(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) When you’re waiting the minutes seem like hours, especially if you’re waiting for something that will bring relief. We look for ways we can actually lay down our hurt and confusion, then walk away confident God will take care of it in his time. Take a moment to read our passage for a fascinating story that starts with deep anguish coupled with cruel teasing. It moves from there to […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon.) Sometimes we feel so beat up that if we just manage to survive, that will be enough – but it isn’t. God wants us to thrive. He wants us to do it with passion, with strength, and even to gain an optimistic gaze toward the future. We were called “to more than just survive – we were called to thrive.” Be here to capture how we can face the challenges, survive […]

When life get really hard, you need models to follow. Those models are people whose example produces calm instead of panic, peace instead of strife, and godly responses instead of worldly reactions. Good models are not born; they’re developed through careful, disciplined living and spiritual leadership. They understand that spiritual modeling is built on influence, not authority. Sunday we look at the recipe for godly leadership in Peter’s day that needed to be forged in the context of crisis and […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) Bad days will come for each one of us, and the more we’ve thought these things through ahead of time, the better prepared we’ll be when tragedy strikes or struggles emerge.” (Blackstock) Sunday we get prepared for that shocking moment when deeply embedded Christian principles move from theory to practice. It makes the difference between success and failure, between hope and despair. We’ll see four vital principles for surviving […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon.) When we are besieged by persecution, pain, depression or loss, the last thing we want to do is think about someone else. We self-focus and think only of the threat that faces us. Yet there is a better way; our walk with God! We can choose to focus on the gift that God has placed in our hands, look around to see who could really use that gift, and then become […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) There comes a time when we look at our lives and say “enough is enough! It’s time for a change.” Stormy times in life call for those decisions. If we fail to make those commitments we get stuck in frustration, self-pity, or bad habits. We’ll have a good time together around God’s word as we challenge one another to have a new attitude about life and our walk with […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) We tend to over-complicate things. When we are struggling we don’t have time for complex answers; we’re already confused. Sunday we’ll see a principle that will change a life under pressure from worry and intimidation under pressure to anticipation and joy. But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) Churches can lose their way, get mean-spirited, and create their own storm! It’s not supposed to be that way. Sunday we see how right thinking, right attitudes, and right hearts can turn a body of believers into a place of harmony and refuge. It becomes a place where we not only gather strength to face struggles in the world, but we actually become a place for people to find […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) The struggles of life can really be tough but they seem most difficult when they cross the threshold and enter the household. It’s easy to create villains in the conflicts but as we’ll see Sunday, our conflicts call for great understanding, especially when they involve a spiritual mismatch between husband and wife. How do we survive these spiritual mismatches in marriage? Peter gives some surprising answers. We’ll look at […]

(Click on “Save” above to download this week’s sermon and notes.) It’s safe to say that none of us will ever know what it means to be a slave – one who has lost his or her personhood. But many will experience that loss of hope and purpose that comes as a result of withering criticism, injustice, and mistreatment that is completely outside our control. Sunday we’ll look at Peter’s startling admonition to slaves. It will help us live in […]