First & Second Peter: Our Living Hope

2 Peter 3 - Living in the Last Days

May 26, 2024 • Pastor Matt Pierson • 2 Peter 3, Romans 2:4, Hebrews 9:27–28, Psalm 90:4

The Apostle Peter senses his time on earth is drawing to a close and writes to his beloved church, warning them of false teachers and reminding them that the return of Christ will come, no matter what some scoffers say. What can we know about the end times and the return of Christ? What remains a mystery surrounding this great day, and how should we live in light of the return of Jesus? Join Pastor Matt as he leads us through this final chapter of 2 Peter.

2 Peter 2 - Two Truths and a Lie

May 19, 2024 • Ryan Motta • James 3:1, Romans 4:5, 2 Peter 2, Matthew 7:15, 2 Corinthians 11:13–15

As we continue our series in the letter of 2 Peter, we will dive into the cautionary message of chapter 2, where Peter warns his audience about the dangers of false prophets and deceitful teachings. Join us as we explore how these ancient warnings are extremely relevant to our lives today, teaching us how to discern truth from deception while remaining steadfast in our own faith. As we gain a greater understanding of false teachers and the lies they spread, we will also gain a clearer picture of God’s grace and the beautiful truth of the gospel.

2 Peter 1 - A Flourishing and Fruitful Faith

May 12, 2024 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Peter 1, Philippians 2:12–13

2 Peter reminds us that Christianity is not the move from vice to virtue, but rather the move from both vice and virtue to grace. But Peter is not shy about reminding us that we are not passive in the process of sanctification. What kind of person was Peter? And why should we be interested in what he has to say about growth in the consistency and stability of our faith? Wasn’t he the guy that denied Christ three times? Join Pastor Jim as he introduces us to 2 Peter and walks us through both the encouragement and exhortations of one of Jesus' closest disciples and apostles.

1 Peter 5 - Stand Firm

May 5, 2024 • Pastor Tommy Bailey • 1 Peter 5, Psalm 42:11

The Apostle Peter writes his first letter to a group of believers facing the heat of increasing persecution, suffering, and the temptations of a decadent culture. For the weary recipients of his letter and us today, Peter ends his correspondence with the same great hope he began his letter with—the resurrected Jesus. Join Pastor Tommy as we mine the treasures of the final chapter of 1 Peter, showing how the "God of all grace" provides a firm foundation to stand on through the fiery trials of temptation, anxiety, and the schemes of the evil one.

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.

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