1 Peter 1:1-9 Season's Greetings

Resound
June 12, 2011

Bryne Palmer

1 Peter 1:1-9

Season’s Greetings

1.       Priorities VS 1-5

They don’t beat around the bush. They set their priorities straight; this is who you are through Christ. It’s a great greeting introduction. He sets up this letter like this, with encouragement, because they were going through some serious persecution. Peter is trying to make sure that as believers we have our priorities straight. -1 Thessalonians 4:4- He encourages them that even though they’re in a tough situation that they should still stick with it. When we let our situation take over and we focus on that it’s like drowning in 1ft of water. Our God is bigger, we can stand upon Him. As He becomes bigger and bigger in our lives, and we stay focused on him, our problems become smaller and less significant.

2.       Perseverance VS 6 & 7

Peter is telling them to rejoice even in extreme times like that. Shouldn’t we be like that? Even in times of trouble to rejoice in suffering. In all those times we’re tested be aware of your reaction, because if it’s not one of the fruits of the spirit then that’s an area of your life that needs to go through the process of sanctification, like gold through fire. Those Impurities will rise and be skimmed off the top. –Psalm 77- it goes from being scared and troubled to my God is bigger.

3.       The proof of the Prize VS 8-9

He’s reminding them that they haven’t even seen Jesus and yet they still believe, remember the joy that you first had. Sometimes we think we let our circumstances change who God is. But God never changes just because your circumstances do. This is who God is. That joy can never be taken from you.     

Hebrews 13:5-6

Christ Community Fellowship
June 12, 2011

Pastor Bob Brown

God’s Precious Promises

Hebrews 13:5-6

There are over 6,000 promises in the Bible. -2 Corinthians 7:1- Why does God give us so many promises? One of the reasons is so that we may work on perfecting our holiness.

1.       The Concern of the Promises VS 5

…is that something would be avoided so it doesn’t affect your character. Character: manor of behavior in which we indicate to others our manor of life style. The word love here is the same used for the love of silver. It doesn’t always have to be money, it can be power, reputation, a person, whatever it may be that you long after. –Philippians 4:10-13- You are wither one or the other, you are either coveting or you are content. Which are you today?

2.       The Consideration of the Promise VS 5

Coveting automatically means no happiness until you have it and even when you have it you get tired of it and then covet something else. To obtain true happiness and joy you must overcome coveting and enter into contentment by undertaking and standing upon two promises. In the Greek it is written as: “I will never, I will never, I will never deserts you or fail you.” (This is the only time in the Greek where 3 negatives are used.) God really wants us to get something here. He will never let us go or give us. (Think about how much we give up on others.) Forsake: I’ll never leave you in the lurch, never abandon you. He’s promising His presence with us, He’ll always be there with us be He never promised to take away the tough situations. He is standing right there with you. –John 6:35- -James 1-

3.       The Consequences of the Promise VS 6

If you do A He’ll follow through with B, we’ll receive the wonderful consequence of B. The blessing we receive: contentment, living life with confidence.  

Joshua 1:8

Resound
June 5, 2011

Chris Williamson

What God Would Have You Do With Your Time

Joshua 1:8

When you love something or have a passion for something it just kind of flows from you, you want to tell people about it. You can’t help it. This should be how we are about God’s word.
Meditate day and night: constantly thinking about it. It’s always on your mind, you don’t have to try hard to meditate on it it’s just on your mind, it’s natural.
Well what’s in it for us? There is a promise in this verse: He will make your way prosperous. But don’t think that your life will be all good and perfect. God makes another promise; if you follow Him you will go through hard times, persecution. When it says prosperous remember that that is God’s definition of prosperous.  It may mean your prosperous in sharing your faith, playing an instrument, or organization. It may consist of the joy of your salvation. It is not dependent of your surrounding circumstances. The joy of salvation comes from reading the bible.

-2 Timothy 3:16-17- if it’s in the Bible it was put there by God it’s not a mistake. He promises that we will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. His word is for every one of all ages. The Bible is always and will always be relevant.

Practical application for quite times:

1.       Be intentional for the time you set aside

2.       Be still, so you can focus

3.       Be secluded so you’re not distracted

4.       Be silent (eliminate the distractions)

5.       Be diligent (if you wanna be good at something you have to keep doing it, practice)

6.       Submit to God, let Him teach you.

Don’t let a negative attitude dull what you might have learned. Approach it with a positive, accepting attitude.