First & Second Peter: Our Living Hope
1 Peter 4 - Stewards of God's Grace
April 28, 2024 • Pastor Matt Pierson • 1 Peter 4, 1 Corinthians 4:1–2, John 13:35
In Biblical times, a steward was a faithful and trusted servant who would run his master’s household. The Apostle Peter tells us that we are stewards of God’s grace, entrusted with bringing the good news of the Gospel of grace to our unbelieving neighbor, loving our brothers and sisters and witnessing to God’s faithfulness, even in our suffering. Join Pastor Matt as he leads us through 1 Peter chapter 4 and teaches us about being a steward of God’s grace.
1 Peter 3 - God's Design for Relationships
April 21, 2024 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 1 Peter 3
In a culture that worships at the altar of individual autonomy and self-assertion, is it any wonder we live in an angry, divided and often lonely world? Into a similar societal chaos the ancient New Testament letter known as 1 Peter called God’s people to exhibit humility, self-sacrifice, kindness and compassion in all of their relationships. Join Pastor Jim as he unpacks the timeless truth of God’s instructions for Christians living in a fallen world and looking for ways the power of the Gospel can transform our relationships.
1 Peter 2 - Growing in God’s Salvation
April 14, 2024 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 1 Peter 2
Have you ever felt like your spiritual life stalled out, as if you hit a plateau or, to use another metaphor, you were just drifting in circles? Well, here at The Village Chapel, we want you to know you are not alone in that experience. Most of us have been there too and so we gather on a regular basis to encourage one another in the Gospel. John Stott once said, “Holiness is not a condition into which we drift.” So, what is the New Testament understanding of holiness? What does it look like in our everyday lives? What are some of the things that prevent us from growing in God’s salvation? And what are some of the things that can help us grow in God’s salvation? Join Pastor Jim as he walks us through 1 Peter 2 for some insightful and practical answers to these and other questions.
1 Peter 1 - A Panoramic View
April 7, 2024 • Pastor Tommy Bailey • 1 Peter 1
First Peter is a letter suffused with hope: not merely a dream or a wish, but hope grounded in the reality of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. For the Apostle Peter, hope through the risen Savior is multi-dimensional, touching every square inch of creation and every aspect of humanity. Join Pastor Tommy as we consider how Peter offers a panoramic view of the Christian life, pointing us toward the past — the empty tomb, the present — calling us to live a life of holiness and, lastly, a secure future — an eternal home with Jesus.
1 Peter 1:1-5 + Mark 16:1-8 - Our Living Hope
March 31, 2024 • Pastor Jim Thomas • Mark 16:1–8, 1 Peter 1:1–5
The New Testament describes the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a historical event, asserting that a physically dead Jesus rose again from the grave three days after suffering a horrific death on a Roman cross. In one of the earliest New Testament writings, the apostle Paul stated that there were over 500 eyewitnesses who had seen Jesus alive again, with many of those eyewitnesses still alive at the time of his writing, thus available for interviewing by anyone wishing to investigate the Resurrection of Jesus. Despite this, some people have come to believe that Easter is merely a metaphor for springtime or renewal. Others suggest that Easter is based on a recycled pagan celebration or perhaps a legend crafted to bolster the image of a good man who suffered a tragic death. Join Pastor Jim as he delves into the significance of the Resurrection of Jesus and then teaches how it provides Christians with a living hope that is philosophically reasonable, historically credible, globally beautiful and personally transformative. The Resurrection was the pivotal moment in redemption history and the seismic event that showcased the power of God for all those interested in becoming new creations in Christ.