Christ PCA Temecula

Despite having a national holiday specifically for giving thanks, the practice may not a common, daily habit. Furthermore, while we may give thanks after a trial or hardship is resolved, it is more challenging while in the midst of those difficulties. But what would it look like to give thanks to God without contingencies? In Psalm 30, David shows us how; to go outside of ourselves and look to our faithful God, we find that because of his promises, he can do a unique work in us and make us thankful in every circumstance.

Last week we heard how our relationship with God is not based on our works or worth, but is based on God’s grace and mercy; not based on our record of righteousness, but comes to us through and in Jesus Christ. This week we are going to hear from the Apostle Paul why God has done this. Scripture teaches that in this life we see dimly, as if through a foggy window. Passages like this wipe away a little more of that fog and help us see what is really there, what God is really up to, and what really awaits us.

Do you see yourself as a “saint,” one who is holy and set apart? Throughout the New Testament, Christians are called “saints.” We have trouble with this word because when we look at our lives and our thoughts, we don't feel very saintly. But we are, because God has made us saints through Christ. This Sunday, we begin our new series in Ephesians where the apostle Paul makes this clear; we are in this high, favored position, not by anything we have done, but by the grace of God alone, through Christ alone.

With the recent devastating fire and loss of life in Maui and then the potential for Hurricane Hilary to hit our region, it points to the reality of how fragile we all are. In a single day, our lives can change. But these events also point out to us how faithful a Shepherd we have in Christ. All the storms, wars; all unforeseens can never separate us from the love of God we have in Christ Jesus. As His sheep, He shepherds us through storms into His eternal Kingdom that cannot be shaken or moved.

God's Word can often seem strange and unrelated to our lives and times. The New Testament alone was written nearly 2,000 years ago; how can it ever relate to us? But upon further reflection and dissection of Scripture (or upon hearing God's Word preached to us) we can't help but sense that God knows us even better than we know ourselves. This week, we’ll look at some "strange" sayings, such as: "the righteous is scarcely saved," "fiery trials," "rejoice isnofar as you share Christ's sufferings," "who suffer according to God's will," and "entrust their souls."

God’s word continues to illuminate the reality of the life that we have in Christ Jesus. As we sit under the preaching, our minds are transformed, and God sanctifies us by His word and His spirit. God has been faithful to His church for the past 2,000 years and He will continue to do so as He ministers to us; His people. We can bring our cares and concerns and look together to the one who provides all that we need for life and godliness through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, we come to realize what kind of people we are in moments of trial and this can lead us to defining moments in our lives, for better or worse. This Sunday, we will see Queen Esther’s defining moment as she decides what she will do in the face of dire circumstances and her remarkable act of courage and faith. This response to trial stems from confidence in her faithful, covenant-keeping God. Like Esther, we too are reminded of the confidence we can have in our God because of His continued faithfulness.

As a church, our lives and hope and Savior are so united that the bond between our Christian brothers and sisters is in many real ways thicker than our earthly bonds with our own families; we pray with those in need, we mourn with those who mourn. Why such affection and care? Because in Christ we are all connected. We are a new creation; the bride of Christ. This week's scripture 1 Peter 3:8-12 reminds us of that connection and encourages us to work together for the good of all to the glory of God.

When preaching through a book, we are bound to encounter difficult topics that in our society create division and some think are better left unaddressed for the sake of peace. Yet, we deal with the messy issues of life all the time and we cannot escape them. God does not leave them alone either, That is good news. This week in 1 Peter, we see what God has to say about slavery and wives' submission to their husbands. You may be surprised to see what he has to say.

This week as we look at the middle of 1 Peter, chapter 2 we will be considering how this passage teaches how Jesus' earthly experience relates to our earthly experience (vs 4-5, remember the context of Peter's hearers) and how Peter describes God’s view of His people and the impact it has on us.