Sermons | Local Church in Wabash, Indiana | Bachelor Creek

“Do you have money, or does money have you?” That’s the question Jesus asks us in Matthew 6. Maybe it’s time to flip the script. Instead of using our money to build our kingdom, Jesus encourages us to build His kingdom by using our resources for others. That’s how we put money in its proper place. It starts by surrendering what we have to God and walking by the Spirit.

What's the meaning of money? Many people see money as an end in itself. For many, it is the goal of life. Jesus tells a fascinating parable in Luke 16 that turns our understanding of money upside down. He says that the right way to view money is to see it as a means to a greater end. When we devote our lives to something, or rather, Someone, greater than ourselves, money takes on a whole new meaning.

Have you ever wondered, “Where are we going?” As exiles, it’s easy to feel like we’re wandering through life with no direction. In the last chapter of his letter, Peter tells us where the life of an exile takes us. He teaches us that a strong faith family requires servant leaders, humble followers, and awareness of danger. Most importantly, he give us a rock solid promise we can hang onto that will help get us through whatever life throws at us.

Suffering, Judgement, and the end of the world can be a scary topic. Nate explores these topics through the sense of 1 Peter 4 and how what is hard can actually bring us great joy.

Throughout his letter, Peter reminds us to live differently. We don’t belong to this world, so we shouldn’t expect to fit in. But the question remains, “How do we reach a culture we don’t belong to?” Some Christians withdraw completely; others fully assimilate. Peter shows us a better way in 1 Peter 3:8-22. It won’t be easy; in fact, it comes with a cost. But the way of Jesus is worth it.

Perhaps no other word in the Bible makes people cringe like “submit.” Because of sin, the language of submission has been twisted and abused. Men turn these roles into domination and indifference and women react with insubordination or unconditional servitude. Christian submission, though, rejects both of these distortions. Christian submission demonstrates the power and beauty of the Gospel. People struggle with submission because most have never seen godly submission lived out. In the words of G.K. Chesterton: “The Christian ideal has not been tired and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."

Our world suffers from a crisis of commitment. These days it’s common for people to be flaky and non-committal; our culture expects it. Peter says we’re different. Christians are marked by a radical commitment to follow in the steps of Jesus. The way of Jesus looks different, but it creates holy desires in us and impacts others. In this message, we’ll look at four commitments of an exile and how Jesus’ example motivates all we do.

Too many Christians act like kids. Maybe they’ve been believers for years, but spiritually they’re still toddlers. In 1 Peter 2:1-10, Peter says the only way we're going to endure the persecution and ups and downs of life is to grow up. Living in a harsh world requires a grown up hope, not warm fuzzies and a constant stream of signs. In this message, we’ll discuss four practical ways to grow up.

As Christians, we live as exiles in this world. That means we act in ways that are different and out of sync with this world. What’s it look like to live as an exile? 1 Peter 1:13-25 lays out the God’s game plan for exiles. We can’t obey these commands easily on our own. It happens only by surrendering to Jesus, our living hope. Join us for week 2 of our current series, "Exiles".

This week we begin a new study through 1 Peter titled “Exiles.” As believers, we often feel out of place in this world. The reason, according to Peter, is because this world is not our home. In this message, we learn what it means to live as exiles and how our “living hope” helps us endure hardships.