*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

Even in just the first two verses, Peter practices what he preaches by practicing humility. He leads with the fact that he is a servant/slave of Christ Jesus.

He also explains that new life in Christ doesn’t come through privilege, work, or even a human decision, but by a divine gift of God ("by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ"). God and God alone gives the gift that none of us deserve but that all of us need. Believer– is there anything you own that is more precious than the faith that connects you to Christ and blesses you with His entire inheritance?

The better you know God through Jesus (who Heb. 1 says is exact imprint of God), the more joy & peace and pleasure & rest you have.

• There’s a direct relationship between our knowledge of God and how joyful we are.

• There’s a direct relationship between our knowledge of God and how settled we are.

God is not silent - all knowledge of God comes from God Himself, and He has made Himself known.

*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

Even in just the first two verses, Peter practices what he preaches by practicing humility. He leads with the fact that he is a servant/slave of Christ Jesus.

He also explains that new life in Christ doesn’t come through privilege, work, or even a human decision, but by a divine gift of God ("by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ"). God and God alone gives the gift that none of us deserve but that all of us need. Believer– is there anything you own that is more precious than the faith that connects you to Christ and blesses you with His entire inheritance?

The better you know God through Jesus (who Heb. 1 says is exact imprint of God), the more joy & peace and pleasure & rest you have.

• There’s a direct relationship between our knowledge of God and how joyful we are.

• There’s a direct relationship between our knowledge of God and how settled we are.

God is not silent - all knowledge of God comes from God Himself, and He has made Himself known.

*Due to technical difficulties, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

Peter uses the term "sober-minded" three times in this letter, so it's important. And each he uses it, he includes his reasoning behind it:

- 1:13…be sober-minded…by setting your hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ

- 4:7…be sober-minded…because the end of all things is at hand & for the sake of your prayers

- 5:8…be sober-minded…because the devil is working to destroy you

Satan is real, he has a semblance of power, and is constantly wanting to use that power devour people. But how do we know the difference between Satan’s accusations and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, because both point to the same sin?

- Satan shows you your sin in order to cripple you, to ruin you, and to ultimately destroy the image of God in you.

- The Spirit shows you your sin to cleanse you, redeem you, & restore the image of God in you.

Satan’s accusations and power are no match for the power of Christ, who interceded for Peter and continues interceding for God’s people today (Luke 22:31-34 & Heb. 7:25).

Resistance of sin and Satan is not futile; it’s what true Christians do. Christians fight against temptations and sin and continue to resist the enemy because their eternity depends on it.

Christians resist because we know our problems are not entirely unique to us. We are not alone in our sufferings and we are not alone is our resisting. Christians continue to battle sin & Satan because they bear the image of the King.

*Due to technical difficulties, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

Peter uses the term "sober-minded" three times in this letter, so it's important. And each he uses it, he includes his reasoning behind it:

- 1:13…be sober-minded…by setting your hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ

- 4:7…be sober-minded…because the end of all things is at hand & for the sake of your prayers

- 5:8…be sober-minded…because the devil is working to destroy you

Satan is real, he has a semblance of power, and is constantly wanting to use that power devour people. But how do we know the difference between Satan’s accusations and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, because both point to the same sin?

- Satan shows you your sin in order to cripple you, to ruin you, and to ultimately destroy the image of God in you.

- The Spirit shows you your sin to cleanse you, redeem you, & restore the image of God in you.

Satan’s accusations and power are no match for the power of Christ, who interceded for Peter and continues interceding for God’s people today (Luke 22:31-34 & Heb. 7:25).

Resistance of sin and Satan is not futile; it’s what true Christians do. Christians fight against temptations and sin and continue to resist the enemy because their eternity depends on it.

Christians resist because we know our problems are not entirely unique to us. We are not alone in our sufferings and we are not alone is our resisting. Christians continue to battle sin & Satan because they bear the image of the King.

*Due to technical difficulties, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

Peter uses the term "sober-minded" three times in this letter, so it's important. And each he uses it, he includes his reasoning behind it:

- 1:13…be sober-minded…by setting your hope fully on the grace of Jesus Christ

- 4:7…be sober-minded…because the end of all things is at hand & for the sake of your prayers

- 5:8…be sober-minded…because the devil is working to destroy you

Satan is real, he has a semblance of power, and is constantly wanting to use that power devour people. But how do we know the difference between Satan’s accusations and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, because both point to the same sin?

- Satan shows you your sin in order to cripple you, to ruin you, and to ultimately destroy the image of God in you.

- The Spirit shows you your sin to cleanse you, redeem you, & restore the image of God in you.

Satan’s accusations and power are no match for the power of Christ, who interceded for Peter and continues interceding for God’s people today (Luke 22:31-34 & Heb. 7:25).

Resistance of sin and Satan is not futile; it’s what true Christians do. Christians fight against temptations and sin and continue to resist the enemy because their eternity depends on it.

Christians resist because we know our problems are not entirely unique to us. We are not alone in our sufferings and we are not alone is our resisting. Christians continue to battle sin & Satan because they bear the image of the King.

*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

The office of elder is not defined by the age of a man, but rather by his character. It's also important to note that the office of pastor/elder/undershepherd is unlike any other. Hebrews 13:17 says that they will give an account for how they've kept watch over the souls of those in the church. This sets it apart from a CEO, sports coach, or miltary commander.

The word "sheperd" is both a noun and a verb. Shepherds are supposed to shepherd. An elder watches over the flock in love in order to nourish them. How an elder leads matters because they are serving under the command of the Chief Shepherd who is coming again.

When it comes to how we relate to one another in the church, humility is the common thread.

*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

The office of elder is not defined by the age of a man, but rather by his character. It's also important to note that the office of pastor/elder/undershepherd is unlike any other. Hebrews 13:17 says that they will give an account for how they've kept watch over the souls of those in the church. This sets it apart from a CEO, sports coach, or miltary commander.

The word "sheperd" is both a noun and a verb. Shepherds are supposed to shepherd. An elder watches over the flock in love in order to nourish them. How an elder leads matters because they are serving under the command of the Chief Shepherd who is coming again.

When it comes to how we relate to one another in the church, humility is the common thread.

*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

The office of elder is not defined by the age of a man, but rather by his character. It's also important to note that the office of pastor/elder/undershepherd is unlike any other. Hebrews 13:17 says that they will give an account for how they've kept watch over the souls of those in the church. This sets it apart from a CEO, sports coach, or miltary commander.

The word "sheperd" is both a noun and a verb. Shepherds are supposed to shepherd. An elder watches over the flock in love in order to nourish them. How an elder leads matters because they are serving under the command of the Chief Shepherd who is coming again.

When it comes to how we relate to one another in the church, humility is the common thread.

*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

As elders are to be subject to the Chief Shepherd, so church members are to be subject to the elders, and humility ties it all together [v.5b - "clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another"].

Humility not only recognizes the greatness of God but is submissive to the greatness of God. Anxiety and pride are inseparable because both are rooted in an attempt to control.

God cares, therefore, I cast.

*Due to technical issues, the audio from today's message was pulled from the livestream video.

As elders are to be subject to the Chief Shepherd, so church members are to be subject to the elders, and humility ties it all together [v.5b - "clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another"].

Humility not only recognizes the greatness of God but is submissive to the greatness of God. Anxiety and pride are inseparable because both are rooted in an attempt to control.

God cares, therefore, I cast.