Are you dwelling in the peace that Christ provides? He gives assurance that you’ll spend eternity in perfect, unfiltered intimacy with Him, and that hope can bring joy through even the worst circumstances. In today’s message, as Pastor Mike continues our study of the book of 1st Peter, we’ll be reminded of this supernatural peace that we can have in Christ. Sadly, many believers allow remnants of their old nature to rear their heads and their lives don’t reflect this peace that is theirs to enjoy.

“People will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” This statement, directly from Jesus, presents a core value for all believers. It doesn’t say that we’ll be known for agreeing on everything. It doesn’t say we’ll be known for following the rules and standing up to the wicked. It says that the love Christians have for each other will set them apart and distinguish them as Jesus’ disciples. In today’s message, Pastor Mike will challenge us to evaluate how well we’re living up to that standard.

Marriage is a wonderful gift of God. It’s easy to see when you’re young and head over heels in love, but over time, as the passion wears off, you start to realize just how hard it can be to be a good spouse. As Pastor Mike will point out in today’s message, one of the most trying areas is finances. Whether you’re living paycheck to paycheck or building up a nice nest egg, there will be disagreements about how you manage it, and it requires patience and grace to approach these issues in a healthy way.

Many people try to clean themselves up before they come to Jesus. Some of this is due to misleading teachings in the Church, and some of it stems from a natural pride. We desire to earn our place of belonging in this life. To come to Christ you have to die to that pride – you have to let go of it. You must accept that you can’t earn your place. In today’s message, Pastor Mike will remind us that because of Christ’s work on the cross, you can come to Him just as you are and He’ll transform you.

This world desperately needs Jesus. So many are stuck in a life oppressed by sin and fear, slaving away to try to satisfy a deep desire that they’re incapable of fulfilling. If you’ve found Jesus, you’re free from that oppression. As Pastor Mike will explain in today’s message, the life of righteousness that believers live shouldn’t be burdensome. Jesus bore your burdens on the cross. Living a righteous life should be a joy as you repay your debt of gratitude to Him for what He’s done.

Whether you’re the employer or the employee, as a follower of Jesus, you have a higher standard to live by. Everything you do – whether it be cleaning toilets, entering data, or caring for the sick – everything should be done to the glory of God. Your attitude and the way you commit yourself reflect a heart that seeks to honor God and serve others. As Pastor Mike will remind us, complaining, grumbling and constantly looking out for “number one” does not reflect the character of Christ.

Many of us put an awful lot of our time, energy, and resources into this world, considering it’s only temporary – like the blink of an eye in the scope of eternity. In today’s message, Pastor Mike will examine what it means to be a Christian – a citizen of God’s Kingdom first, and a citizen of this world, secondly. Whether it’s in political concerns, financial or career matters, or even more worthwhile things, like family, these things don’t bear the eternal significance that our relationship with Christ does.

Sin, and sexual sin especially, seem to have drastically increased in our society. Behaviors that were once considered extremely shameful have become normalized and even accepted. As Pastor Mike will warn in today’s message, we need to be very careful not to allow ourselves to be desensitized by our culture. We need to have compassion and grace towards people, but we also need to be faithful to God’s Word. This message does contain some content that isn’t suitable for younger audiences.

Have you ever heard of a cornerstone? It’s an important piece of architecture, one that holds a lot of weight. If the cornerstone were to be removed, the building resting on it would collapse. In the Bible, Jesus is compared to this stone – He is the cornerstone faith is built on! And Jesus never fails – He is the solid rock, the firm foundation – but He was rejected in His time on earth. Pastor Mike will explain this more today, reminding you that though the world may reject Jesus, He is still faithful to YOU!

Believing in Jesus is an incredible change to make in your life! It starts you on a new path, one that shifts your perspective and has the potential to stretch you as you’ve never been stretched before! But – the decision to grow is up to you. There will be opportunities each day to decide to follow Jesus and to mature in your faith, but you need to be the one to take the step forward. Pastor Mike will encourage you today to learn from the examples of Biblical heroes who continued to serve the Lord until their final breath!