Peninsula Covenant Church

Most of us have heard that God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. Discovering God’s plan for our lives can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. And as your heavenly Father, he wants you to know his will for your life. Whether we’re facing a major life decision, planning for the future, or simply trying to walk with God in the daily day by day, this series will draw us closer to God and discover His awesome plan for your life.

Our focus from Mother’s Day Sunday is about how God’s love prevails, in spite of our performance and circumstances.

We are in the final week of our series in the book of 1 Peter. As we identify as exiles in this world, we must trust in the hope of heaven, while bringing the Kingdom of God to earth even when facing spiritual warfare. This week in chapter 5, we focus on the reality of how to handle the evil one.

We are back in 1 Peter for the final three chapters of the book. As we identify as exiles in this world, we must trust in the hope of heaven, while bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. This week in chapter 4, we focus on how to handle suffering from a Kingdom perspective.

When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do. Our experience in this world was meant to be foreign—it’s part of what God has planned for His people. The book of 1 Peter will help us identify as an exile, set our hope on Heaven, and become aware of behaviors that we have picked up by living in this world.

When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do. Our experience in this world was meant to be foreign—it’s part of what God has planned for His people. The book of 1 Peter will help us identify as an exile, set our hope on Heaven, and become aware of behaviors that we have picked up by living in this world.

After you listen to the Sunday Easter message, reflect on these questions to integrate what you heard and usher in the hope of Christ as you continue to shelter in place.

1. During these days of shelter in place, what brings you hope? And what causes you to feel hopeless?

2. Read twice through the story of Thomas in John 20:24-29. How can you relate to Thomas? Author Philip Yancey states, "Doubt always coexists with faith, for in the presence of certainty who would need faith at all? God appears far less threatened by doubt than does his church." Remember it is common to ask God to help you with your doubts (see Mark 9:24). How do doubt and faith coexist in your own life?

3. In verses 26-28, what do you find interesting about Jesus’ remarks to Thomas and Thomas’ response to Jesus. What is significant about Thomas referring to Jesus as “my Lord and my God!” What do you call Jesus and why? How could saying this often throughout your day bring you hope?

4. Reflect on verse 29. Knowing that the word “blessed” means to be “fully satisfied” how does that impact your understanding of what Jesus is saying? Who has the opportunity to be blessed? And how do you see it relating to other times (Matthew 5:3-11) when Jesus has used this word?

5. Review John 20:30-31. Why do you think John places the purpose of his writing after this story about Thomas? How has this story brought you more peace, belief, and life?

ACTIONS

--Make a list of your doubts and declare them to God. Ask Him to give you more faith.

--Throughout your day/week declare “You are my Lord and my God!” to bring you hope.

--Take A Sacred Walk to care for your soul.

PCC, we believe that God will enable us to shine brightly, walk in peace, and offer hope to family, church family, our neighbors, and friends.

Over these 3 weeks, we focus our Sundays on 5 verses—Philippians 4:4-8—written by the Apostle Paul while he was sheltered in place! That’s putting it lightly!

PCC, we believe that God will enable us to shine brightly, walk in peace, and offer hope to family, church family, our neighbors, and friends.

Over these 3 weeks, we focus our Sundays on 5 verses—Philippians 4:4-8—written by the Apostle Paul while he was sheltered in place! That’s putting it lightly!

Paul became a Christian as an adult and left the security and popularity of his former career to follow Christ. His new career as an apostle and evangelist had some interesting perks — the job description entailed beatings, being misunderstood, shipwrecks, starvation, mob-like trials, and an unknown physical ailment so painful that he described it as a thorn in his flesh!

Finally, Paul was arrested, placed under constant guard of Roman soldiers to whom he was chained…for two years. So he’s sheltered in place, or under house arrest, awaiting a verdict that carried with it a death sentence.

He wrote several letters during this time—we call Prison Epistles—Philippians is one of them. What’s amazing is that this letter drips with joy (occurring 16 times) and peace because it drips with Jesus (occurring 36 times)

In Philippians 4, Paul talks about learning a secret and his wanting us to learn it as well. Listen, our times on these 3 Sundays will be like a lozenger—not going wide, because I want us to go deep. These 5 verses we walk through, over the span of this series, will empower us to walk The Path to Peace: Finding Calm in Chaos.

PCC, we believe that God will enable us to shine brightly, walk in peace, and offer hope to family, church family, our neighbors, and friends.

Over these 3 weeks, we will focus our Sundays on 5 verses—Philippians 4:4-8—written by the Apostle Paul while he was sheltered in place! That’s putting it lightly!

Teaching text: 1 Peter 5:7

We say all the time at PCC that circles are better than rows—this is our opportunity to experience and apply this reality outside of our church’s physical walls.

Through April 5, we are encouraging PCC to continue to come together–in our homes–by watching online. We will be providing specially-designed online church gatherings each Sunday, during this time. We encourage you to think of us moving to a house-church model, like Christ-followers did in Acts 2. This smaller clustering of church family actually fosters growth, because we can interact more intimately around the Word.