Centered on Christ Podcast

The story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17 is another illustration of the long time battle between faith and fear.

This chapter continues to pit faith versus fear, and God’s people are continually reminded to choose faith over fear.

“Thou mayest” is equally encouraging and sobering.

It’s encouraging because it communicates to us that when we go down the road of sin, we can make a change. But it’s also sobering because it shows that some will choose to continue down the road of sin toward destruction.

You and I have a choice.

We see a “great war” that plays out in Scripture between our Advocate and our enemy.

We are reminded that our God is more powerful than our enemy, and not to fall for the lies and lures Satan places before us.

How close should the church be to one another? How should our lives interact and intersect? How should we resolve differences between us?

As those who are “foreigners and pilgrims” in this world, we have a different culture and values than non-Christians. That certainly ought to show up in our interactions with each other.

This sermon considers what it means to live as a Christian in marriage from 1 Peter 3:1-7.

The Holy Spirit gives clear instructions to both wives (1 Peter 3:1-6), and husbands (1 Peter 3:7).

In this section, Peter is still talking about Christian living in this world. But now, he discusses what it means to be a Christian on the job.

We will discover an underlying principle here that applies to all areas of our lives.

How should we live as Christians when it comes to interacting with the government?

This is certainly a challenging question, especially considering how wicked the governments of this world tend to be.

Peter addresses Christians as “sojourners and pilgrims” in this world. Based on this, we must live differently among non-Christians.

We must live a life which brings God glory.

The word of God is absolutely necessary in the life of the Lord’s church.

Christians are:

* Born again through God’s word (1 Peter 1:22-25).

* Growing by God’s word (1 Peter 2:1-3).

* Identified in obedience to God’s word (1 Peter 2:4-10).

Jesus is the one who grows His church (Acts 2:47).

When the church grows, it is indeed a blessing from God. However, church growth brings challenges that require the church to reevaluate some things, and to get better organized for the sake of everyone.

This study from Acts 6:1-7 shows the importance of organizing the church, especially when the Lord blesses His church by growing the church.