter 1:1–2

The opening salvo in 1 Peter 1:1-2 isn't difficult to understand by most. But it has proven over the centuries to very difficult to accept by some. And that is because in his opening remarks, Peter touches on two of the most controversial doctrines in Christendom-the doctrine of election and the doctrine of obedience. But why would Peter open up his first letter to a church already in chaos with such controversial verbiage? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at Peter's advice, affirmation, and admonition to his scattered readers abroad.

03 - Our Inheritance In Christ

March 11, 2018 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 Peter 1:3–5

Peter follows up his opening salvo with a sweeping doxology regarding the wonder of salvation. It is a hymn, really, designed specially to encourage his readers in the midst of suffering that an inheritance of riches awaits them in the life to come. And this special inheritance, he writes, not only comes from God, and is preserved by God, but it is only for those born again of God. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at Peter's advice, affirmation, and admonition to his scattered readers abroad.

04 - The Mysterious Joy Of Salvation

April 8, 2018 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 Peter 1:6–12

In 1 Peter 1:6-12, the apostle Peter emphasizes two major points. They are: (1) No matter how adverse our circumstances as Christians may be, we should never stop rejoicing over the greatness of our salvation; and (2) Our salvation is in fact so great that it is, and always has been, a mystery to even the godliest of men. So, if the mysterious joy of salvation was indiscernible to the prophets of old (who wrote about it) how then can we ever hope to understand it? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann looks at Peter's advice, affirmation, and admonition to his scattered readers abroad.