That is a weighty title for a weighty topic to be found within just a few verses at the start of Peter's first letter to the saints. In a nutshell, the apostle makes plain to us that though suffering and trials come, God has a grand design for them. Pastor Mollenkopf unpacks the early verses of First Peter.

God uses the unlikeliest of people to do His great work. In this case, He choose lowly shepherds to be the recipients of the world’s greatest message, and to be the first witnesses to one of the most epic events in world history. Pastor Mollenkopf explains the wonder of the shepherds who first met the incarnate Son of God (discounting mom and dad and whatever critters were in the stable at the time).

Election. A controversial topic amongst believers but a topic from which the apostles and the Lord never shied away. Peter opens his first epistle by addressing the "elect exiles of the Dispersion," and he does so not to stir controversy but to be a great encouragement to the believers. Pastor Mollenkopf explains the rich value of the this opening, a value to the saints then and a great value for us today.

In a world of tumult, how and why should any aspire to be a peacemaker? When each of us is conflicted within our own hearts, in the halls of our own homes, how can we be expected to make peace? On our own, such efforts will prove futile. But God. As with all of God's word, the heavy lifting is done by God. God--in the finished work of Jesus Christ--makes peace with his creature. Christ is our peace, and because of him and through the empowerment of the Spirit, we can now--as far as it depends on us--live at peace with our fellow man. Keith Pond explains.

Today, Pastor Mollenkopf begins a sermon series through First Peter. To fully grasp the apostle's encouragements to us to persevere in the midst of suffering and to understand God having purpose and plan, it's important that we understand how Peter was uniquely situated to pen such a letter. As a disciple 0f Jesus and leader in the early church, and because of the great successes and failures he knew in both seasons of his life, he's well situated to help us in the sufferings and persecutions we are likely to see in our walk with Christ.

Thanksgiving is not merely a holiday in the US, but needs to be the heart attitude that overflows daily for every man and woman, especially so for every Christian. Jeremy Mollenkopf brings this timely message to the body of Christ.

Jesus is invited to a Pharisees house for a great banquet, but while He is there a sinful woman comes. She weeps before Jesus and with her tears she wets Jesus feet and wipes them with her hair.  The Pharisee thinks Jesus’ willingness to permit this shows Jesus is not really a prophet, but Jesus uses this to show he is not only a prophet but far greater than a prophet.  He is the Savior, and he neither condemns or condones us for our sin if we trust in him.  Instead he cancels our sin by paying for it by taking sin's punishment upon himself.

David proclaims the incredible blessing of unity, and not just unity with one another, but also with God and all of creation. Pastor Mollenkopf opens up Psalm 133.

Though life may appear at times to be ruled by chaos and evil, God rules and reigns over all. This bedrock truth is a comfort amidst the chaos of a broken world, and it's a call for saints to submit to Christ the King of Kings. Pastor Mollenkopf opens up these truths in Psalm 93

At the outset of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares with his disciples the sixth thing that by which his followers are "blessed" or happy. He states, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). But what does it mean to be pure in heart? And why is it such a big deal? And if I still battle sin, is it even possible for me to live a life of purity? The great blessing of  the pure in heart is that they will see God. But how can that be if no man has seen God? Keith Pond rattles the cages this morning as he looks to God's word to answer all of these questions.