Confidence in Christ's Victory.

 Zane Elliott opens 1 Peter 3:13-22, and helps us think through how we can face threats and opposition without fear, because we are safe and secure in Jesus' victory over death and sin. He will explore the passage using two main headings i) The threat of non-Christian Opposition vv.13-17 and ii) The basis of Christian confidence.

Today Zane Elliott opens 1 Peter 3:8-12, it's a short reading, which has a lot in it to help Christians consider how we can resist evil and do good in the life of the church, to the glory of God. 

As we open this passage we'll be called to i)turn from sin vv.9-11, and ii) do good instead vv.8-9a,11 as we look for iii) a godly outcome vv.9b, 12.

In this sermon Zane Elliott helps us consider how we can resist evil and live for God's glory as exiles, as we carry out our lives in the workplace and the home.

We work through the passage by breaking it down into the following headings:
i) Living as exiles in the workplace 2:18-25
a) The situation
b) Trace the pattern
c) A godly outcome

ii) Living in the home 3:1-7
a) Christian wives
b) A godly outcome 
c) Christian husbands 
A godly outcome 

Today we remember the Ascension of the Lord Jesus, and reflect on what it means to have an ascended Lord. 
Jean Palmer opens Acts 1:1-14, and Revelation 1:9-18 for us, and will help us consider the Ascension event, the significance of the Ascension, and the Ascended Christ.

As we open 1 Peter  2:4-10 today Zane Elliott builds on the main point from last week, and shows us that in the glorious new life God has given his people have A Glorious Purpose.

As We open this passage we'll consider

i)a new temple vv.4-8

it) a new identity vv.5,9

ill) a new purpose vv.9-10

In this message Zane Elliott helps us to see the glorious new life Jesus has granted to his followers, even though they are exiles in this world. 

As we continue in the series considering 'A hurting church' in 1 Peter John Palmer helps unpack Peter's insistence, and call for Christian's to be a holy people. 
John works through this passage using these headers:
1) Getting our thinking straight (v.13)
2) Holy by the command of God (vv.15-16) 
3) Holy as obedient children (v.14) 
4) Holy because of the fear of the Lord (v.17) 
5) Holy because of the cost of redemption (v.18) 
6) How does it work?

In this sermon Jean Palmer opens 1 Peter 1:3-12 as part of the series 'A hurting Church.' She explores the Hope that is held out to all Christians and works through the passage in three parts:
i) The Basis for Hope vv.3-5
ii) The Benefits of Hope vv.6-9 
iii) The Privilege of Hope vv.10-12

This is the first sermon in a series in 1 Peter. Zane Elliott looks at the beginning and end of the letter Peter wrote to a hurting church, which was scattered across a hostile world, and helps us see Peter's reminder that Christians are i) Chosen by God and ii) Exiles in a hostile land. 

He also highlights the three major thoughts Peter will develop through this book, as we walk through it together.