As a people of Jesus, we celebrate the truth. Belief is knowing the truth of Jesus. Unbelief is not believing what He has said to be true.  

We confuse Bible knowledge with actual spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is submitting our will to the will of our Heavenly Father. Jesus did this perfectly for the glory of the Father and for our everlasting joy with the Father.

The disease of self-righteousness convinces us that we’re right, that everyone else is wrong, and that the world would be a much better place if everyone just listened to ‘me’. By God’s grace, our self-righteousness is always incompatible with the agenda, mission and righteousness of Jesus and this passage invites us to consider who we will choose to rule our lives - Jesus Christ or ourselves?

The local church is given the great honor and responsibility of sharing the good news of Jesus with the world. And so we go, stepping toward our neighbors, our communities, and the unreached to tell them what we've discovered ourselves: Jesus saves!

The church of the living God, is called to be a pillar, holding high and holding fast to the truth; declaring and displaying the beauty, splendor and glory of Jesus. Every time Jesus makes another disciple and every time another Christ-centered church is planted another foundation and pillar arises in that community! It’s a pillar of truth that shines His light into the darkness to display the character of our good and glorious God.

The Church is called to display the glory of God in the local community that God has placed them. It's everyday Christians living everyday lives in everyday places for the glory of God. We can live loved, embrace where God has us, fight our sin, and bless others because of Christ alive in us and when we fall, we can cling to the Savior that loves us and changes us for His glory.

Peter is making it crystal clear that to be Christian is to be part of the local church and the climax of this chapter are verses 9 and 10 and it’s here that Peter answers the question, “What is the church?” The church is NOT a building you go to. It’s NOT an organization you join. It’s NOT a service you attend or a charity you support and definitely NOT a social club or a place for political promotion. Instead the church the rescued and redeemed people of God who are chosen and called to be God’s Local Mission!

We recognize Jesus as Lord. We recognize Jesus as the preferred alternative, despite the difficulties. We recognize the value of material things, and it doesn’t compare with Jesus! We recognize Jesus as Messiah and God! Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!

In the doctrine of Sovereign Election, we see; The Father‘s plan to love us, The Son’s plan to rescue us and The Spirit’s Guarantee of God’s forever grace. Jesus makes it clear that we can only come to Him if the Father draws us to the Son. And Jesus will save all those who come to Him and never cast them out!

In this passage Jesus tells us about the bread of life, the only ting substantial enough to quiet our spiritual craving and satisfying enough to fill up our souls. He stands in front of a crowd and says in essence. The only way to live is to eat the bread of life. In doing so, Jesus makes the first of seven 'I AM' statements and claims that a rich and satisfying life can only be found in Him.