One of the most repeated instructions given throughout scripture is the command to “be holy.” We see it as a command directly from God given to the Israelites in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, a statement made by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew, and in the middle of 1 Peter 1. To be holy simply means to be set apart. Holiness is first something that describes God. He is set apart and distinct by his moral perfection, but also by his very nature. But God can also make us holy through Jesus. Holiness, then, is something that is both done to us and something done by us. We are made holy when we repent from our sins and are saved by the blood of Jesus.
But we can also be holy through our actions. As followers of Jesus, we live holy lives by aligning our thoughts and desires towards the way of Jesus. In order to do this practically, we must recognize the areas of our thoughts and desires that are not conformed to the way of Jesus. We do this through the practice of confession.
How to Be Holy - 1 Peter 1:13-25
October 16, 2022 • Caleb Martinez • 1 Peter 1:13–25
The Devils Opinion
December 11, 2022 • Trey Van Camp • 1 Peter 5:5–11
During the advent season, we are called to celebrate the first coming of Christ and anticipate His second coming. This means we celebrate the fact that sin has lost its power over believers and anticipate the day sin loses its presence among believers. But in a season filled with joy and anticipation, we still feel the pain and tension of living between the two comings of Christ. Although the devil has lost its dominion over us, he still has an opinion that can influence us. His lies create in us a spirit of arrogance, anxiety, and apathy. In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/1%20pet%205, the Apostle gives us 3 ways to resist the roaring lies of the devil.
Expectations of a Pastor
December 4, 2022 • Trey Van Camp • 1 Peter 5:1–4
If you ask 10 people what they expect from their pastor, you will probably get 20 different answers. Throughout history, pastors have been expected to be all sorts of things. But what does God expect the pastor to do? In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/1%20pet%205, God lays out the three expectations for every pastor: to be an elder, a shepherd, and an overseer. In this message, we will learn what these terms mean and how it effects our life with Jesus today.
Step Up Your Faith by Stepping Into Fire
November 27, 2022 • Trey Van Camp • 1 Peter 4:12–19
By the grace of God, you will encounter a fork in the road where you have to make a decision: you can live by faith in Jesus, or you can die by fire without Him (https://biblia.com/bible/csb/matt%2025). If you put your faith in Jesus, you can’t help but express your joy through songs like, “I put my faith in Jesus, my anchor to the ground, my hope and firm foundation, He’ll never let me down.” But what happens when it seems like He does let us down? We set ourselves up for major disappointment when we confuse our eternal condition with our present one. Because contrary to popular belief, stepping up your faith is stepping into fire… and that’s a good thing. In https://biblia.com/bible/we/1%20pet%204 are encouraged to look at our trials like a fiery furnace: burning off our impurities & idolatries to further glorify Christ. In this message, we will learn about the three stages of faith that only come from stepping into the fire.